What a child is man that he should be so solicitous about a look! What a child is man! We had been to Walheim: the ladies went in a carriage; but during our walk I thought I saw in Lotte’s dark eyes—I am a fool—but forgive me! you should see them,—those eyes.—However, to be brief (for my own eyes are weighed down with sleep), you must know, when the ladies stepped into their carriage again, young W. Seldstadt, Andran, and I were standing about the door. They are a merry set of fellows, and they were all laughing and joking together. I watched Lotte’s eyes. They wandered from one to the other; but they did not light on me, on me, who stood there motionless, and who saw nothing but her! My heart bade her a thousand times adieu, but she noticed me not. The carriage drove off; and my eyes filled with tears. I looked after her: suddenly I saw Lotte’s bonnet leaning out of the window, and she turned to look back, was it at me? My dear friend, I know not; and in this uncertainty I find consolation. Perhaps she turned to look at me. Perhaps! Good-night—what a child I am!
我真是個孩子呵!我竟如此地看重她那青眼的一瞥!我真正是個孩子!
我們去瓦爾海姆郊游。姑娘們是乘車去的。后來在一塊兒散步時,我總覺得在綠蒂烏黑的眸子中帶著些……我是個傻瓜,原諒我吧!你真應該瞧瞧它們,瞧瞧她這雙眼睛!——我想寫簡單點,我困得眼皮都快合攏了。喏,姑娘們上了車,而我們——青年W.塞爾斯塔特以及奧德蘭和我,卻圍著馬車站在那里。這當口,她們便從車簾中探出頭來,跟送別的人閑聊,小伙子們自然一個個都是夠快活的。我極力捕捉綠蒂的目光;唉,它們卻望望這個,又瞅瞅那個!看著我呀!看著我呀!看著我呀!我把整個身心全貫注于你們,你們干嗎還逃避我喲!——我的心對她道了千百次再見,可她卻連瞅也不瞅我!馬車開過去了,我眼中噙著淚水。我目送著她,在車門旁看見了她的帽子,呵,她轉過頭來了!是在看我么?
好朋友啊,我的心至今仍七上八下,懷著這個疑問。唯一的安慰是,她回過頭來也許是看我吧!也許!……
晚安!呵,我真是個孩子!