AUGUST 10.

If I were not a fool, I could spend the happiest and most delightful life here. So many agreeable circumstances, and of a kind to ensure a worthy man’s happiness, are seldom united. Alas! I feel it too sensibly,—the heart alone makes our happiness! To be admitted into this most charming family, to be loved by the father as a son, by the children as a father, and by Lotte! then the noble Albert, who never disturbs my happiness by any appearance of ill-humour, receiving me with the heartiest affection, and loving me, next to Lotte, better than all the world! Wilhelm, you would be delighted to hear us in our rambles, and conversations about Lotte. Nothing in the world can be more absurd than our connection, and yet the thought of it often moves me to tears.

He tells me sometimes of her excellent mother; how, upon her deathbed, she had committed her house and children to Lotte, and had given Lotte herself in charge to him; how, since that time, a new spirit had taken possession of her; how, in care and anxiety for their welfare, she became a real mother to them; how every moment of her time was devoted to some labour of love in their behalf,—and yet her mirth and cheerfulness had never forsaken her. I walk by his side, pluck flowers by the way, arrange them carefully into a nosegay, then fling them into the first stream I pass, and watch them as they float gently away. I forget whether I told you that Albert is to remain here. He has received a government appointment, with a very good salary; and I understand he is in high favour at court. I have met few persons so punctual and methodical in business.

八月十日

我若不是个傻瓜，本可以过最幸福、最美满的生活。像我目前所处的这样一个令人心旷神怡的环境，是很不容易凑齐的。是啊，常言道得好：人之幸福，全在于心之幸福。我是这个和睦家庭中的一员，老人爱我如儿子，孩子们爱我如父亲，而且还有绿蒂！就说诚恳的阿尔伯特吧，他也不以任何乖僻来破坏我的幸福，而是以其亲切友善来拥抱我；对于他说来，除去绿蒂我就是世界上最亲爱的人了。——威廉，你听听我俩散步时是怎样谈绿蒂的吧，这会叫你愉快的。在世间，恐怕找不出比我们这种关系更可笑的了；然而我却常常被它感动得热泪盈眶。

阿尔伯特曾对我讲绿蒂可敬的母亲，讲她临终前如何把自己的家和孩子们托付给了绿蒂，如何又叮嘱他对绿蒂加以关照；讲到自那以后，绿蒂如何完全变成了另一个人，兢兢业业执掌家务，对孩子们爱护备至，无时无刻不在为他们操劳，俨然是一位母亲；但尽管如此，又从来不改活泼愉快的天性。我和阿尔伯特并肩走着，不时地弯下腰去采摘路旁的鲜花，用它们精心扎成一个花环，然后——我把花环抛进了从面前流过的溪水里，目送着它缓缓向下游漂去……

我记不清有没有告诉你，阿尔伯特将留下来，在此间的侯爵府中获得一个待遇优厚的差事；侯爵府上的人很器重他。像他这样办事精细勤谨的人，我见得不多。