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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 plete
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 pose the business of mon 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 overe 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 e： 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