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MAY 10.
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 pres- ence 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 long- ing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God! O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!
五月十日
一种奇妙的快乐充满了我的整个心灵，就像我倾全心欣赏着的这春日甜美的清晨。此地仿佛是为我这样的灵魂创造的，我在这里独享生活的欢欣。我的朋友，我的全部感情都沉浸在这静谧的环境里，连我的艺术都荒废了。我现在不能画画，一笔也画不成，不过我作为一个画家，现在比以前要伟大得多了。当我周围可爱的山谷雾气蒸腾，高高的太阳挂在那片不透亮的幽暗树林的上空，只有几束阳光悄悄地射进小树林时，我便躺在淙淙流淌的小溪旁、深深的杂草中，紧贴着地面饶有兴趣地观察千姿百态的小草；当我在内心更贴近地感觉到草茎间小世界的密杂，观察到蛆虫和蚊蝇的各种形状时，我便感觉到了创造我们的全能上帝的存在，感觉到把我们带到并安置在这永恒的极乐境界的博爱上帝的呼吸。我的朋友，当我的周遭已是暮色苍茫，整个世界和天空都犹如一个恋人的形象向我围来，并停在我的心中时，我往往产生一种渴望，心想：啊，如果能把这一切重新表现出来，把这如此丰富、如此温暖地活在你心中的一切一气呵成画在纸上，使之成为你心灵的镜子，正如你的心灵是永恒的上帝的镜子，该多好！我的朋友！不过这幅画我并没有画成，我完全折服在这百般壮丽景象的吸引之下了。