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Project Gutenberg's The Sorrows
This eBook is for the use of any
almost no restrictions whatsoevre-use it under the terms of th
with this eBook or online at ww
Title: The Sorrows of Young Wer
Author: J.W. von Goethe
Editor: Nathen Haskell Dole
Translator: R.D. Boylan
Release Date: January 2, 2009 [E
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENB
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Produced by Michael Potter, Ire
THE
SORROWSOF YOUNG
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WERTHER
By J.W. von
Goethe
Translated by R.D.
Boylan
Edited by Nathen
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Haskell Dole
PREFACE
BOOK I
BOOK
II.
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PREFACE
I have carefully collected whatever have been able to learn of the story o
poor Werther, and here present it to you
knowing that you will thank me for it. Tohis spirit and character you cannot refus
our admiration and love: to his fate yo
will not deny your tears.
And thou, good soul, who sufferest th
same distress as he endured once, draw
comfort from his sorrows; and let thi
ittle book be thy friend, if, owing t
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fortune or through thine own fault, tho
canst not find a dearer companion.
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BOOK I
MAY 4.
How happy I am that I am gone! M
dear friend, what a thing is the heart oman! To leave you, from whom I hav
been inseparable, whom I love s
dearly, and yet to feel happy! I know you
will forgive me. Have not otheattachments been specially appointed b
fate to torment a head like mine? Poo
Leonora! and yet I was not to blame
Was it my fault, that, whilst the peculia
charms of her sister afforded me a
agreeable entertainment, a passion fo
me was engendered in her feeble heart
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And yet am I wholly blameless? Did
not encourage her emotions? Did I no
feel charmed at those truly genuin
expressions of nature, which, though buittle mirthful in reality, so often amused
us? Did I not—but oh! what is man, tha
he dares so to accuse himself? My dea
friend I promise you I will improve;
will no longer, as has ever been m
habit, continue to ruminate on ever
petty vexation which fortune madispense; I will enjoy the present, an
he past shall be for me the past. N
doubt you are right, my best of friends
here would be far less sufferinamongst mankind, if men—and Go
knows why they are so fashioned—di
not employ their imaginations s
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assiduously in recalling the memory o
past sorrow, instead of bearing thei
present lot with equanimity. Be kind
enough to inform my mother that I shalattend to her business to the best of m
ability, and shall give her the earlies
nformation about it. I have seen my aun
and find that she is very far from bein
he disagreeable person our friend
allege her to be. She is a lively, cheerfu
woman, with the best of hearts. explained to her my mother's wrong
with regard to that part of her portio
which has been withheld from her. Sh
old me the motives and reasons of heown conduct, and the terms on which sh
s willing to give up the whole, and t
do more than we have asked. In short,
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cannot write further upon this subject a
present; only assure my mother that al
will go on well. And I have agai
observed, my dear friend, in this triflinaffair, that misunderstandings and
neglect occasion more mischief in th
world than even malice and wickedness
At all events, the two latter are of les
frequent occurrence.
In other respects I am very well of
here. Solitude in this terrestrial paradis
s a genial balm to my mind, and th
oung spring cheers with its bounteou
promises my oftentimes misgiving hearEvery tree, every bush, is full o
flowers; and one might wish himsel
ransformed into a butterfly, to floa
about in this ocean of perfume, and fin
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his whole existence in it.
The town itself is disagreeable; bu
hen, all around, you find anexpressible beauty of nature. Thi
nduced the late Count M to lay out
garden on one of the sloping hills whic
here intersect each other with the moscharming variety, and form the mos
ovely valleys. The garden is simple
and it is easy to perceive, even upo
our first entrance, that the plan was no
designed by a scientific gardener, but b
a man who wished to give himself u
here to the enjoyment of his owsensitive heart. Many a tear have
already shed to the memory of it
departed master in a summer-hous
which is now reduced to ruins, but wa
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his favourite resort, and now is mine.
shall soon be master of the place. Th
gardener has become attached to m
within the last few days, and he wilose nothing thereby.
MAY 10.
A wonderful serenity has take
possession of my entire soul, like thes
sweet mornings of spring which I enjo
with my whole heart. I am alone, anfeel the charm of existence in this spot
which was created for the bliss of soul
ike mine. I am so happy, my dear friend
so absorbed in the exquisite sense o
mere tranquil existence, that I neglect m
alents. I should be incapable of drawin
a single stroke at the present moment
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and yet I feel that I never was a greate
artist than now. When, while the lovel
valley teems with vapour around me
and the meridian sun strikes the uppesurface of the impenetrable foliage of m
rees, and but a few stray gleams stea
nto the inner sanctuary, I throw mysel
down among the tall grass by th
rickling stream; and, as I lie close to th
earth, a thousand unknown plants ar
noticed by me: when I hear the buzz ohe little world among the stalks, an
grow familiar with the countles
ndescribable forms of the insects an
flies, then I feel the presence of thAlmighty, who formed us in his ow
mage, and the breath of that universa
ove which bears and sustains us, as
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floats around us in an eternity of bliss
and then, my friend, when darknes
overspreads my eyes, and heaven an
earth seem to dwell in my soul anabsorb its power, like the form of
beloved mistress, then I often think wit
onging, Oh, would I could describ
hese conceptions, could impress upo
paper all that is living so full and war
within me, that it might be the mirror o
my soul, as my soul is the mirror of thnfinite God! O my friend—but it is to
much for my strength—I sink under th
weight of the splendour of these visions
MAY 12.
I know not whether some deceitfu
spirits haunt this spot, or whether it b
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he warm, celestial fancy in my ow
heart which makes everything around m
seem like paradise. In front of the hous
s a fountain,—a fountain to which I abound by a charm like Melusina and he
sisters. Descending a gentle slope, yo
come to an arch, where, some twent
steps lower down, water of the cleares
crystal gushes from the marble rock. Th
narrow wall which encloses it above
he tall trees which encircle the spot, anhe coolness of the place itself,—
everything imparts a pleasant bu
sublime impression. Not a day passes o
which I do not spend an hour there. Thoung maidens come from the town t
fetch water,—innocent and necessar
employment, and formerly th
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occupation of the daughters of kings. A
take my rest there, the idea of the ol
patriarchal life is awakened around me
see them, our old ancestors, how theformed their friendships and contracte
alliances at the fountain-side; and I fee
how fountains and streams were guarde
by beneficent spirits. He who is
stranger to these sensations has neve
really enjoyed cool repose at the side o
a fountain after the fatigue of a wearsummer day.
MAY 13.
You ask if you shall send me books
My dear friend, I beseech you, for th
ove of God, relieve me from such
oke! I need no more to be guided
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agitated, heated. My heart ferment
sufficiently of itself. I want strains to lul
me, and I find them to perfection in m
Homer. Often do I strive to allay thburning fever of my blood; and you hav
never witnessed anything so unsteady, so
uncertain, as my heart. But need
confess this to you, my dear friend, wh
have so often endured the anguish o
witnessing my sudden transitions fro
sorrow to immoderate joy, and fromsweet melancholy to violent passions?
reat my poor heart like a sick child, an
gratify its every fancy. Do not mentio
his again: there are people who woulcensure me for it.
MAY 15.
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The common people of the plac
know me already, and love me
particularly the children. When at first
associated with them, and inquired in friendly tone about their various trifles
some fancied that I wished to ridicul
hem, and turned from me in exceedin
ll-humour. I did not allow tha
circumstance to grieve me: I only fe
most keenly what I have often befor
observed. Persons who can claim certain rank keep themselves coldl
aloof from the common people, a
hough they feared to lose thei
mportance by the contact; whilst wantodlers, and such as are prone to ba
oking, affect to descend to their leve
only to make the poor people feel thei
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mpertinence all the more keenly.
I know very well that we are not al
equal, nor can be so; but it is my opiniohat he who avoids the common people
n order not to lose their respect, is a
much to blame as a coward who hide
himself from his enemy because he feardefeat.
The other day I went to the fountain
and found a young servant-girl, who haset her pitcher on the lowest step, an
ooked around to see if one of he
companions was approaching to place
on her head. I ran down, and looked a
her. "Shall I help you, pretty lass?" said
. She blushed deeply. "Oh, sir!" sh
exclaimed. "No ceremony!" I replied
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She adjusted her head-gear, and I helped
her. She thanked me, and ascended th
steps.
MAY 17.
I have made all sorts o
acquaintances, but have as yet found nsociety. I know not what attraction
possess for the people, so many of the
ike me, and attach themselves to me
and then I feel sorry when the road wpursue together goes only a shor
distance. If you inquire what the peopl
are like here, I must answer, "The sam
as everywhere." The human race is but
monotonous affair. Most of them labou
he greater part of their time for mer
subsistence; and the scanty portion o
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freedom which remains to them s
roubles them that they use ever
exertion to get rid of it. Oh, the destin
of man!
But they are a right good sort o
people. If I occasionally forget mysel
and take part in the innocent pleasurewhich are not yet forbidden to th
peasantry, and enjoy myself, fo
nstance, with genuine freedom an
sincerity, round a well-covered table, o
arrange an excursion or a danc
opportunely, and so forth, all thi
produces a good effect upon mdisposition; only I must forget that ther
ie dormant within me so many othe
qualities which moulder uselessly, and
which I am obliged to keep carefull
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concealed. Ah! this thought affects m
spirits fearfully. And yet to be
misunderstood is the fate of the like o
us.
Alas, that the friend of my youth i
gone! Alas, that I ever knew her! I migh
say to myself, "You are a dreamer toseek what is not to be found her
below." But she has been mine. I hav
possessed that heart, that noble soul, i
whose presence I seemed to be mor
han I really was, because I was all that
could be. Good heavens! did then
single power of my soul remaiunexercised? In her presence could I no
display, to its full extent, that mysteriou
feeling with which my heart embrace
nature? Was not our intercourse a
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perpetual web of the finest emotions, o
he keenest wit, the varieties of which
even in their very eccentricity, bore th
stamp of genius? Alas! the few years bywhich she was my senior brought her t
he grave before me. Never can I forge
her firm mind or her heavenly patience.
A few days ago I met a certain youn
V—, a frank, open fellow, with a mos
pleasing countenance. He has just left th
university, does not deem himsel
overwise, but believes he knows mor
han other people. He has worked hard
as I can perceive from mancircumstances, and, in short, possesses
arge stock of information. When h
heard that I am drawing a good deal, an
hat I know Greek (two wonderful thing
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for this part of the country), he came t
see me, and displayed his whole store o
earning, from Batteaux to Wood, from
De Piles to Winkelmann: he assured mhe had read through the first part o
Sultzer's theory, and also possessed
manuscript of Heyne's work on the stud
of the antique. I allowed it all to pass.
I have become acquainted, also, wit
a very worthy person, the district judge
a frank and open-hearted man. I am tol
t is a most delightful thing to see him i
he midst of his children, of whom he ha
nine. His eldest daughter especially ihighly spoken of. He has invited me t
go and see him, and I intend to do so o
he first opportunity. He lives at one o
he royal hunting-lodges, which can b
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reached from here in an hour and a hal
by walking, and which he obtained leav
o inhabit after the loss of his wife, as i
s so painful to him to reside in town anat the court.
There have also come in my way
few other originals of a questionablsort, who are in all respects undesirable
and most intolerable in thei
demonstration of friendship. Good-bye
This letter will please you: it is quit
historical.
MAY 22.
That the life of man is but a dream
many a man has surmised heretofore; an
, too, am everywhere pursued by thi
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feeling. When I consider the narrow
imits within which our active an
nquiring faculties are confined; when
see how all our energies are wasted iproviding for mere necessities, whic
again have no further end than to prolon
a wretched existence; and then that al
our satisfaction concerning certai
subjects of investigation ends in nothin
better than a passive resignation, whils
we amuse ourselves painting our prisonwalls with bright figures and brillian
andscapes,—when I consider all this
Wilhelm, I am silent. I examine my ow
being, and find there a world, but world rather of imagination and di
desires, than of distinctness and livin
power. Then everything swims befor
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my senses, and I smile and dream whil
pursuing my way through the world.
All learned professors and doctorare agreed that children do no
comprehend the cause of their desires
but that the grown-up should wande
about this earth like children, withouknowing whence they come, or whithe
hey go, influenced as little by fixe
motives, but guided like them b
biscuits, sugar-plums, and the rod,—thi
s what nobody is willing t
acknowledge; and yet I think it i
palpable.
I know what you will say in reply; fo
am ready to admit that they ar
happiest, who, like children, amus
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hemselves with their playthings, dres
and undress their dolls, and attentivel
watch the cupboard, where mamma ha
ocked up her sweet things, and, when aast they get a delicious morsel, eat
greedily, and exclaim, "More!" Thes
are certainly happy beings; but other
also are objects of envy, who dignif
heir paltry employments, and sometime
even their passions, with pompous titles
representing them to mankind as gigantiachievements performed for thei
welfare and glory. But the man who
humbly acknowledges the vanity of al
his, who observes with what pleasurhe thriving citizen converts his littl
garden into a paradise, and how
patiently even the poor man pursues hi
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weary way under his burden, and how
all wish equally to behold the light of th
sun a little longer,—yes, such a man is a
peace, and creates his own world withihimself; and he is also happy, becaus
he is a man. And then, however limited
his sphere, he still preserves in hi
bosom the sweet feeling of liberty, and
knows that he can quit his priso
whenever he likes.
MAY 26.
You know of old my ways of settling
anywhere, of selecting a little cottage i
some cosy spot, and of putting up in
with every inconvenience. Here, too,
have discovered such a snug
comfortable place, which possesse
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peculiar charms for me.
About a league from the town is
place called Walheim. (The reader neednot take the trouble to look for the plac
hus designated. We have found i
necessary to change the names given i
he original.) It is delightfully situated ohe side of a hill; and, by proceedin
along one of the footpaths which lead ou
of the village, you can have a view o
he whole valley. A good old woman
ives there, who keeps a small inn. Sh
sells wine, beer, and coffee, and i
cheerful and pleasant notwithstandinher age. The chief charm of this spo
consists in two linden-trees, spreadin
heir enormous branches over the littl
green before the church, which i
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entirely surrounded by peasants
cottages, barns, and homesteads. I hav
seldom seen a place so retired an
peaceable; and there often have my tabland chair brought out from the little inn
and drink my coffee there, and read m
Homer. Accident brought me to the spo
one fine afternoon, and I found
perfectly deserted. Everybody was in th
fields except a little boy about four year
of age, who was sitting on the groundand held between his knees a child abou
six months old: he pressed it to hi
bosom with both arms, which thu
formed a sort of arm-chair; andnotwithstanding the liveliness whic
sparkled in its black eyes, it remaine
perfectly still. The sight charmed me.
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sat down upon a plough opposite, an
sketched with great delight this littl
picture of brotherly tenderness. I adde
he neighbouring hedge, the barn-doorand some broken cart-wheels, just a
hey happened to lie; and I found i
about an hour that I had made a ver
correct and interesting drawing, withou
putting in the slightest thing of my own
This confirmed me in my resolution o
adhering, for the future, entirely tnature. She alone is inexhaustible, an
capable of forming the greatest masters
Much may be alleged in favour of rules
as much may be likewise advanced ifavour of the laws of society: an artis
formed upon them will never produc
anything absolutely bad or disgusting; a
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a man who observes the laws, and obey
decorum, can never be an absolutel
ntolerable neighbour, nor a decided
villain: but yet, say what you will orules, they destroy the genuine feeling o
nature, as well as its true expression. D
not tell me "that this is too hard, that the
only restrain and prune superfluou
branches, etc." My good friend, I wil
llustrate this by an analogy. Thes
hings resemble love. A warmheartedouth becomes strongly attached to
maiden: he spends every hour of the da
n her company, wears out his health
and lavishes his fortune, to afforcontinual proof that he is wholly devote
o her. Then comes a man of the world,
man of place and respectability, and
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addresses him thus: "My good youn
friend, love is natural; but you must lov
within bounds. Divide your time: devot
a portion to business, and give the hourof recreation to your mistress. Calculat
our fortune; and out of the superfluit
ou may make her a present, only not to
often,—on her birthday, and suc
occasions." Pursuing this advice, he ma
become a useful member of society, and
should advise every prince to give hian appointment; but it is all up with hi
ove, and with his genius if he be a
artist. O my friend! why is it that th
orrent of genius so seldom bursts forthso seldom rolls in full-flowing stream
overwhelming your astounded soul
Because, on either side of this stream
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cold and respectable persons have take
up their abodes, and, forsooth, thei
summer-houses and tulip-beds woul
suffer from the torrent; wherefore thedig trenches, and raise embankment
betimes, in order to avert the impendin
danger.
MAY 27.
I find I have fallen into raptures
declamation, and similes, and havforgotten, in consequence, to tell yo
what became of the children. Absorbed
n my artistic contemplations, which
briefly described in my letter o
esterday, I continued sitting on th
plough for two hours. Toward evening
oung woman, with a basket on her arm
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came running toward the children, wh
had not moved all that time. Sh
exclaimed from a distance, "You are a
good boy, Philip!" She gave me greeting returned it, rose, and approached her.
nquired if she were the mother of thos
pretty children. "Yes," she said; and
giving the eldest a piece of bread, sh
ook the little one in her arms and kisse
t with a mother's tenderness. "I left m
child in Philip's care," she said, "whilswent into the town with my eldest bo
o buy some wheaten bread, some sugar
and an earthen pot." I saw the variou
articles in the basket, from which thcover had fallen. "I shall make som
broth to-night for my little Hans (whic
was the name of the youngest): that wil
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fellow, the big one, broke my po
esterday, whilst he was scramblin
with Philip for what remained of th
contents." I inquired for the eldest; anshe had scarcely time to tell me that h
was driving a couple of geese hom
from the meadow, when he ran up, and
handed Philip an osier-twig. I talked
ittle longer with the woman, and foun
hat she was the daughter of th
schoolmaster, and that her husband wagone on a journey into Switzerland fo
some money a relation had left him
"They wanted to cheat him," she said
"and would not answer his letters; so hs gone there himself. I hope he has me
with no accident, as I have heard nothin
of him since his departure." I left th
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woman, with regret, giving each of th
children a kreutzer, with an additiona
one for the youngest, to buy som
wheaten bread for his broth when shwent to town next; and so we parted.
assure you, my dear friend, when m
houghts are all in tumult, the sight o
such a creature as this tranquillises m
disturbed mind. She moves in a happ
houghtlessness within the confine
circle of her existence; she supplies hewants from day to day; and, when sh
sees the leaves fall, they raise no othe
dea in her mind than that winter i
approaching. Since that time I have gonout there frequently. The children hav
become quite familiar with me; and eac
gets a lump of sugar when I drink m
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coffee, and they share my milk and brea
and butter in the evening. They alway
receive their kreutzer on Sundays, for th
good woman has orders to give it them when I do not go there afte
evening service. They are quite at hom
with me, tell me everything; and I a
particularly amused with observing thei
empers, and the simplicity of thei
behaviour, when some of the othe
village children are assembled withem.
It has given me a deal of trouble t
satisfy the anxiety of the mother, lest (ashe says) "they should inconvenience th
gentleman."
MAY 30.
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What I have lately said of painting i
equally true with respect to poetry. It i
only necessary for us to know what i
really excellent, and venture to give expression; and that is saying much i
few words. To-day I have had a scene
which, if literally related, would, mak
he most beautiful idyl in the world. Bu
why should I talk of poetry and scene
and idyls? Can we never take pleasur
n nature without having recourse to art?
If you expect anything grand o
magnificent from this introduction, yo
will be sadly mistaken. It relates merelo a peasant-lad, who has excited in m
he warmest interest. As usual, I shal
ell my story badly; and you, as usua
will think me extravagant. It is Walheim
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once more—always Walheim—which
produces these wonderful phenomena.
A party had assembled outside thhouse under the linden-trees, to drin
coffee. The company did not exactl
please me; and, under one pretext o
another, I lingered behind.
A peasant came from an adjoinin
house, and set to work arranging som
part of the same plough which I haately sketched. His appearance please
me; and I spoke to him, inquired abou
his circumstances, made hi
acquaintance, and, as is my wont wit
persons of that class, was soon admitte
nto his confidence. He said he was i
he service of a young widow, who se
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great store by him. He spoke so much o
his mistress, and praised her s
extravagantly, that I could soon see h
was desperately in love with her. "Shs no longer young," he said: "and sh
was treated so badly by her forme
husband that she does not mean to marr
again." From his account it was s
evident what incomparable charms sh
possessed for him, and how ardently h
wished she would select him textinguish the recollection of her firs
husband's misconduct, that I should hav
o repeat his own words in order t
describe the depth of the poor fellow'attachment, truth, and devotion. It would
n fact, require the gifts of a great poet t
convey the expression of his features, th
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harmony of his voice, and the heavenl
fire of his eye. No words can portray th
enderness of his every movement and o
every feature: no effort of mine could dustice to the scene. His alarm lest
should misconceive his position wit
regard to his mistress, or question th
propriety of her conduct, touched m
particularly. The charming manner wit
which he described her form and person
which, without possessing the graces oouth, won and attached him to her, i
nexpressible, and must be left to th
magination. I have never in my lif
witnessed or fancied or conceived thpossibility of such intense devotion
such ardent affections, united with s
much purity. Do not blame me if I say
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hat the recollection of this innocenc
and truth is deeply impressed upon m
very soul; that this picture of fidelity an
enderness haunts me everywhere; anhat my own heart, as though enkindle
by the flame, glows and burns within me
I mean now to try and see her as sooas I can: or perhaps, on second thoughts
had better not; it is better I shoul
behold her through the eyes of her lover
To my sight, perhaps, she would no
appear as she now stands before me; an
why should I destroy so sweet a picture
JUNE 16.
"Why do I not write to you?" You lay
claim to learning, and ask such
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question. You should have guessed that
am well—that is to say—in a word,
have made an acquaintance who has wo
my heart: I have—I know not.
To give you a regular account of th
manner in which I have becom
acquainted with the most amiable owomen would be a difficult task. I am
happy and contented mortal, but a poo
historian.
An angel! Nonsense! Everybody s
describes his mistress; and yet I find
mpossible to tell you how perfect sh
s, or why she is so perfect: suffice it t
say she has captivated all my senses.
So much simplicity with so muc
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understanding—so mild, and yet s
resolute—a mind so placid, and a life s
active.
But all this is ugly balderdash, whic
expresses not a single character no
feature. Some other time—but no, no
some other time, now, this very instantwill I tell you all about it. Now or never
Well, between ourselves, since
commenced my letter, I have been thre
imes on the point of throwing down m
pen, of ordering my horse, and ridin
out. And yet I vowed this morning that
would not ride to-day, and yet evermoment I am rushing to the window t
see how high the sun is.
I could not restrain myself—go to he
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must. I have just returned, Wilhelm
and whilst I am taking supper I wil
write to you. What a delight it was fo
my soul to see her in the midst of hedear, beautiful children,—eight brother
and sisters!
But, if I proceed thus, you will be nwiser at the end of my letter than yo
were at the beginning. Attend, then, and
will compel myself to give you th
details.
I mentioned to you the other day that
had become acquainted with S—, th
district judge, and that he had invited m
o go and visit him in his retirement, o
rather in his little kingdom. But
neglected going, and perhaps shoul
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never have gone, if chance had no
discovered to me the treasure which la
concealed in that retired spot. Some o
our young people had proposed giving ball in the country, at which I consented
o be present. I offered my hand for th
evening to a pretty and agreeable, bu
rather commonplace, sort of girl fro
he immediate neighbourhood; and it wa
agreed that I should engage a carriage
and call upon Charlotte, with my partneand her aunt, to convey them to the bal
My companion informed me, as w
drove along through the park to th
hunting-lodge, that I should make thacquaintance of a very charming youn
ady. "Take care," added the aunt, "tha
ou do not lose your heart." "Why?" sai
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. "Because she is already engaged to
very worthy man," she replied, "who i
gone to settle his affairs upon the deat
of his father, and will succeed to a verconsiderable inheritance." Thi
nformation possessed no interest fo
me. When we arrived at the gate, the su
was setting behind the tops of th
mountains. The atmosphere was heavy
and the ladies expressed their fears of a
approaching storm, as masses of lowblack clouds were gathering in th
horizon. I relieved their anxieties b
pretending to be weather-wise, althoug
myself had some apprehensions lesour pleasure should be interrupted.
I alighted; and a maid came to th
door, and requested us to wait a momen
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for her mistress. I walked across th
court to a well-built house, and
ascending the flight of steps in fron
opened the door, and saw before me thmost charming spectacle I had eve
witnessed. Six children, from eleven t
wo years old, were running about th
hall, and surrounding a lady of middl
height, with a lovely figure, dressed in
robe of simple white, trimmed with pin
ribbons. She was holding a rye loaf iher hand, and was cutting slices for th
ittle ones all around, in proportion t
heir age and appetite. She performe
her task in a graceful and affectionatmanner; each claimant awaiting his tur
with outstretched hands, an
boisterously shouting his thanks. Som
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of them ran away at once, to enjoy thei
evening meal; whilst others, of a gentle
disposition, retired to the courtyard t
see the strangers, and to survey thcarriage in which their Charlotte was t
drive away. "Pray forgive me for givin
ou the trouble to come for me, and fo
keeping the ladies waiting: but dressing
and arranging some household dutie
before I leave, had made me forget m
children's supper; and they do not like take it from any one but me." I uttere
some indifferent compliment: but m
whole soul was absorbed by her air, he
voice, her manner; and I had scarcelrecovered myself when she ran into he
room to fetch her gloves and fan. Th
oung ones threw inquiring glances a
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me from a distance; whilst I approache
he youngest, a most delicious littl
creature. He drew back; and Charlotte
entering at the very moment, said"Louis, shake hands with your cousin.
The little fellow obeyed willingly; and
could not resist giving him a hearty kiss
notwithstanding his rather dirty face
"Cousin," said I to Charlotte, as I hande
her down, "do you think I deserve th
happiness of being related to you?" Shreplied, with a ready smile, "Oh! I hav
such a number of cousins, that I shoul
be sorry if you were the mos
undeserving of them." In taking leaveshe desired her next sister, Sophy, a gir
about eleven years old, to take great car
of the children, and to say good-bye t
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papa for her when he came home fro
his ride. She enjoined to the little ones t
obey their sister Sophy as they woul
herself, upon which some promised thahey would; but a little fair-haired gir
about six years old, looked discontented
and said, "But Sophy is not you
Charlotte; and we like you best." Th
wo eldest boys had clambered up th
carriage; and, at my request, sh
permitted them to accompany us a littlway through the forest, upon thei
promising to sit very still, and hold fast.
We were hardly seated, and the ladiehad scarcely exchanged compliments
making the usual remarks upon eac
other's dress, and upon the company the
expected to meet, when Charlott
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stopped the carriage, and made he
brothers get down. They insisted upo
kissing her hands once more; which th
eldest did with all the tenderness of outh of fifteen, but the other in a lighte
and more careless manner. She desired
hem again to give her love to th
children, and we drove off.
The aunt inquired of Charlott
whether she had finished the book sh
had last sent her. "No," said Charlotte; "
did not like it: you can have it again
And the one before was not muc
better." I was surprised, upon asking thitle, to hear that it was ____. (We fee
obliged to suppress the passage in th
etter, to prevent any one from feelin
aggrieved; although no author need pa
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much attention to the opinion of a mer
girl, or that of an unsteady young man.)
I found penetration and character ieverything she said: every expressio
seemed to brighten her features with new
charms,—with new rays of genius,—
which unfolded by degrees, as she feherself understood.
"When I was younger," she observed
"I loved nothing so much as romancesothing could equal my delight when, o
some holiday, I could settle dow
quietly in a corner, and enter with my
whole heart and soul into the joys o
sorrows of some fictitious Leonora. I d
not deny that they even possess som
charms for me yet. But I read so seldom
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hat I prefer books suited exactly to m
aste. And I like those authors bes
whose scenes describe my own situatio
n life,—and the friends who are aboume, whose stories touch me wit
nterest, from resembling my ow
homely existence,—which, withou
being absolutely paradise, is, on th
whole, a source of indescribabl
happiness."
I endeavoured to conceal the emotio
which these words occasioned, but
was of slight avail; for, when she had
expressed so truly her opinion of "ThVicar of Wakefield," and of other works
he names of which I omit (Though th
names are omitted, yet the author
mentioned deserve Charlotte'
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approbation, and will feel it in thei
hearts when they read this passage. I
concerns no other person.), I could n
onger contain myself, but gave fulutterance to what I thought of it: and
was not until Charlotte had addresse
herself to the two other ladies, that
remembered their presence, an
observed them sitting mute wit
astonishment. The aunt looked at m
several times with an air of raillerywhich, however, I did not at all mind.
We talked of the pleasures of dancing
"If it is a fault to love it," said Charlotte"I am ready to confess that I prize
above all other amusements. If anythin
disturbs me, I go to the piano, play an ai
o which I have danced, and all goe
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right again directly."
You, who know me, can fancy how
steadfastly I gazed upon her rich dareyes during these remarks, how my ver
soul gloated over her warm lips an
fresh, glowing cheeks, how I becam
quite lost in the delightful meaning of hewords, so much so, that I scarcely hear
he actual expressions. In short,
alighted from the carriage like a perso
n a dream, and was so lost to the di
world around me, that I scarcely hear
he music which resounded from th
lluminated ballroom.
The two Messrs. Andran and a certai
. N. (I cannot trouble myself with th
names), who were the aunt's an
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Charlotte's partners, received us at th
carriage-door, and took possession o
heir ladies, whilst I followed wit
mine.
We commenced with a minuet. I led
out one lady after another, and precisel
hose who were the most disagreeablcould not bring themselves to leave off
Charlotte and her partner began a
English country dance, and you mus
magine my delight when it was thei
urn to dance the figure with us. You
should see Charlotte dance. She dance
with her whole heart and soul: her figurs all harmony, elegance, and grace, as i
she were conscious of nothing else, an
had no other thought or feeling; and
doubtless, for the moment, every othe
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sensation is extinct.
She was engaged for the secon
country dance, but promised me thhird, and assured me, with the mos
agreeable freedom, that she was ver
fond of waltzing. "It is the custom here,
she said, "for the previous partners twaltz together; but my partner is a
ndifferent waltzer, and will fee
delighted if I save him the trouble. You
partner is not allowed to waltz, and
ndeed, is equally incapable: but
observed during the country dance tha
ou waltz well; so, if you will waltwith me, I beg you would propose it t
my partner, and I will propose it to
ours." We agreed, and it was arranged
hat our partners should mutuall
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entertain each other.
We set off, and, at first, delighted
ourselves with the usual gracefumotions of the arms. With what grace
with what ease, she moved! When th
waltz commenced, and the dancer
whirled around each other in the giddmaze, there was some confusion, owin
o the incapacity of some of the dancers
We judiciously remained still, allowing
he others to weary themselves; and
when the awkward dancers ha
withdrawn, we joined in, and kept it u
famously together with one other couple—Andran and his partner. Never did
dance more lightly. I felt myself mor
han mortal, holding this loveliest o
creatures in my arms, flying, with her a
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rapidly as the wind, till I lost sight o
every other object; and O Wilhelm,
vowed at that moment, that a maide
whom I loved, or for whom I felt thslightest attachment, never, never should
waltz with any one else but with me, if
went to perdition for it!—you wil
understand this.
We took a few turns in the room to
recover our breath. Charlotte sat down
and felt refreshed by partaking of som
oranges which I had had secured,—th
only ones that had been left; but at ever
slice which, from politeness, she offereo her neighbours, I felt as though
dagger went through my heart.
We were the second couple in the
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hird country dance. As we were goin
down (and Heaven knows with wha
ecstasy I gazed at her arms and eyes
beaming with the sweetest feeling opure and genuine enjoyment), we passe
a lady whom I had noticed for he
charming expression of countenance
although she was no longer young. Sh
ooked at Charlotte with a smile, then
holding up her finger in a threatenin
attitude, repeated twice in a versignificant tone of voice the name o
"Albert."
"Who is Albert," said I to Charlotte"if it is not impertinent to ask?" She wa
about to answer, when we were obliged
o separate, in order to execute a figur
n the dance; and, as we crossed ove
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again in front of each other, I perceived
she looked somewhat pensive. "Wh
need I conceal it from you?" she said, a
she gave me her hand for the promenade"Albert is a worthy man, to whom I a
engaged." Now, there was nothing new
o me in this (for the girls had told me o
t on the way); but it was so far new tha
had not thought of it in connection wit
her whom, in so short a time, I ha
earned to prize so highly. Enough, became confused, got out in the figure
and occasioned general confusion; s
hat it required all Charlotte's presenc
of mind to set me right by pulling anpushing me into my proper place.
The dance was not yet finished whe
he lightning which had for some tim
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been seen in the horizon, and which
had asserted to proceed entirely fro
heat, grew more violent; and the thunde
was heard above the music. When andistress or terror surprises us in th
midst of our amusements, it naturall
makes a deeper impression than at othe
imes, either because the contrast make
us more keenly susceptible, or rathe
perhaps because our senses are the
more open to impressions, and the shocs consequently stronger. To this cause
must ascribe the fright and shrieks of th
adies. One sagaciously sat down in
corner with her back to the window, andheld her fingers to her ears; a secon
knelt down before her, and hid her fac
n her lap; a third threw herself betwee
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hem, and embraced her sister with
housand tears; some insisted on goin
home; others, unconscious of thei
actions, wanted sufficient presence omind to repress the impertinence of thei
oung partners, who sought to direct t
hemselves those sighs which the lips o
our agitated beauties intended fo
heaven. Some of the gentlemen had gon
down-stairs to smoke a quiet cigar, and
he rest of the company gladly embracea happy suggestion of the hostess t
retire into another room which wa
provided with shutters and curtains. W
had hardly got there, when Charlottplaced the chairs in a circle; and, whe
he company had sat down in complianc
with her request, she forthwith propose
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a round game.
I noticed some of the compan
prepare their mouths and drawhemselves up at the prospect of som
agreeable forfeit. "Let us play a
counting," said Charlotte. "Now, pa
attention: I shall go round the circle froright to left; and each person is to count
one after the other, the number tha
comes to him, and must count fas
whoever stops or mistakes is to have
box on the ear, and so on, till we hav
counted a thousand." It was delightful t
see the fun. She went round the circlwith upraised arm. "One," said the first
"two," the second; "three," the third; an
so on, till Charlotte went faster an
faster. One made a mistake, instantly
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box on the ear; and, amid the laughte
hat ensued, came another box; and s
on, faster and faster. I myself came in fo
wo. I fancied they were harder than threst, and felt quite delighted. A genera
aughter and confusion put an end to th
game long before we had counted as fa
as a thousand. The party broke up int
ittle separate knots: the storm ha
ceased, and I followed Charlotte into th
ballroom. On the way she said, "Thgame banished their fears of the storm."
could make no reply. "I myself," sh
continued, "was as much frightened a
any of them; but by affecting courage, tkeep up the spirits of the others, I forgo
my apprehensions." We went to the
window. It was still thundering at
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distance: a soft rain was pouring dow
over the country, and filled the ai
around us with delicious odours
Charlotte leaned forward on her arm; heeyes wandered over the scene; sh
raised them to the sky, and then turned
hem upon me; they were moistened wit
ears; she placed her hand on mine an
said, "Klopstock!" at once I remembere
he magnificent ode which was in he
houghts: I felt oppressed with thweight of my sensations, and sank unde
hem. It was more than I could bear.
bent over her hand, kissed it in a strea
of delicious tears, and again looked uo her eyes. Divine Klopstock! why dids
hou not see thy apotheosis in thos
eyes? And thy name so often profaned
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would that I never heard it repeated!
JUNE 19.
I no longer remember where I stoppe
n my narrative: I only know it was tw
n the morning when I went to bed; and i
ou had been with me, that I might havalked instead of writing to you, I should
n all probability, have kept you up til
daylight.
I think I have not yet related wha
happened as we rode home from th
ball, nor have I time to tell you now. I
was a most magnificent sunrise: thwhole country was refreshed, and th
rain fell drop by drop from the trees i
he forest. Our companions were asleep
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Charlotte asked me if I did not wish t
sleep also, and begged of me not to mak
any ceremony on her account. Lookin
steadfastly at her, I answered, "As lonas I see those eyes open, there is no fea
of my falling asleep." We both continued
awake till we reached her door. Th
maid opened it softly, and assured her
n answer to her inquiries, that her fathe
and the children were well, and stil
sleeping. I left her asking permission tvisit her in the course of the day. Sh
consented, and I went, and, since tha
ime, sun, moon, and stars may pursu
heir course: I know not whether it is daor night; the whole world is nothing t
me.
JUNE 21.
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My days are as happy as thos
reserved by God for his elect; and
whatever be my fate hereafter, I ca
never say that I have not tasted joy,—thpurest joy of life. You know Walheim. I
am now completely settled there. In tha
spot I am only half a league fro
Charlotte; and there I enjoy myself, an
aste all the pleasure which can fall t
he lot of man.
Little did I imagine, when I selecte
Walheim for my pedestrian excursions
hat all heaven lay so near it. How ofte
n my wanderings from the hillside ofrom the meadows across the river, hav
beheld this hunting-lodge, which now
contains within it all the joy of my heart
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I have often, my dear Wilhelm
reflected on the eagerness men feel t
wander and make new discoveries, an
upon that secret impulse whicafterward inclines them to return to thei
narrow circle, conform to the laws o
custom, and embarrass themselves n
onger with what passes around them.
It is so strange how, when I came her
first, and gazed upon that lovely valle
from the hillside, I felt charmed with th
entire scene surrounding me. The littl
wood opposite—how delightful to s
under its shade! How fine the view frohat point of rock! Then, that delightfu
chain of hills, and the exquisite valley
at their feet! Could I but wander and los
myself amongst them! I went, an
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returned without finding what I wished
Distance, my friend, is like futurity. A
dim vastness is spread before our souls
he perceptions of our mind are aobscure as those of our vision; and w
desire earnestly to surrender up ou
whole being, that it may be filled wit
he complete and perfect bliss of on
glorious emotion. But alas! when w
have attained our object, when th
distant there becomes the present hereall is changed: we are as poor an
circumscribed as ever, and our soul
still languish for unattainable happiness
So does the restless traveller pant fo
his native soil, and find in his ow
cottage, in the arms of his wife, in th
affections of his children, and in th
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abour necessary for their support, tha
happiness which he had sought in vai
hrough the wide world.
When, in the morning at sunrise, I g
out to Walheim, and with my own hand
gather in the garden the pease which ar
o serve for my dinner, when I sit downo shell them, and read my Homer durin
he intervals, and then, selecting
saucepan from the kitchen, fetch my ow
butter, put my mess on the fire, cover i
up, and sit down to stir it as occasio
requires, I figure to myself the illustriou
suitors of Penelope, killing, dressingand preparing their own oxen and swine
othing fills me with a more pure an
genuine sense of happiness than thos
raits of patriarchal life which, than
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Heaven! I can imitate withou
affectation. Happy is it, indeed, for m
hat my heart is capable of feeling th
same simple and innocent pleasure ahe peasant whose table is covered wit
food of his own rearing, and who no
only enjoys his meal, but remember
with delight the happy days and sunn
mornings when he planted it, the sof
evenings when he watered it, and th
pleasure he experienced in watching itdaily growth.
JUNE 29.
The day before yesterday, th
physician came from the town to pay
visit to the judge. He found me on th
floor playing with Charlotte's children
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Some of them were scrambling over me
and others romped with me; and, as
caught and tickled them, they made
great noise. The doctor is a formal sorof personage: he adjusts the plaits of hi
ruffles, and continually settles his fril
whilst he is talking to you; and h
hought my conduct beneath the dignity o
a sensible man. I could perceive this b
his countenance. But I did not suffe
myself to be disturbed. I allowed him tcontinue his wise conversation, whilst
rebuilt the children's card houses fo
hem as fast as they threw them down
He went about the town afterwardcomplaining that the judge's childre
were spoiled enough before, but tha
now Werther was completely ruining
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hem.
Yes, my dear Wilhelm, nothing on thi
earth affects my heart so much achildren. When I look on at their doings
when I mark in the little creatures th
seeds of all those virtues and qualitie
which they will one day find sndispensable; when I behold in th
obstinate all the future firmness an
constancy of a noble character; in th
capricious, that levity and gaiety o
emper which will carry them lightl
over the dangers and troubles of life
heir whole nature simple anunpolluted,—then I call to mind th
golden words of the Great Teacher o
mankind, "Unless ye become like one o
hese!" And now, my friend, these
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children, who are our equals, whom w
ought to consider as our models, w
reat them as though they were ou
subjects. They are allowed no will oheir own. And have we, then, non
ourselves? Whence comes our exclusiv
right? Is it because we are older an
more experienced? Great God! from th
height of thy heaven thou beholdest grea
children and little children, and n
others; and thy Son has long sincdeclared which afford thee greates
pleasure. But they believe in him, an
hear him not,—that, too, is an old story
and they train their children after theiown image, etc.
Adieu, Wilhelm: I will not furthe
bewilder myself with this subject.
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JULY 1.
The consolation Charlotte can bring t
an invalid I experience from my owheart, which suffers more from he
absence than many a poor creatur
ingering on a bed of sickness. She i
gone to spend a few days in the towwith a very worthy woman, who is give
over by the physicians, and wishes t
have Charlotte near her in her las
moments. I accompanied her last wee
on a visit to the Vicar of S—, a smal
village in the mountains, about a leagu
hence. We arrived about four o'clockCharlotte had taken her little sister wit
her. When we entered the vicarage court
we found the good old man sitting on
bench before the door, under the shad
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of two large walnut-trees. At the sight o
Charlotte he seemed to gain new life
rose, forgot his stick, and ventured t
walk toward her. She ran to him, andmade him sit down again; then, placin
herself by his side, she gave him
number of messages from her father, and
hen caught up his youngest child, a dirty
ugly little thing, the joy of his old age
and kissed it. I wish you could hav
witnessed her attention to this old man—how she raised her voice on accoun
of his deafness; how she told him o
healthy young people, who had bee
carried off when it was least expectedpraised the virtues of Carlsbad, an
commended his determination to spen
he ensuing summer there; and assure
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him that he looked better and stronge
han he did when she saw him last. I, i
he meantime, paid attention to his goo
ady. The old man seemed quite ispirits; and as I could not help admirin
he beauty of the walnut-trees, whic
formed such an agreeable shade over ou
heads, he began, though with some littl
difficulty, to tell us their history. "As to
he oldest," said he, "we do not know
who planted it,—some say onclergyman, and some another: but th
ounger one, there behind us, is exactl
he age of my wife, fifty years old nex
October; her father planted it in thmorning, and in the evening she cam
nto the world. My wife's father was m
predecessor here, and I cannot tell yo
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how fond he was of that tree; and it i
fully as dear to me. Under the shade o
hat very tree, upon a log of wood, m
wife was seated knitting, when I, a poostudent, came into this court for the firs
ime, just seven and twenty years ago.
Charlotte inquired for his daughter. H
said she was gone with Herr Schmidt t
he meadows, and was with th
haymakers. The old man then resume
his story, and told us how hipredecessor had taken a fancy to him, a
had his daughter likewise; and how h
had become first his curate, an
subsequently his successor. He hadscarcely finished his story when hi
daughter returned through the garden
accompanied by the above-mentione
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Herr Schmidt. She welcomed Charlott
affectionately, and I confess I was muc
aken with her appearance. She was
ively-looking, good-humoured brunettequite competent to amuse one for a shor
ime in the country. Her lover (for suc
Herr Schmidt evidently appeared to be
was a polite, reserved personage, an
would not join our conversation
notwithstanding all Charlotte'
endeavours to draw him out. I was mucannoyed at observing, by hi
countenance, that his silence did no
arise from want of talent, but fro
caprice and ill-humour. Thisubsequently became very evident, whe
we set out to take a walk, and Frederic
oining Charlotte, with whom I wa
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alking, the worthy gentleman's face
which was naturally rather sombre
became so dark and angry that Charlott
was obliged to touch my arm, anremind me that I was talking too much t
Frederica. Nothing distresses me mor
han to see men torment each other
particularly when in the flower of thei
age, in the very season of pleasure, the
waste their few short days of sunshine i
quarrels and disputes, and only perceivheir error when it is too late to repair it
This thought dwelt upon my mind; and i
he evening, when we returned to th
vicar's, and were sitting round the tablwith our bread end milk, th
conversation turned on the joys an
sorrows of the world, I could not resis
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he temptation to inveigh bitterly agains
ll-humour. "We are apt," said I, "to
complain, but—with very little cause
hat our happy days are few, and our evidays many. If our hearts were alway
disposed to receive the benefits Heave
sends us, we should acquire strength t
support evil when it comes." "But,
observed the vicar's wife, "we canno
always command our tempers, so muc
depends upon the constitution: when thbody suffers, the mind is ill at ease." "
acknowledge that," I continued; "but w
must consider such a disposition in th
ight of a disease, and inquire whethehere is no remedy for it."
"I should be glad to hear one," sai
Charlotte: "at least, I think very muc
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depends upon ourselves; I know it is s
with me. When anything annoys me, an
disturbs my temper, I hasten into th
garden, hum a couple of country dancesand it is all right with me directly.
"That is what I meant," I replied; "ill
humour resembles indolence: it i
natural to us; but if once we hav
courage to exert ourselves, we find ou
work run fresh from our hands, and w
experience in the activity from which wshrank a real enjoyment." Frederic
istened very attentively: and the youn
man objected, that we were not master
of ourselves, and still less so of oufeelings. "The question is about
disagreeable feeling," I added, "fro
which every one would willingl
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escape, but none know their own powe
without trial. Invalids are glad to consu
physicians, and submit to the mos
scrupulous regimen, the most nauseoumedicines, in order to recover thei
health." I observed that the good old ma
nclined his head, and exerted himself t
hear our discourse; so I raised my voice
and addressed myself directly to him
"We preach against a great many
crimes," I observed, "but I neveremember a sermon delivered agains
ll-humour." "That may do very well fo
our town clergymen," said he: "countr
people are never ill-humoured; thoughndeed, it might be useful, occasionally
o my wife for instance, and the judge.
We all laughed, as did he likewise very
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cordially, till he fell into a fit o
coughing, which interrupted ou
conversation for a time. Herr Schmid
resumed the subject. "You call ilhumour a crime," he remarked, "but
hink you use too strong a term." "Not a
all," I replied, "if that deserves the nam
which is so pernicious to ourselves an
our neighbours. Is it not enough that w
want the power to make one anothe
happy, must we deprive each other of thpleasure which we can all make fo
ourselves? Show me the man who ha
he courage to hide his ill-humour, who
bears the whole burden himself, withoudisturbing the peace of those around him
o: ill-humour arises from an inwar
consciousness of our own want of merit
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from a discontent which eve
accompanies that envy which foolis
vanity engenders. We see people happy
whom we have not made so, and cannoendure the sight." Charlotte looked at m
with a smile; she observed the emotio
with which I spoke: and a tear in th
eyes of Frederica stimulated me t
proceed. "Woe unto those," I said, "who
use their power over a human heart t
destroy the simple pleasures it woulnaturally enjoy! All the favours, all th
attentions, in the world canno
compensate for the loss of that happines
which a cruel tyranny has destroyed.My heart was full as I spoke. A
recollection of many things which ha
happened pressed upon my mind, an
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filled my eyes with tears. "We should
daily repeat to ourselves," I exclaimed
"that we should not interfere with ou
friends, unless to leave them ipossession of their own joys, an
ncrease their happiness by sharing
with them! But when their souls ar
ormented by a violent passion, or thei
hearts rent with grief, is it in your powe
o afford them the slightest consolation?
"And when the last fatal malad
seizes the being whose untimely grav
ou have prepared, when she lie
anguid and exhausted before you, hedim eyes raised to heaven, and the damp
of death upon her pallid brow, there you
stand at her bedside like a condemne
criminal, with the bitter feeling that you
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whole fortune could not save her; an
he agonising thought wrings you, that al
our efforts are powerless to impar
even a moment's strength to the departinsoul, or quicken her with a transitor
consolation."
At these words the remembrance of similar scene at which I had been onc
present fell with full force upon m
heart. I buried my face in m
handkerchief, and hastened from th
room, and was only recalled to m
recollection by Charlotte's voice, wh
reminded me that it was time to returhome. With what tenderness she chid m
on the way for the too eager interest
ook in everything! She declared
would do me injury, and that I ought to
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spare myself. Yes, my angel! I will do
so for your sake.
JULY 6.
She is still with her dying friend, an
s still the same bright, beautiful creatur
whose presence softens pain, and shedhappiness around whichever way sh
urns. She went out yesterday with he
ittle sisters: I knew it, and went to mee
hem; and we walked together. In abouan hour and a half we returned to th
own. We stopped at the spring I am so
fond of, and which is now a thousan
imes dearer to me than ever. Charlott
seated herself upon the low wall, an
we gathered about her. I looked around
and recalled the time when my heart wa
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unoccupied and free. "Dear fountain!"
said, "since that time I have no mor
come to enjoy cool repose by thy fres
stream: I have passed thee with carelessteps, and scarcely bestowed a glanc
upon thee." I looked down, and observe
Charlotte's little sister, Jane, coming up
he steps with a glass of water. I turned
oward Charlotte, and I felt her influenc
over me. Jane at the moment approache
with the glass. Her sister, Mariannewished to take it from her. "No!" cried
he child, with the sweetest expressio
of face, "Charlotte must drink first."
The affection and simplicity wit
which this was uttered so charmed me
hat I sought to express my feelings b
catching up the child and kissing he
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heartily. She was frightened, and bega
o cry. "You should not do that," said
Charlotte: I felt perplexed. "Come
Jane," she continued, taking her handand leading her down the steps again, "
s no matter: wash yourself quickly i
he fresh water." I stood and watched
hem; and when I saw the little dea
rubbing her cheeks with her wet hands
n full belief that all the impuritie
contracted from my ugly beard would bwashed off by the miraculous water, and
how, though Charlotte said it would do
she continued still to wash with all he
might, as though she thought too mucwere better than too little, I assure you
Wilhelm, I never attended a baptism
with greater reverence; and, whe
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Charlotte came up from the well, I coul
have prostrated myself as before th
prophet of an Eastern nation.
In the evening I would not resis
elling the story to a person who,
hought, possessed some natural feeling
because he was a man of understandingBut what a mistake I made. H
maintained it was very wrong o
Charlotte, that we should not deceiv
children, that such things occasione
countless mistakes and superstitions
from which we were bound to protec
he young. It occurred to me then, thahis very man had been baptised only
week before; so I said nothing further
but maintained the justice of my ow
convictions. We should deal with
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children as God deals with us, we ar
happiest under the influence of innocen
delusions.
JULY 8.
What a child is man that he should b
so solicitous about a look! What a chils man! We had been to Walheim: the
adies went in a carriage; but during ou
walk I thought I saw in Charlotte's dar
eyes—I am a fool—but forgive me! yoshould see them,—those eyes.—
However, to be brief (for my own eye
are weighed down with sleep), you mus
know, when the ladies stepped into thei
carriage again, young W. Seldstadt
Andran, and I were standing about th
door. They are a merry set of fellows
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and they were all laughing and jokin
ogether. I watched Charlotte's eyes
They wandered from one to the other
but they did not light on me, on me, whstood there motionless, and who saw
nothing but her! My heart bade her
housand times adieu, but she noticed m
not. The carriage drove off; and my eye
filled with tears. I looked after her
suddenly I saw Charlotte's bonne
eaning out of the window, and shurned to look back, was it at me? M
dear friend, I know not; and in thi
uncertainty I find consolation. Perhap
she turned to look at me. Perhaps! Goodnight—what a child I am!
JULY 10.
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You should see how foolish I look in
company when her name is mentioned
particularly when I am asked plainl
how I like her. How I like her! I deteshe phrase. What sort of creature must h
be who merely liked Charlotte, whos
whole heart and senses were not entirel
absorbed by her. Like her! Some on
asked me lately how I liked Ossian.
JULY 11.
Madame M—is very ill. I pray for he
recovery, because Charlotte shares m
sufferings. I see her occasionally at m
friend's house, and to-day she has tol
me the strangest circumstance. Old M—
s a covetous, miserly fellow, who ha
ong worried and annoyed the poor lad
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sadly; but she has borne her affliction
patiently. A few days ago, when the
physician informed us that her recover
was hopeless, she sent for her husbanCharlotte was present), and addresse
him thus: "I have something to confess
which, after my decease, may occasio
rouble and confusion. I have hithert
conducted your household as frugall
and economically as possible, but yo
must pardon me for having defraudeou for thirty years. At th
commencement of our married life, yo
allowed a small sum for the wants of th
kitchen, and the other householexpenses. When our establishmen
ncreased and our property grew larger
could not persuade you to increase th
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weekly allowance in proportion: i
short, you know, that, when our want
were greatest, you required me to suppl
everything with seven florins a week. ook the money from you without a
observation, but made up the weekl
deficiency from the money-chest; a
nobody would suspect your wife o
robbing the household bank. But I hav
wasted nothing, and should have bee
content to meet my eternal Judge withouhis confession, if she, upon whom th
management of your establishment wil
devolve after my decease, would be fre
from embarrassment upon your insistinhat the allowance made to me, you
former wife, was sufficient."
I talked with Charlotte of th
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nconceivable manner in which me
allow themselves to be blinded; how an
one could avoid suspecting som
deception, when seven florins only werallowed to defray expenses twice a
great. But I have myself known peopl
who believed, without any visibl
astonishment, that their house possesse
he prophet's never-failing cruse of oil.
JULY 13.
No, I am not deceived. In her dar
eyes I read a genuine interest in me an
n my fortunes. Yes, I feel it; and I may
believe my own heart which tells me—
dare I say it?—dare I pronounce th
divine words?—that she loves me!
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That she loves me! How the ide
exalts me in my own eyes! And, as yo
can understand my feelings, I may say t
ou, how I honour myself since shoves me!
Is this presumption, or is it
consciousness of the truth? I do not knowa man able to supplant me in the heart o
Charlotte; and yet when she speaks o
her betrothed with so much warmth an
affection, I feel like the soldier who ha
been stripped of his honours and titles
and deprived of his sword.
JULY 16.
How my heart beats when by acciden
touch her finger, or my feet meet her
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under the table! I draw back as if from
furnace; but a secret force impels m
forward again, and my senses becom
disordered. Her innocent, unconsciouheart never knows what agony thes
ittle familiarities inflict upon me
Sometimes when we are talking she lay
her hand upon mine, and in the eagernes
of conversation comes closer to me, an
her balmy breath reaches my lips,—
when I feel as if lightning had struck meand that I could sink into the earth. And
et, Wilhelm, with all this heavenl
confidence,—if I know myself, an
should ever dare—you understand meo, no! my heart is not so corrupt, it i
weak, weak enough but is not that
degree of corruption?
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She is to me a sacred being. Al
passion is still in her presence: I canno
express my sensations when I am nea
her. I feel as if my soul beat in everynerve of my body. There is a melod
which she plays on the piano wit
angelic skill,—so simple is it, and yet s
spiritual! It is her favourite air; and
when she plays the first note, all pain
care, and sorrow disappear from me in
moment.
I believe every word that is said o
he magic of ancient music. How he
simple song enchants me! Sometimeswhen I am ready to commit suicide, sh
sings that air; and instantly the gloo
and madness which hung over me ar
dispersed, and I breathe freely again.
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JULY 18.
Wilhelm, what is the world to ou
hearts without love? What is a magicantern without light? You have but to
kindle the flame within, and the brightes
figures shine on the white wall; and, i
ove only show us fleeting shadows, ware yet happy, when, like mere children
we behold them, and are transporte
with the splendid phantoms. I have no
been able to see Charlotte to-day. I wa
prevented by company from which
could not disengage myself. What was t
be done? I sent my servant to her househat I might at least see somebody to-da
who had been near her. Oh, th
mpatience with which I waited for hi
return! the joy with which I welcome
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him! I should certainly have caught hi
n my arms, and kissed him, if I had no
been ashamed.
It is said that the Bonona stone, whe
placed in the sun, attracts the rays, an
for a time appears luminous in the dark
So was it with me and this servant. Thdea that Charlotte's eyes had dwelt o
his countenance, his cheek, his ver
apparel, endeared them all inestimabl
o me, so that at the moment I would no
have parted from him for a thousan
crowns. His presence made me s
happy! Beware of laughing at meWilhelm. Can that be a delusion whic
makes us happy?
JULY 19.
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"I shall see her today!" I exclaim wit
delight, when I rise in the morning, an
ook out with gladness of heart at th
bright, beautiful sun. "I shall see heoday!" And then I have no further wish
o form: all, all is included in that on
hought.
JULY 20.
I cannot assent to your proposal that
should accompany the ambassador t———. I do not love subordination; an
we all know that he is a rough
disagreeable person to be connecte
with. You say my mother wishes me to
be employed. I could not help laughin
at that. Am I not sufficiently employed
And is it not in reality the same, whethe
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shell peas or count lentils? The worl
runs on from one folly to another; and th
man who, solely from regard to th
opinion of others, and without any wisor necessity of his own, toils after gold
honour, or any other phantom, is no
better than a fool.
JULY 24.
You insist so much on my no
neglecting my drawing, that it would bas well for me to say nothing as t
confess how little I have lately done.
I never felt happier, I neveunderstood nature better, even down to
he veriest stem or smallest blade o
grass; and yet I am unable to expres
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myself: my powers of execution are s
weak, everything seems to swim an
float before me, so that I cannot make
clear, bold outline. But I fancy I shouldsucceed better if I had some clay or wa
o model. I shall try, if this state of mind
continues much longer, and will take to
modelling, if I only knead dough.
I have commenced Charlotte's portra
hree times, and have as often disgrace
myself. This is the more annoying, as
was formerly very happy in takin
ikenesses. I have since sketched he
profile, and must content myself withat.
JULY 25.
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Yes, dear Charlotte! I will order and
arrange everything. Only give me mor
commissions, the more the better. On
hing, however, I must request: use nomore writing-sand with the dear note
ou send me. Today I raised your lette
hastily to my lips, and it set my teeth o
edge.
JULY 26.
I have often determined not to see heso frequently. But who could keep such
resolution? Every day I am exposed t
he temptation, and promise faithfull
hat to-morrow I will really stay away
but, when tomorrow comes, I find som
rresistible reason for seeing her; and
before I can account for it, I am with he
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again. Either she has said on th
previous evening "You will be sure to
call to-morrow,"—and who could sta
away then?—or she gives me somcommission, and I find it essential t
ake her the answer in person; or the da
s fine, and I walk to Walheim; and
when I am there, it is only half a leagu
farther to her. I am within the charmed
atmosphere, and soon find myself at he
side. My grandmother used to tell us story of a mountain of loadstone. Whe
any vessels came near it, they wer
nstantly deprived of their ironwork: th
nails flew to the mountain, and thunhappy crew perished amidst th
disjointed planks.
JULY 30.
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Albert is arrived, and I must take m
departure. Were he the best and nobles
of men, and I in every respect hi
nferior, I could not endure to see him inpossession of such a perfect being
Possession!—enough, Wilhelm: he
betrothed is here,—a fine, worth
fellow, whom one cannot help liking
Fortunately I was not present at thei
meeting. It would have broken my heart
And he is so considerate: he has nogiven Charlotte one kiss in my presence
Heaven reward him for it! I must lov
him for the respect with which he treat
her. He shows a regard for me, but fohis I suspect I am more indebted t
Charlotte than to his own fancy for me
Women have a delicate tact in such
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matters, and it should be so. They canno
always succeed in keeping two rivals o
erms with each other; but, when they do
hey are the only gainers.
I cannot help esteeming Albert. Th
coolness of his temper contrasts strongl
with the impetuosity of mine, which cannot conceal. He has a great deal o
feeling, and is fully sensible of th
reasure he possesses in Charlotte. He i
free from ill-humour, which you know i
he fault I detest most.
He regards me as a man of sense; an
my attachment to Charlotte, and th
nterest I take in all that concerns her
augment his triumph and his love. I shal
not inquire whether he may not at time
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ease her with some little jealousies; as
know, that, were I in his place, I should
not be entirely free from such sensations
But, be that as it may, my pleasur
with Charlotte is over. Call it folly o
nfatuation, what signifies a name? Th
hing speaks for itself. Before Albercame, I knew all that I know now.
knew I could make no pretensions to her
nor did I offer any, that is, as far as i
was possible, in the presence of so muc
oveliness, not to pant for its enjoyment
And now, behold me like a silly fellow
staring with astonishment when anothecomes in, and deprives me of my love.
I bite my lips, and feel infinite scor
for those who tell me to be resigned
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because there is no help for it. Let m
escape from the yoke of such sill
subterfuges! I ramble through the woods
and when I return to Charlotte, and finAlbert sitting by her side in the summer
house in the garden, I am unable to bea
t, behave like a fool, and commit
housand extravagances. "For Heaven'
sake," said Charlotte today, "let us hav
no more scenes like those of last night
You terrify me when you are so violent.Between ourselves, I am always awa
now when he visits her: and I fee
delighted when I find her alone.
AUGUST 8.
Believe me, dear Wilhelm, I did no
allude to you when I spoke so severel
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of those who advise resignation t
nevitable fate. I did not think it possibl
for you to indulge such a sentiment. Bu
n fact you are right. I only suggest onobjection. In this world one is seldo
reduced to make a selection betwee
wo alternatives. There are as man
varieties of conduct and opinion as ther
are turns of feature between an aquilin
nose and a flat one.
You will, therefore, permit me to
concede your entire argument, and ye
contrive means to escape your dilemma.
Your position is this, I hear you say
"Either you have hopes of obtainin
Charlotte, or you have none. Well, in the
first case, pursue your course, and pres
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on to the fulfilment of your wishes. In th
second, be a man, and shake off
miserable passion, which will enervat
and destroy you." My dear friend, this iwell and easily said.
But would you require a wretche
being, whose life is slowly wastinunder a lingering disease, to despatc
himself at once by the stroke of
dagger? Does not the very disorde
which consumes his strength deprive hi
of the courage to effect his deliverance?
You may answer me, if you please
with a similar analogy, "Who would no
prefer the amputation of an arm to th
periling of life by doubt an
procrastination!" But I know not if I a
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right, and let us leave thes
comparisons.
Enough! There are moments, Wilhelmwhen I could rise up and shake it all off
and when, if I only knew where to go,
could fly from this place.
THE SAME EVENING.
My diary, which I have for some tim
neglected, came before me today; and am amazed to see how deliberately
have entangled myself step by step. To
have seen my position so clearly, and ye
o have acted so like a child! Even still behold the result plainly, and yet have n
hought of acting with greater prudence.
AUGUST 10.
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If I were not a fool, I could spend th
happiest and most delightful life here. S
many agreeable circumstances, and of
kind to ensure a worthy man's happinessare seldom united. Alas! I feel it too
sensibly,—the heart alone makes ou
happiness! To be admitted into this mos
charming family, to be loved by th
father as a son, by the children as
father, and by Charlotte! then the nobl
Albert, who never disturbs my happinesby any appearance of ill-humour
receiving me with the heartiest affection
and loving me, next to Charlotte, bette
han all the world! Wilhelm, you wouldbe delighted to hear us in our rambles
and conversations about Charlotte
othing in the world can be more absur
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han our connection, and yet the though
of it often moves me to tears.
He tells me sometimes of heexcellent mother; how, upon her death
bed, she had committed her house an
children to Charlotte, and had give
Charlotte herself in charge to him; howsince that time, a new spirit had take
possession of her; how, in care and
anxiety for their welfare, she became
real mother to them; how every momen
of her time was devoted to some labou
of love in their behalf,—and yet he
mirth and cheerfulness had neveforsaken her. I walk by his side, pluc
flowers by the way, arrange them
carefully into a nosegay, then fling them
nto the first stream I pass, and watc
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hem as they float gently away. I forge
whether I told you that Albert is to
remain here. He has received
government appointment, with a vergood salary; and I understand he is i
high favour at court. I have met few
persons so punctual and methodical i
business.
AUGUST 12.
Certainly Albert is the best fellow ihe world. I had a strange scene with hi
esterday. I went to take leave of him
for I took it into my head to spend a few
days in these mountains, from where
now write to you. As I was walking up
and down his room, my eye fell upon hi
pistols. "Lend me those pistols," said I
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"for my journey." "By all means," h
replied, "if you will take the trouble t
oad them; for they only hang there fo
form." I took down one of them; and hcontinued, "Ever since I was nea
suffering for my extreme caution, I wil
have nothing to do with such things."
was curious to hear the story. "I wa
staying," said he, "some three month
ago, at a friend's house in the country.
had a brace of pistols with meunloaded; and I slept without an
anxiety. One rainy afternoon I was sittin
by myself, doing nothing, when i
occurred to me I do not know how thahe house might be attacked, that w
might require the pistols, that we migh
n short, you know how we go o
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fancying, when we have nothing better t
do. I gave the pistols to the servant, t
clean and load. He was playing with th
maid, and trying to frighten her, when thpistol went off—God knows how!—th
ramrod was in the barrel; and it wen
straight through her right hand, an
shattered the thumb. I had to endure al
he lamentation, and to pay the surgeon'
bill; so, since that time, I have kept al
my weapons unloaded. But, my deafriend, what is the use of prudence? We
can never be on our guard against al
possible dangers. However,"—now, you
must know I can tolerate all men till thecome to "however;"—for it is self
evident that every universal rule mus
have its exceptions. But he is s
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exceedingly accurate, that, if he onl
fancies he has said a word to
precipitate, or too general, or only hal
rue, he never ceases to qualify, tomodify, and extenuate, till at last h
appears to have said nothing at all. Upo
his occasion, Albert was deepl
mmersed in his subject: I ceased t
isten to him, and became lost in reverie
With a sudden motion, I pointed th
mouth of the pistol to my forehead, ovehe right eye. "What do you mean?" crie
Albert, turning back the pistol. "It is no
oaded," said I. "And even if not," h
answered with impatience, "what caou mean? I cannot comprehend how
man can be so mad as to shoot himself
and the bare idea of it shocks me."
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"But why should any one," said I, "i
speaking of an action, venture t
pronounce it mad or wise, or good o
bad? What is the meaning of all thisHave you carefully studied the secre
motives of our actions? Do yo
understand—can you explain the cause
which occasion them, and make the
nevitable? If you can, you will be les
hasty with your decision."
"But you will allow," said Albert
"that some actions are criminal, let the
spring from whatever motives they may.
granted it, and shrugged my shoulders.
"But still, my good friend,"
continued, "there are some exception
here too. Theft is a crime; but the ma
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who commits it from extreme poverty
with no design but to save his famil
from perishing, is he an object of pity, o
of punishment? Who shall throw the firsstone at a husband, who, in the heat o
ust resentment, sacrifices his faithles
wife and her perfidious seducer? or a
he young maiden, who, in her weak hou
of rapture, forgets herself in th
mpetuous joys of love? Even our laws
cold and cruel as they are, relent in succases, and withhold their punishment."
"That is quite another thing," sai
Albert; "because a man under thnfluence of violent passion loses al
power of reflection, and is regarded a
ntoxicated or insane."
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"Oh! you people of soun
understandings," I replied, smiling, "ar
ever ready to exclaim 'Extravagance
and madness, and intoxication!' Youmoral men are so calm and so subdued
You abhor the drunken man, and detes
he extravagant; you pass by, like th
Levite, and thank God, like the Pharisee
hat you are not like one of them. I hav
been more than once intoxicated, m
passions have always bordered oextravagance: I am not ashamed t
confess it; for I have learned, by my ow
experience, that all extraordinary men
who have accomplished great anastonishing actions, have ever bee
decried by the world as drunken o
nsane. And in private life, too, is it no
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ntolerable that no one can undertake th
execution of a noble or generous deed
without giving rise to the exclamatio
hat the doer is intoxicated or madShame upon you, ye sages!"
"This is another of your extravagan
humours," said Albert: "you alwayexaggerate a case, and in this matter yo
are undoubtedly wrong; for we wer
speaking of suicide, which you compar
with great actions, when it is impossibl
o regard it as anything but a weakness
t is much easier to die than to bear a lif
of misery with fortitude."
I was on the point of breaking off th
conversation, for nothing puts me s
completely out of patience as th
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utterance of a wretched commonplac
when I am talking from my inmost hear
However, I composed myself, for I had
often heard the same observation witsufficient vexation; and I answered him
herefore, with a little warmth, "You cal
his a weakness—beware of being le
astray by appearances. When a nation
which has long groaned under th
ntolerable yoke of a tyrant, rises at las
and throws off its chains, do you calhat weakness? The man who, to rescu
his house from the flames, finds hi
physical strength redoubled, so that h
ifts burdens with ease, which, in thabsence of excitement, he could scarcel
move; he who, under the rage of a
nsult, attacks and puts to flight half
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score of his enemies, are such persons t
be called weak? My good friend, i
resistance be strength, how can th
highest degree of resistance be weakness?"
Albert looked steadfastly at me, an
said, "Pray forgive me, but I do not sehat the examples you have adduced bea
any relation to the question." "Very
ikely," I answered; "for I have ofte
been told that my style of illustratio
borders a little on the absurd. But let u
see if we cannot place the matter i
another point of view, by inquiring whacan be a man's state of mind wh
resolves to free himself from the burde
of life,—a burden often so pleasant t
bear,—for we cannot otherwise reaso
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fairly upon the subject.
"Human nature," I continued, "has it
imits. It is able to endure a certaidegree of joy, sorrow, and pain, bu
becomes annihilated as soon as thi
measure is exceeded. The question
herefore, is, not whether a man is stronor weak, but whether he is able t
endure the measure of his sufferings. Th
suffering may be moral or physical; an
n my opinion it is just as absurd to cal
a man a coward who destroys himself
as to call a man a coward who dies of
malignant fever."
"Paradox, all paradox!" exclaime
Albert. "Not so paradoxical as yo
magine," I replied. "You allow that we
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designate a disease as mortal whe
nature is so severely attacked, and he
strength so far exhausted, that she canno
possibly recover her former conditiounder any change that may take place.
"Now, my good friend, apply this to
he mind; observe a man in his naturasolated condition; consider how idea
work, and how impressions fasten o
him, till at length a violent passio
seizes him, destroying all his powers o
calm reflection, and utterly ruining him.
"It is in vain that a man of sound min
and cool temper understands th
condition of such a wretched being, i
vain he counsels him. He can no mor
communicate his own wisdom to hi
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han a healthy man can instil his strengt
nto the invalid, by whose bedside he i
seated."
Albert thought this too general.
reminded him of a girl who had drowne
herself a short time previously, and
related her history.
She was a good creature, who ha
grown up in the narrow sphere o
household industry and weeklappointed labour; one who knew n
pleasure beyond indulging in a walk o
Sundays, arrayed in her best attire
accompanied by her friends, or perhap
oining in the dance now and then a
some festival, and chatting away he
spare hours with a neighbour, discussin
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he scandal or the quarrels of the village
rifles sufficient to occupy her heart. A
ength the warmth of her nature i
nfluenced by certain new and unknowwishes. Inflamed by the flatteries o
men, her former pleasures become b
degrees insipid, till at length she meet
with a youth to whom she is attracted b
an indescribable feeling; upon him sh
now rests all her hopes; she forgets th
world around her; she sees, hearsdesires nothing but him, and him only
He alone occupies all her thoughts
Uncorrupted by the idle indulgence of a
enervating vanity, her affection movinsteadily toward its object, she hopes t
become his, and to realise, in a
everlasting union with him, all tha
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happiness which she sought, all tha
bliss for which she longed. His repeate
promises confirm her hopes: embrace
and endearments, which increase thardour of her desires, overmaster he
soul. She floats in a dim, delusiv
anticipation of her happiness; and he
feelings become excited to their utmos
ension. She stretches out her arm
finally to embrace the object of all he
wishes and her lover forsakes herStunned and bewildered, she stand
upon a precipice. All is darkness around
her. No prospect, no hope, no
consolation—forsaken by him in whoher existence was centred! She see
nothing of the wide world before her
hinks nothing of the many individual
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who might supply the void in her heart
she feels herself deserted, forsaken b
he world; and, blinded and impelled b
he agony which wrings her soul, shplunges into the deep, to end he
sufferings in the broad embrace of death
See here, Albert, the history o
housands; and tell me, is not this a cas
of physical infirmity? Nature has no wa
o escape from the labyrinth: her power
are exhausted: she can contend nonger, and the poor soul must die.
"Shame upon him who can look o
calmly, and exclaim, 'The foolish girlshe should have waited; she should hav
allowed time to wear off the impression
her despair would have been softened
and she would have found another love
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o comfort her.' One might as well say
The fool, to die of a fever! why did h
not wait till his strength was restored
ill his blood became calm? all woulhen have gone well, and he would hav
been alive now.'"
Albert, who could not see the justicof the comparison, offered some furthe
objections, and, amongst others, urge
hat I had taken the case of a mer
gnorant girl. But how any man of sense
of more enlarged views and experience
could be excused, he was unable t
comprehend. "My friend!" I exclaimed"man is but man; and, whatever be th
extent of his reasoning powers, they ar
of little avail when passion rages within
and he feels himself confined by th
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narrow limits of nature. It were better
hen—but we will talk of this some othe
ime," I said, and caught up my hat. Alas
my heart was full; and we parted withouconviction on either side. How rarely i
his world do men understand eac
other!
AUGUST 15.
There can be no doubt that in thi
world nothing is so indispensable aove. I observe that Charlotte could no
ose me without a pang, and the ver
children have but one wish; that is, that
should visit them again to-morrow.
went this afternoon to tune Charlotte'
piano. But I could not do it, for the littl
ones insisted on my telling them a story
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and Charlotte herself urged me to satisf
hem. I waited upon them at tea, and the
are now as fully contented with me a
with Charlotte; and I told them my verbest tale of the princess who was waite
upon by dwarfs. I improve myself by thi
exercise, and am quite surprised at th
mpression my stories create. If
sometimes invent an incident which
forget upon the next narration, the
remind one directly that the story wadifferent before; so that I now endeavou
o relate with exactness the sam
anecdote in the same monotonous tone
which never changes. I find by this, howmuch an author injures his works b
altering them, even though they b
mproved in a poetical point of view
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The first impression is readily received
We are so constituted that we believe
he most incredible things; and, onc
hey are engraved upon the memory, woo him who would endeavour to effac
hem.
AUGUST 18.
Must it ever be thus,—that the sourc
of our happiness must also be th
fountain of our misery? The full anardent sentiment which animated m
heart with the love of nature
overwhelming me with a torrent o
delight, and which brought all paradis
before me, has now become a
nsupportable torment, a demon whic
perpetually pursues and harasses me
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When in bygone days I gazed from thes
rocks upon yonder mountains across th
river, and upon the green, flowery valle
before me, and saw all nature buddinand bursting around; the hills clothe
from foot to peak with tall, thick fores
rees; the valleys in all their varie
windings, shaded with the lovelies
woods; and the soft river gliding alon
amongst the lisping reeds, mirroring th
beautiful clouds which the soft eveninbreeze wafted across the sky,—when
heard the groves about me melodiou
with the music of birds, and saw th
million swarms of insects dancing in thast golden beams of the sun, whos
setting rays awoke the humming beetle
from their grassy beds, whilst th
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subdued tumult around directed m
attention to the ground, and I ther
observed the arid rock compelled t
ield nutriment to the dry moss, whilshe heath flourished upon the barre
sands below me, all this displayed to m
he inner warmth which animates al
nature, and filled and glowed within m
heart. I felt myself exalted by thi
overflowing fulness to the perception o
he Godhead, and the glorious forms oan infinite universe became visible t
my soul! Stupendous mountain
encompassed me, abysses yawned at m
feet, and cataracts fell headlong dowbefore me; impetuous rivers rolle
hrough the plain, and rocks an
mountains resounded from afar. In th
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depths of the earth I saw innumerabl
powers in motion, and multiplying t
nfinity; whilst upon its surface, an
beneath the heavens, there teemed tehousand varieties of living creatures
Everything around is alive with a
nfinite number of forms; while mankin
fly for security to their petty houses
from the shelter of which they rule i
heir imaginations over the wide
extended universe. Poor fool! in whospetty estimation all things are little
From the inaccessible mountains, acros
he desert which no mortal foot has trod
far as the confines of the unknown oceanbreathes the spirit of the eternal Creator
and every atom to which he has give
existence finds favour in his sight. Ah
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how often at that time has the flight of
bird, soaring above my head, inspire
me with the desire of being transporte
o the shores of the immeasurablwaters, there to quaff the pleasures o
ife from the foaming goblet of th
nfinite, and to partake, if but for
moment even, with the confined power
of my soul, the beatitude of that Creato
who accomplishes all things in himself
and through himself!
My dear friend, the bare recollectio
of those hours still consoles me. Eve
his effort to recall those ineffablsensations, and give them utterance
exalts my soul above itself, and make
me doubly feel the intensity of m
present anguish.
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It is as if a curtain had been draw
from before my eyes, and, instead o
prospects of eternal life, the abyss of a
ever open grave yawned before me. Cawe say of anything that it exists when al
passes away, when time, with the speed
of a storm, carries all things onward,—
and our transitory existence, hurrie
along by the torrent, is either swallowe
up by the waves or dashed against th
rocks? There is not a moment but preyupon you,—and upon all around you, no
a moment in which you do not yoursel
become a destroyer. The most innocen
walk deprives of life thousands of poonsects: one step destroys the fabric o
he industrious ant, and converts a littl
world into chaos. No: it is not the grea
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and rare calamities of the world, th
floods which sweep away whol
villages, the earthquakes which swallow
up our towns, that affect me. My heart iwasted by the thought of that destructiv
power which lies concealed in ever
part of universal nature. Nature ha
formed nothing that does not consum
tself, and every object near it: so that
surrounded by earth and air, and all th
active powers, I wander on my way witaching heart; and the universe is to me
fearful monster, for ever devouring it
own offspring.
AUGUST 21.
In vain do I stretch out my arm
oward her when I awaken in th
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morning from my weary slumbers. I
vain do I seek for her at night in my bed
when some innocent dream has happil
deceived me, and placed her near me ihe fields, when I have seized her han
and covered it with countless kisses
And when I feel for her in the hal
confusion of sleep, with the happy sens
hat she is near, tears flow from my
oppressed heart; and, bereft of al
comfort, I weep over my future woes.
AUGUST 22.
What a misfortune, Wilhelm! M
active spirits have degenerated int
contented indolence. I cannot be idle
and yet I am unable to set to work.
cannot think: I have no longer any feelin
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for the beauties of nature, and books ar
distasteful to me. Once we giv
ourselves up, we are totally lost. Many
ime and oft I wish I were a commoabourer; that, awakening in the morning
might have but one prospect, on
pursuit, one hope, for the day which ha
dawned. I often envy Albert when I se
him buried in a heap of papers an
parchments, and I fancy I should b
happy were I in his place. Oftempressed with this feeling I have bee
on the point of writing to you and to th
minister, for the appointment at th
embassy, which you think I might obtain believe I might procure it. The ministe
has long shown a regard for me, and ha
frequently urged me to seek employmen
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t is the business of an hour only. Now
and then the fable of the horse recurs t
me. Weary of liberty, he suffered himsel
o be saddled and bridled, and waridden to death for his pains. I know no
what to determine upon. For is not thi
anxiety for change the consequence o
hat restless spirit which would pursu
me equally in every situation of life?
AUGUST 28.
If my ills would admit of any cure
hey would certainly be cured here. Thi
s my birthday, and early in the morning
received a packet from Albert. Upo
opening it, I found one of the pin
ribbons which Charlotte wore in he
dress the first time I saw her, and whic
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had several times asked her to give me
With it were two volumes in duodecimo
of Wetstein's "Homer," a book I had
often wished for, to save me thnconvenience of carrying the larg
Ernestine edition with me upon m
walks. You see how they anticipate my
wishes, how well they understand al
hose little attentions of friendship, s
superior to the costly presents of th
great, which are humiliating. I kissed thribbon a thousand times, and in ever
breath inhaled the remembrance of thos
happy and irrevocable days which fille
me with the keenest joy. Such, Wilhelms our fate. I do not murmur at it: th
flowers of life are but visionary. How
many pass away, and leave no trac
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behind—how few yield any fruit—an
he fruit itself, how rarely does it ripen
And yet there are flowers enough! and i
t not strange, my friend, that we shoulsuffer the little that does really ripen, t
rot, decay, and perish unenjoyed
Farewell! This is a glorious summer.
often climb into the trees in Charlotte'
orchard, and shake down the pears tha
hang on the highest branches. She stand
below, and catches them as they fall.
AUGUST 30.
Unhappy being that I am! Why do
hus deceive myself? What is to come o
all this wild, aimless, endless passion?
cannot pray except to her. M
magination sees nothing but her: al
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surrounding objects are of no account
except as they relate to her. In thi
dreamy state I enjoy many happy hours
ill at length I feel compelled to teamyself away from her. Ah, Wilhelm, to
what does not my heart often compel me
When I have spent several hours in he
company, till I feel completely absorbed
by her figure, her grace, the divin
expression of her thoughts, my min
becomes gradually excited to the highesexcess, my sight grows dim, my hearin
confused, my breathing oppressed as i
by the hand of a murderer, and m
beating heart seeks to obtain relief fomy aching senses. I am sometime
unconscious whether I really exist. If i
such moments I find no sympathy, and
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Charlotte does not allow me to enjoy th
melancholy consolation of bathing he
hand with my tears, I feel compelled t
ear myself from her, when I eithewander through the country, climb som
precipitous cliff, or force a path throug
he trackless thicket, where I a
acerated and torn by thorns and briers
and thence I find relief. Sometimes I li
stretched on the ground, overcome wit
fatigue and dying with thirst; sometimesate in the night, when the moon shine
above me, I recline against an aged tre
n some sequestered forest, to rest m
weary limbs, when, exhausted and worn sleep till break of day. O Wilhelm! the
hermit's cell, his sackcloth, and girdle o
horns would be luxury and indulgenc
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compared with what I suffer. Adieu!
see no end to this wretchedness excep
he grave.
SEPTEMBER 3.
I must away. Thank you, Wilhelm, fo
determining my wavering purpose. For whole fortnight I have thought of leavin
her. I must away. She has returned to
own, and is at the house of a friend. An
hen, Albert—yes, I must go.
SEPTEMBER 10.
Oh, what a night, Wilhelm! I cahenceforth bear anything. I shall neve
see her again. Oh, why cannot I fall o
our neck, and, with floods of tears an
raptures, give utterance to all th
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passions which distract my heart! Here
sit gasping for breath, and struggling t
compose myself. I wait for day, and a
sunrise the horses are to be at the door.
And she is sleeping calmly, littl
suspecting that she has seen me for th
ast time. I am free. I have had thcourage, in an interview of two hours
duration, not to betray my intention. And
O Wilhelm, what a conversation it was!
Albert had promised to come t
Charlotte in the garden immediately afte
supper. I was upon the terrace under th
all chestnut trees, and watched th
setting sun. I saw him sink for the las
ime beneath this delightful valley an
silent stream. I had often visited th
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same spot with Charlotte, and witnesse
hat glorious sight; and now—I wa
walking up and down the very avenu
which was so dear to me. A secresympathy had frequently drawn m
hither before I knew Charlotte; and w
were delighted when, in our earl
acquaintance, we discovered that w
each loved the same spot, which i
ndeed as romantic as any that eve
captivated the fancy of an artist.
From beneath the chestnut trees, ther
s an extensive view. But I remembe
hat I have mentioned all this in a formeetter, and have described the tall mas
of beech trees at the end, and how th
avenue grows darker and darker as
winds its way among them, till it ends i
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a gloomy recess, which has all the char
of a mysterious solitude. I stil
remember the strange feeling o
melancholy which came over me the firsime I entered that dark retreat, at brigh
midday. I felt some secret forebodin
hat it would, one day, be to me th
scene of some happiness or misery.
I had spent half an hour strugglin
between the contending thoughts of goin
and returning, when I heard them comin
up the terrace. I ran to meet them.
rembled as I took her hand, and kisse
t. As we reached the top of the terracehe moon rose from behind the woode
hill. We conversed on many subjects
and, without perceiving it, approache
he gloomy recess. Charlotte entered
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and sat down. Albert seated himsel
beside her. I did the same, but m
agitation did not suffer me to remai
ong seated. I got up, and stood beforher, then walked backward and forward
and sat down again. I was restless an
miserable. Charlotte drew our attentio
o the beautiful effect of the moonligh
which threw a silver hue over th
errace in front of us, beyond the beec
rees. It was a glorious sight, and warendered more striking by the darknes
which surrounded the spot where w
were. We remained for some time silent
when Charlotte observed, "Whenever walk by moonlight, it brings to m
remembrance all my beloved an
departed friends, and I am filled wit
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houghts of death and futurity. We shal
ive again, Werther!" she continued, wit
a firm but feeling voice; "but shall w
know one another again what do yohink? what do you say?"
"Charlotte," I said, as I took her han
n mine, and my eyes filled with tears"we shall see each other again—her
and hereafter we shall meet again."
could say no more. Why, Wilhelm
should she put this question to me, just a
he moment when the fear of our crue
separation filled my heart?
"And oh! do those departed one
know how we are employed here? d
hey know when we are well and happy
do they know when we recall thei
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memories with the fondest love? In th
silent hour of evening the shade of m
mother hovers around me; when seate
n the midst of my children, I see theassembled near me, as they used t
assemble near her; and then I raise m
anxious eyes to heaven, and wish sh
could look down upon us, and witnes
how I fulfil the promise I made to her i
her last moments, to be a mother to he
children. With what emotion do I theexclaim, 'Pardon, dearest of mothers
pardon me, if I do not adequately suppl
our place! Alas! I do my utmost. The
are clothed and fed; and, still better, theare loved and educated. Could you bu
see, sweet saint! the peace and harmon
hat dwells amongst us, you woul
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glorify God with the warmest feelings o
gratitude, to whom, in your last hour, yo
addressed such fervent prayers for ou
happiness.'" Thus did she expresherself; but O Wilhelm! who can do
ustice to her language? how can col
and passionless words convey th
heavenly expressions of the spirit
Albert interrupted her gently. "Thi
affects you too deeply, my dea
Charlotte. I know your soul dwells osuch recollections with intense delight
but I implore—" "O Albert!" sh
continued, "I am sure you do not forge
he evenings when we three used to sit ahe little round table, when papa wa
absent, and the little ones had retired
You often had a good book with you, bu
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seldom read it; the conversation of tha
noble being was preferable t
everything,—that beautiful, brigh
gentle, and yet ever-toiling woman. Goalone knows how I have supplicate
with tears on my nightly couch, that
might be like her."
I threw myself at her feet, and, seizin
her hand, bedewed it with a thousan
ears. "Charlotte!" I exclaimed, "God'
blessing and your mother's spirit ar
upon you." "Oh! that you had know
her," she said, with a warm pressure o
he hand. "She was worthy of beinknown to you." I thought I should hav
fainted: never had I received praise s
flattering. She continued, "And yet sh
was doomed to die in the flower of he
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outh, when her youngest child wa
scarcely six months old. Her illness wa
but short, but she was calm and resigned
and it was only for her childrenespecially the youngest, that she fe
unhappy. When her end drew nigh, sh
bade me bring them to her. I obeyed. Th
ounger ones knew nothing of thei
approaching loss, while the elder one
were quite overcome with grief. The
stood around the bed; and she raised hefeeble hands to heaven, and prayed ove
hem; then, kissing them in turn, sh
dismissed them, and said to me, 'Be yo
a mother to them.' I gave her my handYou are promising much, my child,' she
said: 'a mother's fondness and a mother'
care! I have often witnessed, by you
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ears of gratitude, that you know what i
a mother's tenderness: show it to you
brothers and sisters, and be dutiful an
faithful to your father as a wife; you wilbe his comfort.' She inquired for him. H
had retired to conceal his intolerabl
anguish,—he was heartbroken, 'Albert
ou were in the room.' She heard som
one moving: she inquired who it was
and desired you to approach. Sh
surveyed us both with a look ocomposure and satisfaction, expressiv
of her conviction that we should b
happy,—happy with one another.
Albert fell upon her neck, and kisseher, and exclaimed, "We are so, and we
shall be so!" Even Albert, generally so
ranquil, had quite lost his composure
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and I was excited beyond expression.
"And such a being," She continued
"was to leave us, Werther! Great Godmust we thus part with everything w
hold dear in this world? Nobody felt thi
more acutely than the children: the
cried and lamented for a long timafterward, complaining that men ha
carried away their dear mamma."
Charlotte rose. It aroused me; but continued sitting, and held her hand. "Le
us go," she said: "it grows late." Sh
attempted to withdraw her hand: I held
still. "We shall see each other again,"
exclaimed: "we shall recognise eac
other under every possible change! I a
going," I continued, "going willingly
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but, should I say for ever, perhaps I ma
not keep my word. Adieu, Charlotte
adieu, Albert. We shall meet again.
"Yes: tomorrow, I think," she answeredwith a smile. Tomorrow! how I felt th
word! Ah! she little thought, when sh
drew her hand away from mine. The
walked down the avenue. I stood gazin
after them in the moonlight. I threw
myself upon the ground, and wept: I the
sprang up, and ran out upon the terraceand saw, under the shade of the linden
rees, her white dress disappearing nea
he garden-gate. I stretched out my arms
and she vanished.
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BOOK II.
OCTOBER 20.
We arrived here yesterday. The
ambassador is indisposed, and will nogo out for some days. If he were les
peevish and morose, all would be well
see but too plainly that Heaven ha
destined me to severe trials; bucourage! a light heart may bear anything
A light heart! I smile to find such a word
proceeding from my pen. A little more
ightheartedness would render me th
happiest being under the sun. But must
despair of my talents and faculties
whilst others of far inferior abilitie
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parade before me with the utmost self
satisfaction? Gracious Providence, t
whom I owe all my powers, why dids
hou not withhold some of thosblessings I possess, and substitute i
heir place a feeling of self-confidenc
and contentment?
But patience! all will yet be well; fo
assure you, my dear friend, you wer
right: since I have been obliged t
associate continually with other people
and observe what they do, and how the
employ themselves, I have become fa
better satisfied with myself. For we arso constituted by nature, that we are eve
prone to compare ourselves with others
and our happiness or misery depend
very much on the objects and person
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around us. On this account, nothing i
more dangerous than solitude: there ou
magination, always disposed to rise
aking a new flight on the wings of fancypictures to us a chain of beings of who
we seem the most inferior. All thing
appear greater than they really are, an
all seem superior to us. This operatio
of the mind is quite natural: we s
continually feel our own imperfections
and fancy we perceive in others thqualities we do not possess, attributin
o them also all that we enjoy ourselves
hat by this process we form the idea o
a perfect, happy man,—a man, howeverwho only exists in our own imagination.
But when, in spite of weakness an
disappointments, we set to work i
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earnest, and persevere steadily, we ofte
find, that, though obliged continually t
ack, we make more way than other
who have the assistance of wind anide; and, in truth, there can be no greate
satisfaction than to keep pace wit
others or outstrip them in the race.
November 26.
I begin to find my situation here mor
olerable, considering all circumstancesfind a great advantage in being muc
occupied; and the number of persons
meet, and their different pursuits, creat
a varied entertainment for me. I hav
formed the acquaintance of the Count C
—and I esteem him more and mor
every day. He is a man of stron
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understanding and great discernmen
but, though he sees farther than othe
people, he is not on that account cold i
his manner, but capable of inspiring andreturning the warmest affection. H
appeared interested in me on on
occasion, when I had to transact som
business with him. He perceived, at th
first word, that we understood eac
other, and that he could converse wit
me in a different tone from what he usewith others. I cannot sufficiently estee
his frank and open kindness to me. It i
he greatest and most genuine o
pleasures to observe a great mind isympathy with our own.
DECEMBER 24.
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As I anticipated, the ambassado
occasions me infinite annoyance. He i
he most punctilious blockhead unde
heaven. He does everything step by stepwith the trifling minuteness of an ol
woman; and he is a man whom it i
mpossible to please, because he i
never pleased with himself. I like to d
business regularly and cheerfully, and
when it is finished, to leave it. But h
constantly returns my papers to mesaying, "They will do," bu
recommending me to look over the
again, as "one may always improve b
using a better word or a morappropriate particle." I then lose al
patience, and wish myself at the devil's
ot a conjunction, not an adverb, mus
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be omitted: he has a deadly antipathy t
all those transpositions of which I am s
fond; and, if the music of our periods i
not tuned to the established, official keyhe cannot comprehend our meaning. It i
deplorable to be connected with such
fellow.
My acquaintance with the Count C—
s the only compensation for such a
evil. He told me frankly, the other day
hat he was much displeased with th
difficulties and delays of th
ambassador; that people like him ar
obstacles, both to themselves and tothers. "But," added he, "one mus
submit, like a traveller who has t
ascend a mountain: if the mountain wa
not there, the road would be both shorte
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and pleasanter; but there it is, and h
must get over it."
The old man perceives the count'partiality for me: this annoys him, and
he seizes every opportunity to depreciat
he count in my hearing. I naturall
defend him, and that only makes matterworse. Yesterday he made me indignant
for he also alluded to me. "The count,
he said, "is a man of the world, and
good man of business: his style is good
and he writes with facility; but, lik
other geniuses, he has no solid learning.
He looked at me with an expression thaseemed to ask if I felt the blow. But i
did not produce the desired effect:
despise a man who can think and act i
such a manner. However, I made a stand
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and answered with not a little warmth
The count, I said, was a man entitled t
respect, alike for his character and hi
acquirements. I had never met a persowhose mind was stored with more usefu
and extensive knowledge,—who had, i
fact, mastered such an infinite variety o
subjects, and who yet retained all hi
activity for the details of ordinar
business. This was altogether beyond hi
comprehension; and I took my leave, lesmy anger should be too highly excited b
some new absurdity of his.
And you are to blame for all this, yowho persuaded me to bend my neck t
his yoke by preaching a life of activit
o me. If the man who plants vegetables
and carries his corn to town on market
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days, is not more usefully employed tha
am, then let me work ten years longe
at the galleys to which I am now
chained.
Oh, the brilliant wretchedness, th
weariness, that one is doomed to witnes
among the silly people whom we meet isociety here! The ambition of rank! How
hey watch, how they toil, to gai
precedence! What poor an
contemptible passions are displayed i
heir utter nakedness! We have a woman
here, for example, who never ceases t
entertain the company with accounts oher family and her estates. Any strange
would consider her a silly being, whos
head was turned by her pretensions t
rank and property; but she is in realit
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even more ridiculous, the daughter of
mere magistrate's clerk from thi
neighbourhood. I cannot understand how
human beings can so debase themselves
Every day I observe more and mor
he folly of judging of others b
ourselves; and I have so much troublwith myself, and my own heart is in suc
constant agitation, that I am well conten
o let others pursue their own course, i
hey only allow me the same privilege.
What provokes me most is th
unhappy extent to which distinctions o
rank are carried. I know perfectly wel
how necessary are inequalities o
condition, and I am sensible of th
advantages I myself derive therefrom
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but I would not have these institution
prove a barrier to the small chance o
happiness which I may enjoy on thi
earth.
I have lately become acquainted wit
a Miss B—, a very agreeable girl, wh
has retained her natural manners in thmidst of artificial life. Our firs
conversation pleased us both equally
and, at taking leave, I requeste
permission to visit her. She consented in
so obliging a manner, that I waited wit
mpatience for the arrival of the happ
moment. She is not a native of this placebut resides here with her aunt. Th
countenance of the old lady is no
prepossessing. I paid her much attention
addressing the greater part of m
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conversation to her; and, in less than hal
an hour, I discovered what her niec
subsequently acknowledged to me, tha
her aged aunt, having but a small fortuneand a still smaller share o
understanding, enjoys no satisfactio
except in the pedigree of her ancestors
no protection save in her noble birth
and no enjoyment but in looking from he
castle over the heads of the humbl
citizens. She was, no doubt, handsome iher youth, and in her early year
probably trifled away her time i
rendering many a poor youth the sport o
her caprice: in her riper years she hasubmitted to the yoke of a vetera
officer, who, in return for her person and
her small independence, has spent wit
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her what we may designate her age o
brass. He is dead; and she is now
widow, and deserted. She spends he
ron age alone, and would not bapproached, except for the loveliness o
her niece.
JANUARY 8, 1772.
What beings are men, whose whol
houghts are occupied with form an
ceremony, who for years together devotheir mental and physical exertions to th
ask of advancing themselves but on
step, and endeavouring to occupy
higher place at the table. Not that suc
persons would otherwise wan
employment: on the contrary, they giv
hemselves much trouble by neglectin
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mportant business for such petty trifles
Last week a question of precedenc
arose at a sledging-party, and all ou
amusement was spoiled.
The silly creatures cannot see that it i
not place which constitutes rea
greatness, since the man who occupiehe first place but seldom plays th
principal part. How many kings ar
governed by their ministers—how man
ministers by their secretaries? Who, i
such cases, is really the chief? He, as i
seems to me, who can see through th
others, and possesses strength or skilenough to make their power or passion
subservient to the execution of his ow
designs.
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JANUARY 20.
I must write to you from this place, m
dear Charlotte, from a small room in country inn, where I have taken shelte
from a severe storm. During my whol
residence in that wretched place D—
where I lived amongst strangers,—strangers, indeed, to this heart,—I neve
at any time felt the smallest inclination t
correspond with you; but in this cottage
n this retirement, in this solitude, wit
he snow and hail beating against m
attice-pane, you are my first thought
The instant I entered, your figure rose upbefore me, and the remembrance! O m
Charlotte, the sacred, tende
remembrance! Gracious Heaven! restor
o me the happy moment of our firs
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acquaintance.
Could you but see me, my dea
Charlotte, in the whirl of dissipation,—how my senses are dried up, but m
heart is at no time full. I enjoy no singl
moment of happiness: all is vain—
nothing touches me. I stand, as it werebefore the raree-show: I see the littl
puppets move, and I ask whether it is no
an optical illusion. I am amused wit
hese puppets, or, rather, I am myself on
of them: but, when I sometimes grasp m
neighbour's hand, I feel that it is no
natural; and I withdraw mine with shudder. In the evening I say I will enjo
he next morning's sunrise, and yet
remain in bed: in the day I promise t
ramble by moonlight; and I
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nevertheless, remain at home. I know no
why I rise, nor why I go to sleep.
The leaven which animated mexistence is gone: the charm whic
cheered me in the gloom of night, an
aroused me from my morning slumbers
s for ever fled.
I have found but one being here t
nterest me, a Miss B—. She resemble
ou, my dear Charlotte, if any one capossibly resemble you. "Ah!" you wil
say, "he has learned how to pay fin
compliments." And this is partly true.
have been very agreeable lately, as i
was not in my power to be otherwise.
have, moreover, a deal of wit: and th
adies say that no one understand
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flattery better, or falsehoods you wil
add; since the one accomplishmen
nvariably accompanies the other. But
must tell you of Miss B—. She haabundance of soul, which flashes fro
her deep blue eyes. Her rank is a tormen
o her, and satisfies no one desire of he
heart. She would gladly retire from thi
whirl of fashion, and we often picture t
ourselves a life of undisturbed happines
n distant scenes of rural retirement: anhen we speak of you, my dear Charlotte
for she knows you, and renders homag
o your merits; but her homage is no
exacted, but voluntary, she loves youand delights to hear you made the subjec
of conversation.
Oh, that I were sitting at your feet i
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our favourite little room, with the dea
children playing around us! If the
became troublesome to you, I would tel
hem some appalling goblin story; anhey would crowd round me with silen
attention. The sun is setting in glory; hi
ast rays are shining on the snow, whic
covers the face of the country: the stor
s over, and I must return to my dungeon
Adieu!—Is Albert with you? and what i
he to you? God forgive the question.
FEBRUARY 8.
For a week past we have had the mos
wretched weather: but this to me is
blessing; for, during my residence here
not a single fine day has beamed fro
he heavens, but has been lost to me b
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he intrusion of somebody. During th
severity of rain, sleet, frost, and storm,
congratulate myself that it cannot b
worse indoors than abroad, nor worsabroad than it is within doors; and so
become reconciled. When the sun rise
bright in the morning, and promises
glorious day, I never omit to exclaim
"There, now, they have another blessin
from Heaven, which they will be sure t
destroy: they spoil everything,—healthfame, happiness, amusement; and they d
his generally through folly, ignorance
or imbecility, and always, according to
heir own account, with the besntentions!" I could often beseech them
on my bended knees, to be less resolve
upon their own destruction.
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FEBRUARY 17.
I fear that my ambassador and I shal
not continue much longer together. He ireally growing past endurance. H
ransacts his business in so ridiculous
manner, that I am often compelled to
contradict him, and do things my owway; and then, of course, he thinks the
very ill done. He complained of m
ately on this account at court; and th
minister gave me a reprimand,—a gentl
one it is true, but still a reprimand. I
consequence of this, I was about t
ender my resignation, when I received etter, to which I submitted with grea
respect, on account of the high, noble
and generous spirit which dictated it. H
endeavoured to soothe my excessiv
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sensibility, paid a tribute to my extrem
deas of duty, of good example, and o
perseverance in business, as the fruit o
my youthful ardour, an impulse which hdid not seek to destroy, but only to
moderate, that it might have proper pla
and be productive of good. So now I a
at rest for another week, and no longer a
variance with myself. Content and peac
of mind are valuable things: I coul
wish, my dear friend, that these preciouewels were less transitory.
FEBRUARY 20.
God bless you, my dear friends, an
may he grant you that happiness whic
he denies to me!
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I thank you, Albert, for havin
deceived me. I waited for the news tha
our wedding-day was fixed; and
ntended on that day, with solemnity, toake down Charlotte's profile from th
wall, and to bury it with some othe
papers I possess. You are now united
and her picture still remains here. Well
et it remain! Why should it not? I know
hat I am still one of your society, that
still occupy a place uninjured iCharlotte's heart, that I hold the secon
place therein; and I intend to keep it. Oh
should become mad if she could forget
Albert, that thought is hell! FarewelAlbert farewell, angel of heave
farewell, Charlotte!
MARCH 15.
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I have just had a sad adventure, whic
will drive me away from here. I lose al
patience!—Death!—It is not to b
remedied; and you alone are to blamefor you urged and impelled me to fill
post for which I was by no means suited
have now reason to be satisfied, and s
have you! But, that you may not agai
attribute this fatality to my impetuou
emper, I send you, my dear sir, a plain
and simple narration of the affair, as mere chronicler of facts would describ
t.
The Count of O—likes andistinguishes me. It is well known, and
have mentioned this to you a hundre
imes. Yesterday I dined with him. It i
he day on which the nobility ar
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accustomed to assemble at his house i
he evening. I never once thought of th
assembly, nor that we subalterns did no
belong to such society. Well, I dinedwith the count; and, after dinner, w
adjourned to the large hall. We walked
up and down together: and I converse
with him, and with Colonel B—, wh
oined us; and in this manner the hour fo
he assembly approached. God knows,
was thinking of nothing, when whshould enter but the honourable Lad
accompanied by her noble husband an
heir silly, scheming daughter, with he
small waist and flat neck; and, witdisdainful looks and a haughty air the
passed me by. As I heartily detest th
whole race, I determined upon goin
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away; and only waited till the count ha
disengaged himself from thei
mpertinent prattle, to take leave, whe
he agreeable Miss B—came in. As never meet her without experiencing
heartfelt pleasure, I stayed and talked t
her, leaning over the back of her chair
and did not perceive, till after som
ime, that she seemed a little confused
and ceased to answer me with her usua
ease of manner. I was struck with it"Heavens!" I said to myself, "can she
oo, be like the rest?" I felt annoyed, an
was about to withdraw; but I remained
notwithstanding, forming excuses for heconduct, fancying she did not mean it
and still hoping to receive some friendl
recognition. The rest of the compan
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now arrived. There was the Baron F—
n an entire suit that dated from th
coronation of Francis I.; the Chancello
—, with his deaf wife; the shabbilydressed I—, whose old-fashioned coa
bore evidence of modern repairs: thi
crowned the whole. I conversed wit
some of my acquaintances, but the
answered me laconically. I was engaged
n observing Miss B—, and did no
notice that the women were whisperinat the end of the room, that the murmu
extended by degrees to the men, tha
Madame S—addressed the count wit
much warmth (this was all related to msubsequently by Miss B—); till at lengt
he count came up to me, and took me t
he window. "You know our ridiculou
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customs," he said. "I perceive th
company is rather displeased at you
being here. I would not on any accoun
—" "I beg your excellency's pardon!" exclaimed. "I ought to have thought o
his before, but I know you will forgiv
his little inattention. I was going,"
added, "some time ago, but my evi
genius detained me." And I smiled and
bowed, to take my leave. He shook m
by the hand, in a manner whicexpressed everything. I hastened at onc
from the illustrious assembly, spran
nto a carriage, and drove to M—.
contemplated the setting sun from the toof the hill, and read that beautifu
passage in Homer, where Ulysses i
entertained by the hospitable herdsmen
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This was indeed delightful.
I returned home to supper in th
evening. But few persons werassembled in the room. They had turne
up a corner of the table-cloth, and wer
playing at dice. The good-natured A—
came in. He laid down his hat when hsaw me, approached me, and said in
ow tone, "You have met with a
disagreeable adventure." "I!"
exclaimed. "The count obliged you t
withdraw from the assembly!" "Deuc
ake the assembly!" said I. "I was ver
glad to be gone." "I am delighted," hadded, "that you take it so lightly. I am
only sorry that it is already so muc
spoken of." The circumstance then bega
o pain me. I fancied that every one wh
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sat down, and even looked at me, wa
hinking of this incident; and my hear
became embittered.
And now I could plunge a dagger int
my bosom, when I hear mysel
everywhere pitied, and observe th
riumph of my enemies, who say that this always the case with vain persons
whose heads are turned with conceit
who affect to despise forms and suc
petty, idle nonsense.
Say what you will of fortitude, bu
show me the man who can patientl
endure the laughter of fools, when the
have obtained an advantage over him
Tis only when their nonsense is withou
foundation that one can suffer it withou
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complaint.
March 16.
Everything conspires against me. I me
Miss B—walking to-day. I could no
help joining her; and, when we were at
ittle distance from her companions, expressed my sense of her altere
manner toward me. "O Werther!" she
said, in a tone of emotion, "you, wh
know my heart, how could you so ilnterpret my distress? What did I no
suffer for you, from the moment yo
entered the room! I foresaw it all,
hundred times was I on the point o
mentioning it to you. I knew that the
——s and T——s, with their husbands
would quit the room, rather than remai
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n your company. I knew that the coun
would not break with them: and now s
much is said about it." "How!"
exclaimed, and endeavoured to conceamy emotion; for all that Adelin had
mentioned to me yesterday recurred t
me painfully at that moment. "Oh, how
much it has already cost me!" said thi
amiable girl, while her eyes filled wit
ears. I could scarcely contain myself
and was ready to throw myself at hefeet. "Explain yourself!" I cried. Tear
flowed down her cheeks. I became quit
frantic. She wiped them away, withou
attempting to conceal them. "You knowmy aunt," she continued; "she wa
present: and in what light does sh
consider the affair! Last night, and thi
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morning, Werther, I was compelled to
isten to a lecture upon my acquaintanc
with you. I have been obliged to hea
ou condemned and depreciated; and could not—I dared not—say much i
our defence."
Every word she uttered was a daggeo my heart. She did not feel what
mercy it would have been to concea
everything from me. She told me, i
addition, all the impertinence that woul
be further circulated, and how th
malicious would triumph; how the
would rejoice over the punishment of mpride, over my humiliation for that wan
of esteem for others with which I ha
often been reproached. To hear all this
Wilhelm, uttered by her in a voice of th
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most sincere sympathy, awakened all m
passions; and I am still in a state o
extreme excitement. I wish I could find
man to jeer me about this event. I woulsacrifice him to my resentment. The sigh
of his blood might possibly be a relief t
my fury. A hundred times have I seized a
dagger, to give ease to this oppressed
heart. Naturalists tell of a noble race o
horses that instinctively open a vein wit
heir teeth, when heated and exhausteby a long course, in order to breath
more freely. I am often tempted to open
vein, to procure for myself everlastin
iberty.
MARCH 24.
I have tendered my resignation to th
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court. I hope it will be accepted, and yo
will forgive me for not havin
previously consulted you. It is necessar
should leave this place. I know all yowill urge me to stay, and therefore I be
ou will soften this news to my mother.
am unable to do anything for myself
how, then, should I be competent to
assist others? It will afflict her that
should have interrupted that caree
which would have made me first a privcouncillor, and then minister, and that
should look behind me, in place o
advancing. Argue as you will, combin
all the reasons which should havnduced me to remain, I am going: that i
sufficient. But, that you may not b
gnorant of my destination, I ma
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mention that the Prince of—is here. H
s much pleased with my company; and
having heard of my intention to resign
he has invited me to his country house, tpass the spring months with him. I shal
be left completely my own master; and
as we agree on all subjects but one,
shall try my fortune, and accompany him
APRIL 19.
Thanks for both your letters. I delayemy reply, and withheld this letter, till
should obtain an answer from the court.
feared my mother might apply to th
minister to defeat my purpose. But m
request is granted, my resignation i
accepted. I shall not recount with wha
reluctance it was accorded, nor relat
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what the minister has written: you woul
only renew your lamentations. Th
crown prince has sent me a present o
five and twenty ducats; and, indeed, sucgoodness has affected me to tears. Fo
his reason I shall not require from m
mother the money for which I latel
applied.
MAY 5.
I leave this place to-morrow; and, amy native place is only six miles fro
he high road, I intend to visit it onc
more, and recall the happy dreams of m
childhood. I shall enter at the same gat
hrough which I came with my mother
when, after my father's death, she lef
hat delightful retreat to immure hersel
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n your melancholy town. Adieu, m
dear friend: you shall hear of my futur
career.
MAY 9.
I have paid my visit to my nativ
place with all the devotion of a pilgrimand have experienced many unexpecte
emotions. Near the great elm tree, whic
s a quarter of a league from the village
got out of the carriage, and sent it obefore, that alone, and on foot, I migh
enjoy vividly and heartily all th
pleasure of my recollections. I stoo
here under that same elm which wa
formerly the term and object of m
walks. How things have since changed
Then, in happy ignorance, I sighed for
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world I did not know, where I hoped to
find every pleasure and enjoyment whic
my heart could desire; and now, on m
return from that wide world, O mfriend, how many disappointed hope
and unsuccessful plans have I brough
back!
As I contemplated the mountain
which lay stretched out before me,
hought how often they had been th
object of my dearest desires. Here used
o sit for hours together with my eye
bent upon them, ardently longing t
wander in the shade of those woods, tose myself in those valleys, which for
so delightful an object in the distance
With what reluctance did I leave thi
charming spot; when my hour o
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recreation was over, and my leave o
absence expired! I drew near to th
village: all the well-known ol
summerhouses and gardens werrecognised again; I disliked the new
ones, and all other alterations which ha
aken place. I entered the village, and al
my former feelings returned. I cannot, m
dear friend, enter into details, charmin
as were my sensations: they would b
dull in the narration. I had intended todge in the market-place, near our ol
house. As soon as I entered, I perceived
hat the schoolroom, where ou
childhood had been taught by that gooold woman, was converted into a shop.
called to mind the sorrow, the heaviness
he tears, and oppression of heart, whic
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experienced in that confinement. Ever
step produced some particula
mpression. A pilgrim in the Holy Land
does not meet so many spots pregnanwith tender recollections, and his soul i
hardly moved with greater devotion
One incident will serve for illustration.
followed the course of a stream to
farm, formerly a delightful walk of mine
and paused at the spot, where, whe
boys, we used to amuse ourselvemaking ducks and drakes upon the water
recollected so well how I use
formerly to watch the course of tha
same stream, following it with inquirineagerness, forming romantic ideas of th
countries it was to pass through; but m
magination was soon exhausted: whil
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he water continued flowing farther an
farther on, till my fancy becam
bewildered by the contemplation of a
nvisible distance. Exactly such, my deafriend, so happy and so confined, wer
he thoughts of our good ancestors. Thei
feelings and their poetry were fresh a
childhood. And, when Ulysses talks o
he immeasurable sea and boundles
earth, his epithets are true, natura
deeply felt, and mysterious. Of whamportance is it that I have learned, wit
every schoolboy, that the world i
round? Man needs but little earth fo
enjoyment, and still less for his finarepose.
I am at present with the prince at hi
hunting lodge. He is a man with who
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one can live happily. He is honest and
unaffected. There are, however, som
strange characters about him, whom
cannot at all understand. They do noseem vicious, and yet they do not carr
he appearance of thoroughly hones
men. Sometimes I am disposed t
believe them honest, and yet I canno
persuade myself to confide in them. I
grieves me to hear the princ
occasionally talk of things which he haonly read or heard of, and always wit
he same view in which they have bee
represented by others.
He values my understanding an
alents more highly than my heart, but
am proud of the latter only. It is the sol
source of everything of our strength
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happiness, and misery. All the
knowledge I possess every one else ca
acquire, but my heart is exclusively m
own.
MAY 25.
I have had a plan in my head of whicdid not intend to speak to you until
was accomplished: now that it ha
failed, I may as well mention it. I wishe
o enter the army, and had long beedesirous of taking the step. This, indeed
was the chief reason for my coming her
with the prince, as he is a general in th
service. I communicated my design t
him during one of our walks together. H
disapproved of it, and it would hav
been actual madness not to have listene
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o his reasons.
JUNE 11.
Say what you will, I can remain her
no longer. Why should I remain? Time
hangs heavy upon my hands. The princ
s as gracious to me as any one could beand yet I am not at my ease. There is
ndeed, nothing in common between us
He is a man of understanding, but quit
of the ordinary kind. His conversatioaffords me no more amusement than
should derive from the perusal of
well-written book. I shall remain here
week longer, and then start again on m
ravels. My drawings are the best thing
have done since I came here. Th
prince has a taste for the arts, and woul
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mprove if his mind were not fettered b
cold rules and mere technical ideas.
often lose patience, when, with
glowing imagination, I am givinexpression to art and nature, h
nterferes with learned suggestions, an
uses at random the technical phraseolog
of artists.
JULY 16.
Once more I am a wanderer, pilgrim, through the world. But wha
else are you!
JULY 18.
Whither am I going? I will tell you i
confidence. I am obliged to continue
fortnight longer here, and then I think
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would be better for me to visit the mine
n—. But I am only deluding myself thus
The fact is, I wish to be near Charlott
again, that is all. I smile at thsuggestions of my heart, and obey it
dictates.
JULY 29.
No, no! it is yet well all is well! I he
husband! O God, who gave me being, i
hou hadst destined this happiness fome, my whole life would have been on
continual thanksgiving! But I will no
murmur—forgive these tears, forgiv
hese fruitless wishes. She—my wife
Oh, the very thought of folding tha
dearest of Heaven's creatures in m
arms! Dear Wilhelm, my whole fram
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feels convulsed when I see Albert pu
his arms around her slender waist!
And shall I avow it? Why should not, Wilhelm? She would have bee
happier with me than with him. Albert i
not the man to satisfy the wishes of suc
a heart. He wants a certain sensibilityhe wants—in short, their hearts do no
beat in unison. How often, my dea
friend, I'm reading a passage from som
nteresting book, when my heart an
Charlotte's seemed to meet, and in
hundred other instances when ou
sentiments were unfolded by the story osome fictitious character, have I felt tha
we were made for each other! But, dea
Wilhelm, he loves her with his whol
soul; and what does not such a lov
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deserve?
I have been interrupted by a
nsufferable visit. I have dried my tearsand composed my thoughts. Adieu, m
best friend!
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AUGUST 4.
I am not alone unfortunate. All me
are disappointed in their hopes, andeceived in their expectations. I hav
paid a visit to my good old woman unde
he lime-trees. The eldest boy ran out t
meet me: his exclamation of joy broughout his mother, but she had a ver
melancholy look. Her first word was
"Alas! dear sir, my little John is dead.
He was the youngest of her children.
was silent. "And my husband ha
returned from Switzerland without an
money; and, if some kind people had noassisted him, he must have begged hi
way home. He was taken ill with feve
on his journey." I could answer nothing
but made the little one a present. Sh
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nvited me to take some fruit:
complied, and left the place with
sorrowful heart.
AUGUST 21.
My sensations are constantl
changing. Sometimes a happy prospecopens before me; but alas! it is only for
moment; and then, when I am lost i
reverie, I cannot help saying to myself
"If Albert were to die?—Yes, she wouldbecome—and I should be"—and so
pursue a chimera, till it leads me to th
edge of a precipice at which I shudder.
When I pass through the same gate
and walk along the same road whic
first conducted me to Charlotte, my hear
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sinks within me at the change that ha
since taken place. All, all, is altered! No
sentiment, no pulsation of my heart, i
he same. My sensations are such awould occur to some departed princ
whose spirit should return to visit th
superb palace which he had built i
happy times, adorned with costl
magnificence, and left to a beloved son
but whose glory he should find departed
and its halls deserted and in ruins.
SEPTEMBER 3.
I sometimes cannot understand how
she can love another, how she dare
ove another, when I love nothing in thi
world so completely, so devotedly, as
ove her, when I know only her, and
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have no other possession.
SEPTEMBER 4.
It is even so! As nature puts on he
autumn tints it becomes autumn with m
and around me. My leaves are sere an
ellow, and the neighbouring trees ardivested of their foliage. Do yo
remember my writing to you about
peasant boy shortly after my arriva
here? I have just made inquiries abouhim in Walheim. They say he has been
dismissed from his service, and is now
avoided by every one. I met hi
esterday on the road, going to
neighbouring village. I spoke to him, an
he told me his story. It interested m
exceedingly, as you will easil
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understand when I repeat it to you. Bu
why should I trouble you? Why should
not reserve all my sorrow for myself
Why should I continue to give yooccasion to pity and blame me? But n
matter: this also is part of my destiny.
At first the peasant lad answered mnquiries with a sort of subdue
melancholy, which seemed to me th
mark of a timid disposition; but, as w
grew to understand each other, he spok
with less reserve, and openly confesse
his faults, and lamented his misfortune.
wish, my dear friend, I could givproper expression to his language. H
old me with a sort of pleasurabl
recollection, that, after my departure, hi
passion for his mistress increased daily
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until at last he neither knew what he di
nor what he said, nor what was t
become of him. He could neither eat no
drink nor sleep: he felt a sense osuffocation; he disobeyed all orders, an
forgot all commands involuntarily; h
seemed as if pursued by an evil spirit
ill one day, knowing that his mistres
had gone to an upper chamber, he had
followed, or, rather, been drawn afte
her. As she proved deaf to his entreatieshe had recourse to violence. He know
not what happened; but he called God t
witness that his intentions to her wer
honourable, and that he desired nothinmore sincerely than that they shoul
marry, and pass their lives together
When he had come to this point, h
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began to hesitate, as if there wa
something which he had not courage t
utter, till at length he acknowledged wit
some confusion certain little confidenceshe had encouraged, and liberties sh
had allowed. He broke off two or thre
imes in his narration, and assured m
most earnestly that he had no wish t
make her bad, as he termed it, for h
oved her still as sincerely as ever; tha
he tale had never before escaped hiips, and was only now told to convinc
me that he was not utterly lost an
abandoned. And here, my dear friend,
must commence the old song which yoknow I utter eternally. If I could onl
represent the man as he stood, and stand
now before me, could I only give hi
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rue expressions, you would fee
compelled to sympathise in his fate. Bu
enough: you, who know my misfortun
and my disposition, can easilcomprehend the attraction which draw
me toward every unfortunate being, bu
particularly toward him whose story
have recounted.
On perusing this letter a second time,
find I have omitted the conclusion of m
ale; but it is easily supplied. Sh
became reserved toward him, at th
nstigation of her brother who had lon
hated him, and desired his expulsiofrom the house, fearing that his sister'
second marriage might deprive hi
children of the handsome fortune the
expected from her; as she is childless
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He was dismissed at length; and th
whole affair occasioned so muc
scandal, that the mistress dared not tak
him back, even if she had wished it. Shhas since hired another servant, wit
whom, they say, her brother is equally
displeased, and whom she is likely t
marry; but my informant assures me tha
he himself is determined not to surviv
such a catastrophe.
This story is neither exaggerated no
embellished: indeed, I have weakene
and impaired it in the narration, by th
necessity of using the more refineexpressions of society.
This love, then, this constancy, thi
passion, is no poetical fiction. It i
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actual, and dwells in its greatest purit
amongst that class of mankind whom w
erm rude, uneducated. We are th
educated, not the perverted. But read thistory with attention, I implore you. I a
ranquil to-day, for I have bee
employed upon this narration: you see b
my writing that I am not so agitated a
usual. I read and re-read this tale
Wilhelm: it is the history of your friend
My fortune has been and will be similarand I am neither half so brave nor half s
determined as the poor wretch wit
whom I hesitate to compare myself.
SEPTEMBER 5.
Charlotte had written a letter to he
husband in the country, where he wa
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detained by business. It commenced
"My dearest love, return as soon a
possible: I await you with a thousan
raptures." A friend who arrived, broughword, that, for certain reasons, he coul
not return immediately. Charlotte's lette
was not forwarded, and the sam
evening it fell into my hands. I read it
and smiled. She asked the reason. "Wha
a heavenly treasure is imagination:"
exclaimed; "I fancied for a moment thahis was written to me." She paused, an
seemed displeased. I was silent.
SEPTEMBER 6.
It cost me much to part with the blu
coat which I wore the first time I dance
with Charlotte. But I could not possibl
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wear it any longer. But I have ordered
new one, precisely similar, even to th
collar and sleeves, as well as a new
waistcoat and pantaloons.
But it does not produce the sam
effect upon me. I know not how it is, bu
hope in time I shall like it better.
SEPTEMBER 12.
She has been absent for some daysShe went to meet Albert. To-day
visited her: she rose to receive me, and
kissed her hand most tenderly.
A canary at the moment flew from
mirror, and settled upon her shoulder
"Here is a new friend," she observed
while she made him perch upon he
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hand: "he is a present for the children
What a dear he is! Look at him! When
feed him, he flutters with his wings, an
pecks so nicely. He kisses me, too, onlyook!"
She held the bird to her mouth; and h
pressed her sweet lips with so mucfervour that he seemed to feel the exces
of bliss which he enjoyed.
"He shall kiss you too," she addedand then she held the bird toward me
His little beak moved from her mouth t
mine, and the delightful sensatio
seemed like the forerunner of th
sweetest bliss.
"A kiss," I observed, "does not seem
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o satisfy him: he wishes for food, an
seems disappointed by thes
unsatisfactory endearments."
"But he eats out of my mouth," sh
continued, and extended her lips to hi
containing seed; and she smiled with al
he charm of a being who has allowed annocent participation of her love.
I turned my face away. She should no
act thus. She ought not to excite mmagination with such displays o
heavenly innocence and happiness, no
awaken my heart from its slumbers, i
which it dreams of the worthlessness o
ife! And why not? Because she know
how much I love her.
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SEPTEMBER 15.
It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to
hink that there should be men incapablof appreciating the few things whic
possess a real value in life. You
remember the walnut trees at S—, unde
which I used to sit with Charlotte, durinmy visits to the worthy old vicar. Thos
glorious trees, the very sight of whic
has so often filled my heart with joy
how they adorned and refreshed th
parsonage yard, with their wide
extended branches! and how pleasin
was our remembrance of the good olpastor, by whose hands they wer
planted so many years ago: Th
schoolmaster has frequently mentione
his name. He had it from his grandfather
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He must have been a most excellent man
and, under the shade of those old trees
his memory was ever venerated by me
The schoolmaster informed us yesterdaywith tears in his eyes, that those tree
had been felled. Yes, cut to the ground!
could, in my wrath, have slain th
monster who struck the first stroke. And
must endure this!—I, who, if I had ha
wo such trees in my own court, and on
had died from old age, should have wepwith real affliction. But there is som
comfort left, such a thing is sentiment
he whole village murmurs at th
misfortune; and I hope the vicar's wifwill soon find, by the cessation of th
villagers' presents, how much she ha
wounded the feelings of th
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neighborhhood. It was she who did it
he wife of the present incumbent (ou
good old man is dead), a tall, sickl
creature who is so far right to disregarhe world, as the world totall
disregards her. The silly being affects to
be learned, pretends to examine th
canonical books, lends her aid towar
he new-fashioned reformation o
Christendom, moral and critical, an
shrugs up her shoulders at the mention oLavater's enthusiasm. Her health i
destroyed, on account of which she i
prevented from having any enjoymen
here below. Only such a creature couldhave cut down my walnut trees! I ca
never pardon it. Hear her reasons. Th
falling leaves made the court wet an
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dirty; the branches obstructed the light
boys threw stones at the nuts when the
were ripe, and the noise affected he
nerves; and disturbed her profounmeditations, when she was weighing th
difficulties of Kennicot, Semler, and
Michaelis. Finding that all the parish
particularly the old people, wer
displeased, I asked "why they allowe
t?" "Ah, sir!" they replied, "when th
steward orders, what can we poopeasants do?" But one thing ha
happened well. The steward and th
vicar (who, for once, thought to reap
some advantage from the caprices of hiwife) intended to divide the tree
between them. The revenue-office, bein
nformed of it, revived an old claim t
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he ground where the trees had stood
and sold them to the best bidder. Ther
hey still lie on the ground. If I were th
sovereign, I should know how to deawith them all, vicar, steward, and
revenue-office. Sovereign, did I say?
should, in that case, care little about th
rees that grew in the country.
OCTOBER 10.
Only to gaze upon her dark eyes is tme a source of happiness! And wha
grieves me, is, that Albert does not seem
so happy as he—hoped to be—as
should have been—if—I am no friend t
hese pauses, but here I cannot express
otherwise; and probably I am explic
enough.
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OCTOBER 12.
Ossian has superseded Homer in m
heart. To what a world does thllustrious bard carry me! To wande
over pathless wilds, surrounded b
mpetuous whirlwinds, where, by th
feeble light of the moon, we see thspirits of our ancestors; to hear from th
mountain-tops, mid the roar of torrents
heir plaintive sounds issuing from dee
caverns, and the sorrowful lamentation
of a maiden who sighs and expires o
he mossy tomb of the warrior by who
she was adored. I meet this bard witsilver hair; he wanders in the valley; h
seeks the footsteps of his fathers, and
alas! he finds only their tombs. Then
contemplating the pale moon, as sh
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sinks beneath the waves of the rollin
sea, the memory of bygone days strike
he mind of the hero, days whe
approaching danger invigorated thbrave, and the moon shone upon his bar
aden with spoils, and returning i
riumph. When I read in his countenanc
deep sorrow, when I see his dying glor
sink exhausted into the grave, as h
nhales new and heart-thrilling deligh
from his approaching union with hibeloved, and he casts a look on the col
earth and the tall grass which is so soo
o cover him, and then exclaims, "Th
raveller will come,—he will come whhas seen my beauty, and he will ask
Where is the bard, where is th
llustrious son of Fingal?' He will wal
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over my tomb, and will seek me i
vain!" Then, O my friend, I coul
nstantly, like a true and noble knight
draw my sword, and deliver my princfrom the long and painful languor of
iving death, and dismiss my own soul t
follow the demigod whom my hand ha
set free!
OCTOBER 19.
Alas! the void the fearful void, whicfeel in my bosom! Sometimes I think, i
could only once but once, press her t
my heart, this dreadful void would b
filled.
OCTOBER 26.
Yes, I feel certain, Wilhelm, and
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every day I become more certain, tha
he existence of any being whatever is o
very little consequence. A friend o
Charlotte's called to see her just now. withdrew into a neighbouring apartmen
and took up a book; but, finding I coul
not read, I sat down to write. I hear
hem converse in an undertone: the
spoke upon indifferent topics, an
retailed the news of the town. One wa
going to be married; another was ilvery ill, she had a dry cough, her fac
was growing thinner daily, and she had
occasional fits. "N—is very unwell too,
said Charlotte. "His limbs begin to swelalready," answered the other; and m
ively imagination carried me at once t
he beds of the infirm. There I see the
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struggling against death, with all th
agonies of pain and horror; and thes
women, Wilhelm, talk of all this with a
much indifference as one would mentiohe death of a stranger. And when I look
around the apartment where I now am—
when I see Charlotte's apparel lyin
before me, and Albert's writings, and al
hose articles of furniture which are s
familiar to me, even to the very inkstan
which I am using,—when I think what am to this family—everything. M
friends esteem me; I often contribute t
heir happiness, and my heart seems as i
t could not beat without them; and ye—-if I were to die, if I were to b
summoned from the midst of this circle
would they feel—or how long woul
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hey feel the void which my loss woul
make in their existence? How long! Yes
such is the frailty of man, that even there
where he has the greatest consciousnesof his own being, where he makes th
strongest and most forcible impression
even in the memory, in the heart, of hi
beloved, there also he must perish,—
vanish,—and that quickly.
OCTOBER 27.
I could tear open my bosom wit
vexation to think how little we ar
capable of influencing the feelings o
each other. No one can communicate to
me those sensations of love, joy, rapture
and delight which I do not naturall
possess; and, though my heart may glow
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with the most lively affection, I canno
make the happiness of one in whom th
same warmth is not inherent.
OCTOBER 27: Evening.
I possess so much, but my love for he
absorbs it all. I possess so much, buwithout her I have nothing.
OCTOBER 30.
One hundred times have I been on th
point of embracing her. Heavens! what
orment it is to see so much lovelines
passing and repassing before us, and yenot dare to lay hold of it! And layin
hold is the most natural of huma
nstincts. Do not children touc
everything they see? And I!
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NOVEMBER 3.
Witness, Heaven, how often I li
down in my bed with a wish, and even hope, that I may never awaken again
And in the morning, when I open m
eyes, I behold the sun once more, and a
wretched. If I were whimsical, I mighblame the weather, or an acquaintance
or some personal disappointment, for m
discontented mind; and then thi
nsupportable load of trouble would no
rest entirely upon myself. But, alas!
feel it too sadly. I am alone the cause o
my own woe, am I not? Truly, my ownbosom contains the source of all m
sorrow, as it previously contained th
source of all my pleasure. Am I not th
same being who once enjoyed an exces
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of happiness, who, at every step, saw
paradise open before him, and whos
heart was ever expanded toward th
whole world? And this heart is nowdead, no sentiment can revive it; my eye
are dry; and my senses, no mor
refreshed by the influence of soft tears
wither and consume my brain. I suffe
much, for I have lost the only charm o
ife: that active, sacred power whic
created worlds around me,—it is nmore. When I look from my window a
he distant hills, and behold the mornin
sun breaking through the mists, an
lluminating the country around, which istill wrapped in silence, whilst the sof
stream winds gently through th
willows, which have shed their leaves
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when glorious nature displays all he
beauties before me, and her wondrou
prospects are ineffectual to extract on
ear of joy from my withered heart, I feehat in such a moment I stand like
reprobate before heaven, hardened
nsensible, and unmoved. Oftentimes d
then bend my knee to the earth, an
mplore God for the blessing of tears, a
he desponding labourer in som
scorching climate prays for the dews oheaven to moisten his parched corn.
But I feel that God does not gran
sunshine or rain to our importunatentreaties. And oh, those bygone days
whose memory now torments me! wh
were they so fortunate? Because I the
waited with patience for the blessings o
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he Eternal, and received his gifts wit
he grateful feelings of a thankful heart.
NOVEMBER 8.
Charlotte has reproved me for m
excesses, with so much tenderness an
goodness! I have lately been in the habof drinking more wine than heretofore
"Don't do it," she said. "Think o
Charlotte!" "Think of you!" I answered
"need you bid me do so? Think of you—do not think of you: you are ever befor
my soul! This very morning I sat on th
spot where, a few days ago, yo
descended from the carriage, and—" Sh
mmediately changed the subject t
prevent me from pursuing it farther. M
dear friend, my energies are al
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prostrated: she can do with me what sh
pleases.
NOVEMBER 15.
I thank you, Wilhelm, for your cordia
sympathy, for your excellent advice; and
implore you to be quiet. Leave me tmy sufferings. In spite of m
wretchedness, I have still strengt
enough for endurance. I revere religio
—you know I do. I feel that it can imparstrength to the feeble and comfort to th
afflicted, but does it affect all me
equally? Consider this vast universe
ou will see thousands for whom it ha
never existed, thousands for whom
will never exist, whether it be preache
o them, or not; and must it, then
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necessarily exist for me? Does not th
Son of God himself say that they are hi
whom the Father has given to him? Hav
been given to him? What if the Fathewill retain me for himself, as my hear
sometimes suggests? I pray you, do no
misinterpret this. Do not extract derisio
from my harmless words. I pour out m
whole soul before you. Silence wer
otherwise preferable to me, but I nee
not shrink from a subject of which fewknow more than I do myself. What is th
destiny of man, but to fill up the measur
of his sufferings, and to drink his allotte
cup of bitterness? And if that same cupproved bitter to the God of heaven
under a human form, why should I affec
a foolish pride, and call it sweet? Wh
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should I be ashamed of shrinking at tha
fearful moment, when my whole bein
will tremble between existence an
annihilation, when a remembrance of thpast, like a flash of lightning, wil
lluminate the dark gulf of futurity, whe
everything shall dissolve around me, an
he whole world vanish away? Is not thi
he voice of a creature oppresse
beyond all resource, self-deficien
about to plunge into inevitabldestruction, and groaning deeply at it
nadequate strength, "My God! my God
why hast thou forsaken me?" And should
feel ashamed to utter the samexpression? Should I not shudder at
prospect which had its fears, even fo
him who folds up the heavens like
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garment?
NOVEMBER 21.
She does not feel, she does not know
hat she is preparing a poison which wil
destroy us both; and I drink deeply of th
draught which is to prove mdestruction. What mean those looks o
kindness with which she often—often
no, not often, but sometimes, regards me
hat complacency with which she hearhe involuntary sentiments whic
frequently escape me, and the tender pit
for my sufferings which appears in he
countenance?
Yesterday, when I took leave she
seized me by the hand, and said, "Adieu
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dear Werther." Dear Werther! It was the
first time she ever called me dear: th
sound sunk deep into my heart. I hav
repeated it a hundred times; and lasnight, on going to bed, and talking t
myself of various things, I suddenly said
"Good night, dear Werther!" and then
could not but laugh at myself.
NOVEMBER 22
I cannot pray, "Leave her to me!" andet she often seems to belong to me.
cannot pray, "Give her to me!" for she i
another's. In this way I affect mirth ove
my troubles; and, if I had time, I coul
compose a whole litany of antitheses.
NOVEMBER 24.
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She is sensible of my sufferings. Thi
morning her look pierced my very soul.
found her alone, and she was silent: sh
steadfastly surveyed me. I no longer sawn her face the charms of beauty or th
fire of genius: these had disappeared
But I was affected by an expressio
much more touching, a look of th
deepest sympathy and of the softest pity
Why was I afraid to throw myself at he
feet? Why did I not dare to take her imy arms, and answer her by a thousan
kisses? She had recourse to her pian
for relief, and in a low and sweet voic
accompanied the music with deliciousounds. Her lips never appeared s
ovely: they seemed but just to open, tha
hey might imbibe the sweet tones whic
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ssued from the instrument, and return th
heavenly vibration from her lovel
mouth. Oh! who can express m
sensations? I was quite overcome, andbending down, pronounced this vow
"Beautiful lips, which the angels guard
never will I seek to profane your purit
with a kiss." And yet, my friend, oh,
wish—but my heart is darkened by doub
and indecision—could I but tast
felicity, and then die to expiate the sinWhat sin?
NOVEMBER 26.
Oftentimes I say to myself, "Tho
alone art wretched: all other mortals ar
happy, none are distressed like thee!
Then I read a passage in an ancient poet
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and I seem to understand my own heart.
have so much to endure! Have me
before me ever been so wretched?
NOVEMBER 30.
I shall never be myself again
Wherever I go, some fatality occurs tdistract me. Even to-day alas—for ou
destiny! alas for human nature!
About dinner-time I went to walk bhe river-side, for I had no appetite
Everything around seemed gloomy:
cold and damp easterly wind blew fro
he mountains, and black, heavy cloudspread over the plain. I observed at
distance a man in a tattered coat: he wa
wandering among the rocks, and seeme
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o be looking for plants. When
approached, he turned round at the noise
and I saw that he had an interestin
countenance in which a settlemelancholy, strongly marked b
benevolence, formed the principa
feature. His long black hair was divided
and flowed over his shoulders. As hi
garb betokened a person of the lowe
order, I thought he would not take it ill i
inquired about his business; and herefore asked what he was seeking. H
replied, with a deep sigh, that he wa
ooking for flowers, and could find none
"But it is not the season," I observedwith a smile. "Oh, there are so man
flowers!" he answered, as he cam
nearer to me. "In my garden there ar
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roses and honeysuckles of two sorts: on
sort was given to me by my father! the
grow as plentifully as weeds; I hav
been looking for them these two daysand cannot find them. There are flower
out there, yellow, blue, and red; and tha
centaury has a very pretty blossom: but
can find none of them." I observed hi
peculiarity, and therefore asked him
with an air of indifference, what h
ntended to do with his flowers. Astrange smile overspread hi
countenance. Holding his finger to hi
mouth, he expressed a hope that I woul
not betray him; and he then informed mhat he had promised to gather a nosega
for his mistress. "That is right," said I
"Oh!" he replied, "she possesses man
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other things as well: she is very rich.
"And yet," I continued, "she likes you
nosegays." "Oh, she has jewels an
crowns!" he exclaimed. I asked who shwas. "If the states-general would but pa
me," he added, "I should be quit
another man. Alas! there was a tim
when I was so happy; but that is past
and I am now—" He raised hi
swimming eyes to heaven. "And yo
were happy once?" I observed. "Ahwould I were so still!" was his reply. "
was then as gay and contented as a ma
can be." An old woman, who wa
coming toward us, now called out"Henry, Henry! where are you? We have
been looking for you everywhere: com
o dinner." "Is he your son?" I inquired
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as I went toward her. "Yes," she said
"he is my poor, unfortunate son. Th
Lord has sent me a heavy affliction."
asked whether he had been long in thistate. She answered, "He has been a
calm as he is at present for about si
months. I thank Heaven that he has so fa
recovered: he was for one whole yea
quite raving, and chained down in
madhouse. Now he injures no one, bu
alks of nothing else than kings anqueens. He used to be a very good, quie
outh, and helped to maintain me; h
wrote a very fine hand; but all at once h
became melancholy, was seized with violent fever, grew distracted, and i
now as you see. If I were only to tel
ou, sir—" I interrupted her by askin
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what period it was in which he boaste
of having been so happy. "Poor boy!
she exclaimed, with a smile o
compassion, "he means the time when hwas completely deranged, a time h
never ceases to regret, when he was i
he madhouse, and unconscious o
everything." I was thunderstruck:
placed a piece of money in her hand, an
hastened away.
"You were happy!" I exclaimed, as
returned quickly to the town, "'as ga
and contented as a man can be!'" God o
heaven! and is this the destiny of man? Ihe only happy before he has acquired hi
reason, or after he has lost it
Unfortunate being! And yet I envy you
fate: I envy the delusion to which yo
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are a victim. You go forth with joy to
gather flowers for your princess,—i
winter,—and grieve when you can find
none, and cannot understand why they dnot grow. But I wander forth without joy
without hope, without design; and
return as I came. You fancy what a man
ou would be if the states general pai
ou. Happy mortal, who can ascrib
our wretchedness to an earthly cause
You do not know, you do not feel, that inour own distracted heart an
disordered brain dwells the source o
hat unhappiness which all the potentate
on earth cannot relieve.
Let that man die unconsoled who ca
deride the invalid for undertaking
ourney to distant, healthful springs
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where he often finds only a heavie
disease and a more painful death, o
who can exult over the despairing min
of a sinner, who, to obtain peace oconscience and an alleviation of misery
makes a pilgrimage to the Hol
Sepulchre. Each laborious step whic
galls his wounded feet in rough an
untrodden paths pours a drop of bal
nto his troubled soul, and the journey o
many a weary day brings a nightly relieo his anguished heart. Will you dar
call this enthusiasm, ye crowd o
pompous declaimers? Enthusiasm! O
God! thou seest my tears. Thou hasallotted us our portion of misery: mus
we also have brethren to persecute us, t
deprive us of our consolation, of ou
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rust in thee, and in thy love and mercy
For our trust in the virtue of the healin
root, or in the strength of the vine, wha
s it else than a belief in thee from whoall that surrounds us derives its healin
and restoring powers? Father, whom
know not,—who wert once wont to fil
my soul, but who now hidest thy fac
from me,—call me back to thee; b
silent no longer; thy silence shall no
delay a soul which thirsts after theeWhat man, what father, could be angr
with a son for returning to him suddenly
for falling on his neck, and exclaiming
"I am here again, my father! forgive mf I have anticipated my journey, and
returned before the appointed time! Th
world is everywhere the same,—a scen
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of labour and pain, of pleasure an
reward; but what does it all avail? I a
happy only where thou art, and in th
presence am I content to suffer or enjoy.And wouldst thou, heavenly Father
banish such a child from thy presence?
DECEMBER 1.
Wilhelm, the man about whom I wrot
o you—that man so enviable in hi
misfortunes—was secretary tCharlotte's father; and an unhapp
passion for her which he cherished
concealed, and at length discovered
caused him to be dismissed from hi
situation. This made him mad. Think
whilst you peruse this plain narration
what an impression the circumstance ha
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made upon me! But it was related to m
by Albert with as much calmness as yo
will probably peruse it.
DECEMBER 4.
I implore your attention. It is all ove
with me. I can support this state nonger. To-day I was sitting by
Charlotte. She was playing upon he
piano a succession of delightfu
melodies, with such intense expressionHer little sister was dressing her dol
upon my lap. The tears came into m
eyes. I leaned down, and looked intentl
at her wedding-ring: my tears fell—
mmediately she began to play tha
favourite, that divine, air which has s
often enchanted me. I felt comfort from
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recollection of the past, of those bygon
days when that air was familiar to me
and then I recalled all the sorrows an
he disappointments which I had sincendured. I paced with hasty stride
hrough the room, my heart becam
convulsed with painful emotions. A
ength I went up to her, and exclaimed
With eagerness, "For Heaven's sake
play that air no longer!" She stopped
and looked steadfastly at me. She thesaid, with a smile which sunk deep int
my heart, "Werther, you are ill: you
dearest food is distasteful to you. But go
entreat you, and endeavour to composourself." I tore myself away. God, thou
seest my torments, and wilt end them!
DECEMBER 6.
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How her image haunts me! Waking o
asleep, she fills my entire soul! Soon a
close my eyes, here, in my brain, wher
all the nerves of vision are concentratedher dark eyes are imprinted. Here—I d
not know how to describe it; but, if I shu
my eyes, hers are immediately befor
me: dark as an abyss they open upon me
and absorb my senses.
And what is man—that boaste
demigod? Do not his powers fail whe
he most requires their use? And whethe
he soar in joy, or sink in sorrow, is no
his career in both inevitably arrestedAnd, whilst he fondly dreams that he i
grasping at infinity, does he not fee
compelled to return to a consciousnes
of his cold, monotonous existence?
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THE EDITOR TO THE READER.
It is a matter of extreme regret that w
want original evidence of the lasremarkable days of our friend; and w
are, therefore, obliged to interrupt th
progress of his correspondence, and t
supply the deficiency by a connectenarration.
I have felt it my duty to collec
accurate information from the mouths opersons well acquainted with hi
history. The story is simple; and all th
accounts agree, except in som
unimportant particulars. It is true, that
with respect to the characters of th
persons spoken of, opinions an
udgments vary.
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We have only, then, to relate
conscientiously the facts which ou
diligent labour has enabled us to collect
o give the letters of the deceased, and tpay particular attention to the slightes
fragment from his pen, more especiall
as it is so difficult to discover the rea
and correct motives of men who are no
of the common order.
Sorrow and discontent had taken deep
root in Werther's soul, and gradually
mparted their character to his whol
being. The harmony of his mind becam
completely disturbed; a perpetuaexcitement and mental irritation, whic
weakened his natural powers, produce
he saddest effects upon him, an
rendered him at length the victim of a
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exhaustion against which he struggle
with still more painful efforts than h
had displayed, even in contending wit
his other misfortunes. His mental anxietweakened his various good qualities
and he was soon converted into
gloomy companion, always unhappy an
unjust in his ideas, the more wretched h
became. This was, at least, the opinio
of Albert's friends. They assert
moreover, that the character of Alberhimself had undergone no change in th
meantime: he was still the same bein
whom Werther had loved, honoured, and
respected from the commencement. Hiove for Charlotte was unbounded: h
was proud of her, and desired that sh
should be recognised by every one as th
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noblest of created beings. Was he
however, to blame for wishing to aver
from her every appearance of suspicion
or for his unwillingness to share his ricprize with another, even for a moment
and in the most innocent manner? It i
asserted that Albert frequently retired
from his wife's apartment durin
Werther's visits; but this did not aris
from hatred or aversion to his friend, bu
only from a feeling that his presence waoppressive to Werther.
Charlotte's father, who was confined
o the house by indisposition, waaccustomed to send his carriage for her
hat she might make excursions in th
neighbourhood. One day the weather ha
been unusually severe, and the whol
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and his wife; and, whilst he censure
himself strongly for this, he began t
entertain a secret dislike to Albert.
His thoughts were occasionall
directed to this point. "Yes," he would
repeat to himself, with ill-conceale
dissatisfaction, "yes, this is, after all, thextent of that confiding, dear, tender, and
sympathetic love, that calm and eterna
fidelity! What do I behold but satiety an
ndifference? Does not every frivolou
engagement attract him more than hi
charming and lovely wife? Does h
know how to prize his happiness? Cahe value her as she deserves? H
possesses her, it is true, I know that, as
know much more, and I have becom
accustomed to the thought that he wil
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drive me mad, or, perhaps, murder me
s his friendship toward me unimpaired
Does he not view my attachment t
Charlotte as an infringement upon hirights, and consider my attention to he
as a silent rebuke to himself? I know
and indeed feel, that he dislikes me, tha
he wishes for my absence, that m
presence is hateful to him."
He would often pause when on hi
way to visit Charlotte, stand still, a
hough in doubt, and seem desirous o
returning, but would nevertheles
proceed; and, engaged in such thoughtand soliloquies as we have described
he finally reached the hunting-lodge
with a sort of involuntary consent.
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Upon one occasion he entered th
house; and, inquiring for Charlotte, h
observed that the inmates were in a stat
of unusual confusion. The eldest bonformed him that a dreadful misfortun
had occurred at Walheim,—that a
peasant had been murdered! But thi
made little impression upon him
Entering the apartment, he foun
Charlotte engaged reasoning with he
father, who, in spite of his infirmitynsisted on going to the scene of th
crime, in order to institute an inquiry
The criminal was unknown; the victi
had been found dead at his own door thamorning. Suspicions were excited: th
murdered man had been in the service o
a widow, and the person who had
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previously filled the situation had bee
dismissed from her employment.
As soon as Werther heard this, hexclaimed with great excitement, "Is
possible! I must go to the spot—I canno
delay a moment!" He hastened t
Walheim. Every incident returnedvividly to his remembrance; and h
entertained not the slightest doubt tha
hat man was the murderer to whom h
had so often spoken, and for whom h
entertained so much regard. His wa
ook him past the well-known lime trees
o the house where the body had beecarried; and his feelings were greatl
excited at the sight of the fondl
recollected spot. That threshold wher
he neighbours' children had so ofte
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played together was stained with blood
ove and attachment, the noblest feeling
of human nature, had been converted int
violence and murder. The huge treestood there leafless and covered wit
hoarfrost; the beautiful hedgerows whic
surrounded the old churchyard wal
were withered; and the gravestones, hal
covered with snow, were visibl
hrough the openings.
As he approached the inn, in front o
which the whole village was assembled
screams were suddenly heard. A troop
of armed peasants was seeapproaching, and every one exclaime
hat the criminal had been apprehended
Werther looked, and was not long in
doubt. The prisoner was no other tha
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he servant, who had been formerly s
attached to the widow, and whom he had
met prowling about, with tha
suppressed anger and ill-concealedespair, which we have befor
described.
"What have you done, unfortunatman?" inquired Werther, as he advanced
oward the prisoner. The latter turned hi
eyes upon him in silence, and the
replied with perfect composure; "No on
will now marry her, and she will marr
no one." The prisoner was taken into th
nn, and Werther left the place. The mindof Werther was fearfully excited by thi
shocking occurrence. He ceased
however, to be oppressed by his usua
feeling of melancholy, moroseness, and
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ndifference to everything that passe
around him. He entertained a stron
degree of pity for the prisoner, and wa
seized with an indescribable anxiety tsave him from his impending fate. H
considered him so unfortunate, h
deemed his crime so excusable, an
hought his own condition so nearl
similar, that he felt convinced he could
make every one else view the matter i
he light in which he saw it himself. Hnow became anxious to undertake hi
defence, and commenced composing a
eloquent speech for the occasion; and
on his way to the hunting-lodge, he coulnot refrain from speaking aloud th
statement which he resolved to make t
he judge.
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Upon his arrival, he found Albert had
been before him: and he was a littl
perplexed by this meeting; but he soo
recovered himself, and expressed hiopinion with much warmth to the judge
The latter shook, his head doubtingly
and although Werther urged his case
with the utmost zeal, feeling, an
determination in defence of his client
et, as we may easily suppose, the judg
was not much influenced by his appeaOn the contrary, he interrupted him in hi
address, reasoned with him seriously
and even administered a rebuke to hi
for becoming the advocate of murderer. He demonstrated, that
according to this precedent, every law
might be violated, and the publi
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security utterly destroyed. He added
moreover, that in such a case he could
himself do nothing, without incurring th
greatest responsibility; that everythinmust follow in the usual course, an
pursue the ordinary channel.
Werther, however, did not abandonhis enterprise, and even besought th
udge to connive at the flight of th
prisoner. But this proposal wa
peremptorily rejected. Albert, who had
aken some part in the discussion
coincided in opinion with the judge. A
his Werther became enraged, and tookhis leave in great anger, after the judg
had more than once assured him that th
prisoner could not be saved.
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The excess of his grief at thi
assurance may be inferred from a not
we have found amongst his papers, an
which was doubtless written upon thivery occasion.
"You cannot be saved, unfortunate
man! I see clearly that we cannot bsaved!"
Werther was highly incensed at the
observations which Albert had made tohe judge in this matter of the prisoner
He thought he could detect therein a littl
bitterness toward himself personally
and although, upon reflection, it coul
not escape his sound judgment that thei
view of the matter was correct, he fe
he greatest possible reluctance to mak
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such an admission.
A memorandum of Werther's upon thi
point, expressive of his general feelingoward Albert, has been found amongs
his papers.
"What is the use of my continuallrepeating that he is a good and estimabl
man? He is an inward torment to me, an
am incapable of being just towar
him."
One fine evening in winter, when th
weather seemed inclined to thaw
Charlotte and Albert were returninhome together. The former looked from
ime to time about her, as if she missed
Werther's company. Albert began to
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speak of him, and censured him for hi
prejudices. He alluded to his unfortunat
attachment, and wished it were possibl
o discontinue his acquaintance. "I desirt on our own account," he added; "and
request you will compel him to alter hi
deportment toward you, and to visit yo
ess frequently. The world is censorious
and I know that here and there we ar
spoken of." Charlotte made no reply, and
Albert seemed to feel her silence. Aeast, from that time he never agai
spoke of Werther; and, when she
ntroduced the subject, he allowed th
conversation to die away, or else hdirected the discourse into anothe
channel.
The vain attempt Werther had made to
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save the unhappy murderer was the las
feeble glimmering of a flame about to b
extinguished. He sank almos
mmediately afterward into a state ogloom and inactivity, until he was a
ength brought to perfect distraction b
earning that he was to be summoned a
a witness against the prisoner, who
asserted his complete innocence.
His mind now became oppressed b
he recollection of every misfortune o
his past life. The mortification he ha
suffered at the ambassador's, and hi
subsequent troubles, were revived in himemory. He became utterly inactive
Destitute of energy, he was cut off from
every pursuit and occupation whic
compose the business of common life
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and he became a victim to his ow
susceptibility, and to his restless passio
for the most amiable and beloved o
women, whose peace he destroyed. Ihis unvarying monotony of existence hi
days were consumed; and his power
became exhausted without aim or design
until they brought him to a sorrowfu
end.
A few letters which he left behind
and which we here subjoin, afford th
best proofs of his anxiety of mind and o
he depth of his passion, as well as o
his doubts and struggles, and of hiweariness of life.
DECEMBER 12.
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Dear Wilhelm, I am reduced to th
condition of those unfortunate wretche
who believe they are pursued by an evi
spirit. Sometimes I am oppressed, not bapprehension or fear, but by a
nexpressible internal sensation, whic
weighs upon my heart, and impedes m
breath! Then I wander forth at nigh
even in this tempestuous season, and fee
pleasure in surveying the dreadfu
scenes around me.
Yesterday evening I went forth. A
rapid thaw had suddenly set in: I ha
been informed that the river had risenhat the brooks had all overflowed thei
banks, and that the whole vale o
Walheim was under water! Upon the
stroke of twelve I hastened forth.
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beheld a fearful sight. The foamin
orrents rolled from the mountains in th
moonlight,—fields and meadows, tree
and hedges, were confounded togetherand the entire valley was converted int
a deep lake, which was agitated by th
roaring wind! And when the moon shon
forth, and tinged the black clouds wit
silver, and the impetuous torrent at m
feet foamed and resounded with awfu
and grand impetuosity, I was overcomby a mingled sensation of apprehensio
and delight. With extended arms I looke
down into the yawning abyss, and cried
"Plunge!'" For a moment my senseforsook me, in the intense delight o
ending my sorrows and my sufferings b
a plunge into that gulf! And then I felt a
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f I were rooted to the earth, an
ncapable of seeking an end to my woes
But my hour is not yet come: I feel it i
not. O Wilhelm, how willingly could abandon my existence to ride th
whirlwind, or to embrace the torrent
and then might not rapture perchance b
he portion of this liberated soul?
I turned my sorrowful eyes toward
favourite spot, where I was accustome
o sit with Charlotte beneath a willow
after a fatiguing walk. Alas! it wa
covered with water, and with difficulty
found even the meadow. And the fieldaround the hunting-lodge, thought I. Ha
our dear bower been destroyed by thi
unpitying storm? And a beam of pas
happiness streamed upon me, as th
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mind of a captive is illumined by dream
of flocks and herds and bygone joys o
home! But I am free from blame. I hav
courage to die! Perhaps I have,—but still sit here, like a wretched pauper
who collects fagots, and begs her brea
from door to door, that she may prolon
for a few days a miserable existenc
which she is unwilling to resign.
DECEMBER 15.
What is the matter with me, dea
Wilhelm? I am afraid of myself! Is no
my love for her of the purest, most holy
and most brotherly nature? Has my sou
ever been sullied by a single sensua
desire? but I will make no protestations
And now, ye nightly visions, how trul
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have those mortals understood you, wh
ascribe your various contradictor
effects to some invincible power! Thi
night I tremble at the avowal—I held hen my arms, locked in a close embrace:
pressed her to my bosom, and covere
with countless kisses those dear lip
which murmured in reply sof
protestations of love. My sight becam
confused by the delicious intoxication o
her eyes. Heavens! is it sinful to reveagain in such happiness, to recall onc
more those rapturous moments wit
ntense delight? Charlotte! Charlotte!
am lost! My senses are bewildered, mrecollection is confused, mine eyes ar
bathed in tears—I am ill; and yet I a
well—I wish for nothing—I have n
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desires—it were better I were gone.
Under the circumstances narrate
above, a determination to quit this worlhad now taken fixed possession o
Werther's soul. Since Charlotte's return
his thought had been the final object o
all his hopes and wishes; but he haresolved that such a step should not b
aken with precipitation, but wit
calmness and tranquillity, and with th
most perfect deliberation.
His troubles and internal struggle
may be understood from the followin
fragment, which was found, without an
date, amongst his papers, and appears t
have formed the beginning of a letter t
Wilhelm.
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"Her presence, her fate, her sympath
for me, have power still to extract tear
from my withered brain.
"One lifts up the curtain, and passes t
he other side,—that is all! And why al
hese doubts and delays? Because w
know not what is behind—because thers no returning—and because our min
nfers that all is darkness and confusion
where we have nothing but uncertainty."
His appearance at length became quit
altered by the effect of his melanchol
houghts; and his resolution was now
finally and irrevocably taken, of whic
he following ambiguous letter, which h
addressed to his friend, may appear t
afford some proof.
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DECEMBER 20.
I am grateful to your love, Wilhelm
for having repeated your advice sseasonably. Yes, you are right: it is
undoubtedly better that I should depart
But I do not entirely approve you
scheme of returning at once to youneighbourhood; at least, I should like t
make a little excursion on the way
particularly as we may now expect
continued frost, and consequently goo
roads. I am much pleased with you
ntention of coming to fetch me; onl
delay your journey for a fortnight, anwait for another letter from me. On
should gather nothing before it is ripe
and a fortnight sooner or later makes
great difference. Entreat my mother t
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pray for her son, and tell her I beg he
pardon for all the unhappiness I hav
occasioned her. It has ever been my fat
o give pain to those whose happiness should have promoted. Adieu, m
dearest friend. May every blessing o
Heaven attend you! Farewell.
We find it difficult to express the
emotions with which Charlotte's sou
was agitated during the whole of thi
ime, whether in relation to her husban
or to her unfortunate friend; although w
are enabled, by our knowledge of he
character, to understand their nature.
It is certain that she had formed
determination, by every means in he
power to keep Werther at a distance
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and, if she hesitated in her decision,
was from a sincere feeling of friendl
pity, knowing how much it would cos
him, indeed, that he would find it almosmpossible to comply with her wishes
But various causes now urged her to b
firm. Her husband preserved a stric
silence about the whole matter; and sh
never made it a subject of conversation
feeling bound to prove to him by he
conduct that her sentiments agreed withis.
The same day, which was the Sunda
before Christmas, after Werther hadwritten the last-mentioned letter to hi
friend, he came in the evening t
Charlotte's house, and found her alone
She was busy preparing some little gift
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for her brothers and sisters, which wer
o be distributed to them on Christma
Day. He began talking of the delight o
he children, and of that age when thsudden appearance of the Christmas
ree, decorated with fruit an
sweetmeats, and lighted up with wa
candles, causes such transports of joy
"You shall have a gift too, if you behave
well," said Charlotte, hiding he
embarrassment under sweet smile. "Anwhat do you call behaving well? Wha
should I do, what can I do, my dea
Charlotte?" said he. "Thursday night,
she answered, "is Christmas Eve. Thchildren are all to be here, and my fathe
oo: there is a present for each; do yo
come likewise, but do not come befor
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hat time." Werther started. "I desire you
will not: it must be so," she continued. "
ask it of you as a favour, for my ow
peace and tranquillity. We cannot go onn this manner any longer." He turned
away his face walked hastily up an
down the room, muttering indistinctly
"We cannot go on in this manner any
onger!" Charlotte, seeing the violen
agitation into which these words ha
hrown him, endeavoured to divert hihoughts by different questions, but i
vain. "No, Charlotte!" he exclaimed; "
will never see you any more!" "And wh
so?" she answered. "We may—we mussee each other again; only let it be wit
more discretion. Oh! why were you bor
with that excessive, that ungovernabl
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passion for everything that is dear t
ou?" Then, taking his hand, she said, "
entreat of you to be more calm: you
alents, your understanding, your geniuswill furnish you with a thousan
resources. Be a man, and conquer a
unhappy attachment toward a creatur
who can do nothing but pity you." He b
his lips, and looked at her with a gloom
countenance. She continued to hold hi
hand. "Grant me but a moment'patience, Werther," she said. "Do you
not see that you are deceiving yourself
hat you are seeking your ow
destruction? Why must you love me, monly, who belong to another? I fear,
much fear, that it is only th
mpossibility of possessing me whic
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makes your desire for me so strong." H
drew back his hand, whilst he surveye
her with a wild and angry look. "'Ti
well!" he exclaimed, "'tis very well! Dinot Albert furnish you with thi
reflection? It is profound, a ver
profound remark." "A reflection that an
one might easily make," she answered
"and is there not a woman in the whol
world who is at liberty, and has th
power to make you happy? Conqueourself: look for such a being, an
believe me when I say that you wil
certainly find her. I have long felt fo
ou, and for us all: you have confineourself too long within the limits of to
narrow a circle. Conquer yourself; mak
an effort: a short journey will be o
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dropped. Albert asked his wife abou
some household matters; and, findin
hat his commissions were not executed
he used some expressions which, tWerther's ear, savoured of extreme
harshness. He wished to go, but had no
power to move; and in this situation h
remained till eight o'clock, hi
uneasiness and discontent continuall
ncreasing. At length the cloth was laid
for supper, and he took up his hat andstick. Albert invited him to remain; bu
Werther, fancying that he was merely
paying a formal compliment, thanke
him coldly, and left the house.
Werther returned home, took the
candle from his servant, and retired t
his room alone. He talked for some tim
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with great earnestness to himself, wep
aloud, walked in a state of grea
excitement through his chamber; till a
ength, without undressing, he threwhimself on the bed, where he was foun
by his servant at eleven o'clock, whe
he latter ventured to enter the room, an
ake off his boots. Werther did no
prevent him, but forbade him to come i
he morning till he should ring.
On Monday morning, the 21st o
December, he wrote to Charlotte th
following letter, which was found
sealed, on his bureau after his death, anwas given to her. I shall insert it i
fragments; as it appears, from severa
circumstances, to have been written i
hat manner.
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"It is all over, Charlotte: I am
resolved to die! I make this declaratio
deliberately and coolly, without an
romantic passion, on this morning of thday when I am to see you for the las
ime. At the moment you read these lines
O best of women, the cold grave wil
hold the inanimate remains of tha
restless and unhappy being who, in th
ast moments of his existence, knew n
pleasure so great as that of conversinwith you! I have passed a dreadful nigh
or rather, let me say, a propitious one
for it has given me resolution, it ha
fixed my purpose. I am resolved to dieWhen I tore myself from you yesterday
my senses were in tumult and disorder
my heart was oppressed, hope an
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pleasure had fled from me for ever, and
a petrifying cold had seized m
wretched being. I could scarcely reac
my room. I threw myself on my kneesand Heaven, for the last time, granted m
he consolation of shedding tears. A
housand ideas, a thousand schemes
arose within my soul; till at length on
ast, fixed, final thought took possessio
of my heart. It was to die. I lay down t
rest; and in the morning, in the quiet houof awakening, the same determinatio
was upon me. To die! It is not despair: i
s conviction that I have filled up th
measure of my sufferings, that I havreached my appointed term, and mus
sacrifice myself for thee. Yes, Charlotte
why should I not avow it? One of u
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hree must die: it shall be Werther. O
beloved Charlotte! this heart, excited b
rage and fury, has often conceived th
horrid idea of murdering your husband—ou—myself! The lot is cast at length
And in the bright, quiet evenings o
summer, when you sometimes wande
oward the mountains, let your thought
hen turn to me: recollect how often yo
have watched me coming to meet yo
from the valley; then bend your eyeupon the churchyard which contains m
grave, and, by the light of the setting sun
mark how the evening breeze waves th
all grass which grows above my tomb. was calm when I began this letter, bu
he recollection of these scenes make
me weep like a child."
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About ten in the morning, Werthe
called his servant, and, whilst he wa
dressing, told him that in a few days h
ntended to set out upon a journey, andbade him therefore lay his clothes i
order, and prepare them for packing up
call in all his accounts, fetch home th
books he had lent, and give two months
pay to the poor dependants who wer
accustomed to receive from him
weekly allowance.
He breakfasted in his room, and the
mounted his horse, and went to visit th
steward, who, however, was not ahome. He walked pensively in th
garden, and seemed anxious to renew al
he ideas that were most painful to him.
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The children did not suffer him t
remain alone long. They followed him
skipping and dancing before him, an
old him, that after to-morrow anomorrow and one day more, they wer
o receive their Christmas gift fro
Charlotte; and they then recounted all th
wonders of which they had formed idea
n their child imaginations. "Tomorrow
and tomorrow," said he, "and one day
more!" And he kissed them tenderly. Hewas going; but the younger boy stoppe
him, to whisper something in his ear. H
old him that his elder brothers ha
written splendid New-Year's wishes soarge! one for papa, and another fo
Albert and Charlotte, and one fo
Werther; and they were to be presented
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early in the morning, on New Year'
Day. This quite overcame him. He mad
each of the children a present, mounte
his horse, left his compliments for papand mamma, and, with tears in his eyes
rode away from the place.
He returned home about five o'clockordered his servant to keep up his fire
desired him to pack his books and line
at the bottom of the trunk, and to plac
his coats at the top. He then appears t
have made the following addition to th
etter addressed to Charlotte:
"You do not expect me. You think I
will obey you, and not visit you agai
ill Christmas Eve. O Charlotte, today o
never! On Christmas Eve you will hol
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his paper in your hand; you wil
remble, and moisten it with your tears.
will—I must! Oh, how happy I feel to b
determined!"
In the meantime, Charlotte was in
pitiable state of mind. After her las
conversation with Werther, she foundhow painful to herself it would be t
decline his visits, and knew how
severely he would suffer from thei
separation.
She had, in conversation with Albert
mentioned casually that Werther would
not return before Christmas Eve; an
soon afterward Albert went o
horseback to see a person in th
neighbourhood, with whom he had t
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ransact some business which woul
detain him all night.
Charlotte was sitting alone. None oher family were near, and she gav
herself up to the reflections that silentl
ook possession of her mind. She wa
for ever united to a husband whose lovand fidelity she had proved, to who
she was heartily devoted, and wh
seemed to be a special gift from Heave
o ensure her happiness. On the othe
hand, Werther had become dear to her
There was a cordial unanimity o
sentiment between them from the verfirst hour of their acquaintance, and thei
ong association and repeated interview
had made an indelible impression upo
her heart. She had been accustomed t
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communicate to him every thought an
feeling which interested her, and hi
absence threatened to open a void in he
existence which it might be impossiblo fill. How heartily she wished that sh
might change him into her brother,—tha
she could induce him to marry one of he
own friends, or could reestablish hi
ntimacy with Albert.
She passed all her intimate friends i
review before her mind, but foun
something objectionable in each, an
could decide upon none to whom sh
would consent to give him.
Amid all these considerations she fe
deeply but indistinctly that her own rea
but unexpressed wish was to retain hi
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for herself, and her pure and amiabl
heart felt from this thought a sense o
oppression which seemed to forbid
prospect of happiness. She wawretched: a dark cloud obscured he
mental vision.
It was now half-past six o'clock, anshe heard Werther's step on the stairs
She at once recognised his voice, as h
nquired if she were at home. Her hear
beat audibly—we could almost say fo
he first time—at his arrival. It was to
ate to deny herself; and, as he entered
she exclaimed, with a sort of ilconcealed confusion, "You have not kep
our word!" "I promised nothing," h
answered. "But you should hav
complied, at least for my sake," sh
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continued. "I implore you, for both ou
sakes."
She scarcely knew what she said odid; and sent for some friends, who, b
heir presence, might prevent her bein
eft alone with Werther. He put down
some books he had brought with himhen made inquiries about some others
until she began to hope that her friend
might arrive shortly, entertaining at th
same time a desire that they might sta
away.
At one moment she felt anxious tha
he servant should remain in th
adjoining room, then she changed he
mind. Werther, meanwhile, walked
mpatiently up and down. She went t
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he piano, and determined not to retire
She then collected her thoughts, and sa
down quietly at Werther's side, who had
aken his usual place on the sofa.
"Have you brought nothing to read?
she inquired. He had nothing. "There i
my drawer," she continued, "you wilfind your own translation of some of th
songs of Ossian. I have not yet rea
hem, as I have still hoped to hear yo
recite them; but, for some time past,
have not been able to accomplish such
wish." He smiled, and went for th
manuscript, which he took with shudder. He sat down; and, with eye
full of tears, he began to read.
"Star of descending night! fair is th
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ight in the west! thou liftest thy unshor
head from thy cloud; thy steps are statel
on thy hill. What dost thou behold in th
plain? The stormy winds are laid. Thmurmur of the torrent comes from afar
Roaring waves climb the distant rock
The flies of evening are on their feebl
wings: the hum of their course is on th
field. What dost thou behold, fair light
But thou dost smile and depart. Th
waves come with joy around thee: thebathe thy lovely hair. Farewell, tho
silent beam! Let the light of Ossian'
soul arise!
"And it does arise in its strength!
behold my departed friends. Thei
gathering is on Lora, as in the days o
other years. Fingal comes like a water
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column of mist! his heroes are around
and see the bards of song, gray-haire
Ullin! stately Ryno! Alpin with the
uneful voice: the soft complaint oMinona! How are ye changed, m
friends, since the days of Selma's feast
when we contended, like gales of sprin
as they fly along the hill, and bend b
urns the feebly whistling grass.
"Minona came forth in her beauty
with downcast look and tearful eye. He
hair was flying slowly with the blast tha
rushed unfrequent from the hill. Th
souls of the heroes were sad when shraised the tuneful voice. Oft had the
seen the grave of Salgar, the dar
dwelling of white-bosomed Colma
Colma left alone on the hill with all he
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voice of song! Salgar promised to come
but the night descended around. Hear th
voice of Colma, when she sat alone o
he hill!
"Colma. It is night: I am alone, forlor
on the hill of storms. The wind is hear
on the mountain. The torrent is howlindown the rock. No hut receives me fro
he rain: forlorn on the hill of winds!
"Rise moon! from behind thy cloudsStars of the night, arise! Lead me, som
ight, to the place where my love rest
from the chase alone! His bow near hi
unstrung, his dogs panting around him
But here I must sit alone by the rock o
he mossy stream. The stream and th
wind roar aloud. I hear not the voice o
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my love! Why delays my Salgar; why th
chief of the hill his promise? Here is th
rock and here the tree! here is th
roaring stream! Thou didst promise witnight to be here. Ah! whither is m
Salgar gone? With thee I would fly from
my father, with thee from my brother o
pride. Our race have long been foes: w
are not foes, O Salgar!
"Cease a little while, O wind! stream
be thou silent awhile! let my voice b
heard around! let my wanderer hear me
Salgar! it is Colma who calls. Here i
he tree and the rock. Salgar, my love, am here! Why delayest thou thy coming
Lo! the calm moon comes forth. Th
flood is bright in the vale. The rocks ar
gray on the steep. I see him not on th
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brow. His dogs come not before him
with tidings of his near approach. Here
must sit alone!
"Who lie on the heath beside me? Ar
hey my love and my brother? Speak t
me, O my friends! To Colma they giv
no reply. Speak to me: I am alone! Mysoul is tormented with fears. Ah, they
are dead! Their swords are red from th
fight. O my brother! my brother! wh
hast thou slain my Salgar! Why, O
Salgar, hast thou slain my brother! Dea
were ye both to me! what shall I say i
our praise? Thou wert fair on the hilamong thousands! he was terrible i
fight! Speak to me! hear my voice! hea
me, sons of my love! They are silent
silent for ever! Cold, cold, are thei
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breasts of clay! Oh, from the rock on th
hill, from the top of the windy steep
speak, ye ghosts of the dead! Speak,
will not be afraid! Whither are ye gono rest? In what cave of the hill shall
find the departed? No feeble voice is o
he gale: no answer half drowned in th
storm!
"I sit in my grief: I wait for morning i
my tears! Rear the tomb, ye friends o
he dead. Close it not till Colma come
My life flies away like a dream. Wh
should I stay behind? Here shall I res
with my friends, by the stream of thsounding rock. When night comes on th
hill when the loud winds arise my ghos
shall stand in the blast, and mourn th
death of my friends. The hunter shal
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hear from his booth; he shall fear, bu
ove my voice! For sweet shall my voic
be for my friends: pleasant were he
friends to Colma.
"Such was thy song, Minona, softl
blushing daughter of Torman. Our tear
descended for Colma, and our soulwere sad! Ullin came with his harp; h
gave the song of Alpin. The voice o
Alpin was pleasant, the soul of Ryno
was a beam of fire! But they had reste
n the narrow house: their voice ha
ceased in Selma! Ullin had returned on
day from the chase before the heroefell. He heard their strife on the hill
heir song was soft, but sad! The
mourned the fall of Morar, first of morta
men! His soul was like the soul o
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Fingal: his sword like the sword o
Oscar. But he fell, and his fathe
mourned: his sister's eyes were full o
ears. Minona's eyes were full of tearshe sister of car-borne Morar. Sh
retired from the song of Ullin, like th
moon in the west, when she foresees th
shower, and hides her fair head in
cloud. I touched the harp with Ullin: th
song of morning rose!
"Ryno. The wind and the rain are past
calm is the noon of day. The clouds ar
divided in heaven. Over the green hill
flies the inconstant sun. Red through thstony vale comes down the stream of th
hill. Sweet are thy murmurs, O stream
but more sweet is the voice I hear. It i
he voice of Alpin, the son of song
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mourning for the dead! Bent is his hea
of age: red his tearful eye. Alpin, thou
son of song, why alone on the silent hill
why complainest thou, as a blast in thwood as a wave on the lonely shore?
"Alpin. My tears, O Ryno! are for th
dead my voice for those that have passeaway. Tall thou art on the hill; fai
among the sons of the vale. But tho
shalt fall like Morar: the mourner shal
sit on thy tomb. The hills shall know the
no more: thy bow shall lie in thy hal
unstrung!
"Thou wert swift, O Morar! as a ro
on the desert: terrible as a meteor o
fire. Thy wrath was as the storm. Th
sword in battle as lightning in the field
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Thy voice was as a stream after rain
ike thunder on distant hills. Many fel
by thy arm: they were consumed in th
flames of thy wrath. But when thou didsreturn from war, how peaceful was th
brow. Thy face was like the sun afte
rain: like the moon in the silence o
night: calm as the breast of the lak
when the loud wind is laid.
"Narrow is thy dwelling now! dar
he place of thine abode! With thre
steps I compass thy grave, O thou wh
wast so great before! Four stones, wit
heir heads of moss, are the onlmemorial of thee. A tree with scarce a
eaf, long grass which whistles in th
wind, mark to the hunter's eye the grav
of the mighty Morar. Morar! thou art low
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ndeed. Thou hast no mother to mour
hee, no maid with her tears of love
Dead is she that brought thee forth
Fallen is the daughter of Morglan.
"Who on his staff is this? Who is thi
whose head is white with age, whos
eyes are red with tears, who quakes aevery step? It is thy father, O Morar! th
father of no son but thee. He heard of th
fame in war, he heard of foes dispersed
He heard of Morar's renown, why did h
not hear of his wound? Weep, thou fathe
of Morar! Weep, but thy son heareth thee
not. Deep is the sleep of the dead, lowheir pillow of dust. No more shall h
hear thy voice, no more awake at th
call. When shall it be morn in the grave
o bid the slumberer awake? Farewel
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hou bravest of men! thou conqueror i
he field! but the field shall see thee n
more, nor the dark wood be lightene
with the splendour of thy steel. Thou haeft no son. The song shall preserve th
name. Future times shall hear of the
hey shall hear of the fallen Morar!
"The grief of all arose, but most th
bursting sigh of Armin. He remember
he death of his son, who fell in the day
of his youth. Carmor was near the hero
he chief of the echoing Galmal. Wh
burst the sigh of Armin? he said. Is ther
a cause to mourn? The song comes witts music to melt and please the soul. I
s like soft mist that, rising from a lake
pours on the silent vale; the gree
flowers are filled with dew, but the sun
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returns in his strength, and the mist i
gone. Why art thou sad, O Armin, chie
of sea-surrounded Gorma?
"Sad I am! nor small is my cause o
woe! Carmor, thou hast lost no son; thou
hast lost no daughter of beauty. Colga
he valiant lives, and Annira, fairesmaid. The boughs of thy house ascend, O
Carmor! but Armin is the last of his race
Dark is thy bed, O Daura! deep thy sleep
n the tomb! When shalt thou wake wit
hy songs? with all thy voice of music?
"Arise, winds of autumn, arise: blow
along the heath. Streams of th
mountains, roar; roar, tempests in th
groves of my oaks! Walk through broken
clouds, O moon! show thy pale face a
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ntervals; bring to my mind the nigh
when all my children fell, when Arinda
he mighty fell—when Daura the lovel
failed. Daura, my daughter, thou werfair, fair as the moon on Fura, white a
he driven snow, sweet as the breathin
gale. Arindal, thy bow was strong, th
spear was swift on the field, thy loo
was like mist on the wave, thy shield
red cloud in a storm! Armar, renowned
n war, came and sought Daura's loveHe was not long refused: fair was th
hope of their friends.
"Erath, son of Odgal, repined: hibrother had been slain by Armar. H
came disguised like a son of the sea: fai
was his cliff on the wave, white hi
ocks of age, calm his serious brow
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Fairest of women, he said, lovel
daughter of Armin! a rock not distant i
he sea bears a tree on its side; re
shines the fruit afar. There Armar waitfor Daura. I come to carry his love! sh
went she called on Armar. Nough
answered, but the son of the rock
Armar, my love, my love! wh
ormentest thou me with fear? Hear, so
of Arnart, hear! it is Daura who callet
hee. Erath, the traitor, fled laughing tohe land. She lifted up her voice—sh
called for her brother and her father
Arindal! Armin! none to relieve you
Daura.
"Her voice came over the sea
Arindal, my son, descended from th
hill, rough in the spoils of the chase. Hi
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arrows rattled by his side; his bow wa
n his hand, five dark-gray dogs attende
his steps. He saw fierce Erath on th
shore; he seized and bound him to aoak. Thick wind the thongs of the hid
around his limbs; he loads the wind
with his groans. Arindal ascends th
deep in his boat to bring Daura to land
Armar came in his wrath, and let fly th
gray-feathered shaft. It sung, it sunk i
hy heart, O Arindal, my son! for Erathe traitor thou diest. The oar is stoppe
at once: he panted on the rock, an
expired. What is thy grief, O Daura
when round thy feet is poured thbrother's blood. The boat is broken i
wain. Armar plunges into the sea to
rescue his Daura, or die. Sudden a blas
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from a hill came over the waves; h
sank, and he rose no more.
"Alone, on the sea-beat rock, mdaughter was heard to complain
frequent and loud were her cries. Wha
could her father do? All night I stood o
he shore: I saw her by the faint beam ohe moon. All night I heard her cries
Loud was the wind; the rain beat hard o
he hill. Before morning appeared, he
voice was weak; it died away like th
evening breeze among the grass of th
rocks. Spent with grief, she expired, an
eft thee, Armin, alone. Gone is mstrength in war, fallen my pride amon
women. When the storms aloft arise
when the north lifts the wave on high,
sit by the sounding shore, and look o
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he fatal rock.
"Often by the setting moon I see th
ghosts of my children; half viewless thewalk in mournful conference together."
A torrent of tears which streamed
from Charlotte's eyes and gave relief ther bursting heart, stopped Werther'
recitation. He threw down the book
seized her hand, and wept bitterly
Charlotte leaned upon her hand, anburied her face in her handkerchief: th
agitation of both was excessive. The
felt that their own fate was pictured i
he misfortunes of Ossian's heroes, the
felt this together, and their tear
redoubled. Werther supported hi
forehead on Charlotte's arm: sh
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rembled, she wished to be gone; bu
sorrow and sympathy lay like a leade
weight upon her soul. She recovere
herself shortly, and begged Wertherwith broken sobs, to leave her, implored
him with the utmost earnestness t
comply with her request. He trembled
his heart was ready to burst: then, takin
up the book again, he recommence
reading, in a voice broken by sobs.
"Why dost thou waken me, O spring
Thy voice woos me, exclaiming,
refresh thee with heavenly dews; but th
ime of my decay is approaching, thstorm is nigh that shall whither m
eaves. Tomorrow the traveller shal
come, he shall come, who beheld me i
beauty: his eye shall seek me in the fiel
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around, but he shall not find me."
The whole force of these words fel
upon the unfortunate Werther. Full odespair, he threw himself at Charlotte'
feet, seized her hands, and pressed the
o his eyes and to his forehead. A
apprehension of his fatal project nowstruck her for the first time. Her sense
were bewildered: she held his hands
pressed them to her bosom; and, leanin
oward him with emotions of th
enderest pity, her warm cheek touched
his. They lost sight of everything. Th
world disappeared from their eyes. Hclasped her in his arms, strained her t
his bosom, and covered her tremblin
ips with passionate kisses. "Werther!
she cried with a faint voice, turnin
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herself away; "Werther!" and, with a
feeble hand, she pushed him from her. A
ength, with the firm voice of virtue, sh
exclaimed, "Werther!" He resisted notbut, tearing himself from her arms, fel
on his knees before her. Charlotte rose
and, with disordered grief, in mingle
ones of love and resentment, sh
exclaimed, "It is the last time, Werther
You shall never see me any more!
Then, casting one last, tender look upoher unfortunate lover, she rushed into th
adjoining room, and locked the door
Werther held out his arms, but did no
dare to detain her. He continued on thground, with his head resting on the sofa
for half an hour, till he heard a nois
which brought him to his senses. Th
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servant entered. He then walked up an
down the room; and, when he was agai
eft alone, he went to Charlotte's door
and, in a low voice, said, "CharlotteCharlotte! but one word more, one las
adieu!" She returned no answer. H
stopped, and listened and entreated; bu
all was silent. At length he tore himsel
from the place, crying, "Adieu
Charlotte, adieu for ever!"
Werther ran to the gate of the town
The guards, who knew him, let him pas
n silence. The night was dark an
stormy,—it rained and snowed. Hreached his own door about eleven. Hi
servant, although seeing him enter th
house without his hat, did not venture t
say anything; and; as he undressed hi
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master, he found that his clothes wer
wet. His hat was afterward found on th
point of a rock overhanging the valley
and it is inconceivable how he coulhave climbed to the summit on such
dark, tempestuous night without losin
his life.
He retired to bed, and slept to a lat
hour. The next morning his servant, upo
being called to bring his coffee, foun
him writing. He was adding, t
Charlotte, what we here annex.
"For the last, last time I open thes
eyes. Alas! they will behold the sun no
more. It is covered by a thick
mpenetrable cloud. Yes, Nature! put on
mourning: your child, your friend, you
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over, draws near his end! This thought
Charlotte, is without parallel; and yet
seems like a mysterious dream when
repeat—this is my last day! The lastCharlotte, no word can adequatel
express this thought. The last! To-day
stand erect in all my strength to-morrow
cold and stark, I shall lie extended upo
he ground. To die! what is death? We
do but dream in our discourse upon it.
have seen many human beings die; butso straitened is our feeble nature, w
have no clear conception of th
beginning or the end of our existence. A
his moment I am my own—or rather am thine, thine, my adored! and the nex
we are parted, severed—perhaps fo
ever! No, Charlotte, no! How can I, how
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can you, be annihilated? We exist. Wha
s annihilation? A mere word, an
unmeaning sound that fixes n
mpression on the mind. DeadCharlotte! laid in the cold earth, in th
dark and narrow grave! I had a frien
once who was everything to me in earl
outh. She died. I followed her hearse;
stood by her grave when the coffin wa
owered; and when I heard the creakin
of the cords as they were loosened andrawn up, when the first shovelful o
earth was thrown in, and the coffi
returned a hollow sound, which grew
fainter and fainter till all was completelcovered over, I threw myself on th
ground; my heart was smitten, grieved
shattered, rent—but I neither knew wha
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had happened, nor what was to happe
o me. Death! the grave! I understand no
he words.—Forgive, oh, forgive me
Yesterday—ah, that day should havebeen the last of my life! Thou angel! fo
he first time in my existence, I fe
rapture glow within my inmost soul. Sh
oves, she loves me! Still burns upon m
ips the sacred fire they received fro
hine. New torrents of deligh
overwhelm my soul. Forgive me, ohforgive!
"I knew that I was dear to you; I saw
t in your first entrancing look, knew by the first pressure of your hand; bu
when I was absent from you, when I saw
Albert at your side, my doubts and fear
returned.
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"Do you remember the flowers yo
sent me, when, at that crowde
assembly, you could neither speak no
extend your hand to me? Half the night was on my knees before those flowers
and I regarded them as the pledges o
our love; but those impressions grew
fainter, and were at length effaced.
"Everything passes away; but a whol
eternity could not extinguish the livin
flame which was yesterday kindled b
our lips, and which now burns withi
me. She loves me! These arms hav
encircled her waist, these lips havrembled upon hers. She is mine! Yes
Charlotte, you are mine for ever!
"And what do they mean by sayin
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Albert is your husband? He may be s
for this world; and in this world it is
sin to love you, to wish to tear you fro
his embrace. Yes, it is a crime; and suffer the punishment, but I have enjoye
he full delight of my sin. I have inhale
a balm that has revived my soul. Fro
his hour you are mine; yes, Charlotte
ou are mine! I go before you. I go to m
Father and to your Father. I will pour ou
my sorrows before him, and he will givme comfort till you arrive. Then will
fly to meet you. I will claim you, an
remain your eternal embrace, in th
presence of the Almighty.
"I do not dream, I do not rave
Drawing nearer to the grave m
perceptions become clearer. We shal
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exist; we shall see each other again; w
shall behold your mother; I shall behol
her, and expose to her my inmost heart
Your mother—your image!"
About eleven o'clock Werther asked
his servant if Albert had returned. H
answered, "Yes;" for he had seen himpass on horseback: upon which Werthe
sent him the following note, unsealed:
"Be so good as to lend me youpistols for a journey. Adieu."
Charlotte had slept little during th
past night. All her apprehensions werrealised in a way that she could neithe
foresee nor avoid. Her blood wa
boiling in her veins, and a thousan
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painful sensations rent her pure hear
Was it the ardour of Werther's
passionate embraces that she felt withi
her bosom? Was it anger at his daring?Was it the sad comparison of her presen
condition with former days of innocence
ranquillity, and self-confidence? How
could she approach her husband, an
confess a scene which she had no reaso
o conceal, and which she yet felt
nevertheless, unwilling to avow? Thehad preserved so long a silence towar
each other and should she be the first t
break it by so unexpected a discovery
She feared that the mere statement oWerther's visit would trouble him, and
his distress would be heightened by he
perfect candour. She wished that h
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could see her in her true light, and judg
her without prejudice; but was sh
anxious that he should read her inmos
soul? On the other hand, could shdeceive a being to whom all her thought
had ever been exposed as clearly a
crystal, and from whom no sentiment ha
ever been concealed? These reflection
made her anxious and thoughtful. He
mind still dwelt on Werther, who wa
now lost to her, but whom she could nobring herself to resign, and for whom sh
knew nothing was left but despair if sh
should be lost to him for ever.
A recollection of that mysteriou
estrangement which had lately subsiste
between herself and Albert, and whic
she could never thoroughly understand
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was now beyond measure painful to her
Even the prudent and the good hav
before now hesitated to explain thei
mutual differences, and have dwelt isilence upon their imaginary grievances
until circumstances have become s
entangled, that in that critical juncture
when a calm explanation would hav
saved all parties, an understanding wa
mpossible. And thus if domesti
confidence had been earlier establishebetween them, if love and kin
forbearance had mutually animated an
expanded their hearts, it might not
perhaps, even yet have been too late tsave our friend.
But we must not forget on
remarkable circumstance. We may
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observe from the character of Werther'
correspondence, that he had neve
affected to conceal his anxious desire t
quit this world. He had often discussehe subject with Albert; and, between th
atter and Charlotte, it had no
unfrequently formed a topic o
conversation. Albert was so opposed to
he very idea of such an action, that, wit
a degree of irritation unusual in him, h
had more than once given Werther tounderstand that he doubted th
seriousness of his threats, and not onl
urned them into ridicule, but cause
Charlotte to share his feelings oncredulity. Her heart was thu
ranquillised when she felt disposed t
view the melancholy subject in a seriou
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point of view, though she neve
communicated to her husband th
apprehensions she sometime
experienced.
Albert, upon his return, was receive
by Charlotte with ill-conceale
embarrassment. He was himself out ohumour; his business was unfinished
and he had just discovered that th
neighbouring official with whom he ha
o deal, was an obstinate and narrow
minded personage. Many things ha
occurred to irritate him.
He inquired whether anything ha
happened during his absence, an
Charlotte hastily answered that Werthe
had been there on the evenin
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previously. He then inquired for hi
etters, and was answered that severa
packages had been left in his study. H
hereon retired, leaving Charlotte alone.
The presence of the being she love
and honoured produced a new
mpression on her heart. Threcollection of his generosity, kindness
and affection had calmed her agitation:
secret impulse prompted her to follow
him; she took her work and went to hi
study, as was often her custom. He wa
busily employed opening and reading hi
etters. It seemed as if the contents osome were disagreeable. She aske
some questions: he gave short answers
and sat down to write.
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Several hours passed in this manner
and Charlotte's feelings became mor
and more melancholy. She felt th
extreme difficulty of explaining to hehusband, under any circumstances, th
weight that lay upon her heart; and he
depression became every momen
greater, in proportion as sh
endeavoured to hide her grief, and t
conceal her tears.
The arrival of Werther's servan
occasioned her the greates
embarrassment. He gave Albert a note
which the latter coldly handed to hiwife, saying, at the same time, "Give hi
he pistols. I wish him a pleasan
ourney," he added, turning to th
servant. These words fell upon Charlott
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ike a thunderstroke: she rose from he
seat half-fainting, and unconscious o
what she did. She walked mechanicall
oward the wall, took down the pistolwith a trembling hand, slowly wiped th
dust from them, and would have delaye
onger, had not Albert hastened he
movements by an impatient look. Sh
hen delivered the fatal weapons to th
servant, without being able to utter
word. As soon as he had departed, shfolded up her work, and retired at onc
o her room, her heart overcome with th
most fearful forebodings. Sh
anticipated some dreadful calamity. Shwas at one moment on the point of goin
o her husband, throwing herself at hi
feet, and acquainting him with all tha
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had happened on the previous evening
hat she might acknowledge her faul
and explain her apprehensions; then sh
saw that such a step would be uselessas she would certainly be unable t
nduce Albert to visit Werther. Dinner
was served; and a kind friend whom sh
had persuaded to remain assisted t
sustain the conversation, which wa
carried on by a sort of compulsion, til
he events of the morning were forgotten
When the servant brought the pistol
o Werther, the latter received them with
ransports of delight upon hearing thaCharlotte had given them to him with he
own hand. He ate some bread, dran
some wine, sent his servant to dinner
and then sat down to write as follows:
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"They have been in your hands yo
wiped the dust from them. I kiss them
housand times—you have touched them
Yes, Heaven favours my design, andou, Charlotte, provide me with the fata
nstruments. It was my desire to receiv
my death from your hands, and my wis
s gratified. I have made inquiries of m
servant. You trembled when you gave
him the pistols, but you bade me n
adieu. Wretched, wretched that I am—not one farewell! How could you shu
our heart against me in that hour whic
makes you mine for ever? Charlotte
ages cannot efface the impression—feel you cannot hate the man who s
passionately loves you!"
After dinner he called his servant
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desired him to finish the packing up
destroyed many papers, and then wen
out to pay some trifling debts. He soo
returned home, then went out againnotwithstanding the rain, walked fo
some time in the count's garden, an
afterward proceeded farther into th
country. Toward evening he came back
once more, and resumed his writing.
"Wilhelm, I have for the last tim
beheld the mountains, the forests, and th
sky. Farewell! And you, my deares
mother, forgive me! Console her
Wilhelm. God bless you! I have settledall my affairs! Farewell! We shall mee
again, and be happier than ever."
"I have requited you badly, Albert; bu
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ou will forgive me. I have disturbed th
peace of your home. I have sowe
distrust between you. Farewell! I wil
end all this wretchedness. And oh, thamy death may render you happy! Albert
Albert! make that angel happy, and th
blessing of Heaven be upon you!"
He spent the rest of the evening i
arranging his papers: he tore and burne
a great many; others he sealed up, an
directed to Wilhelm. They contained
some detached thoughts and maxims
some of which I have perused. At te
o'clock he ordered his fire to be madup, and a bottle of wine to be brought t
him. He then dismissed his servant
whose room, as well as the apartment
of the rest of the family, was situated in
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another part of the house. The servan
ay down without undressing, that h
might be the sooner ready for his journe
n the morning, his master havinnformed him that the post-horses woul
be at the door before six o'clock.
"Past eleven o'clock! All is silenaround me, and my soul is calm. I than
hee, O God, that thou bestowest strengt
and courage upon me in these las
moments! I approach the window, m
dearest of friends; and through th
clouds, which are at this moment drive
rapidly along by the impetuous winds, behold the stars which illumine th
eternal heavens. No, you will not fal
celestial bodies: the hand of th
Almighty supports both you and me!
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have looked for the last time upon th
constellation of the Greater Bear: it i
my favourite star; for when I bade yo
farewell at night, Charlotte, and turnemy steps from your door, it alway
shone upon me. With what rapture have
at times beheld it! How often have
mplored it with uplifted hands t
witness my felicity! and even still—Bu
what object is there, Charlotte, whic
fails to summon up your image beforme? Do you not surround me on al
sides? and have I not, like a child
reasured up every trifle which you hav
consecrated by your touch?
"Your profile, which was so dear to
me, I return to you; and I pray you t
preserve it. Thousands of kisses have
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mprinted upon it, and a thousand time
has it gladdened my heart on departin
from and returning to my home.
"I have implored your father to protec
my remains. At the corner of th
churchyard, looking toward the fields
here are two lime-trees—there I wish tie. Your father can, and doubtless will
do this much for his friend. Implore it o
him. But perhaps pious Christians wil
not choose that their bodies should b
buried near the corpse of a poor
unhappy wretch like me. Then let me b
aid in some remote valley, or near thhighway, where the priest and Levit
may bless themselves as they pass by m
omb, whilst the Samaritan will shed
ear for my fate.
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"See, Charlotte, I do not shudder t
ake the cold and fatal cup, from which
shall drink the draught of death. You
hand presents it to me, and I do noremble. All, all is now concluded: th
wishes and the hopes of my existenc
are fulfilled. With cold, unflinching hand
knock at the brazen portals of Death
Oh, that I had enjoyed the bliss of dyin
for you! how gladly would I hav
sacrificed myself for you; CharlotteAnd could I but restore peace and joy t
our bosom, with what resolution, wit
what joy, would I not meet my fate! Bu
t is the lot of only a chosen few to sheheir blood for their friends, and by thei
death to augment, a thousand times, th
happiness of those by whom they ar
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beloved.
"I wish, Charlotte, to be buried in th
dress I wear at present: it has beerendered sacred by your touch. I hav
begged this favour of your father. M
spirit soars above my sepulchre. I do no
wish my pockets to be searched. Thknot of pink ribbon which you wore o
our bosom the first time I saw you
surrounded by the children—Oh, kis
hem a thousand times for me, and tel
hem the fate of their unhappy friend!
hink I see them playing around me. Th
dear children! How warmly have I beeattached to you, Charlotte! Since the firs
hour I saw you, how impossible have
found it to leave you. This ribbon mus
be buried with me: it was a present fro
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ou on my birthday. How confused it al
appears! Little did I then think that
should journey this road. But peace!
pray you, peace!
"They are loaded—the clock strike
welve. I say amen. Charlotte, Charlotte
farewell, farewell!"
A neighbour saw the flash, and heard
he report of the pistol; but, as everythin
remained quiet, he thought no more of it
In the morning, at six o'clock, th
servant went into Werther's room with a
candle. He found his master stretcheupon the floor, weltering in his blood
and the pistols at his side. He called, h
ook him in his arms, but received n
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answer. Life was not yet quite extinct
The servant ran for a surgeon, and the
went to fetch Albert. Charlotte heard th
ringing of the bell: a cold shudder seizeher. She wakened her husband, and the
both rose. The servant, bathed in tear
faltered forth the dreadful news
Charlotte fell senseless at Albert's feet.
When the surgeon came to th
unfortunate Werther, he was still lying
on the floor; and his pulse beat, but hi
imbs were cold. The bullet, entering th
forehead, over the right eye, ha
penetrated the skull. A vein was openedn his right arm: the blood came, and h
still continued to breathe.
From the blood which flowed fro
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he chair, it could be inferred that he had
committed the rash act sitting at hi
bureau, and that he afterward fell upo
he floor. He was found lying on hiback near the window. He was in full
dress costume.
The house, the neighbourhood, and thwhole town were immediately i
commotion. Albert arrived. They had
aid Werther on the bed: his head wa
bound up, and the paleness of death wa
upon his face. His limbs wer
motionless; but he still breathed, at on
ime strongly, then weaker—his deatwas momently expected.
He had drunk only one glass of th
wine. "Emilia Galotti" lay open upon hi
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bureau.
I shall say nothing of Albert's distress
or of Charlotte's grief.
The old steward hastened to the hous
mmediately upon hearing the news: h
embraced his dying friend amid a flooof tears. His eldest boys soon followe
him on foot. In speechless sorrow the
hrew themselves on their knees by th
bedside, and kissed his hands and faceThe eldest, who was his favourite, hun
over him till he expired; and even the
he was removed by force. At twelv
o'clock Werther breathed his last. Th
presence of the steward, and th
precautions he had adopted, prevented
disturbance; and that night, at the hour o
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