As he now never enjoyed internal peace， the condition of his fellow
creatures was to him a perpetual source of trouble and distress. He believed
he had disturbed the happiness of Albert and his wife ； and， whilst
he censured himself strongly for this ， he began to entertain a secret
dislike to Albert.
His thoughts were occasionally directed to this point. "Yes ，" he
would repeat to himself ， with ill-concealed dissatisfaction ， "yes ，
this is ， after all， the extent of that confiding ， dear ， tender ，
and sympathetic love， that calm and eternal fidelity ！ What do I behold
but satiety and indifference？ Does not every frivolous engagement attract
him more than his charming and lovely wife？ Does he know how to prize
his happiness ？ Can he value her as she deserves ？ He possesses her ，
it is true， I know that， as I know much more， and I have become accustomed
to the thought that he will drive me mad， or ， perhaps， murder me.
Is his friendship toward me unimpaired？ Does he not view my attachment
to Charlotte as an infringement upon his rights ， and consider my attention
to her as a silent rebuke to himself？ I know ， and indeed feel， that
he dislikes me， that he wishes for my absence， that my presence is hateful
to him."
He would often pause when on his way to visit Charlotte ， stand still，
as though in doubt， and seem desirous of returning ， but would nevertheless
proceed ； and， engaged in such thoughts and soliloquies as we have described，
he finally reached the hunting-lodge， with a sort of involuntary consent.
Upon one occasion he entered the house； and， inquiring for Charlotte，
he observed that the inmates were in a state of unusual confusion. The
eldest boy informed him that a dreadful misfortune had occurred at Walheim，
—— that a peasant had been murdered ！ But this made little impression
upon him. Entering the apartment， he found Charlotte engaged reasoning
with her father ， who， in spite of his infirmity， insisted on going
to the scene of the crime ， in order to institute an inquiry. The criminal
was unknown ； the victim had been found dead at his own door that morning.
Suspicions were excited ： the murdered man had been in the service of
a widow ， and the person who had previously filled the situation had
been dismissed from her employment.
As soon as Werther heard this ， he exclaimed with great excitement，
"Is it possible ！ I must go to the spot—— I cannot delay a moment！
" He hastened to Walheim. Every incident returned vividly to his remembrance
； and he entertained not the slightest doubt that that man was the murderer
to whom he had so often spoken， and for whom he entertained so much regard.
His way took him past the well-known lime trees ， to the house where
the body had been carried ； and his feelings were greatly excited at
the sight of the fondly recollected spot. That threshold where the neighbours'
children had so often played together was stained with blood； love and
attachment， the noblest feelings of human nature ， had been converted
into violence and murder. The huge trees stood there leafless and covered
with hoarfrost； the beautiful hedgerows which surrounded the old churchyard
wall were withered； and the gravestones， half covered with snow ， were
visible through the openings.
As he approached the inn， in front of which the whole village was
assembled ， screams were suddenly heard. A troop of armed peasants was
seen approaching， and every one exclaimed that the criminal had been
apprehended. Werther looked ， and was not long in doubt. The prisoner
was no other than the servant ， who had been formerly so attached to
the widow ， and whom he had met prowling about ， with that suppressed
anger and ill-concealed despair ， which we have before described.
"What have you done ， unfortunate man？" inquired Werther， as he
advanced toward the prisoner. The latter turned his eyes upon him in silence，
and then replied with perfect composure ； "No one will now marry her ，
and she will marry no one." The prisoner was taken into the inn ， and
Werther left the place. The mind of Werther was fearfully excited by this
shocking occurrence. He ceased， however， to be oppressed by his usual
feeling of melancholy ， moroseness ， and indifference to everything
that passed around him. He entertained a strong degree of pity for the
prisoner， and was seized with an indescribable anxiety to save him from
his impending fate. He considered him so unfortunate， he deemed his crime
so excusable， and thought his own condition so nearly similar， that
he felt convinced he could make every one else view the matter in the
light in which he saw it himself. He now became anxious to undertake his
defence ， and commenced composing an eloquent speech for the occasion
； and， on his way to the hunting-lodge， he could not refrain from speaking
aloud the statement which he resolved to make to the judge.
Upon his arrival， he found Albert had been before him： and he was
a little perplexed by this meeting； but he soon recovered himself， and
expressed his opinion with much warmth to the judge. The latter shook ，
his head doubtingly ； and although Werther urged his case with the utmost
zeal， feeling， and determination in defence of his client ， yet， as
we may easily suppose ， the judge was not much influenced by his appeal.
On the contrary ， he interrupted him in his address， reasoned with him
seriously ， and even administered a rebuke to him for becoming the advocate
of a murderer. He demonstrated， that ， according to this precedent，
every law might be violated ， and the public security utterly destroyed.
He added， moreover ， that in such a case he could himself do nothing，
without incurring the greatest responsibility ； that everything must
follow in the usual course， and pursue the ordinary channel.
Werther ， however， did not abandon his enterprise ， and even besought
the judge to connive at the flight of the prisoner. But this proposal
was peremptorily rejected. Albert ， who had taken some part in the discussion，
coincided in opinion with the judge. At this Werther became enraged ，
and took his leave in great anger ， after the judge had more than once
assured him that the prisoner could not be saved.
The excess of his grief at this assurance may be inferred from a note
we have found amongst his papers， and which was doubtless written upon
this very occasion.
"You cannot be saved， unfortunate man！ I see clearly that we cannot
be saved！"
Werther was highly incensed at the observations which Albert had made
to the judge in this matter of the prisoner. He thought he could detect
therein a little bitterness toward himself personally ； and although ，
upon reflection ， it could not escape his sound judgment that their view
of the matter was correct ， he felt the greatest possible reluctance
to make such an admission.
A memorandum of Werther's upon this point ， expressive of his general
feelings toward Albert， has been found amongst his papers.
"What is the use of my continually repeating that he is a good and
estimable man ？ He is an inward torment to me， and I am incapable of
being just toward him."
One fine evening in winter， when the weather seemed inclined to thaw，
Charlotte and Albert were returning home together. The former looked from
time to time about her， as if she missed Werther's company. Albert began
to speak of him ， and censured him for his prejudices. He alluded to
his unfortunate attachment， and wished it were possible to discontinue
his acquaintance. "I desire it on our own account ，" he added； "and
I request you will compel him to alter his deportment toward you， and
to visit you less frequently. The world is censorious ， and I know that
here and there we are spoken of." Charlotte made no reply ， and Albert
seemed to feel her silence. At least， from that time he never again spoke
of Werther； and， when she introduced the subject， he allowed the conversation
to die away ， or else he directed the discourse into another channel.
The vain attempt Werther had made to save the unhappy murderer was
the last feeble glimmering of a flame about to be extinguished. He sank
almost immediately afterward into a state of gloom and inactivity ， until
he was at length brought to perfect distraction by learning that he was
to be summoned as a witness against the prisoner， who asserted his complete
innocence.
His mind now became oppressed by the recollection of every misfortune
of his past life. The mortification he had suffered at the ambassador's，
and his subsequent troubles ， were revived in his memory. He became utterly
inactive. Destitute of energy ， he was cut off from every pursuit and
occupation which compose the business of common life； and he became a
victim to his own susceptibility， and to his restless passion for the
most amiable and beloved of women ， whose peace he destroyed. In this
unvarying monotony of existence his days were consumed； and his powers
became exhausted without aim or design， until they brought him to a sorrowful
end.
A few letters which he left behind， and which we here subjoin， afford
the best proofs of his anxiety of mind and of the depth of his passion，
as well as of his doubts and struggles， and of his weariness of life.
DECEMBER 12. Dear Wilhelm ， I am reduced to the condition of those
unfortunate wretches who believe they are pursued by an evil spirit. Sometimes
I am oppressed， not by apprehension or fear， but by an inexpressible
internal sensation， which weighs upon my heart ， and impedes my breath！
Then I wander forth at night， even in this tempestuous season， and feel
pleasure in surveying the dreadful scenes around me.
Yesterday evening I went forth. A rapid thaw had suddenly set in：
I had been informed that the river had risen， that the brooks had all
overflowed their banks， and that the whole vale of Walheim was under
water ！ Upon the stroke of twelve I hastened forth. I beheld a fearful
sight. The foaming torrents rolled from the mountains in the moonlight，
—— fields and meadows ， trees and hedges ， were confounded together
； and the entire valley was converted into a deep lake ， which was agitated
by the roaring wind ！ And when the moon shone forth， and tinged the
black clouds with silver， and the impetuous torrent at my feet foamed
and resounded with awful and grand impetuosity， I was overcome by a mingled
sensation of apprehension and delight. With extended arms I looked down
into the yawning abyss， and cried， "Plunge！'" For a moment my senses
forsook me， in the intense delight of ending my sorrows and my sufferings
by a plunge into that gulf！ And then I felt as if I were rooted to the
earth ， and incapable of seeking an end to my woes ！ But my hour is
not yet come： I feel it is not. O Wilhelm， how willingly could I abandon
my existence to ride the whirlwind， or to embrace the torrent！ and then
might not rapture perchance be the portion of this liberated soul ？
I turned my sorrowful eyes toward a favourite spot， where I was accustomed
to sit with Charlotte beneath a willow after a fatiguing walk. Alas ！
it was covered with water ， and with difficulty I found even the meadow.
And the fields around the hunting-lodge ， thought I. Has our dear bower
been destroyed by this unpitying storm？ And a beam of past happiness
streamed upon me， as the mind of a captive is illumined by dreams of
flocks and herds and bygone joys of home！ But I am free from blame. I
have courage to die ！ Perhaps I have ，—— but I still sit here ， like
a wretched pauper ， who collects fagots， and begs her bread from door
to door ， that she may prolong for a few days a miserable existence which
she is unwilling to resign.
DECEMBER 15. What is the matter with me ， dear Wilhelm ？ I am afraid
of myself ！ Is not my love for her of the purest ， most holy， and most
brotherly nature？ Has my soul ever been sullied by a single sensual desire？
but I will make no protestations. And now ， ye nightly visions ， how
truly have those mortals understood you ， who ascribe your various contradictory
effects to some invincible power！ This night I tremble at the avowal
—— I held her in my arms， locked in a close embrace： I pressed her
to my bosom ， and covered with countless kisses those dear lips which
murmured in reply soft protestations of love. My sight became confused
by the delicious intoxication of her eyes. Heavens！ is it sinful to revel
again in such happiness ， to recall once more those rapturous moments
with intense delight？ Charlotte！ Charlotte！ I am lost！ My senses are
bewildered， my recollection is confused， mine eyes are bathed in tears
—— I am ill ； and yet I am well—— I wish for nothing —— I have
no desires—— it were better I were gone.
Under the circumstances narrated above， a determination to quit this
world had now taken fixed possession of Werther's soul. Since Charlotte's
return， this thought had been the final object of all his hopes and wishes
； but he had resolved that such a step should not be taken with precipitation，
but with calmness and tranquillity， and with the most perfect deliberation.
His troubles and internal struggles may be understood from the following
fragment， which was found， without any date ， amongst his papers ，
and appears to have formed the beginning of a letter to Wilhelm.
"Her presence ， her fate ， her sympathy for me， have power still
to extract tears from my withered brain.
"One lifts up the curtain ， and passes to the other side ，—— that
is all！ And why all these doubts and delays？ Because we know not what
is behind —— because there is no returning—— and because our mind
infers that all is darkness and confusion ， where we have nothing but
uncertainty."
His appearance at length became quite altered by the effect of his
melancholy thoughts ； and his resolution was now finally and irrevocably
taken ， of which the following ambiguous letter， which he addressed
to his friend ， may appear to afford some proof.
DECEMBER 2O. I am grateful to your love ， Wilhelm， for having repeated
your advice so seasonably. Yes， you are right： it is undoubtedly better
that I should depart. But I do not entirely approve your scheme of returning
at once to your neighbourhood ； at least ， I should Iike to make a little
excursion on the way， particularly as we may now expect a continued frost，
and consequently good roads. I am much pleased with your intention of
coming to fetch me； only delay your journey for a fortnight， and wait
for another letter from me. One should gather nothing before it is ripe，
and a fortnight sooner or later makes a great difference. Entreat my mother
to pray for her son ， and tell her I beg her pardon for all the unhappiness
I have occasioned her. It has ever been my fate to give pain to those
whose happiness I should have promoted. Adieu ， my dearest friend. May
every blessing of Heaven attend you ！ Farewell.
We find it difficult to express the emotions with which Charlotte's
soul was agitated during the whole of this time ， whether in relation
to her husband or to her unfortunate friend ； although we are enabled，
by our knowledge of her character ， to understand their nature.
It is certain that she had formed a determination ， by every means
in her power to keep Werther at a distance； and， if she hesitated in
her decision， it was from a sincere feeling of friendly pity ， knowing
how much it would cost him， indeed ， that he would find it almost impossible
to comply with her wishes. But various causes now urged her to be firm.
Her hushand preserved a strict silence about the whole matter ； and she
never made it a subject of conversation ， feeling bound to prove to him
by her conduct that her sentiments agreed with his.
The same day， which was the Sunday before Christmas， after Werther
had written the last-mentioned letter to his friend ， he came in the
evening to Charlotte's house， and found her alone. She was busy preparing
some little gifts for her brothers and sisters， which were to be distributed
to them on Christmas Day. He began talking of the delight of the children，
and of that age when the sudden appearance of the Christmas-tree， decorated
with fruit and sweetmeats ， and lighted up with wax candles， causes
such transports of joy. "You shall have a gift too， if you behave well
，" said Charlotte ， hiding her embarrassment under sweet smile. "And
what do you call behaving well？ What should I do ， what can I do， my
dear Charlotte？" said he. "Thursday night，" she answered， "is Christmas
Eve. The children are all to be here， and my father too： there is a
present for each； do you come likewise ， but do not come before that
time." Werther started. "I desire you will not： it must be so，" she
continued. "I ask it of you as a favour ， for my own peace and tranquillity.
We cannot go on in this manner any longer." He turned away his face walked
hastily up and down the room， muttering indistinctly ， "We cannot go
on in this manner any longer！" Charlotte ， seeing the violent agitation
into which these words had thrown him ， endeavoured to divert his thoughts
by different questions， but in vain. "No ， Charlotte！" he exclaimed
； "I will never see you any more ！" "And why so ？" she answered. "We
may —— we must see each other again ； only let it be with more discretion.
Oh！ why were you born with that excessive， that ungovernable passion
for everything that is dear to you？" Then， taking his hand， she said，
"I entreat of you to be more calm ： your talents ， your understanding，
your genius ， will furnish you with a thousand resources. Be a man ，
and conquer an unhappy attachment toward a creature who can do nothing
but pity you." He bit his lips， and looked at her with a gloomy countenance.
She continued to hold his hand. "Grant me but a moment's patience ， Werther，
" she said. "Do you not see that you are deceiving yourself ， that you
are seeking your own destruction？ Why must you love me ， me only， who
belong to another ？ I fear ， I much fear， that it is only the impossibility
of possessing me which makes your desire for me so strong." He drew back
his hand， whilst he surveyed her with a wild and angry look. "'Tis well！
" he exclaimed， "'tis very well！ Did not Albert furnish you with this
reflection？ It is profound ， a very profound remark." "A reflection
that any one might easily make，" she answered； "and is there not a woman
in the whole world who is at liberty， and has the power to make you happy？
Conquer yourself： look for such a being， and believe me when I say that
you will certainly find her. I have long felt for you ， and for us all
： you have confined yourself too long within the limits of too narrow
a circle. Conquer yourself； make an effort ： a short journey will be
of service to you. Seek and find an object worthy of your love； then
return hither ， and let us enjoy together all the happiness of the most
perfect friendship."
"This speech，" replied Werther with a cold smile ， "this speech
should be printed ， for the benefit of all teachers. My dear Charlotte，
allow me but a short time longer， and all will be well." "But however，
Werther ，" she added ， "do not come again before Christmas." He was
about to make some answer ， when Albert came in. They saluted each other
coldly， and with mutual embarrassment paced up and down the room. Werther
made some common remarks； Albert did the same， and their conversation
soon dropped. Albert asked his wife about some household matters； and，
finding that his commissions were not executed， he used some expressions
which ， to Werther's ear ， savoured of extreme harshness. He wished
to go ， but had not power to move； and in this situation he remained
till eight o'clock， his uneasiness and discontent continually increasing.
At length the cloth was laid for supper ， and he took up his hat and
stick. Albert invited him to remain ； but Werther， fancying that he
was merely paying a formal compliment ， thanked him coldly ， amd left
the house.
Werther returned home ， took the candle from his servant ， and retired
to his room alone. He talked for some time with great earnestness to himself，
wept aloud， walked in a state of great excitement through his chamber
； till at length ， without undressing ， he threw himself on the bed，
where he was found by his servant at eleven o'clock ， when the latter
ventured to enter the room， and take off his boots. Werther did not prevent
him ， but forbade him to come in the morning till he should ring.
On Monday morning ， the 21st of December ， he wrote to Charlotte
the following letter， which was found， sealed ， on his bureau after
his death ， and was given to her. I shall insert it in fragments ； as
it appears， from several circumstances ， to have been written in that
manner.
"It is all over ， Charlotte： I am resolved to die ！ I make this
declaration deliberately and coolly ， without any romantic passion ，
on this morning of the day when I am to see you for the last time. At
the moment you read these lines ， O best of women， the cold grave will
hold the inanimate remains of that restless and unhappy being who ， in
the last moments of his existence ， knew no pleasure so great as that
of conversing with you！ I have passed a dreadful night or rather ， let
me say， a propitious one ； for it has given me resolution ， it has
fixed my purpose. I am resolved to die. When I tore myself from you yesterday，
my senses were in tumult and disorder ； my heart was oppressed ， hope
and pleasure had fled from me for ever， and a petrifying cold had seized
my wretched being. I could scarcely reach my room. I threw myself on my
knees ； and Heaven ， for the last time， granted me the consolation
of shedding tears. A thousand ideas ， a thousand schemes ， arose within
my soul ； till at length one last， fixed， final thought took possession
of my heart. It was to die. I lay down to rest； and in the morning ，
in the quiet hour of awakening， the same determination was upon me. To
die ！ It is not despair： it is conviction that I have filled up the
measure of my sufferings， that I have reached my appointed term， and
must sacrifice myself for thee. Yes ， Charlotte， why should I not avow
it？ One of us three must die ： it shall be Werther. O beloved Charlotte！
this heart， excited by rage and fury ， has often conceived the horrid
idea of murdering your husband—— you—— myself ！ The lot is cast at
length. And in the bright ， quiet evenings of summer ， when you sometimes
wander toward the mountains ， let your thoughts then turn to me： recollect
how often you have watched me coming to meet you from the valley； then
bend your eyes upon the churchyard which contains my grave， and， by
the light of the setting sun， mark how the evening breeze waves the tall
grass which grows above my tomb. I was calm when I began this letter，
but the recollection of these scenes makes me weep like a child." About
ten in the morning， Werther called his servant ， and， whilst he was
dressing， told him that in a few days he intended to set out upon a journey，
and bade him therefore lay his clothes in order ， and prepare them for
packing up， call in all his accounts ， fetch home the books he had lent，
and give two months' pay to the poor dependants who were accustomed to
receive from him a weekly allowance.
He breakfasted in his room， and then mounted his horse ， and went
to visit the steward， who， however， was not at home. He walked pensively
in the garden ， and seemed anxious to renew all the ideas that were most
painful to him.
The children did not suffer him to remain alone long. They followed
him ， skipping and dancing before him， and told him ， that after to-morrow
and tomorrow and one day more ， they were to receive their Christmas
gift from Charlotte ； and they then recounted all the wonders of which
they had formed ideas in their child imaginations. "Tomorrow and tomorrow，
" said he ， "and one day more！" And he kissed them tenderly. He was
going ； but the younger boy stopped him， to whisper something in his
ear. He told him that his elder brothers had written splendid New-Year's
wishes so large ！ one for papa ， and another for Albert and Charlotte，
and one for Werther ； and they were to be presented early in the morning，
on New Year's Day. This quite overcame him. He made each of the children
a present ， mounted his horse， left his compliments for papa and mamma，
and ， with tears in his eyes ， rode away from the place.
He returned home about five o'clock ， ordered his servant to keep
up his fire ， desired him to pack his books and linen at the bottom of
the trunk ， and to place his coats at the top. He then appears to have
made the following addition to the letter addressed to Charlotte：
"You do not expect me. You think I will obey you， and not visit you
