英文
MAY 13.
You ask if you shall send me books. My dear friend, I beseech you, for the love of God, relieve me from such a yoke! I need no more to be guided, agitated, heated. My heart ferments sufficiently of itself. I want strains to lull me, and I find them to perfection in my Homer. Often do I strive to allay the burning fever of my blood; and you have never witnessed anything so unsteady, so uncertain, as my heart. But need I confess this to you, my dear friend, who have so often endured the anguish of witnessing my sudden transitions from sorrow to immoderate joy, and from sweet melancholy to violent passions? I treat my poor heart like a sick child, and gratify its every fancy. Do not mention this again: there are people who would censure me for it.
中文
五月十三日
你问需不需要寄书给我？——好朋友，我求你看在上帝分上，千万别再拿它们来烦扰我吧。我不愿意再被指导，被鼓舞，被激励；我这颗心本身已够不平静的了。我需要的是催眠曲；而我的荷马，就是一首很长很长的催眠曲。为了使自己沸腾的血液冷静下来，我常常轻轻哼这支曲子；要知道你还不曾见过任何东西，像我这颗心似的反复无常，变化莫测哟，我的爱友！关于这点我对你毋须解释；你不是已无数次地见过我从忧郁一变而为喜悦，从感伤一变而为兴奋，因而担惊受怕过么？我自己也把我这颗心当作一个生病的孩子，对他有求必应。别把这话讲出去，传开了有人会骂我的。
