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The Sorrows of Young Werther
by J。W。 von Goethe
Translated by Thomas Carlyle and R。D。 Boylan
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