Roman Elegies II

First Version

Ask now, whoever you wish, you can’t reach me, Lovely Ladies, and you, fine Men of the World! Did Werther really live? Was it really like that? Which town can truly claim Lotte as resident? Ah, how often I’ve cursed those foolish pages, That showed my youthful sufferings to everyone! If Werther had been my brother, and I’d killed him, His sad ghost could hardly have persecuted me more. So Malbrouk persecuted the British traveller From Paris to Leghorn, then from Leghorn to Rome, Then down to Naples, and if he’d sailed to Madras There too the harbour would have been filled with the song. Luckily I’ve escaped! She’s barely heard of Lotte Or Werther, or knows the name of this man of hers. She sees in him a free, and vigorous stranger, Who lives among mountains and snow, in a wooden house.