the sorrows of young werther-第16章
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lse than a belief in thee from whom all that surrounds us derives its healing and restoring powers？ Father； whom I know not； who wert once wont to fill my soul； but who now hidest thy face from me； call me back to thee； be silent no longer； thy silence shall not delay a soul which thirsts after thee。 What man； what father； could be angry with a son for returning to him suddenly； for falling on his neck； and exclaiming； 〃I am here again； my father！ forgive me if I have anticipated my journey； and returned before the appointed time！ The world is everywhere the same； a scene of labour and pain； of pleasure and reward； but what does it all avail？ I am happy only where thou art； and in thy 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 wrote to you that man so enviable in his misfortunes was secretary to Charlotte's father； and an unhappy passion for her which he cherished； concealed； and at length discovered； caused him to be dismissed from his situation。 This made him mad。 Think； whilst you peruse this plain narration； what an impression the circumstance has made upon me！ But it was related to me by Albert with as much calmness as you will probably peruse it。
DECEMBER 4。
I implore your attention。 It is all over with me。 I can support this state no longer。 To…day I was sitting by Charlotte。 She was playing upon her piano a succession of delightful melodies； with such intense expression！ Her little sister was dressing her doll upon my lap。 The tears came into my eyes。 I leaned down； and looked intently at her wedding…ring： my tears fell immediately she began to play that favourite； that divine； air which has so often enchanted me。 I felt comfort from a recollection of the past； of those bygone days when that air was familiar to me； and then I recalled all the sorrows and the disappointments which I had since endured。 I paced with hasty strides through the room； my heart became convulsed with painful emotions。 At length 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 then said； with a smile which sunk deep into my heart； 〃Werther； you are ill： your dearest food is distasteful to you。 But go； I entreat you； and endeavour to compose yourself。〃 I tore myself away。 God； thou seest my torments； and wilt end them！
DECEMBER 6。
How her image haunts me！ Waking or asleep； she fills my entire soul！ Soon as I close my eyes； here； in my brain； where all the nerves of vision are concentrated； her dark eyes are imprinted。 Here I do not know how to describe it； but； if I shut my eyes； hers are immediately before me： dark as an abyss they open upon me； and absorb my senses。
And what is man that boasted demigod？ Do not his powers fail when he most requires their use？ And whether he soar in joy； or sink in sorrow； is not his career in both inevitably arrested？ And； whilst he fondly dreams that he is grasping at infinity； does he not feel compelled to return to a consciousness of his cold； monotonous existence？
THE EDITOR TO THE READER。
It is a matter of extreme regret that we want original evidence of the last remarkable days of our friend； and we are； therefore； obliged to interrupt the progress of his correspondence； and to supply the deficiency by a connected narration。
I have felt it my duty to collect accurate information from the mouths of persons well acquainted with his history。 The story is simple； and all the accounts agree； except in some unimportant particulars。 It is true； that； with respect to the characters of the persons spoken of； opinions and judgments vary。
We have only； then； to relate conscientiously the facts which our diligent labour has enabled us to collect； to give the letters of the deceased； and to pay particular attention to the slightest fragment from his pen； more especially as it is so difficult to discover the real and correct motives of men who are not of the common order。
Sorrow and discontent had taken deep root in Werther's soul； and gradually imparted their character to his whole being。 The harmony of his mind became completely disturbed； a perpetual excitement and mental irritation； which weakened his natural powers； produced the saddest etfects upon him； and rendered him at length the victim of an exhaustion against which he struggled with still more painful efforts than he had displayed； even in contending with his other misfortunes。 His mental anxiety weakened his various good qualities； and he was soon converted into a gloomy companion； always unhappy and unjust in his ideas； the more wretched he became。 This was； at least； the opinion of Albert's friends。 They assert； moreover； that the character of Albert himself had undergone no change in the meantime： he was still the same being whom Werther had loved； honoured； and respected from the commencement。 His love for Charlotte was unbounded： he was proud of her； and desired that she should be recognised by every one as the noblest of created beings。 Was he； however； to blame for wishing to avert from her every appearance of suspicion？ or for his unwillingness to share his rich prize with another； even for a moment； and in the most innocent manner？ It is asserted that Albert frequently retired from his wife's apartment during Werther's visits； but this did not arise from hatred or aversion to his friend； but only from a feeling that his presence was oppressive to Werther。
Charlotte's father； who was confined to the house by indisposition； was accustomed to send his carriage for her； that she might make excursions in the neighbourhood。 One day the weather had been unusually severe； and the whole country was covered with snow。
Werther went for Charlotte the following morning； in order that； if Albert were absent； he might conduct her home。
The beautiful weather produced but little impression on his troubled spirit。 A heavy weight lay upon his soul； deep melancholy had taken possession of him； and his mind knew no change save from one painful thought to another。
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
