《少年维特的烦恼·第一部·1771 年 5 月至 9 月》第2节
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!
注释摘要
这封信是维特自然崇拜的极致表达。他描述了一种近乎出神的状态：整个灵魂被宁静占据，感到从未如此幸福，却又同时承认自己“荒废了才能”——此刻一笔也画不出来，但偏偏觉得自己“从未是更伟大的艺术家”。这个看似矛盾的表述，恰恰是狂飙突进美学的一个精要：真正的艺术不在于技艺性的描摹，而在于心灵与自然的直接合一。维特认为自己此刻虽然无法作画，却到达了比一切技法都更高的境…