少年維特的煩惱
地道英文
作者:by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
《少年維特的煩惱》是第一部讓歌德在德國幾乎一夜成名的小說。本書於1774年秋天在萊比錫書籍展覽會上麵世,並在那裏成了暢銷書。由此而來的成功給歌德的一生帶來了名譽和財富。歌德(1749—1832)是德國近代傑出的詩人、作家和思想家。世人公認他是繼但丁和莎士比亞之後西方精神文明最為卓越的代表。
這是一部以第一人稱寫就的書信體小說,帶有濃烈的自傳色彩。小說的情節十分簡單:年輕的維特來到一個小鎮,在一次舞會上愛上一個叫綠蒂的少女,但她已與維特好友訂婚。維特陷入了尷尬和痛苦,毅然離開,力圖從事業上得到解脫,卻並不如意,當重返綠蒂身邊時,發現綠蒂已結婚,決定以死殉情,遂用一支手槍結束了自己的生命。
《少年維特的煩惱》長期以來都是世界許多國家推薦給本國青少年的必讀書。維特的煩惱代表的正是“戀愛大過天”的青少年的心聲。故事中的維特以自殺的激烈方式來結束單戀之苦,而現實中的歌德則是醉心寫作,以抵消愛情的痛苦,並使自己從自殺的念頭中擺脫出來,最終一夜成名。愛情,可能是毀滅,也可能是成全,隻在於一念之差。
SEPTEMBER 10
Oh, what a night, Wilhelm! I can henceforth bear anything. I shall never see her again. Oh, why cannot I fall on your neck, and, with floods of tears and 1)raptures, give 2)utterance to all the passions which distract my heart! Here I sit gasping for breath, and struggling to compose myself. I wait for day, and at sunrise the horses are to be at the door.
And she is sleeping calmly, little suspecting that she has seen me for the last time. I am free. I have had the courage, in an interview of two hours’ duration, not to betray my intention. And O Wilhelm, what a conversation it was!
Albert had promised to come to Charlotte in the garden immediately after supper. I was upon the terrace under the tall chestnut trees, and watched the setting sun. I saw him sink for the last time beneath this delightful valley and silent stream. I had often visited the same spot with Charlotte, and witnessed that glorious sight; and now—I was walking up and down the very avenue which was so dear to me. A secret sympathy had frequently drawn me 3)thither before I knew Charlotte; and we were delighted when, in our early 4)acquaintance, we discovered that we each loved the same spot, which is indeed as romantic as any that ever captivated the fancy of an artist.
ENgLISH INKWELL地道英文
From beneath the chestnut trees, there is an extensive view. But I remember that I have mentioned all this in a former letter, and have described the tall mass of beech trees at the end, and how the avenue grows darker and darker as it winds its way among them, till it ends in a gloomy 5)recess, which has all the charm of a mysterious solitude. I still remember the strange feeling of 6)melancholy which came over me the first time I entered that dark retreat, at bright midday. I felt some secret 7)foreboding that it would, one day, be to me the scene of some happiness or misery.
I had spent half an hour struggling between the contending thoughts of going and returning, when I heard them coming up the terrace. I ran to meet them. I trembled as I took her hand, and kissed it. As we reached the top of the terrace, the moon rose from behind the wooded hill. We conversed on many subjects, and, without perceiving it, approached the gloomy recess. Charlotte entered, and sat down. Albert seated himself beside her. I did the same, but my 8)agitation did not suffer me to remain long seated. I got up, and stood before her, then walked backward and forward, and sat down again. I was restless and miserable. Charlotte drew our attention to the beautiful effect of the moonlight, which threw a silver hue over the terrace in front of us, beyond the beech trees. It was a glorious sight, and was rendered more striking by the darkness which surrounded the spot where we were. We remained for some time silent, when Charlotte observed, “Whenever I walk by moonlight, it brings to my remembrance all my beloved and departed friends, and I am filled with thoughts of death and 9)futurity. We shall live again, Werther!” she continued, with a firm but feeling voice; “But shall we know one another again, do you think? What do you say?”
“Charlotte,” I said, as I took her hand in mine, and my eyes filled with tears, “we shall see each other again—here and hereafter we shall meet again.” I could say no more. Why, Wilhelm, should she put this question to me, just at the moment when the fear of our cruel separation filled my heart?