双语 ● The Sorrows of Young Werther 少年维特之烦恼
The Sorrows of Young Werther 少年维特之烦恼
◎ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
JULY 16.
七月十六日
How my heart beats when by accident I touch her finger, or my feet meet hers under the table! I draw back as if from a furnace; but a secret force impels me forward again, and my senses become disordered. Her innocent, unconscious heart never knows what agony these little familiarities inflict upon me. Sometimes when we are talking she lays her hand upon mine, and in the eagerness of conversation comes closer to me, and her balmy breath reaches my lips, —when I feel as if lightning had struck me, and that I could sink into the earth. And yet, Wilhelm, with all this heavenly confidence, —if I know myself, and should ever dare—you understand me. No, no! My heart is not so corrupt, it is weak, weak enough but is not that a degree of corruption?
当我偶然触碰到她的手指，我们的双脚在桌子下相遇时，我的心跳加速了！我就像碰到火似地退缩了。然而，一股神奇的力量促使我继续着，我的思绪凌乱了。她那颗天真无知的心从未意识到，这些毫不起眼的亲密举动对我来说却是一种折磨。聊天时她偶尔会把手搭在我的手上，聊天的渴望让她坐得离我越来越近，她的呼吸仿佛都充满了芳香，扑向我的嘴唇，我感觉就像是被闪电击中，整个身体都要沉到地底下去了。可是，威廉，如果早知道自己有极好的自信心，我就该……你应该能够理解我的。不，不！我的心不像是会这么堕落的呀，它只是有点软弱，只是软弱而已，还不至于到达堕落的程度吧？
She is to me a sacred being. All passion is still in her presence: I cannot express my sensations when I am near her. I feel as if my soul beat in every nerve of my body. There is a melody which she plays on the piano with angelic skill, —so simple is it, and yet so spiritual! It is her favorite air; and, when she plays the first note, all pain, care, and sorrow disappear from me in a moment.
对我来说，她就是一个不可冒犯的女神。在她面前，我所有的激情都在那一刻安静：当我靠近她时，我无法表达心中所感。我感觉我的灵魂正在我体内的每根神经上跳动。她用天使般的技艺弹奏着一首动听的钢琴曲，——简单却能触及心灵。那是她最爱的曲子，当第一个音符从她的指尖飞出时，我所有的痛苦、担心、悲伤便在顷刻间消失得无影无踪。
I believe every word that is said of the magic of ancient music. How her simple song enchants me! Sometimes, when I am ready to commit suicide, she sings that air; and instantly the gloom and madness which hung over me are dispersed, and I breathe freely again.
每一个关于古老乐曲具有魔力的说法我都深信不疑。她弹奏的这首简单的乐曲就能让我着迷！每当我想要轻生的时候，她就会唱起那首歌。于是，那些缠着我不放的阴郁和疯狂就会立即消失不见，我又能自由地呼吸了。
JULY 18.
七月十八日
Wilhelm, what is the world to our hearts without love? What is a magic-lantern without light? You have but to kindle the flame within, and the brightest figures shine on the white wall; and, if love only show us fleeting shadows, we are yet happy, when, like mere children, we behold them, and are transported with the splendid phantoms. I have not been able to see Charlotte to-day. I was prevented by company from which I could not disengage myself. What was to be done? I sent my servant to her house, that I might at least see somebody to-day who had been near her. Oh, the impatience with which I waited for his return! The joy with which I welcomed him! I should certainly have caught him in my arms, and kissed him, if I had not been ashamed.
威廉啊，没有爱的世界对我们而言会是什么呢？没有光亮的魔灯又会是什么呢？你必须燃起里面的火焰，这样最鲜亮的图像就会映在那面洁白无瑕的墙上了。即使爱留给我们的只是转瞬即逝的幻影，我们还是会感到幸福，我们就像孩子似地拥抱着它，为这个辉煌的幻影激动万分。今天我不能去见夏洛特了，因为我有个约会不得不去。这该怎么办呢？我派了仆人到她家去，这样今天我至少能见到一个曾经近距离接触过她的人。噢！等待仆人的归来让我焦躁不已！我见到他时该有多高兴啊！如果我不那么害羞的话，我想我肯定会用双臂拥抱他，然后亲吻他。
It is said that the Bonona stone, when placed in the sun, attracts the rays, and for a time appears luminous in the dark. So was it with me and this servant. The idea that Charlotte’s eyes had dwelt on his countenance, his cheek, his very apparel, endeared them all inestimably to me, so that at the moment I would not have parted from him for a thousand crowns. His presence made me so happy! Beware of laughing at me, Wilhelm. Can that be a delusion which makes us happy?
曾经听人们提起过博洛纳石头，当置于太阳底下时它能吸收阳光，过了一会儿就能在黑暗中闪闪发亮了。所以，在我眼中我的仆人就像是博洛纳石头。我觉得夏洛特的眼神曾在他的表情，他的脸颊，他的衣服上停留过，这种感觉让一切变得珍贵起来。此时此刻，即使有人愿意给我一千个皇冠，我也不会把他让出去。他的存在让我感到无比快乐！威廉，你可别笑我啊！难道这就是能够让我们幸福的幻影？
AUGUST 8.
八月八日
Believe me, dear Wilhelm, I did not allude to you when I spoke so severely of those who advise resignation to inevitable fate. I did not think it possible for you to indulge such a sentiment. But in fact you are right. I only suggest one objection. In this world one is seldom reduced to make a selection between two alternatives. There are as many varieties of conduct and opinion as there are turns of feature between an aquiline nose and a flat one.
亲爱的威廉，请相信我，当我大声呵斥那些让我们屈服于命运的人们时，我并非指你。我从未想过你也持有类似的观点。可事实上你是正确的。我只反对一点。在这个世界上，“非此即彼”的选择是少之又少的。世间的行为和观点多种多样，就像鹰钩鼻和扁平鼻之间的区别一样，数不胜数。
You will, therefore, permit me to concede your entire argument, and yet contrive means to escape your dilemma.
然而，如果我承认你的整套理论都是正确的，却又千方百计想要逃出你“进退两难”的窘境，你不会怪我吧？
Your position is this, I hear you say: “Either you have hopes of obtaining Charlotte, or you have none. Well, in the first case, pursue your course, and press on to the fulfillment of your wishes. In the second, be a man, and shake off a miserable passion, which will enervate and destroy you.” My dear friend, this is well and easily said.
你的态度是这样的，我听到你说：“你要么对夏洛特抱有希望，要么就不抱任何希望。那么，第一种情况，你必须坚持你的追求，奋力前进让自己美梦成真。第二种情况，做个真正的男子汉，抛开那些痛苦的、让你变得脆弱甚至会毁掉你的情感。”我亲爱的朋友，你说得很好、很干脆。
But would you require a wretched being, whose life is slowly wasting under a lingering disease, to dispatch himself at once by the stroke of a dagger? Does not the very disorder which consumes his strength deprive him of the courage to affect his deliverance?
但是，假如一个不幸的人正在被日益恶化的疾病慢慢耗去生命时，你能劝他用匕首给自己一刀，从而永远地结束这种痛苦吗？病痛带走的不仅是他的精力，也带走了他自我了断的勇气。
You may answer me, if you please, with a similar analogy, "Who would not prefer the amputation of an arm to the periling of life by doubt and procrastination!" But I know not if I am right, and let us leave these comparisons.
如果高兴的话，你还会用一个类似的比喻回答我，“与其犹豫不决、瞻前顾后，用自己的生命当赌注，还不如舍弃一条胳膊！”我不知道自己是不是对的，那我们就暂时将这些比喻句放在一旁吧！
Enough! There are moments, Wilhelm, when I could rise up and shake it all off, and when, if I only knew where to go, I could fly from this place.
够了！威廉，有些时候，我也有重新振作并甩掉这些情感包袱的勇气。如果我知道我该去向何方，我就会飞离这儿。
THE SAME EVENING.
八月八日晚上
My diary, which I have for some time neglected, came before me today; and I am amazed to see how deliberately I have entangled myself step by step. To have seen my position so clearly, and yet to have acted so like a child! Even still I behold the result plainly, and yet have no thought of acting with greater prudence.
我已经好长时间没有写日记了，今天我想写点什么。我惊奇地发现自己竟是故意一步步地陷入目前的境地中。我十分清楚自己的处境，可我的行为却像小孩一样幼稚。我甚至连最终的结局也看得清清楚楚，可我仍旧不愿做一些让结局变好的举动。
