we were delighted when， in our early acquaintance， we discovered that
we each loved the same spot ， which is indeed as romantic as any that
ever captivated the fancy of an artist.
From beneath the chestnut trees ， there is an extensive view. But
I remember that I have mentioned all this in a former letter， and have
described the tall mass of beech trees at the end ， and how the avenue
grows darker and darker as it winds its way among them， till it ends
in a gloomy recess， which has all the charm of a mysterious solitude.
I still remember the strange feeling of melancholy which came over me
the first time I entered that dark retreat， at bright midday. I felt
some secret foreboding that it would， one day， be to me the scene of
some happiness or misery.
I had spent half an hour struggling between the contending thoughts
of going and returning， when I heard them coming up the terrace. I ran
to meet them. I trembled as I took her hand ， and kissed it. As we reached
the top of the terrace， the moon rose from behind the wooded hill. We
conversed on many subjects， and， without perceiving it， approached
the gloomy recess. Charlotte entered， and sat down. Albert seated himself
beside her. I did the same， but my agitation did not suffer me to remain
long seated. I got up ， and stood before her ， then walked backward
and forward ， and sat down again. I was restless and miserable. Charlotte
drew our attention to the beautiful effect of the moonlight ， which threw
a silver hue over the terrace in front of us， beyond the beech trees.
It was a glorious sight ， and was rendered more striking by the darkness
which surrounded the spot where we were. We remained for some time silent，
when Charlotte observed ， "Whenever I walk by moonlight， it brings to
my remembrance all my beloved and departed friends， and I am filled with
thoughts of death and futurity. We shall live again ， Werther！" she
continued ， with a firm but feeling voice； "but shall we know one another
again what do you think ？ what do you say？"
"Charlotte，" I said， as I took her hand in mine ， and my eyes filled
with tears， "we shall see each other again —— here and hereafter we
shall meet again." I could say no more. Why ， Wilhelm， should she put
this question to me ， just at the monent when the fear of our cruel separation
filled my heart ？
"And oh ！ do those departed ones know how we are employed here ？
do they know when we are well and happy ？ do they know when we recall
their memories with the fondest love？ In the silent hour of evening the
shade of my mother hovers around me ； when seated in the midst of my
children， I see them assembled near me ， as they used to assemble near
her ； and then I raise my anxious eyes to heaven ， and wish she could
look down upon us ， and witness how I fulfil the promise I made to her
in her last moments ， to be a mother to her children. With what emotion
do I then exclaim ， 'Pardon， dearest of mothers ， pardon me， if I
do not adequately supply your place ！ Alas ！ I do my utmost. They are
clothed and fed ； and， still better ， they are loved and educated.
Could you but see ， sweet saint！ the peace and harmony that dwells amongst
us， you would glorify God with the warmest feelings of gratitude ， to
whom， in your last hour， you addressed such fervent prayers for our
happiness.'" Thus did she express herself ； but O Wilhelm！ who can do
justice to her language ？ how can cold and passionless words convey the
heavenly expressions of the spirit？ Albert interrupted her gently. "This
affects you too deeply， my dear Charlotte. I know your soul dwells on
such recollections wlth intense delight ； but I implore—— " "O Albert！
" she continued ， "I am sure you do not forget the evenings when we three
used to sit at the little round table ， when papa was absent ， and the
little ones had retired. You often had a good book with you ， but seldom
read it ； the conversation of that noble being was preferable to everything，
—— that beautiful ， bright ， gentle ， and yet ever-toiling woman.
God alone knows how I have supplicated with tears on my nightly couch ，
that I might be like her."
I threw myself at her feet， and， seizing her hand ， bedewed it
with a thousand tears. "Charlotte ！" I exclaimed ， "God's blessing and
your mother's spirit are upon you." "Oh ！ that you had known her ，"
she said， with a warm pressure of the hand. "She was worthy of being
known to you." I thought I should have fainted： never had I received
praise so flattering. She continued ， "And yet she was doomed to die
in the flower of her youth， when her youngest child was scarcely six
months old. Her illness was but short ， but she was calm and resigned
； and it was only for her children ， especially the youngest， that
she felt unhappy. When her end drew nigh， she bade me bring them to her.
I obeyed. The younger ones knew nothing of their approaching loss ， while
the elder ones were quite overcome with grief. They stood around the bed
； and she raised her feeble hands to heaven， and prayed over them ；
then， kissing them in turn ， she dismissed them ， and said to me ，
'Be you a mother to them.' I gave her my hand. 'You are promising much，
my child，' she said： 'a mother's fondness and a mother's care ！ I have
often witnessed ， by your tears of gratitude ， that you know what is
a mother's tenderness ： show it to your brothers and sisters ， and be
dutiful and faithful to your father as a wife ； you will be his comfort.'
She inquired for him. He had retired to conceal his intolerable anguish，
—— he was heartbroken ， "Albert， you were in the room. She heard some
one moving： she inquired who it was， and desired you to approach. She
surveyed us both with a look of composure and satisfaction， expressive
of her conviction that we should be happy ，—— happy with one another."
Albert fell upon her neck ， and kissed her ， and exclaimed， "We are
so， and we shall be so ！" Even Albert ， generally so tranquil， had
quite lost his composure； and I was excited beyond expression.
"And such a being ，" She continued ， "was to leave us ， Werther！
Great God ， must we thus part with everything we hold dear in this world？
Nobody felt this more acutely than the children ： they cried and lamented
for a long time afterward ， complaining that men had carried away their
dear mamma."
Charlotte rose. It aroused me ； but I continued sitting， and held
her hand. "Let us go，" she said： "it grows late." She attempted to withdraw
her hand： I held it still. "We shall see each other again，" I exclaimed
： "we shall recognise each other under every possible change ！ I am
going ，" I continued ， "going willingly ； but， should I say for ever，
perhaps I may not keep my word. Adieu ， Charlotte； adieu， Albert. We
shall meet again." "Yes ： tomorrow ， I think，" she answered with a
smile. Tomorrow ！ how I felt the word！ Ah ！ she little thought ， when
she drew her hand away from mine. They walked down the avenue. I stood
gazing after them in the moonlight. I threw myself upon the ground， and
wept： I then sprang up ， and ran out upon the terrace ， and saw， under
the shade of the linden-trees ， her white dress disappearing near the
garden-gate. I stretched out my arms， and she vanished.
BOOK II.
OCTOBER 2O. We arrived here yesterday. The ambassador is indisposed，
and will not go out for some days. If he were less peevish and morose ，
all would be well. I see but too plainly that Heaven has destined me to
severe trials ； but courage！ a light heart may bear anything. A light
heart ！ I smile to find such a word proceeding from my pen. A little
more lightheartedness would render me the happiest being under the sun.
But must I despair of my talents and faculties， whilst others of far
inferior abilities parade before me with the utmost self-satisfaction ？
Gracious Providence ， to whom I owe all my powers， why didst thou not
withhold some of those blessings I possess， and substitute in their place
a feeling of self-confidence and contentment？
But patience！ all will yet be well ； for I assure you ， my dear
friend， you were right ： since I have been obliged to associate continually
with other people ， and observe what they do ， and how they employ themselves，
I have become far better satisfied with myself. For we are so constituted
by nature ， that we are ever prone to compare ourselves with others；
and our happiness or misery depends very much on the objects and persons
around us. On this account， nothing is more dangerous than solitude：
there our imagination ， always disposed to rise， taking a new flight
on the wings of fancy ， pictures to us a chain of beings of whom we seem
the most inferior. All things appear greater than they really are ， and
all seem superior to us. This operation of the mind is quite natural：
we so continually feel our own imperfections， and fancy we perceive in
others the qualities we do not possess， attributing to them also all
that we enjoy ourselves ， that by this process we form the idea of a
perfect ， happy man，—— a man， however， who only exists in our own
imagination. But when ， in spite of weakness and disappointments ， we
set to work in earnest， and persevere steadily ， we often find， that，
though obliged continually to tack， we make more way than others who
have the assistance of wind and tide； and， in truth ， there can be
no greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip them
in the race.
NOVEMBER 26. I begin to find my situation here more tolerable ， considering
all circumstances. I find a great advantage in being much occupied； and
the number of persons I meet， and their different pursuits ， create
a varied entertainment for me. I have formed the acquaintance of the Count
C —— and I esteem him more and more every day. He is a man of strong
understanding and great discernment ； but， though he sees farther than
other people， he is not on that account cold in his manner ， but capable
of inspiring and returning the warmest affection. He appeared interested
in me on one occasion ， when I had to transact some business with him.
He perceived， at the first word， that we understood each other， and
that he could converse with me in a different tone from what he used with
others. I cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me.
It is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great mind
in sympathy with our own.
DECEMBER 24. As I anticipated ， the ambassador occasions me infinite
annoyance. He is the most punctilious blockhead under heaven. He does
everything step by step ， with the trifling minuteness of an old woman
； and he is a man whom it is impossible to please， because he is never
pleased with himself. I like to do business regularly and cheerfully，
and ， when it is finished， to leave it. But he constantly returns my
papers to me， saying ， "They will do，" but recommending me to look
over them again ， as "one may always improve by using a better word or
a more appropriate particle." I then lose all patience， and wish myself
at the devil's. Not a conjunction ， not an adverb， must be omitted：
he has a deadly antipathy to all those transpositions of which I am so
fond； and， if the music of our periods is not tuned to the established，
official key， he cannot comprehend our meaning. It is deplorable to be
connected with such a fellow.
My acquaintance with the Count C—— is the only compensation for
such an evil. He told me frankly， the other day， that he was much displeased
with the difficulties and delays of the ambassador； that people like
him are obstacles ， both to themselves and to others. "But ，" added
he， "one must submit ， like a traveller who has to ascend a mountain
： if the mountain was not there， the road would be both shorter and
pleasanter； but there it is， and he must get over it." The old man perceives
the count's partiality for me ： this annoys him， and， he seizes every
opportunity to depreciate the count in my hearing. I naturally defend
him ， and that only makes matters worse. Yesterday he made me indignant，
for he also alluded to me. "The count ，" he said ， "is a man of the
world ， and a good man of business ： his style is good， and he writes
with facility ； but， like other geniuses， he has no solid learning."
He looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask if I felt the blow.
But it did not produce the desired effect ： I despise a man who can think
and act in such a manner. However ， I made a stand ， and answered with
not a little warmth. The count， I said ， was a man entitled to respect，
alike for his character and his acquirements. I had never met a person
whose mind was stored with more useful and extensive knowledge，—— who
had ， in fact， mastered such an infinite variety of subjects， and who
yet retained all his activity for the details of ordinary business. This
was altogether beyond his comprehension ； and I took my leave， lest
my anger should be too highly excited by some new absurdity of his.
And you are to blame for all this ， you who persuaded me to bend
my neck to this yoke by preaching a life of activity to me. If the man
who plants vegetables ， and carries his corn to town on market-days，
is not more usefully employed than I am ， then let me work ten years
longer at the galleys to which I am now chained.
Oh， the brilliant wretchedness ， the weariness， that one is doomed
to witness among the silly people whom we meet in society here！ The ambition
of rank ！ How they watch ， how they toil， to gain precedence ！ What
poor and contemptible passions are displayed in their utter nakedness ！
We have a woman here， for example， who never ceases to entertain the
company with accounts of her family and her estates. Any stranger would
consider her a silly being， whose head was turned by her pretensions
to rank and property； but she is in reality even more ridiculous ， the
daughter of a mere magistrate's clerk from this neighbourhood. I cannot
understand how human beings can so debase themselves.
Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by
ourselves ； and I have so much trouble with myseif ， and my own heart
is in such constant agitation ， that I am well content to let others
pursue their own course ， if they only allow me the same privilege.
What provokes me most is the unhappy extent to which distinctions
of rank are carried. I know perfectly well how necessary are inequalities
of condition， and I am sensible of the advantages I myself derive therefrom
； but I would not have these institutions prove a barrier to the small
chance of happiness which I may enjoy on this earth.
I have lately become acquainted with a Miss B ——， a very agreeable
girl， who has retained her natural manners in the midst of artificial
life. Our first conversation pleased us both equally； and， at taking
leave ， I requested permission to visit her. She consented in so obliging
a manner， that I waited with impatience for the arrival of the happy
moment. She is not a native of this place ， but resides here with her
aunt. The countenance of the old lady is not prepossessing. I paid her
much attention， addressing the greater part of my conversation to her
； and， in less than half an hour， I discovered what her niece subsequently
acknowledged to me， that her aged aunt ， having but a small fortune ，
and a still smaller share of understanding， enjoys no satisfaction except
in the pedigree of her ancestors， no protection save in her noble birth，
and no enjoyment but in looking from her castle over the heads of the
humble citizens. She was， no doubt ， handsome in her youth， and in
her early years probably trifled away her time in rendering many a poor
youth the sport of her caprice： in her riper years she has submitted
to the yoke of a veteran officer， who， in return for her person and
her small independence， has spent with her what we may designate her
age of brass. He is dead； and she is now a widow ， and deserted. She
spends her iron age alone ， and would not be approached， except for
the loveliness of her niece.
JANUARY 8 ， 1772. What beings are men， whose whole thoughts are
occupied with form and ceremony ， who for years together devote their
mental and physical exertions to the task of advancing themselves but
one step， and endeavouring to occupy a higher place at the table. Not
that such persons would otherwise want employment ： on the contrary，
they give themselves much trouble by neglecting important business for
such petty trifles. Last week a question of precedence arose at a sledging-party，
and all our amusement was spoiled.
The silly creatures cannot see that it is not place which constitutes
real greatness， since the man who occupies the first place but seldom
plays the principal part. How many kings are governed by their ministers
—— how many ministers by their secretaries？ Who， in such cases， is
really the chief？ He ， as it seems to me， who can see through the others，
and possesses strength or skill enough to make their power or passions
subservient to the execution of his own designs.
JANUARY 20. I must write to you from this place ， my dear Charlotte，
from a small room in a country inn， where I have taken shelter from a
severe storm. During my whole residence in that wretched place D——，
where I lived amongst strangers ，—— strangers， indeed ， to this heart，
—— I never at any time felt the smallest inclination to correspond with
you ； but in this cottage， in this retirement ， in this solitude ，
with the snow and hail beating against my lattice-pane， you are my first
thought. The instant I entered， your figure rose up before me， and the
remembrance ！ O my Charlotte ， the sacred ， tender remembrance ！ Gracious
Heaven！ restore to me the happy moment of our first acquaintance.
Could you but see me， my dear Charlotte， in the whirl of dissipation，
—— how my senses are dried up ， but my heart is at no time full. I
enjoy no single moment of happiness ： all is vain—— nothing touches
me. I stand ， as it were ， before the raree-show： I see the little
puppets move， and I ask whether it is not an optical illusion. I am amused
with these puppets， or ， rather ， I am myself one of them： but， when
I sometimes grasp my neighbour's hand ， I feel that it is not natural
； and I withdraw mine with a shudder. In the evening I say I will enjoy
the next morning's sunrise， and yet I remain in bed： in the day I promise
to ramble by moonlight； and I， nevertheless ， remain at home. I know
not why I rise， nor why I go to sleep.
The leaven which animated my existence is gone： the charm which cheered
me in the gloom of night， and aroused me from my morning slumbers， is
for ever fled.
I have found but one being here to interest me， a Miss B ——。 She
resembles you ， my dear Charlotte， if any one can possibly resemble
you. "Ah！" you will say， "he has learned how to pay fine compliments."
And this is partly true. I have been very agreeable lately， as it was
not in my power to be otherwise. I have ， moreover ， a deal of wit：
and the ladies say that no one understands flattery better， or falsehoods
you will add； since the one accomplishment invariably accompanies the
other. But I must tell you of Miss B——。 She has abundance of soul，
which flashes from her deep blue eyes. Her rank is a torment to her ，
and satisfies no one desire of her heart. She would gladly retire from
this whirl of fashion ， and we often picture to ourselves a life of undisturbed
happiness in distant scenes of rural retirement ： and then we speak of
you ， my dear Charlotte； for she knows you， and renders homage to your
merits； but her homage is not exacted， but voluntary， she loves you，
and delights to hear you made the subject of conversation.
Oh， that I were sitting at your feet in your favourite little room，
with the dear children playing around us！ If they became troublesome
to you， I would tell them some appalling goblin story； and they would
crowd round me with silent attention. The sun is setting in glory ； his
last rays are shining on the snow ， which covers the face of the country
： the storm is over， and I must return to my dungeon. Adieu ！—— Is
Albert with you ？ and what is he to you？ God forgive the question.
FEBRUARY 8. For a week past we have had the most wretched weather
： but this to me is a blessing ； for， during my residence here ， not
a single fine day has beamed from the heavens ， but has been lost to
me by the intrusion of somebody. During the severity of rain， sleet，
frost ， and storm， I congratulate myself that it cannot be worse indoors
than abroad ， nor worse abroad than it is within doors ； and so I become
reconciled. When the sun rises bright in the morning， and promises a
glorious day， I never omit to exclaim， "There ， now， they have another
blessing from Heaven， which they will be sure to destroy ： they spoil
everything，—— health ， fame ， happiness， amusement； and they do
this generally through folly， ignorance， or imbecility， and always ，
according to their own account， with the best intentions ！" I could
often beseech them， on my bended knees ， to be less resolved upon their
own destruction.
FEBRUARY 17. I fear that my ambassador and I shall not continue much
longer together. He is really growing past endurance. He transacts his
business in so ridiculous a manner， that I am often compelled to contradict
him ， and do things my own way ； and then ， of course， he thinks them
very ill done. He complained of me lately on this account at court； and
the minister gave me a reprimand，—— a gentle one it is true， but still
a reprimand. In consequence of this ， I was about to tender my resignation，
when I received a letter， to which I submitted with great respect， on
account of the high ， noble， and generous spirit which dictated it.
He endeavoured to soothe my excessive sensibility ， paid a tribute to
my extreme ideas of duty， of good example， and of perseverance in business，
as the fruit of my youthful ardour， an impulse which he did not seek
to destroy， but only to moderate ， that it might have proper play and
be productive of good. So now I am at rest for another week ， and no
longer at variance with myself. Content and peace of mind are valuable
things： I could wish ， my dear friend ， that these precious jewels
were less transitory.
FEBRUARY 20. God bless you， my dear friends， and may he grant you
that happiness which he denies to me！
I thank you ， Albert ， for having deceived me. I waited for the
news that your wedding-day was fixed； and I intended on that day ， with
solemnity ， to take down Charlotte's profile from the wall ， and to
bury it with some other papers I possess. You are now united， and her
picture still remains here. Well， let it remain！ Why should it not？
I know that I am still one of your society， that I still occupy a place
uninjured in Charlotte's heart， that I hold the second place therein
； and I intend to keep it. Oh， I should become mad if she could forget！
Albert， that thought is hell ！ Farewell ， Albert farewell， angel of
heaven farewell ， Charlotte！
MARCH 15. I have just had a sad adventure ， which will drive me away
from here. I lose all patience！—— Death！—— It is not to be remedied
； and you alone are to blame ， for you urged and impelled me to fill
a post for which I was by no means suited. I have now reason to be satisfied，
and so have you ！ But， that you may not again attribute this fatality
to my impetuous temper， I send you ， my dear sir， a plain and simple
narration of the affair ， as a mere chronicler of facts would describe
it.
The Count of O—— likes and distinguishes me. It is well known ，
and I have mentioned this to you a hundred times. Yesterday I dined with
him. It is the day on which the nobility are accustomed to assemble at
his house in the evening. I never once thought of the assembly， nor that
we subalterns did not belong to such society. Well， I dined with the
count ； and， after dinner ， we adjourned to the large hall. We walked
up and down together： and I conversed with him ， and with Colonel B
——， who joined us； and in this manner the hour for the assembly approached.
God knows ， I was thinking of nothing， when who should enter but the
honourable Lady accompanied by her noble husband and their silly， scheming
daughter， with her small waist and flat neck ； and， with disdainful
looks and a haughty air they passed me by. As I heartily detest the whole
race， I determined upon going away ； and only waited till the count
had disengaged himself from their impertinent prattle ， to take leave，
when the agreeable Miss B —— came in. As I never meet her without experiencing
a heartfelt pleasure， I stayed and talked to her ， leaning over the
back of her chair ， and did not perceive ， till after some time ， that
she seemed a little confused， and ceased to answer me with her usual
ease of manner. I was struck with it. "Heavens！" I said to myself， "can
she ， too， be like the rest ？" I felt annoyed， and was about to withdraw
； but I remained ， notwithstanding， forming excuses for her conduct，
fancying she did not mean it， and still hoping to receive some friendly
