It is a matter of extreme regret that we want original evidence of the last remarkable1 days of our friend; and we are, therefore, obliged to interrupt the progress of his correspondence, and to supply the deficiency by a connected narration2.
I have felt it my duty to collect accurate information from the mouths of persons well acquainted with his history. The story is simple; and all the accounts agree, except in some unimportant particulars. It is true, that, with respect to the characters of the persons spoken of, opinions and judgments5 vary.
We have only, then, to relate conscientiously6 the facts which our diligent7 labour has enabled us to collect, to give the letters of the deceased, and to pay particular attention to the slightest fragment from his pen, more especially as it is so difficult to discover the real and correct motives8 of men who are not of the common order.
Sorrow and discontent had taken deep root in Werther's soul, and gradually imparted their character to his whole being. The harmony of his mind became completely disturbed; a perpetual excitement and mental irritation9, which weakened his natural powers, produced the saddest etfects upon him, and rendered him at length the victim of an exhaustion10 against which he struggled with still more painful efforts than he had displayed, even in contending with his other misfortunes. His mental anxiety weakened his various good qualities; and he was soon converted into a gloomy companion, always unhappy and unjust in his ideas, the more wretched he became. This was, at least, the opinion of Albert's friends. They assert, moreover, that the character of Albert himself had undergone no change in the meantime: he was still the same being whom Werther had loved, honoured, and respected from the commencement. His love for Charlotte was unbounded: he was proud of her, and desired that she should be recognised by every one as the noblest of created beings. Was he, however, to blame for wishing to avert11 from her every appearance of suspicion? or for his unwillingness12 to share his rich prize with another, even for a moment, and in the most innocent manner? It is asserted that Albert frequently retired13 from his wife's apartment during Werther's visits; but this did not arise from hatred14 or aversion to his friend, but only from a feeling that his presence was oppressive to Werther.
Charlotte's father, who was confined to the house by indisposition, was accustomed to send his carriage for her, that she might make excursions in the neighbourhood. One day the weather had been unusually severe, and the whole country was covered with snow.
Werther went for Charlotte the following morning, in order that, if Albert were absent, he might conduct her home.
The beautiful weather produced but little impression on his troubled spirit. A heavy weight lay upon his soul, deep melancholy15 had taken possession of him, and his mind knew no change save from one painful thought to another.
As he now never enjoyed internal peace, the condition of his fellow creatures was to him a perpetual source of trouble and distress16. He believed he had disturbed the happiness of Albert and his wife; and, whilst he censured17 himself strongly for this, he began to entertain a secret dislike to Albert.
His thoughts were occasionally directed to this point. "Yes," he would repeat to himself, with ill-concealed dissatisfaction, "yes, this is, after all, the extent of that confiding18, dear, tender, and sympathetic love, that calm and eternal fidelity19! What do I behold20 but satiety21 and indifference22? Does not every frivolous23 engagement attract him more than his charming and lovely wife? Does he know how to prize his happiness? Can he value her as she deserves? He possesses her, it is true, I know that, as I know much more, and I have become accustomed to the thought that he will drive me mad, or, perhaps, murder me. Is his friendship toward me unimpaired? Does he not view my attachment24 to Charlotte as an infringement25 upon his rights, and consider my attention to her as a silent rebuke26 to himself? I know, and indeed feel, that he dislikes me, that he wishes for my absence, that my presence is hateful to him."
He would often pause when on his way to visit Charlotte, stand still, as though in doubt, and seem desirous of returning, but would nevertheless proceed; and, engaged in such thoughts and soliloquies as we have described, he finally reached the hunting-lodge, with a sort of involuntary consent.
Upon one occasion he entered the house; and, inquiring for Charlotte, he observed that the inmates27 were in a state of unusual confusion. The eldest28 boy informed him that a dreadful misfortune had occurred at Walheim, -- that a peasant had been murdered! But this made little impression upon him. Entering the apartment, he found Charlotte engaged reasoning with her father, who, in spite of his infirmity, insisted on going to the scene of the crime, in order to institute an inquiry29. The criminal was unknown; the victim had been found dead at his own door that morning. Suspicions were excited: the murdered man had been in the service of a widow, and the person who had previously30 filled the situation had been dismissed from her employment.
As soon as Werther heard this, he exclaimed with great excitement, "Is it possible! I must go to the spot -- I cannot delay a moment!" He hastened to Walheim. Every incident returned vividly31 to his remembrance; and he entertained not the slightest doubt that that man was the murderer to whom he had so often spoken, and for whom he entertained so much regard. His way took him past the well-known lime trees, to the house where the body had been carried; and his feelings were greatly excited at the sight of the fondly recollected32 spot. That threshold where the neighbours' children had so often played together was stained with blood; love and attachment, the noblest feelings of human nature, had been converted into violence and murder. The huge trees stood there leafless and covered with hoarfrost; the beautiful hedgerows which surrounded the old churchyard wall were withered33; and the gravestones, half covered with snow, were visible through the openings.
As he approached the inn, in front of which the whole village was assembled, screams were suddenly heard. A troop of armed peasants was seen approaching, and every one exclaimed that the criminal had been apprehended34. Werther looked, and was not long in doubt. The prisoner was no other than the servant, who had been formerly35 so attached to the widow, and whom he had met prowling about, with that suppressed anger and ill-concealed despair, which we have before described.
"What have you done, unfortunate man?" inquired Werther, as he advanced toward the prisoner. The latter turned his eyes upon him in silence, and then replied with perfect composure; "No one will now marry her, and she will marry no one." The prisoner was taken into the inn, and Werther left the place. The mind of Werther was fearfully excited by this shocking occurrence. He ceased, however, to be oppressed by his usual feeling of melancholy, moroseness36, and indifference to everything that passed around him. He entertained a strong degree of pity for the prisoner, and was seized with an indescribable anxiety to save him from his impending37 fate. He considered him so unfortunate, he deemed his crime so excusable, and thought his own condition so nearly similar, that he felt convinced he could make every one else view the matter in the light in which he saw it himself. He now became anxious to undertake his defence, and commenced composing an eloquent38 speech for the occasion; and, on his way to the hunting-lodge, he could not refrain from speaking aloud the statement which he resolved to make to the judge.
Upon his arrival, he found Albert had been before him: and he was a little perplexed39 by this meeting; but he soon recovered himself, and expressed his opinion with much warmth to the judge. The latter shook, his head doubtingly; and although Werther urged his case with the utmost zeal40, feeling, and determination in defence of his client, yet, as we may easily suppose, the judge was not much influenced by his appeal. On the contrary, he interrupted him in his address, reasoned with him seriously, and even administered a rebuke to him for becoming the advocate of a murderer. He demonstrated, that, according to this precedent41, every law might be violated, and the public security utterly42 destroyed. He added, moreover, that in such a case he could himself do nothing, without incurring43 the greatest responsibility; that everything must follow in the usual course, and pursue the ordinary channel.
Werther, however, did not abandon his enterprise, and even besought44 the judge to connive45 at the flight of the prisoner. But this proposal was peremptorily46 rejected. Albert, who had taken some part in the discussion, coincided in opinion with the judge. At this Werther became enraged47, and took his leave in great anger, after the judge had more than once assured him that the prisoner could not be saved.
The excess of his grief at this assurance may be inferred from a note we have found amongst his papers, and which was doubtless written upon this very occasion.
"You cannot be saved, unfortunate man! I see clearly that we cannot be saved!"
Werther was highly incensed48 at the observations which Albert had made to the judge in this matter of the prisoner. He thought he could detect therein a little bitterness toward himself personally; and although, upon reflection, it could not escape his sound judgment4 that their view of the matter was correct, he felt the greatest possible reluctance49 to make such an admission.
A memorandum50 of Werther's upon this point, expressive51 of his general feelings toward Albert, has been found amongst his papers.
"What is the use of my continually repeating that he is a good and estimable man? He is an inward torment52 to me, and I am incapable53 of being just toward him."
One fine evening in winter, when the weather seemed inclined to thaw54, Charlotte and Albert were returning home together. The former looked from time to time about her, as if she missed Werther's company. Albert began to speak of him, and censured him for his prejudices. He alluded55 to his unfortunate attachment, and wished it were possible to discontinue his acquaintance. "I desire it on our own account," he added; "and I request you will compel him to alter his deportment toward you, and to visit you less frequently. The world is censorious, and I know that here and there we are spoken of." Charlotte made no reply, and Albert seemed to feel her silence. At least, from that time he never again spoke3 of Werther; and, when she introduced the subject, he allowed the conversation to die away, or else he directed the discourse56 into another channel.
The vain attempt Werther had made to save the unhappy murderer was the last feeble glimmering57 of a flame about to be extinguished. He sank almost immediately afterward58 into a state of gloom and inactivity, until he was at length brought to perfect distraction59 by learning that he was to be summoned as a witness against the prisoner, who asserted his complete innocence60.
His mind now became oppressed by the recollection of every misfortune of his past life. The mortification61 he had suffered at the ambassador's, and his subsequent troubles, were revived in his memory. He became utterly inactive. Destitute62 of energy, he was cut off from every pursuit and occupation which compose the business of common life; and he became a victim to his own susceptibility, and to his restless passion for the most amiable63 and beloved of women, whose peace he destroyed. In this unvarying monotony of existence his days were consumed; and his powers became exhausted64 without aim or design, until they brought him to a sorrowful end.
A few letters which he left behind, and which we here subjoin, afford the best proofs of his anxiety of mind and of the depth of his passion, as well as of his doubts and struggles, and of his weariness of life.
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1
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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satiety
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| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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moroseness
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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45
connive
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| v.纵容；密谋 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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48
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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49
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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52
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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