双语·少年维特的烦恼 五月二十二日
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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.
五月二十二日
人生如梦，这是许多人早已有过的感受；而我呢，到哪里也会生此同感。我常?？醇说拇丛炝投床炝Χ际艿骄窒蓿晃页３？醇说囊磺谢疃际俏寺隳承┬枰庑┬枰パ映の颐强闪纳?，本身又毫无任何目的；临了，我还发现，人从某些探索结果中得到的自慰，其实只是一种梦幻者的怠惰，正如一个囚居斗室的人，把四面墙壁统统画上五彩缤纷的形象与光辉灿烂的景物一般——这一切，威廉哟，都令我哑口无言。我只好回到自己的内心，去发现一个世界！为此又更多地依靠预感与朦胧的渴望，而不依靠创造与活力。这一来，一切对于我的感官都是游移不定的；我也如在梦里似的，继续对着世界微笑。
大大小小的学究们一致断定，小孩儿是不知何所欲求的；岂止小孩儿，成人们还不是在地球上东奔西闯，同样不清楚自己打哪儿来，往哪儿去，同样干起事来漫无目的，同样受着饼干、蛋糕和桦木鞭子的支配。这个道理谁都不肯相信，但我想却是显而易见。
因为我知道你听了会说些什么，我乐于向你承认：我认为，那些能像小孩儿似的懵懵懂懂过日子的人，他们是最幸福的。他们也跟小孩儿一样拖着自己的布娃娃四处跑，把它们的衣服脱掉又穿上，穿上又脱掉，不然就乖乖儿围着妈妈藏甜点心的抽屉转来转去；终于如愿以偿了，便满嘴满腮地大嚼起来，一边嚷嚷着：还要！还要！——这才是幸福的人啰?；褂幸恢秩耍歉约旱奈蘖墓吹币灾劣钕氤鲋种制脸坪?，美其名曰为人类造福的伟大事业；他们也是幸福的。——愿上帝赐福给这样的人吧！可是，谁要虚怀若谷，正视这一切将会有怎样的结果；谁要能看见每一个殷实市民如何循规蹈矩，善于将自己的小小花园变成天国，而不幸者也甘负重荷，继续气喘吁吁地行进在人生的道路上，并且人人同样渴望多见一分钟阳光——是的，谁能认识到和看到这些，他也会心安理得，自己为自己创造一个世界，并且为生而为人感到幸福。这样，他尽管处处受着限制，内心却永远怀着甜滋滋的自由感觉：因为只要他愿意，他随时可以离开这座监狱。
