《少年维特的烦恼·第一部·1771 年 5 月至 9 月》第27节
JULY 16. How my heart beats when by accident I touch her finger, or my feet meet hers under the table! I draw back as if from a furnace; but a secret force impels me forward again, and my senses become disordered. Her innocent, unconscious heart never knows what agony these little familiarities inflict upon me. Sometimes when we are talking she lays her hand upon mine, and in the eagerness of conversation comes closer to me, and her balmy breath reaches my lips,—when I feel as if lightning had struck me, and that I could sink into the earth. And yet, Wilhelm, with all this heavenly confidence,—if I know myself, and should ever dare—you understand me. No, no! my heart is not so corrupt, it is weak, weak enough but is not that a degree of corruption? She is to me a sacred being. All passion is still in her presence: I cannot express my sensations when I am near her. I feel as if my soul beat in every nerve of my body. There is a melody which she plays on the piano with angelic skill,—so simple is it, and yet so spiritual! It is her favourite air; and, when she plays the first note, all pain, care, and sorrow disappear from me in a moment. I believe every word that is said of the magic of ancient music. How her simple song enchants me! Sometimes, when I am ready to commit suicide, she sings that air; and instantly the gloom and madness which hung over me are dispersed, and I breathe freely again.
注释摘要
七月十六日的这封信，是全书最精微地描写维特身心沉溺状态的一节。他从最细微的身体触碰写起——指尖不经意的相触、桌下双脚的相遇，这些在旁人看来几乎不会注意到的瞬间，在他这里却被放大为"如同熔炉"般的灼烧感，他必须猛地抽回手，却又被一股隐秘的力量推回去。这两股相反的力量——退避与趋近——几乎同时发生，恰好揭示了他的处境：理智告诉他应该保持距离，但感官和情感已经不…