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The Sorrows of Young Werther
J.W. von Goethe Thomas Carlyle and R.D. Boylan Edited by Nathen Haskell
Dole PREFACE I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn
of the story of poor Werther， and here present it to you ， knowing that
you will thank me for it. To his spirit and character you cannot refuse
your admiration and love： to his fate you will not deny your tears.
And thou， good soul， who sufferest the same distress as he endured
once， draw comfort from his sorrows； and let this little book be thy
friend， if ， owing to fortune or through thine own fault， thou canst
not find a dearer companion.
BOOK I
MAY 4. How happy I am that I am gone！ My dear friend ， what a thing
is the heart of man ！ To leave you ， from whom I have been inseparable，
whom I love so dearly ， and yet to feel happy！ I know you will forgive
me. Have not other attachments been specially appointed by fate to torment
a head like mine？ Poor Leonora ！ and yet I was not to blame. Was it
my fault， that ， whilst the peculiar charms of her sister afforded me
an agreeable entertainment， a passion for me was engendered in her feeble
heart ？ And yet am I wholly blameless？ Did I not encourage her emotions？
Did I not feel charmed at those truly genuine expressions of nature ，
which ， though but little mirthful in reality， so often amused us ？
Did I not —— but oh ！ what is man， that he dares so to accuse himself？
My dear friend I promise you I will improve ； I will no longer ， as
has ever been my habit， continue to ruminate on every petty vexation
which fortune may dispense； I will enjoy the present ， and the past
shall be for me the past. No doubt you are right， my best of friends ，
there would be far less suffering amongst mankind ， if men —— and God
knows why they are so fashioned —— did not employ their imaginations
so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow ， instead of bearing
their present lot with equanimity. Be kind enough to inform my mother
that I shall attend to her business to the best of my ability ， and shall
give her the earliest information about it. I have seen my aunt ， and
find that she is very far from being the disagreeable person our friends
allege her to be. She is a lively ， cheerful woman ， with the best of
hearts. I explained to her my mother's wrongs with regard to that part
of her portion which has been withheld from her. She told me the motives
and reasons of her own conduct， and the terms on which she is willing
to give up the whole， and to do more than we have asked. In short， I
cannot write further upon this subject at present ； only assure my mother
that all will go on well. And I have again observed ， my dear friend ，
in this trifling affair ， that misunderstandings and neglect occasion
more mischief in the world than even malice and wickedness. At all events，
the two latter are of less frequent occurrence.
In other respects I am very well off here. Solitude in this terrestrial
paradise is a genial balm to my mind， and the young spring cheers with
its bounteous promises my oftentimes misgiving heart. Every tree， every
bush， is full of flowers ； and one might wish himself transformed into
a butterfly ， to float about in this ocean of perfume， and find his
whole existence in it.
The town itself is disagreeable ； but then ， all around ， you find
an inexpressible beauty of nature. This induced the late Count M to lay
out a garden on one of the sloping hills which here intersect each other
with the most charming variety， and form the most lovely valleys. The
garden is simple； and it is easy to perceive ， even upon your first
entrance， that the plan was not designed by a scientific gardener， but
by a man who wished to give himself up here to the enjoyment of his own
sensitive heart. Many a tear have I already shed to the memory of its
departed master in a summer-house which is now reduced to ruins ， but
was his favourite resort， and now is mine. I shall soon be master of
the place. The gardener has become attached to me within the last few
days， and he will lose nothing thereby.
MAY 10. A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul，
like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart.
I am alone， and feel the charm of existence in this spot ， which was
created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy ， my dear friend，
so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence ， that
I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke
at the present moment ； and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist
than now. When， while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me，
and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage
of my trees ， and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary，
I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream； and，
as I lie close to the earth ， a thousand unknown plants are noticed by
me： when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks， and grow
familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies，
then I feel the presence of the Almighty， who formed us in his own image，
and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us ， as
it floats around us in an eternity of bliss ； and then ， my friend，
when darkness overspreads my eyes ， and heaven and earth seem to dwell
in my soul and absorb its power ， like the form of a beloved mistress，
then I often think with longing ， Oh ， would I could describe these
conceptions ， could impress upon paper all that is living so full and
warm within me， that it might be the mirror of my soul ， as my soul
is the mirror of the infinite God ！ O my friend—— but it is too much
for my strength —— I sink under the weight of the splendour of these
visions ！
MAY 12. I know not whether some deceitful spirits haunt this spot ，
or whether it be the warm ， celestial fancy in my own heart which makes
everything around me seem like paradise. In front of the house is a fountain，
—— a fountain to which I am bound by a charm like Melusina and her sisters.
Descending a gentle slope ， you come to an arch， where， some twenty
steps lower down， water of the clearest crystal gushes from the marble
rock. The narrow wall which encloses it above ， the tall trees which
encircle the spot ， and the coolness of the place itself ，—— everything
imparts a pleasant but sublime impression. Not a day passes on which I
do not spend an hour there. The young maidens come from the town to fetch
water ，—— innocent and necessary employment， and formerly the occupation
of the daughters of kings. As I take my rest there， the idea of the old
patriarchal life is awakened around me. I see them， our old ancestors，
how they formed their friendships and contracted alliances at the fountain-side
； and I feel how fountains and streams were guarded by beneficent spirits.
He who is a stranger to these sensations has never really enjoyed cool
repose at the side of a fountain after the fatigue of a weary summer day.
MAY 13. You ask if you shall send me books. My dear friend， I beseech
you ， for the love of God， relieve me from such a yoke！ I need no more
to be guided， agitated ， heated. My heart ferments sufficiently of itself.
I want strains to lull me ， and I find them to perfection in my Homer.
Often do I strive to allay the burning fever of my blood； and you have
never witnessed anything so unsteady， so uncertain ， as my heart. But
need I confess this to you， my dear friend ， who have so often endured
the anguish of witnessing my sudden transitions from sorrow to immoderate
joy ， and from sweet melancholy to violent passions？ I treat my poor
heart like a sick child ， and gratify its every fancy. Do not mention
this again： there are people who would censure me for it.
MAY 15. The common people of the place know me already， and love
me， particularly the children. When at first I associated with them，
and inquired in a friendly tone about their various trifles ， some fancied
that I wished to ridicule them， and turned from me in exceeding ill-humour.
I did not allow that circumstance to grieve me： I only felt most keenly
what I have often before observed. Persons who can claim a certain rank
keep themselves coldly aloof from the common people ， as though they
feared to lose their importance by the contact； whilst wanton idlers ，
and such as are prone to bad joking ， affect to descend to their level，
only to make the poor people feel their impertinence all the more keenly.
I know very well that we are not all equal， nor can be so； but it
is my opinion that he who avoids the common people， in order not to lose
their respect ， is as much to blame as a coward who hides himself from
his enemy because he fears defeat.
The other day I went to the fountain， and found a young servant-girl，
who had set her pitcher on the lowest step， and looked around to see
if one of her companions was approaching to place it on her head. I ran
down， and looked at her. "Shall I help you ， pretty lass？" said I.
She blushed deeply. "Oh ， sir！" she exclaimed. "No ceremony ！" I replied.
She adjusted her head-gear， and I helped her. She thanked me ， and ascended
the steps.
MAY 17. I have made all sorts of acquaintances， but have as yet found
no society. I know not what attraction I possess for the people ， so
many of them like me， and attach themselves to me； and then I feel sorry
when the road we pursue together goes only a short distance. If you inquire
what the people are like here ， I must answer， "The same as everywhere."
The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater
part of their time for mere subsistence ； and the scanty portion of freedom
which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to
get rid of it. Oh ， the destiny of man ！
But they are a right good sort of people. If I occasionally forget
myself， and take part in the innocent pleasures which are not yet forbidden
to the peasantry， and enjoy myself ， for instance ， with genuine freedom
and sincerity ， round a well-covered table ， or arrange an excursion
or a dance opportunely， and so forth ， all this produces a good effect
upon my disposition ； only I must forget that there lie dormant within
me so many other qualities which moulder uselessly， and which I am obliged
to keep carefully concealed. Ah ！ this thought affects my spirits fearfully.
And yet to be misunderstood is the fate of the like of us.
Alas， that the friend of my youth is gone！ Alas ， that I ever knew
her ！ I might say to myself， "You are a dreamer to seek what is not
to be found here below." But she has been mine. I have possessed that
heart ， that noble soul， in whose presence I seemed to be more than
I really was， because I was all that I could be. Good heavens！ did then
a single power of my soul remain unexercised？ In her presence could I
not display ， to its full extent ， that mysterious feeling with which
my heart embraces nature？ Was not our intercourse a perpetual web of
the finest emotions ， of the keenest wit ， the varieties of which ，
even in their very eccentricity ， bore the stamp of genius ？ Alas ！
the few years by which she was my senior brought her to the grave before
me. Never can I forget her firm mind or her heavenly patience.
A few days ago I met a certain young V——， a frank， open fellow，
with a most pleasing countenance. He has just left the university ， does
not deem himself overwise ， but believes he knows more than other people.
He has worked hard， as I can perceive from many circumstances， and，
in short， possesses a large stock of information. When he heard that
I am drawing a good deal， and that I know Greek（two wonderful things
for this part of the country）， he came to see me， and displayed his
whole store of learning ， from Batteaux to Wood， from De Piles to Winkelmann
： he assured me he had read through the first part of Sultzer's theory，
and also possessed a manuscript of Heyne's work on the study of the antique.
I allowed it all to pass. I have become acquainted， also ， with a very
worthy person ， the district judge ， a frank and open-hearted man. I
am told it is a most delightful thing to see him in the midst of his children，
of whom he has nine. His eldest daughter especially is highly spoken of.
He has invited me to go and see him ， and I intend to do so on the first
opportunity. He lives at one of the royal hunting-lodges， which can be
reached from here in an hour and a half by walking， and which he obtained
leave to inhabit after the loss of his wife ， as it is so painful to
him to reside in town and at the court.
There have also come in my way a few other originals of a questionable
sort， who are in all respects undesirable， and most intolerable in their
demonstration of friendship. Good-bye. This letter will please you： it
is quite historical.
MAY 22. That the life of man is but a dream ， many a man has surmised
heretofore； and I， too， am everywhere pursued by this feeling. When
I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties
are confined； when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing
for mere necessities， which again have no further end than to prolong
a wretched existence； and then that all our satisfaction concerning certain
subjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation，
whilst we amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figures
and brilliant landscapes，—— when I consider all this ， Wilhelm， I
am silent. I examine my own being ， and find there a world ， but a world
rather of imagination and dim desires ， than of distinctness and living
power. Then everything swims before my senses ， and I smile and dream
while pursuing my way through the world.
All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do not
comprehend the cause of their desires ； but that the grown-up should
wander about this earth like children ， without knowing whence they come，
or whither they go， influenced as little by fixed motives， but guided
like them by biscuits ， sugar-plums， and the rod，—— this is what
nobody is willing to acknowledge； and yet I think it is palpable.
I know what you will say in reply ； for I am ready to admit that
they are happiest ， who， like children， amuse themselves with their
playthings， dress and undress their dolls， and attentively watch the
cupboard， where mamma has locked up her sweet things ， and， when at
last they get a delicious morsel， eat it greedily， and exclaim， "More！
" These are certainly happy beings； but others also are objects of envy，
who dignify their paltry employments， and sometimes even their passions，
with pompous titles ， representing them to mankind as gigantic achievements
performed for their welfare and glory. But the man who humbly acknowledges
the vanity of all this， who observes with what pleasure the thriving
citizen converts his little garden into a paradise， and how patiently
even the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden， and how all
wish equally to behold the light of the sun a little longer ，—— yes，
such a man is at peace， and creates his own world within himself ； and
he is also happy， because he is a man. And then， however limited his
sphere， he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty ，
and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes.
MAY 26. You know of old my ways of settling anywhere， of selecting
a little cottage in some cosy spot， and of putting up in it with every
inconvenience. Here ， too， I have discovered such a snug， comfortable
place ， which possesses peculiar charms for me.
About a league from the town is a place called Walheim. （The reader
need not take the trouble to look for the place thus designated. We have
found it necessary to change the names given in the original. ） It is
delightfully situated on the side of a hill ； and， by proceeding along
one of the footpaths which lead out of the village， you can have a view
of the whole valley. A good old woman lives there ， who keeps a small
inn. She sells wine ， beer ， and coffee ， and is cheerful and pleasant
notwithstanding her age. The chief charm of this spot consists in two
linden-trees， spreading their enormous branches over the little green
before the church ， which is entirely surrounded by peasants' cottages，
barns ， and homesteads. I have seldom seen a place so retired and peaceable
； and there often have my table and chair brought out from the little
inn ， and drink my coffee there， and read my Homer. Accident brought
me to the spot one fine afternoon ， and I found it perfectly deserted.
Everybody was in the fields except a little boy about four years of age，
who was sitting on the ground ， and held between his knees a child about
six months old： he pressed it to his bosom with both arms， which thus
formed a sort of arm-chair； and， notwithstanding the liveliness which
sparkled in its black eyes， it remained perfectly still. The sight charmed
me. I sat down upon a plough opposite ， and sketched with great delight
this little picture of brotherly tenderness. I added the neighbouring
hedge ， the barn-door， and some broken cart-wheels， just as they happened
to lie； and I found in about an hour that I had made a very correct and
interesting drawing ， without putting in the slightest thing of my own.
This confirmed me in my resolution of adhering， for the future ， entirely
to nature. She alone is inexhaustible ， and capable of forming the greatest
masters. Much may be alleged in favour of rules ， as much may be likewise
advanced in favour of the laws of society ： an artist formed upon them
will never produce anything absolutely bad or disgusting； as a man who
observes the laws ， and obeys decorum， can never be an absolutely intolerable
neighbour ， nor a decided villain： but yet， say what you will of rules，
they destroy the genuine feeling of nature， as well as its true expression.
Do not tell me "that this is too hard ， that they only restrain and prune
superfluous branches， etc." My good friend ， I will illustrate this
by an analogy. These things resemble love. A warmhearted youth becomes
strongly attached to a maiden ： he spends every hour of the day in her
company ， wears out his health ， and lavishes his fortune ， to afford
continual proof that he is wholly devoted to her. Then comes a man of
the world ， a man of place and respectability， and addresses him thus
： "My good young friend， love is natural； but you must love within
bounds. Divide your time： devote a portion to business ， and give the
hours of recreation to your mistress. Calculate your fortune； and out
of the superfluity you may make her a present ， only not too often ，
—— on her birthday， and such occasions." Pursuing this advice， he
may become a useful member of society ， and I should advise every prince
to give him an appointment； but it is all up with his love ， and with
his genius if he be an artist. O my friend！ why is it that the torrent
of genius so seldom bursts forth， so seldom rolls in full-flowing stream，
overwhelming your astounded soul？ Because， on either side of this stream，
cold and respectable persons have taken up their abodes ， and， forsooth，
their summer-houses and tulip-beds would suffer from the torrent； wherefore
they dig trenches ， and raise embankments betimes， in order to avert
the impending danger.
MAY 27. I find I have fallen into raptures， declamation， and similes，
and have forgotten， in consequence ， to tell you what became of the
children. Absorbed in my artistic contemplations， which I briefly described
in my letter of yesterday ， I continued sitting on the plough for two
hours. Toward evening a young woman ， with a basket on her arm ， came
running toward the children ， who had not moved all that time. She exclaimed
from a distance ， "You are a good boy， Philip ！" She gave me greeting
： I returned it， rose ， and approached her. I inquired if she were
the mother of those pretty children. "Yes ，" she said； and， giving
the eldest a piece of bread ， she took the little one in her arms and
kissed it with a mother's tenderness. "I left my child in Philip's care
，" she said ， "whilst I went into the town with my eldest boy to buy
some wheaten bread， some sugar ， and an earthen pot." I saw the various
articles in the basket， from which the cover had fallen. "I shall make
some broth to-night for my little Hans（which was the name of the youngest）
： that wild fellow ， the big one， broke my pot yesterday ， whilst
he was scrambling with Philip for what remained of the contents." I inquired
for the eldest； and she bad scarcely time to tell me that he was driving
a couple of geese home from the meadow， when he ran up ， and handed
Philip an osier-twig. I talked a little longer with the woman ， and found
that she was the daughter of the schoolmaster ， and that her husband
was gone on a journey into Switzerland for some money a relation had left
him. "They wanted to cheat him，" she said， "and would not answer his
letters ； so he is gone there himself. I hope he has met with no accident，
as I have heard nothing of him since his departure." I left the woman ，
with regret ， giving each of the children a kreutzer ， with an additional
one for the youngest， to buy some wheaten bread for his broth when she
went to town next ； and so we parted. I assure you ， my dear friend ，
when my thoughts are all in tumult， the sight of such a creature as this
tranquillises my disturbed mind. She moves in a happy thoughtlessness
within the confined circle of her existence ； she supplies her wants
from day to day ； and， when she sees the leaves fall， they raise no
other idea in her mind than that winter is approaching. Since that time
I have gone out there frequently. The children have become quite familiar
with me ； and each gets a lump of sugar when I drink my coffee ， and
they share my milk and bread and butter in the evening. They always receive
their kreutzer on Sundays ， for the good woman has orders to give it
to them when I do not go there after evening service. They are quite at
home with me， tell me everything ； and I am particularly amused with
observing their tempers ， and the simplicity of their behaviour， when
some of the other village children are assembled with them.
It has given me a deal of trouble to satisfy the anxiety of the mother，
lest（as she says ） "they should inconvenience the gentleman."
MAY 30. What I have lately said of painting is equally true with respect
to poetry. It is only necessary for us to know what is really excellent，
and venture to give it expression ； and that is saying much in few words.
To-day I have had a scene ， which， if literally related ， would， make
the most beautiful idyl in the world. But why should I talk of poetry
and scenes and idyls？ Can we never take pleasure in nature without having
recourse to art ？
If you expect anything grand or magnificent from this introduction，
you will be sadly mistaken. It relates merely to a peasant-lad， who has
excited in me the warmest interest. As usual， I shall tell my story badly
； and you， as usual ， will think me extravagant. It is Walheim once
more—— always Walheim —— which produces these wonderful phenomena.
A party had assembled outside the house under the linden-trees， to
drink coffee. The company did not exactly please me ； and， under one
pretext or another， I lingered behind.
A peasant came from an adjoining house， and set to work arranging
some part of the same plough which I had lately sketched. His appearance
pleased me； and I spoke to him ， inquired about his circumstances ，
made his acquaintance ， and， as is my wont with persons of that class，
was soon admitted into his confidence. He said he was in the service of
a young widow ， who set great store by him. He spoke so much of his mistress，
and praised her so extravagantly， that I could soon see he was desperately
in love with her. "She is no longer young ，" he said ： "and she was
treated so badly by her former husband that she does not mean to marry
again." From his account it was so evident what incomparable charms she
possessed for him ， and how ardently he wished she would select him to
extinguish the recollection of her first husband's misconduct ， that
I should have to repeat his own words in order to describe the depth of
the poor fellow's attachment， truth， and devotion. It would ， in fact，
require the gifts of a great poet to convey the expression of his features，
the harmony of his voice， and the heavenly fire of his eye. No words
can portray the tenderness of his every movement and of every feature
： no effort of mine could do justice to the scene. His alarm lest I should
misconceive his position with regard to his mistress， or question the
propriety of her conduct， touched me particularly. The charming manner
with which he described her form and person ， which， without possessing
the graces of youth ， won and attached him to her， is inexpressible ，
and must be left to the imagination. I have never in my life witnessed
or fancied or conceived the possibility of such intense devotion， such
ardent affections ， united with so much purity. Do not blame me if I
say that the recollection of this innocence and truth is deeply impressed
upon my very soul ； that this picture of fidelity and tenderness haunts
me everywhere ； and that my own heart， as though enkindled by the flame，
glows and burns within me.
I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can： or perhaps ， on
