The Sorrows of Young Werther (Oxford World's Classics) by Goethe Johann Wolfgang von & David Constantine

Author:Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von & David Constantine [Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2012-05-10T04:00:00+00:00

21 August

Vainly in the mornings out of heavy dreams coming dimly into consciousness I reach for her; and at nights, deluded by the innocent happy dream that I sat near her on the grass and held her hand and covered it in a thousand kisses, vainly I seek her in my bed. Oh, when still bewildered by sleep I feel with my hands for her and it gives me courage—tears force up in floods from the wellspring of my heart and I weep inconsolably at the prospect of my dire future.

22 August

It is a calamity, Wilhelm, my active powers have waned to a restless lassitude, I can’t be idle but nor can I do anything. I have no power of imagination, no feeling for nature, and books sicken me. Being lost to ourselves, we lose everything. I swear to you, at times I wish I were a day-labourer just so that waking in the morning I’d have some prospect in the day ahead, some drive, some hope. Often I envy Albert, I see him up to his ears in papers and imagine I’d be well off being him. Several times I’ve had the impulse to write to you and the Minister, to petition for that post in the embassy which, you assure me—and I believe you—I would not be refused. For a long time now the Minister has been fond of me and has often urged me to engage myself in one line of work or another; and for perhaps an hour I agree that might be a good idea. But when I think about it and remember the fable of the horse* that tires of his freedom and lets himself be saddled and bridled and gets ridden into the ground—then I don’t know what I should do.—And besides, my friend, is not this longing in me for a change in my condition perhaps an inner uneasiness and restlessness that will pursue me wherever I go?

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