《少年维特的烦恼·序·编者的开场白》第1节
I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn of the story of poor Werther, and here present it to you, knowing that you will thank me for it. To his spirit and character you cannot refuse your admiration and love: to his fate you will not deny your tears. And thou, good soul, who sufferest the same distress as he endured once, draw comfort from his sorrows; and let this little book be thy friend, if, owing to fortune or through thine own fault, thou canst not find a dearer companion.
注释摘要
这段开场白是全书最特殊的一个声音——它不属于维特，而是编者的声音。整本书我们一直在听维特一个人的倾诉，他的信构成了世界的全部；但在这里，编者走到台前，告诉我们这些信是怎么来的、为什么要编成这样一本书，以及他希望我们怎么读。这几行字其实承担了好几个功能，我们一层一层看。 先说语气里的一个细节。“poor Werther”——英译里的“poor”在中文译本里常…