I begin to find my situation here more tolerable, considering all circumstances. I find a great advantage in being much occupied; and the number of persons I meet, and their different pursuits, create a varied entertainment for me. I have formed the acquaintance of the Count C— and I esteem him more and more every day. He is a man of strong understanding and great discernment; but, though he sees farther than other people, he is not on that account cold in his manner, but capable of inspiring and returning the warmest affection. He appeared interested in me on one occasion, when I had to transact some business with him. He perceived, at the first word, that we understood each other, and that he could converse with me in a different tone from what he used with others. I cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me. It is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great mind in sympathy with our own.
我開始勉勉強強適應了此地的生活。最使我高興的,是這兒有足夠的事干;此外,還有許許多多的人,百態(tài)千姿,形形色色,恰似在對著我的靈魂演出一場熱鬧的趣劇。我已經(jīng)結(jié)識了C伯爵,一位令我日益尊敬的博學而杰出的男子,他見多識廣,所以對人就不冷漠;從他的待人接物,可以明顯看出是很重感情和友誼的。我有一次奉命去他府上公干,他便表現(xiàn)出對我有好感,一經(jīng)交談,他更發(fā)現(xiàn)我們相互理解,發(fā)現(xiàn)他可以同我像同他的少數(shù)知心朋友似的傾談。還有他對人態(tài)度之坦率,我怎么稱贊也不為過。世間最純粹、最暖人胸懷的樂事,恐怕莫過于看見一顆偉大的心靈對自己開誠相見吧。