AUGUST 8.

Believe me, dear Wilhelm, I did not allude to you when I spoke so severely of those who advise resignation to inevitable fate. I did not think it possible for you to indulge such a sentiment. But in fact you are right. I only suggest one objection. In this world one is seldom reduced to make a selection between two alternatives. There are as many varieties of conduct and opinion as there are turns of feature between an aquiline nose and a flat one.

You will, therefore, permit me to concede your entire argument, and yet contrive means to escape your dilemma.

Your position is this, I hear you say: “Either you have hopes of obtaining Lotte, or you have none. Well, in the first case, pursue your course, and press on to the fulfilment of your wishes. In the second, be a man, and shake off a miserable passion, which will enervate and destroy you.” My dear friend, this is well and easily said.

But would you require a wretched being, whose life is slowly wasting under a lingering disease, to despatch himself at once by the stroke of a dagger? Does not the very disorder which consumes his strength deprive him of the courage to effect his deliverance?

You may answer me, if you please, with a similar analogy, “Who would not prefer the amputation of an arm to the periling of life by doubt and procrastination!” But I know not if I am right, and let us leave these comparisons.

Enough! There are moments, Wilhelm, when I could rise up and shake it all off, and when, if I only knew where to go, I could fly from this place.

八月八日

我请你原谅，亲爱的威廉！我把那些要求我们服从不可抗拒的命运的人骂作废物，的的确确并非指你。我实在没有想到，你也会有类似想法。当然，从根本上讲，你是对的。不过，好朋友，世上的事情很少能要么干脆这样，要么干脆那样。人的感情和行为千差万别，正如在鹰钩鼻子与塌鼻子之间，还可能有各式各样别的鼻子。

你别见怪：我承认你的整个论点，却又企图从“要么这样——要么那样”这个空子中间钻过去。

你说什么，“要么你有希望得到绿蒂，要么根本没有。好啦，如果是第一种情况，你就努力实现它，努力满足自己的愿望；否则，你就振作起来，摆脱那该死的感情，要不然它一定会把你的全部精力都吞掉。”——好朋友，说得动听！说得容易！

可是，对于一个受着慢性病摧残而一步一步地走向死亡的人，难道你能要求他拿起刀来，一下子结束自己的痛苦么？病魔在耗尽他精力的同时，不也摧毁了他自我解脱的勇气么？

当然，你满可以用下面这个贴切的比喻来反驳我：谁不宁愿牺牲自己的一条胳膊，而是迟疑犹豫，甘冒丢掉生命的危险呢？

叫我怎么说好呢？——还是让我们别用这些比喻来伤彼此的脑筋吧。够了。

是的，威廉，我间或也在一瞬间有过振作起来、摆脱一切的勇气，然而……要是我知道往哪儿去的话，我早就走了！