《少年维特的烦恼·第一部·1771 年 5 月至 9 月》第5节
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 me, and ascended the steps.
注释摘要
这封信写的是维特初到乡间后与普通百姓相处的一段经历。他不摆架子，用友善的语气打听些微不足道的小事，起初却被一些人误会是拿他们取笑，招来不悦。维特没有因此烦恼，反倒借此把心里憋了很久的观察说了出来：有些有身份的人对平民冷淡疏远，仿佛接触就会贬低自己；另一些游手好闲、好说刻薄话的人，又故意装作平易近人，结果只能让穷人更清楚地感受到对方的轻慢。维特承认人天生并不…