JUNE 16.
6月16日。

“Why do I not write to you?” You lay claim to learning, and ask such a question.
“为什么我不写信给你？” 你声称自己很有学问，然后问这样的问题。 —

You should have guessed that I am well – that is to say – in a word, I have made an acquaintance who has won my heart:
你应该猜到我过得很好 - 换句话说 - 总之，我结识了一个赢得了我的心的人： —

I have – I know not.
我有 - 我不知道。

To give you a regular account of the manner in which I have become acquainted with the most amiable of women would be a difficult task.
要给你一个关于我如何结识这位最可爱的女子的详细描述是一项困难的任务。 —

I am a happy and contented mortal, but a poor historian.
我是一个快乐和满足的凡人，但是一个拙劣的历史学家。

An angel! Nonsense! Everybody so describes his mistress;
一个天使！胡说八道！每个人都这样描述他的情人； —

and yet I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is, or why she is so perfect:
然而，我无法告诉你她是多么完美，或者为什么她如此完美： —

suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses.
仅仅可以说她迷住了我所有的感官。

So much simplicity with so much understanding – so mild, and yet so resolute – a mind so placid, and a life so active.
如此简单，如此理解——如此温和，又如此坚决——心灵如此宁静，生活却如此活跃。

But all this is ugly balderdash, which expresses not a single character nor feature.
但这全都是乌托邦，无法表达出任何性格或特征。 —

Some other time – but no, not some other time, now, this very instant, will I tell you all about it.
另一个时间我会告诉你——不，不是另一个时间，是现在，此刻，我将告诉你一切。 —

Now or never.
现在要么永远不会。 —

Well, between ourselves, since I commenced my letter, I have been three times on the point of throwing down my pen, of ordering my horse, and riding out.
好吧，在我们俩之间说，我写这封信时，我已经三次放下了我的笔，叫来了我的马，准备骑出去。 —

And yet I vowed this morning that I would not ride to-day, and yet every moment I am rushing to the window to see how high the sun is.
然而，今天早上我发誓我不会去骑马，然而每一刻我都会冲向窗口看太阳有多高。

I could not restrain myself – go to her I must.
我无法控制自己——我必须去见她。 —

I have just returned, Wilhelm;
我刚刚回来，威廉； —

and whilst I am taking supper I will write to you.
晚餐的时候我会给你写信。 —

What a delight it was for my soul to see her in the midst of her dear, beautiful children, – eight brothers and sisters!
对我的灵魂来说是多么的愉悦能够见到她，与她亲爱而美丽的孩子们在一起——八个兄弟姐妹！

But, if I proceed thus, you will be no wiser at the end of my letter than you were at the beginning.
但如果我继续这样写下去，你在我信的结尾将会和在开头时一样不明白。 —

Attend, then, and I will compel myself to give you the details.
那么，请出席，我将强迫自己提供给你细节。

I mentioned to you the other day that I had become acquainted with S–, the district judge, and that he had invited me to go and visit him in his retirement, or rather in his little kingdom.
前几天我向你提到，我认识了S，地方法官，并且他邀请我去访问他的退休之地，或者更确切地说，是他的小王国。 —

But I neglected going, and perhaps should never have gone, if chance had not discovered to me the treasure which lay concealed in that retired spot.
但是我没有去，也许如果机缘没有让我在那个隐蔽之地发现宝藏，我可能永远都不会去。 —

Some of our young people had proposed giving a ball in the country, at which I consented to be present.
我们的一些年轻人提议在乡村举办一个舞会，我同意参加。 —

I offered my hand for the evening to a pretty and agreeable, but rather commonplace, sort of girl from the immediate neighbourhood;
我向邻近地区的一位漂亮而富有魅力但有些平凡的姑娘提出了邀请。 —

and it was agreed that I should engage a carriage, and call upon Charlotte, with my partner and her aunt, to convey them to the ball.
大家都同意我应该租辆马车，带着我的舞伴和她的阿姨去接夏洛特，然后将他们送去舞会。 —

My companion informed me, as we drove along through the park to the hunting-lodge, that I should make the acquaintance of a very charming young lady.
当我们穿过公园前往猎舍的路上，我的同伴告诉我，我将结识一个非常迷人的年轻女士。 —

“Take care,” added the aunt, “that you do not lose your heart.” “Why?” said I. “Because she is already engaged to a very worthy man,” she replied, “who is gone to settle his affairs upon the death of his father, and will succeed to a very considerable inheritance.” This information possessed no interest for me.
“请注意,” 姑姑补充道， “别让你的心丢失了。” “为什么呢？” 我问道。 “因为她已经与一个非常有品德的男人订婚了，” 她回答说， “他的父亲去世后去处理自己的事务了，他将继承一笔相当可观的遗产。” 这个消息对我来说没有什么兴趣。 —

When we arrived at the gate, the sun was setting behind the tops of the mountains.
当我们到达大门时，太阳正在山顶后面落山。 —

The atmosphere was heavy;
天气沉闷， —

and the ladies expressed their fears of an approaching storm, as masses of low black clouds were gathering in the horizon.
女士们表示担心即将来临的暴风雨，因为地平线上聚集着一块块低黑云。 —

I relieved their anxieties by pretending to be weather-wise, although I myself had some apprehensions lest our pleasure should be interrupted.
我假装懂气象学来缓解她们的担忧，尽管我自己也担心我们的愉快可能会被打断。

I alighted; and a maid came to the door, and requested us to wait a moment for her mistress.
我下车了；一个女仆走到门口，请我们等一会儿她的女主人。 —

I walked across the court to a well-built house, and, ascending the flight of steps in front, opened the door, and saw before me the most charming spectacle I had ever witnessed.
我穿过庭院来到一座建得很好的房子前，走上前面的台阶，打开了门，眼前出现了我见过的最迷人的景象。 —

Six children, from eleven to two years old, were running about the hall, and surrounding a lady of middle height, with a lovely figure, dressed in a robe of simple white, trimmed with pink ribbons.
有六个孩子，年龄从十一岁到两岁不等，在大厅里跑来跑去，围着一个身材高挑、身穿一件简单的白色袍子、用粉红色丝带装饰的女士。 —

She was holding a rye loaf in her hand, and was cutting slices for the little ones all around, in proportion to their age and appetite.
她手里拿着一条黑麦面包，正按照孩子们的年龄和胃口切片给他们分发。 —

She performed her task in a graceful and affectionate manner;
她优雅而亲切地完成着她的任务； —

each claimant awaiting his turn with outstretched hands, and boisterously shouting his thanks.
每个孩子都伸出双手等待自己的轮到，并兴高采烈地感谢她。 —

Some of them ran away at once, to enjoy their evening meal;
其中一些孩子立刻跑开去享用他们的晚餐； —

whilst others, of a gentler disposition, retired to the courtyard to see the strangers, and to survey the carriage in which their Charlotte was to drive away.
而另一些性格温和的孩子则退到院子里去看陌生人，并观察着要载走他们的夏洛特的马车。 —

“Pray forgive me for giving you the trouble to come for me, and for keeping the ladies waiting:
“请原谅我给您添麻烦了，让您等候，还有让这些女士们等候： —

but dressing, and arranging some household duties before I leave, had made me forget my children’s supper;
但是在我离开之前，我先要给孩子们做晚饭、料理一些家务事情，所以忘记了。” —

and they do not like to take it from any one but me.” I uttered some indifferent compliment:
“而且他们不愿意接受任何人的照顾，除了我。”我随意地说了句敷衍的赞美。 —

but my whole soul was absorbed by her air, her voice, her manner;
但我的整个心灵都沉浸在她的风采、声音和举止之中； —

and I had scarcely recovered myself when she ran into her room to fetch her gloves and fan.
等她刚走进房间拿手套和扇子时，我才稍微恢复了自己。 —

The young ones threw inquiring glances at me from a distance; whilst I approached the youngest, a most delicious little creature. He drew back;
远处的小家伙们投来好奇的目光，而我走近了最小的一个，一个非常可爱的小家伙。他往后退了一步； —

and Charlotte, entering at the very moment, said, “Louis, shake hands with your cousin.” The little fellow obeyed willingly;
正好夏洛特进来的时候说道：“路易斯，和你的表亲握手吧。”小家伙心甘情愿地照做了； —

and I could not resist giving him a hearty kiss, notwithstanding his rather dirty face.
尽管他脸有点脏，但我还是忍不住给了他一个热烈的亲吻。 —

“Cousin,” said I to Charlotte, as I handed her down, “do you think I deserve the happiness of being related to you?” She replied, with a ready smile, “Oh!
“表亲，”我搀扶着夏洛特下楼时说，“你觉得我有幸和你有亲戚关系吗？”她笑着回答：“哦！ —

I have such a number of cousins, that I should be sorry if you were the most undeserving of them.” In taking leave, she desired her next sister, Sophy, a girl about eleven years old, to take great care of the children, and to say good-bye to papa for her when he came home from his ride.
我有这么多表亲，如果你是他们当中最不值得的那一个，我会很难过的。”她离开时请求她的妹妹Sophy，一个大约十一岁的女孩，好好照顾孩子们，并代她向爸爸道别，当他骑马回家时。 —

She enjoined to the little ones to obey their sister Sophy as they would herself, upon which some promised that they would;
她吩咐小孩们服从Sophy，就像服从她一样，其中一些孩子保证会服从。 —

but a little fair-haired girl, about six years old, looked discontented, and said, “But Sophy is not you, Charlotte;
但是一个大约六岁的金发小女孩皱起眉头说：“但是Sophy不是你，Charlotte； —

and we like you best.” The two eldest boys had clambered up the carriage; and, at my request, she permitted them to accompany us a little way through the forest, upon their promising to sit very still, and hold fast.
我们最喜欢你。”两个最大的男孩爬上了车厢，经我的请求，她允许他们陪我们走一小段林子，只要他们保持安静并且牢牢抓住。

We were hardly seated, and the ladies had scarcely exchanged compliments, making the usual remarks upon each other’s dress, and upon the company they expected to meet, when Charlotte stopped the carriage, and made her brothers get down.
我们刚刚坐下，女士们也刚刚互致问候、评论对方的着装以及他们所期待的跟会的人，Charlotte就停下了车，并叫她的兄弟们下车。 —

They insisted upon kissing her hands once more;
他们坚持要再次亲吻她的手， —

which the eldest did with all the tenderness of a youth of fifteen, but the other in a lighter and more careless manner.
长子以一个十五岁青年的温柔方式，而另一个则更加轻松和不在意。 —

She desired them again to give her love to the children, and we drove off.
她又让他们代她向孩子们问好，我们就开车走了。

The aunt inquired of Charlotte whether she had finished the book she had last sent her.
姑姑问夏洛特是否已经看完了上次她送给她的书。”没有，” —

“No,” said Charlotte; “I did not like it:
夏洛特说，”我不喜欢它。” —

you can have it again. And the one before was not much better.” I was surprised, upon asking the title, to hear that it was ____.
你可以再拿一次。而且上一次的也没好到哪儿去。” 当我问到题目时，听到它是什么我感到很惊讶。 —

(We feel obliged to suppress the passage in the letter, to prevent any one from feeling aggrieved;
（我们感到有义务删除信中的这一段，以免任何人感到委屈； —

although no author need pay much attention to the opinion of a mere girl, or that of an unsteady young man.)
虽然作家不必特别关注一个普通女孩的意见，或者一个不稳定的年轻人的意见。

I found penetration and character in everything she said:
我发现她的每一句话都很犀利有力，并且充满了个性： —

every expression seemed to brighten her features with new charms, –with new rays of genius, – which unfolded by degrees, as she felt herself understood.
每个表情都似乎为她的容颜增添了新的魅力， - 新的天才的光芒， - 渐渐展现出来，当她感受到被理解时。

“When I was younger,” she observed, “I loved nothing so much as romances.
“当我年轻的时候，”她说，“我最喜欢的就是浪漫小说。 —

Nothing could equal my delight when, on some holiday, I could settle down quietly in a corner, and enter with my whole heart and soul into the joys or sorrows of some fictitious Leonora.
当我有假期时，无论是快乐还是悲伤，我都能安静地坐在一角，全心全意地投入到一位虚构的莉奥诺拉的喜悦或悲痛中。 —

I do not deny that they even possess some charms for me yet.
我不否认它们现在仍然对我有一些魅力。 —

But I read so seldom, that I prefer books suited exactly to my taste.
但我读书很少，所以我更喜欢完全符合我的口味的书籍。 —

And I like those authors best whose scenes describe my own situation in life, – and the friends who are about me, whose stories touch me with interest, from resembling my own homely existence, – which, without being absolutely paradise, is, on the whole, a source of indescribable happiness.”
我最喜欢那些将我的生活情况描绘出来的作家，还有那些围绕着我的朋友，他们的故事让我感到兴趣，因为它们类似于我自己平凡的存在，虽然不是绝对的天堂，但总体上给我带来难以言喻的幸福。

I endeavoured to conceal the emotion which these words occasioned, but it was of slight avail;
我努力掩饰这些话引起的情绪，但并不成功； —

for, when she had expressed so truly her opinion of “The Vicar of Wakefield,” and of other works, the names of which I omit (Though the names are omitted, yet the authors mentioned deserve Charlotte’s approbation, and will feel it in their hearts when they read this passage.
因为，当她如此真实地表达了她对《韦克菲尔德牧师》和其他一些作品的看法时（尽管这些作品的名字没有提到，但是提及的作者应该接受夏洛特的赞同，当他们读到这一段时，他们的内心将有所感触。 —

It concerns no other person.), I could no longer contain myself, but gave full utterance to what I thought of it:
这与其他人无关。），我再也无法控制自己，完全表达了我对这部作品的看法： —

and it was not until Charlotte had addressed herself to the two other ladies, that I remembered their presence, and observed them sitting mute with astonishment.
直到夏洛特向另外两位女士说话时，我才想起她们的存在，并注意到她们惊讶地坐在那里没有说话。 —

The aunt looked at me several times with an air of raillery, which, however, I did not at all mind.
这位姑姑笑了几次看着我，不过我一点也不介意。

We talked of the pleasures of dancing.
我们谈论了跳舞的乐趣。夏洛特说： —

“If it is a fault to love it,” said Charlotte, “I am ready to confess that I prize it above all other amusements.
“如果爱上跳舞是个错，我愿意承认我把它看得比其他所有娱乐都重要。” —

If anything disturbs me, I go to the piano, play an air to which I have danced, and all goes right again directly.”
如果有什么事情让我烦恼，我会去钢琴旁边，演奏曾经跳过的舞曲，然后一切都会马上变好。

You, who know me, can fancy how steadfastly I gazed upon her rich dark eyes during these remarks, how my very soul gloated over her warm lips and fresh, glowing cheeks, how I became quite lost in the delightful meaning of her words, so much so, that I scarcely heard the actual expressions.
你了解我，你可以想象我是怎样凝视她那深邃的黑眼睛，在她温暖的嘴唇和红润的脸颊上陶醉，我对她的话语意义如此愉悦，以至于我几乎没有听到实际的表达。 —

In short, I alighted from the carriage like a person in a dream, and was so lost to the dim world around me, that I scarcely heard the music which resounded from the illuminated ballroom.
简而言之，我像在梦中一样从马车上下来，对四周的昏暗世界完全陌生，以至于我几乎没有注意到从灯光照耀的舞厅里传来的音乐。

The two Messrs. Andran and a certain N. N. (I cannot trouble myself with the names), who were the aunt’s and Charlotte’s partners, received us at the carriage-door, and took possession of their ladies, whilst I followed with mine.
两位Andran先生和某个N.N.（我无心烦恼姓名）是阿姨和夏洛特的舞伴，他们在车门口迎接我们，然后带走了自己的女士，而我则跟着我的女士走了。

We commenced with a minuet.
我们开始跳了一个民族舞。 —

I led out one lady after another, and precisely those who were the most disagreeable could not bring themselves to leave off.
我领着一位又一位女士，而那些最讨厌的人却不能让自己停下来。 —

Charlotte and her partner began an English country dance, and you must imagine my delight when it was their turn to dance the figure with us.
夏洛特和她的舞伴开始跳了一个英国乡村舞，当他们轮到与我们跳舞的时候，你一定可以想象出我的喜悦。 —

You should see Charlotte dance.
你应该看到夏洛特跳舞。她舞姿动人，充满了和谐、优雅和优美的气质， —

She dances with her whole heart and soul:
仿佛她意识到没有别的事情，并且没有其他的想法和感觉。 —

her figure is all harmony, elegance, and grace, as if she were conscious of nothing else, and had no other thought or feeling;
毫无疑问，那一刻，其他的感觉都消失了。 —

and, doubtless, for the moment, every other sensation is extinct.
她被安排了第二个乡村舞，但是她答应我会在第三个舞中和我一起跳，并以非常愉快的态度告诉我她非常喜欢华尔兹。

She was engaged for the second country dance, but promised me the third, and assured me, with the most agreeable freedom, that she was very fond of waltzing.
请看到夏洛特跳舞。她全心全意地跳舞，她的身姿完美协调，优雅动人，好像她什么都没有意识到，也没有其他的想法或感觉；所以，毫无疑问，此刻每一个感觉都烟消云散。 —

“It is the custom here,” she said, “for the previous partners to waltz together;
“这里的习俗是，前任舞伴会一同跳华尔兹； —

but my partner is an indifferent waltzer, and will feel delighted if I save him the trouble.
但是我的舞伴并不擅长跳华尔兹，如果我能替他省去麻烦他会感到高兴。 —

Your partner is not allowed to waltz, and, indeed, is equally incapable: but I observed during the country dance that you waltz well;
你的舞伴不被允许跳华尔兹，他也同样不擅长；但是我在之前的乡村舞会上观察到你跳华尔兹的技艺很好； —

so, if you will waltz with me, I beg you would propose it to my partner, and I will propose it to yours.” We agreed, and it was arranged that our partners should mutually entertain each other.
所以如果你愿意和我跳华尔兹，我请求你向我的舞伴提议，我会向你的舞伴提议。”我们互相同意了，商定让我们的舞伴彼此交谈。

We set off, and, at first, delighted ourselves with the usual graceful motions of the arms.
我们开始，起初，我们以优雅的手臂动作使自己感到愉悦。 —

With what grace, with what ease, she moved!
她是何等的优雅，何等的轻松！ —

When the waltz commenced, and the dancers whirled around each other in the giddy maze, there was some confusion, owing to the incapacity of some of the dancers.
华尔兹开始时，舞者们在眼花缭乱的迷宫中旋转，由于一些舞者的能力不足，出现了一些混乱。 —

We judiciously remained still, allowing the others to weary themselves;
我们明智地保持不动，让其他人自己消耗体力； —

and, when the awkward dancers had withdrawn, we joined in, and kept it up famously together with one other couple, – Andran and his partner.
当尴尬的舞者们退场后，我们加入其中，与另一对情侣-安德兰和他的伴侣精彩地跳起舞来。 —

Never did I dance more lightly.
我从未如此轻盈地跳舞过。 —

I felt myself more than mortal, holding this loveliest of creatures in my arms, flying, with her as rapidly as the wind, till I lost sight of every other object;
我感觉自己不再是凡人，紧紧抱着这个最美的女子，与她一起犹如风一般飞舞，直到我失去了对其他物体的视线。 —

and O Wilhelm, I vowed at that moment, that a maiden whom I loved, or for whom I felt the slightest attachment, never, never should waltz with any one else but with me, if I went to perdition for it!
哦，威廉，那一刻我发誓，我所爱或我有丝毫倾心的少女，永远，永远不会与他人一起华尔兹，即使为此我要付出灭顶之灾！ —

– you will understand this.
你会明白的。

We took a few turns in the room to recover our breath.
我们在房间里转了几个圈子以恢复呼吸。 —

Charlotte sat down, and felt refreshed by partaking of some oranges which I had had secured, – the only ones that had been left;
夏洛特坐下来，吃了一些我特意准备的橙子-房间里唯一剩下的橙子； —

but at every slice which, from politeness, she offered to her neighbours, I felt as though a dagger went through my heart.
但每次她从礼貌上向周围的人递出一片，我感觉仿佛一把匕首穿过了我的心。

We were the second couple in the third country dance.
我们是第三个国家舞的第二对情侣。 —

As we were going down (and Heaven knows with what ecstasy I gazed at her arms and eyes, beaming with the sweetest feeling of pure and genuine enjoyment), we passed a lady whom I had noticed for her charming expression of countenance;
当我们走下舞台时，我兴奋地凝视着她的手臂和眼睛，满怀着纯粹和真实的愉悦感，世上无人比她更可爱。 —

although she was no longer young.
虽然她已经不再年轻， —

She looked at Charlotte with a smile, then, holding up her finger in a threatening attitude, repeated twice in a very significant tone of voice the name of “Albert.”
但我注意到她迷人的表情。她微笑着看着夏洛特，然后举起手指，以威胁的姿态重复了两次“阿尔伯特”这个名字，语调非常重要。

“Who is Albert,” said I to Charlotte, “if it is not impertinent to ask?” She was about to answer, when we were obliged to separate, in order to execute a figure in the dance;
“阿尔伯特是谁？”我问夏洛特，“如果问这个问题不不礼貌的话。”她正要回答时，我们被迫分开，以执行舞蹈中的一个动作。 —

and, as we crossed over again in front of each other, I perceived she looked somewhat pensive.
当我们再次面对面穿过彼此时，我觉得她有点忧郁。 —

“Why need I conceal it from you?” she said, as she gave me her hand for the promenade.
“为什么我要对你隐瞒呢？”她说着，递给我她的手进行舞步。 —

“Albert is a worthy man, to whom I am engaged.” Now, there was nothing new to me in this (for the girls had told me of it on the way);
“阿尔伯特是一个值得尊敬的人，我们已经订婚了。”对我来说，这并不新鲜（因为女孩们在路上告诉过我）。 —

but it was so far new that I had not thought of it in connection with her whom, in so short a time, I had learned to prize so highly.
但这个想法是那么新，以至于我一直没有将它与我那么短时间内就开始十分珍视的她联系起来。 —

Enough, I became confused, got out in the figure, and occasioned general confusion;
很快我就迷失了方向，导致了普遍的混乱； —

so that it required all Charlotte’s presence of mind to set me right by pulling and pushing me into my proper place.
因此夏洛特全神贯注地拉着我，推着我，把我按到正确的位置上，这需要她全部的冷静才能做到。

The dance was not yet finished when the lightning which had for some time been seen in the horizon, and which I had asserted to proceed entirely from heat, grew more violent;
舞蹈还没有结束，就开始出现了在地平线上露出的雷电，我坚持认为这完全是因为天气炎热而引起的； —

and the thunder was heard above the music.
随着音乐声，雷鸣声响起。 —

When any distress or terror surprises us in the midst of our amusements, it naturally makes a deeper impression than at other times, either because the contrast makes us more keenly susceptible, or rather perhaps because our senses are then more open to impressions, and the shock is consequently stronger.
当我们在娱乐中遇到困扰或恐惧时，它自然比其他时候更深刻地印在我们心中，或许是因为对比使我们更为敏感，又或者是因为我们的感官此刻更加敏锐，因此冲击更加强烈。 —

To this cause I must ascribe the fright and shrieks of the ladies.
我必须将女士们的惊吓和尖叫归因于这个原因。 —

One sagaciously sat down in a corner with her back to the window, and held her fingers to her ears;
一个明智的人坐在角落里，背对着窗户，手指贴着耳朵； —

a second knelt down before her, and hid her face in her lap;
第二个人跪在她面前，把脸藏在她腿上； —

a third threw herself between them, and embraced her sister with a thousand tears;
第三个人扑上前，用千万滴泪水拥抱着她的姐姐； —

some insisted on going home; others, unconscious of their actions, wanted sufficient presence of mind to repress the impertinence of their young partners, who sought to direct to themselves those sighs which the lips of our agitated beauties intended for heaven.
有人坚持要回家；还有一些不知所措的人没有足够的冷静来阻止他们年轻伴侣的傲慢，他们试图将我们激动的美人的叹息引向自己； —

Some of the gentlemen had gone down-stairs to smoke a quiet cigar, and the rest of the company gladly embraced a happy suggestion of the hostess to retire into another room which was provided with shutters and curtains.
一些绅士已经下楼吸烟了，其他人欣然接受女主人的建议，退到了另一个配备有百叶窗和窗帘的房间里； —

We had hardly got there, when Charlotte placed the chairs in a circle;
我们刚到那里，夏洛特就把椅子摆成圆圈形； —

and, when the company had sat down in compliance with her request, she forthwith proposed a round game.
当大家按照她的要求坐下后，她立刻提议玩一个围坐的游戏。

I noticed some of the company prepare their mouths and draw themselves up at the prospect of some agreeable forfeit.
我注意到有些公司在面临一些可取的罚款时会做出支支吾吾的样子，然后站直身子。 —

“Let us play at counting,” said Charlotte. “Now, pay attention: I shall go round the circle from right to left;
“让我们来玩数数吧，”夏洛特说道。“现在，请注意：我要从右往左绕着圆圈走； —

and each person is to count, one after the other, the number that comes to him, and must count fast;
每个人都要接着前一个数的数字往下数，并且要数得快； —

whoever stops or mistakes is to have a box on the ear, and so on, till we have counted a thousand.” It was delightful to see the fun.
任何停下或出错的人都会挨一巴掌，然后接着进行，直到我们数到一千。”看到这场游戏的乐趣真是令人愉悦。 —

She went round the circle with upraised arm. “One,” said the first; “two,” the second;
她挥起手臂绕着圆圈走过。“一，”第一个人说。“二，”第二个人说。“三， —

“three,” the third;
”第三个人说； —

and so on, till Charlotte went faster and faster.
然后夏洛特开始更快地走动。 —

One made a mistake, instantly a box on the ear;
有人犯了错误，立即挨了一巴掌； —

and, amid the laughter that ensued, came another box;
在随之而来的笑声中，又有一个人挨了一巴掌； —

and so on, faster and faster.
接着越来越快。 —

I myself came in for two.
我自己也挨了两巴掌。 —

I fancied they were harder than the rest, and felt quite delighted.
我觉得它们比其他人的打得更狠，感到非常高兴。 —

A general laughter and confusion put an end to the game long before we had counted as far as a thousand.
随着一片笑声和混乱，这场游戏在我们还没有数到一千的时候就结束了。 —

The party broke up into little separate knots:
派对分成了几个小团体: —

the storm had ceased, and I followed Charlotte into the ballroom.
暴风雨已经停了，我跟着夏洛特走进舞厅。 —

On the way she said, “The game banished their fears of the storm.” I could make no reply.
在路上她说，“游戏消除了他们对暴风雨的恐惧。”我无话可说。 —

“I myself,” she continued, “was as much frightened as any of them;
“我自己，”她接着说，“当时害怕得和他们一样； —

but by affecting courage, to keep up the spirits of the others, I forgot my apprehensions.” We went to the window.
但是为了让其他人保持士气，我假装勇敢，就把自己的担忧忘了。”我们走到窗前。 —

It was still thundering at a distance:
远处还在打雷： —

a soft rain was pouring down over the country, and filled the air around us with delicious odours.
轻柔的雨水倾泻在乡村，空气中弥漫着美妙的香气。 —

Charlotte leaned forward on her arm;
夏洛特向前倾着身子； —

her eyes wandered over the scene;
她的眼睛游走在景色上； —

she raised them to the sky, and then turned them upon me;
她抬头看了看天空，然后转向我； —

they were moistened with tears;
她的眼睛湿润了； —

she placed her hand on mine and said, “Klopstock!” at once I remembered the magnificent ode which was in her thoughts:
她把手放在我的手上，说，“克洛普斯托克！”我立刻想起了她心中那篇宏伟的颂歌： —

I felt oppressed with the weight of my sensations, and sank under them.
我感到内心压抑，被它压倒了。 —

It was more than I could bear. I bent over her hand, kissed it in a stream of delicious tears, and again looked up to her eyes.
这超出了我所能忍受的范围。我俯身亲吻她的手，泪水涓涓而下，再次抬头看向她的眼睛。 —

Divine Klopstock!
神圣的克洛普斯托克! —

why didst thou not see thy apotheosis in those eyes?
为什么你没有在那些眼睛中看到你的神圣化？ —

And thy name so often profaned, would that I never heard it repeated!
你的名字被如此多次亵渎，但愿我从未听过它的重复!

JUNE 19.
六月19日。

I no longer remember where I stopped in my narrative:
我已经记不清在叙述中我停在了哪里： —

I only know it was two in the morning when I went to bed;
我只知道当我上床睡觉时，已经是凌晨两点了； —

and if you had been with me, that I might have talked instead of writing to you, I should, in all probability, have kept you up till daylight.
如果你和我在一起，我可能已经一直和你聊天而不是写信给你，我们可能要熬夜到天亮。

I think I have not yet related what happened as we rode home from the ball, nor have I time to tell you now.
我想我还没有讲述我们从舞会回家的故事，现在也没有时间告诉你了。 —

It was a most magnificent sunrise:
那是一个最壮丽的日出： —

the whole country was refreshed, and the rain fell drop by drop from the trees in the forest.
整个乡间焕然一新，雨点从森林中的树叶上滴落。 —

Our companions were asleep.
我们的同伴都在睡觉。 —

Charlotte asked me if I did not wish to sleep also, and begged of me not to make any ceremony on her account.
夏洛特问我是否也想睡觉，并请求我不要为了她而拘束自己。 —

Looking steadfastly at her, I answered, “As long as I see those eyes open, there is no fear of my falling asleep.” We both continued awake till we reached her door.
看着她，我回答道：“只要我看到你的眼睛睁着，我就不会害怕睡着了。”我们都保持清醒，直到我们到达她的门口。 —

The maid opened it softly, and assured her, in answer to her inquiries, that her father and the children were well, and still sleeping.
女仆轻轻地打开门，回答她的询问，告诉她父亲和孩子们都很好，还在睡觉。 —

I left her asking permission to visit her in the course of the day.
我告辞并请求在白天里探望她。 —

She consented, and I went, and, since that time, sun, moon, and stars may pursue their course:
她同意了，于是我走了。自从那时起，太阳、月亮和星星都可以继续运行：我不知道现在是白天还是黑夜；整个世界对我来说无关紧要。 —

I know not whether it is day or night;
6月21日。 —

the whole world is nothing to me.

JUNE 21.
我的日子和上帝为他的选民准备的一样幸福；无论我将来的命运如何，我都不能说我没有品尝到快乐──人生中最纯净的快乐。

My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect;
你知道瓦尔海姆。我现在完全安定在那里。在那个地方， —

and, whatever be my fate hereafter, I can never say that I have not tasted joy, – the purest joy of life.
我离夏洛特只有半个里；在那里，我自在快乐，尽情享受男人所能享受到的所有乐趣。 —

You know Walheim. I am now completely settled there.
而且，我每天在那里快乐地度过，仿佛上帝的选民所保留的那样幸福； —

In that spot I am only half a league from Charlotte;
无论我将来的命运如何，我都不能说我没有品尝到快乐──人生中最纯净的快乐。 —

and there I enjoy myself, and taste all the pleasure which can fall to the lot of man.
你知道瓦尔海姆。我现在完全安定在那里。在那个地方，我离夏洛特只有半个里；在那里，我自在快乐，尽情享受男人所能享受到的所有乐趣。

Little did I imagine, when I selected Walheim for my pedestrian excursions, that all heaven lay so near it.
当我选择瓦尔海姆进行我的徒步旅行时，我万万没想到天堂就在它的附近。 —

How often in my wanderings from the hillside or from the meadows across the river, have I beheld this hunting-lodge, which now contains within it all the joy of my heart!
我在山腰或河对岸的草地上漫游时，我经常看到这座狩猎小屋，现在它包含了我心中的所有快乐！

I have often, my dear Wilhelm, reflected on the eagerness men feel to wander and make new discoveries, and upon that secret impulse which afterward inclines them to return to their narrow circle, conform to the laws of custom, and embarrass themselves no longer with what passes around them.
亲爱的威廉，我经常思考人们渴望漫游和发现新事物的热情，以及之后那种让他们愿意回到狭窄圈子、遵守习俗法律并不再被周围发生的事情所困扰的秘密冲动。

It is so strange how, when I came here first, and gazed upon that lovely valley from the hillside, I felt charmed with the entire scene surrounding me.
当我第一次来这里，并从山腰上俯瞰着那美丽的山谷时，我被周围的整个景色所迷住。 —

The little wood opposite – how delightful to sit under its shade!
对面的小树林——坐在它的阴凉下是多么愉快啊！ —

How fine the view from that point of rock! Then, that delightful chain of hills, and the exquisite valleys at their feet!
从那块岩石上的景色多么美妙！然后，那些美丽的山谷和它们脚下的绝妙山脉！ —

Could I but wander and lose myself amongst them! I went, and returned without finding what I wished.
我是否能够漫游其中、迷失自我！我去了，却没有找到我所希望的。 —

Distance, my friend, is like futurity.
朋友，距离就像未来。 —

A dim vastness is spread before our souls:
一片模糊的浩渺在我们的灵魂前展开： —

the perceptions of our mind are as obscure as those of our vision;
我们心智的感知就像我们视觉的感知一样模糊不清； —

and we desire earnestly to surrender up our whole being, that it may be filled with the complete and perfect bliss of one glorious emotion.
我们渴望全身心地投入其中，让它充满完整而完美的喜悦。但唉！ —

But alas!
—

when we have attained our object, when the distant there becomes the present here, all is changed:
当我们达到了自己的目标，当远方成为了眼前的现在时，一切都变了： —

we are as poor and circumscribed as ever, and our souls still languish for unattainable happiness.
我们依然像以往一样贫困和局限，我们的灵魂仍然渴望无法达到的幸福。

So does the restless traveller pant for his native soil, and find in his own cottage, in the arms of his wife, in the affections of his children, and in the labour necessary for their support, that happiness which he had sought in vain through the wide world.
就像那个不安的旅行者渴望回到自己的故乡，在妻子的怀抱中，在孩子们的爱中，在为他们生活所必须的劳动中找到了他曾在广阔世界中枉然追寻的幸福。

When, in the morning at sunrise, I go out to Walheim, and with my own hands gather in the garden the pease which are to serve for my dinner, when I sit down to shell them, and read my Homer during the intervals, and then, selecting a saucepan from the kitchen, fetch my own butter, put my mess on the fire, cover it up, and sit down to stir it as occasion requires, I figure to myself the illustrious suitors of Penelope, killing, dressing, and preparing their own oxen and swine.
当我在早晨日出时去沃尔海姆，亲手采集园子里当作午餐的豌豆时，当我坐下来剥壳时，一边读着我的荷马，然后从厨房选一个锅子，我会自己去拿黄油，把菜弄上火，盖上锅盖，坐下来根据情况搅拌，我会想象那些有名望的佩内洛普的追求者，他们杀死、处理和准备自己的牛和猪。 —

Nothing fills me with a more pure and genuine sense of happiness than those traits of patriarchal life which, thank Heaven!
没有什么比那些具有家长式生活特征的事情更能给我带来纯粹和真实的幸福感，感谢上天！ —

I can imitate without affectation. Happy is it, indeed, for me that my heart is capable of feeling the same simple and innocent pleasure as the peasant whose table is covered with food of his own rearing, and who not only enjoys his meal, but remembers with delight the happy days and sunny mornings when he planted it, the soft evenings when he watered it, and the pleasure he experienced in watching its daily growth.
我能够模仿而不做作。对我来说，真是太幸福了，因为我的心灵能够感受到和农民一样简单纯真的愉悦，他们的餐桌上摆满了自己种植的食物，不仅享受着美食，还会愉快地回忆起种植时的快乐日子和阳光明媚的早晨，还有每天观察它们成长时的喜悦。

JUNE 29.
6月29日。

The day before yesterday, the physician came from the town to pay a visit to the judge.
前天，医生从城里来探望法官， —

He found me on the floor playing with Charlotte’s children.
结果发现我正和夏绿蒂的孩子们一起在地板上玩耍。 —

Some of them were scrambling over me, and others romped with me; and, as I caught and tickled them, they made a great noise.
他们中的一些人正在我身上爬来爬去，而其他人则和我一起嬉戏，当我抓住他们并逗他们时，他们发出很大的噪音。 —

The doctor is a formal sort of personage:
医生是一个刻板的人物： —

he adjusts the plaits of his ruffles, and continually settles his frill whilst he is talking to you;
他整理衬衫襞，不停地整理衣领，一边和你说话，一边搞定外表。 —

and he thought my conduct beneath the dignity of a sensible man.
我可以通过他的神态感觉到他认为我的行为不符合一个明智人的尊严。 —

I could perceive this by his countenance.
—

But I did not suffer myself to be disturbed.
但是我不让自己被打扰。 —

I allowed him to continue his wise conversation, whilst I rebuilt the children’s card houses for them as fast as they threw them down.
我允许他继续他的智慧交谈，同时我迅速为他们重建被他们打倒的孩子们的纸牌屋。 —

He went about the town afterward, complaining that the judge’s children were spoiled enough before, but that now Werther was completely ruining them.
后来他在城里到处抱怨，说法官的孩子们以前已经被宠坏了，而现在维特完全毁了他们的性情。 —

Yes, my dear Wilhelm, nothing on this earth affects my heart so much as children.
是的，我亲爱的威廉，地球上没有什么比孩子们更打动我的心。 —

When I look on at their doings;
当我看着他们的行为时； —

when I mark in the little creatures the seeds of all those virtues and qualities which they will one day find so indispensable;
当我看到这些小小的生物身上那些将来他们将会发现不可或缺的美德和品质的萌芽； —

when I behold in the obstinate all the future firmness and constancy of a noble character;
当我看到固执的人身上所有未来高尚品格坚定和恒常的力量； —

in the capricious, that levity and gaiety of temper which will carry them lightly over the dangers and troubles of life, their whole nature simple and unpolluted, – then I call to mind the golden words of the Great Teacher of mankind, “Unless ye become like one of these!” And now, my friend, these children, who are our equals, whom we ought to consider as our models, we treat them as though they were our subjects.
当我看到反复无常的人身上那种轻浮和快乐的性情，这将使他们轻松度过生活的危险和烦恼，他们整个的天性都是纯真无邪的，——我就想起了伟大的人类教师的金言，“你们若不变成像他们一样，断不得进天国！”而现在，我的朋友，我们应该将这些孩子视为我们的榜样，视为与我们平等的存在，但我们却把他们当作我们的臣民。 —

They are allowed no will of their own. And have we, then, none ourselves? Whence comes our exclusive right?
他们没有自己的意愿。那么，我们自己有吗？我们的专属权利从何而来？ —

Is it because we are older and more experienced? Great God!
难道是因为我们年长而且经验丰富吗？ —

from the height of thy heaven thou beholdest great children and little children, and no others;
伟大的上帝啊！你从天堂高处看着大孩子和小孩子，没有其他人。 —

and thy Son has long since declared which afford thee greatest pleasure.
你的儿子早已经表明了哪一类人给你最大的快乐。 —

But they believe in him, and hear him not, –that, too, is an old story;
但他们相信他却不听从他，这也是一个陈旧的故事。 —

and they train their children after their own image, etc. Adieu, Wilhelm:
他们把自己的形象灌输给自己的孩子，等等。再见，威廉： —

I will not further bewilder myself with this subject.
我不想再进一步困惑自己这个问题。