MAY 10.

5月10日

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could O my friend—but it is too much for my strength—I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!

一种奇妙的静谧充溢着我的整个灵魂，就如同我全身心享受着的那些甜美的春日的清晨。我孑然一身，在这专为像我那样的人所创造的地方感受着生活的无穷魅力。我真幸福啊，我亲爱的朋友，沉醉在这怡人的静谧之中，连自己的艺术才能也忽略了。现在我无法作画，一笔也画不了，但我觉得，与以往相比，现在自己是个更伟大的艺术家。每当这可爱的山谷里的雾气在我身边蒸腾，正午的太阳高悬在茂密的树林上空，只有几束阳光悄悄地射进林阴深处，这时我便会躺倒在潺潺流淌的溪边那茂密的野草中；我紧贴着地面，观赏着千百种叫不上名字的植株：我听着草丛中这个小小世界里的嗡嗡声，慢慢地熟悉那些数不尽的、形形色色的虫蛾。这时我便会感受到用自己的形象创造了人类全能的上帝的存在，感受到上帝无处不在的爱；这爱支撑着我们，将我们带进永恒的幸福之中。我的朋友，当我眼前暮色弥漫，天地仿佛我的爱人一般，憩息在我的灵魂深处，汲取着它的力量。我常常渴望着，哦，我的朋友——可这是我力所不及的事情——在这些恢宏壮丽的景象的神威之下，我定会命断魂消的！