the sorrows of young werther-第23部分

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lier　established　between　them；　if　love　and　kind　forbearance　had　mutually　animated　and　expanded　their　hearts；　it　might　not；　perhaps；　even　yet　have　been　too　late　to　save　our　friend。

But　we　must　not　forget　one　remarkable　circumstance。　　We　may　observe　from　the　character　of　Werther's　correspondence；　that　he　had　never　affected　to　conceal　his　anxious　desire　to　quit　this　world。　　He　had　often　discussed　the　subject　with　Albert；　and；　between　the　latter　and　Charlotte；　it　had　not　unfrequently　formed　a　topic　of　conversation。　　Albert　was　so　opposed　to　the　very　idea　of　such　an　action；　that；　with　a　degree　of　irritation　unusual　in　him；　he　had　more　than　once　given　Werther　to　understand　that　he　doubted　the　seriousness　of　his　threats；　and　not　only　turned　them　into　ridicule；　but　caused　Charlotte　to　share　his　feelings　of　incredulity。　　Her　heart　was　thus　tranquillised　when　she　felt　disposed　to　view　the　melancholy　subject　in　a　serious　point　of　view；　though　she　never　communicated　to　her　husband　the　apprehensions　she　sometimes　experienced。

Albert；　upon　his　return；　was　received　by　Charlotte　with　ill…concealed　embarrassment。　　He　was　himself　out　of　humour；　his　business　was　unfinished；　and　he　had　just　discovered　that　the　neighbouring　official　with　whom　he　had　to　deal；　was　an　obstinate　and　narrow…minded　personage。　　Many　things　had　occurred　to　irritate　him。

He　inquired　whether　anything　had　happened　during　his　absence；　and　Charlotte　hastily　answered　that　Werther　had　been　there　on　the　evening　previously。　　He　then　inquired　for　his　letters；　and　was　answered　that　several　packages　had　been　left　in　his　study。　　He　thereon　retired；　leaving　Charlotte　alone。

The　presence　of　the　being　she　loved　and　honoured　produced　a　new　impression　on　her　heart。　　The　recollection　of　his　generosity；　kindness；　and　affection　had　calmed　her　agitation：　a　secret　impulse　prompted　her　to　follow　him；　she　took　her　work　and　went　to　his　study；　as　was　often　her　custom。　　He　was　busily　employed　opening　and　reading　his　letters。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　contents　of　some　were　disagreeable。　　She　asked　some　questions：　he　gave　short　answers；　and　sat　down　to　write。

Several　hours　passed　in　this　manner；　and　Charlotte's　feelings　became　more　and　more　melancholy。　　She　felt　the　extreme　difficulty　of　explaining　to　her　husband；　under　any　circumstances；　the　weight　that　lay　upon　her　heart；　and　her　depression　became　every　moment　greater；　in　proportion　as　she　endeavoured　to　hide　her　grief；　and　to　conceal　her　tears。

The　arrival　of　Werther's　servant　occasioned　her　the　greatest　embarrassment。　　He　gave　Albert　a　note；　which　the　latter　coldly　handed　to　his　wife；　saying；　at　the　same　time；　〃Give　him　the　pistols。　I　wish　him　a　pleasant　journey；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　servant。　These　words　fell　upon　Charlotte　like　a　thunderstroke：　she　rose　from　her　seat　half…fainting；　and　unconscious　of　what　she　did。　　She　walked　mechanically　toward　the　wall；　took　down　the　pistols　with　a　trembling　hand；　slowly　wiped　the　dust　from　them；　and　would　have　delayed　longer；　had　not　Albert　hastened　her　movements　by　an　impatient　look。　　She　then　delivered　the　fatal　weapons　to　the　servant；　without　being　able　to　utter　a　word。　　As　soon　as　he　had　departed；　she　folded　up　her　work；　and　retired　at　once　to　her　room；　her　heart　overcome　with　the　most　fearful　forebodings。　　She　anticipated　some　dreadful　calamity。　　She　was　at　one　moment　on　the　point　of　going　to　her　husband；　throwing　herself　at　his　feet；　and　acquainting　him　with　all　that　had　happened　on　the　previous　evening；　that　she　might　acknowledge　her　fault；　and　explain　her　apprehensions；　then　she　saw　that　such　a　step　would　be　useless；　as　she　would　certainly　be　unable　to　induce　Albert　to　visit　Werther。　　Dinner　was　served；　and　a　kind　friend　whom　she　had　persuaded　to　remain　assisted　to　sustain　the　conversation；　which　was　carried　on　by　a　sort　of　compulsion；　till　the　events　of　the　morning　were　forgotten。

When　the　servant　brought　the　pistols　to　Werther；　the　latter　received　them　with　transports　of　delight　upon　hearing　that　Charlotte　had　given　them　to　him　with　her　own　hand。　　He　ate　some　bread；　drank　some　wine；　sent　his　servant　to　dinner；　and　then　sat　down　to　write　as　follows：

〃They　have　been　in　your　hands　you　wiped　the　dust　from　them。　　I　kiss　them　a　thousand　times　　you　have　touched　them。　　Yes；　Heaven　favours　my　design；　and　you；　Charlotte；　provide　me　with　the　fatal　instruments。　　It　was　my　desire　to　receive　my　death　from　your　hands；　and　my　wish　is　gratified。　　I　have　made　inquiries　of　my　servant。　You　trembled　when　you　gave　him　the　pistols；　but　you　bade　me　no　adieu。　　Wretched；　wretched　that　I　am　　not　one　farewell！　　How　could　you　shut　your　heart　against　me　in　that　hour　which　makes　you　mine　for　ever？　　Charlotte；　ages　cannot　efface　the　impression　　I　feel　you　cannot　hate　the　man　who　so　passionately　loves　you！〃

After　dinner　he　called　his　servant；　desired　him　to　finish　the　packing　up；　destroyed　many　papers；　and　then　went　out　to　pay　some　trifling　debts。　　He　soon　returned　home；　then　went　out　again；　notwithstanding　the　rain；　walked　for　some　time　in　the　count's　garden；　and　afterward　proceeded　farther　into　the　country。　　Toward　evening　he　came　back　once　more；　and　resumed　his　writing。

〃Wilhelm；　I　have　for　the　last　time　beheld　the　mountains；　the　forests；　and　the　sky。　　Farewell！　　And　you；　my　dearest　mother；　forgive　me！　Console　her；　Wilhelm。　　God　bless　you！　　I　have　settled　all　my　affairs！　　Farewell！　　We　shall　meet　again；　and　be　happier　than　ever。〃

〃I　have　requited　you　badly；　Albert；　but　you　will　forgive　me。　　I　have　disturbed　the　peace　of　your　home。　　I　have　sowed　distrust　between　you。　　Farewell！　　I　will　end　all　this　wretchedness。　　And　oh；　that　my　death　may　render　you　happy！　　Albert；　Albert！　make　that　angel　happy；　and　the　blessing　of　Heaven　be　upon　you！〃

He　spent　the　rest　of　the　evening　in　arranging　his　papers：　he　tore　and　burned　a　great　many；　others　he　sealed　up；　and　directed　to　Wilhelm。　　They　contained　some　detached　thoughts　and　maxims；　some　of　which　I　have　perused。　　At　ten　o'clock　he　ordered　his　fire　to　be　made　up；　and　a　bottle　of　wine　to　be　brought　to　him。　　He　then　dismissed　his　servant；　whose　room；　as　well　as　the　apartments　of　the　rest　of　the　family；　was　situated　in　another　part　of　the　house。　The　servant　lay　down　without　undressing；　that　he　might　be　the　sooner　ready　for　his　journey　in　the　morning；　his　master　having　informed　him　that　the　post…horses　would　be　at　the　door　before　six　o'clock。

〃Past　eleven　o'clock！　　All　is　silent　around　me；　and　my　soul　is　calm。　　I　thank　thee；　O　God；　that　thou　bestowest　strength　and　courage　upon　me　in　these　last　moments！　　I　approach　the　window；　my　dearest　of　friends；　and　through　the　clouds；　which　are　at　this　moment　driven　rapidly　along　by　the　impetuous　winds；　I　behold　the　stars　which　illumine　the　eternal　heavens。　　No；　you　will　not　fall；　celestial　bodies：　the　hand　of　the　Almighty　supports　both　you　and　me！　　I　have　looked　for　the　last　time　upon　the　constellation　of　the　Greater　Bear：　it　is　my　favourite　star；　for　when　I　bade　you　farewell　at　night；　Charlotte；　and　turned　my　steps　from　your　door；　it　always　shone　upon　me。　　With　what　rapture　have　I　at　times　beheld　it！　　How　often　have　I　implored　it　with　uplifted　hands　to　witness　my　felicity！　and　even　still　　But　what　object　is　there；　Charlotte；　which　fails　to　summon　up　your　image　before　me？　　Do　you　not　surround　me　on　all　sides？　and　have　I　not；　like　a　child；　treasured　up　every　trifle　which　you　have　consecrated　by　your　touch？　　　　〃Your　profile；　which　was　so　dear　to　me；　I　return　to　you；　and　I　pray　you　to　preserve　it。　　Thousands　of　kisses　have　I　imprinted　upon　it；　and　a　thousand　times　has　it　gladdened　my　heart　on　departing　from　and　returning　to　my　home。

〃I　have　implored　your　father　to　protect　my　remains。　　At　the　corner　of　the　churchyard；　looking　toward　the　fields；　there　are　two　lime…trees　　there　I　wish　to　lie。　　Your　father　can；　and　doubtless　will；　do　this　much　for　his　friend。　　Implore　it　of　him。　　But　perhaps　pious　Christians　will　not　choose　that　their　bodies　chould　be　buried　near　the　corpse　of　a　poor；　unhappy　wretch　like　me。　　Then　let　me　be　laid　in　some　remote　valley；　or　near　the　highway；　where　the　priest　and　Levite　may　bless　themselves　as　they　pass　by　my　tomb；　whilst　the　Samaritan　will　shed　a　tear　for　my　fate。

〃See；　Charlotte；　I　do　not　shudder　to　take　the　cold　and　fatal　cup；　from　which　I　shall　drink　the　draught　of　death。　　Your　hand　presents　it　to　me；　and　I　do　not　tremble。　　All；　all　is　now　concluded：　the　wishes　and　the　hopes　of　my　existence　are　fulfilled。　　With　cold；　unflinching　hand　I　knock　at　the　brazen　portals　of　Death。　　Oh；　that　I　had　enjoyed　the　bliss　of　dying　for　you！　how　gladly　would　I　have　sacrificed　myself　for　you；　Charlotte！　　And　could　I　but　restore　peace　and　joy　to　your　bosom；　with　what　resolution；　with　what　joy；　would　I　not　meet　my　fate！　　But　it　is　the　lot　of　only　a　chosen　few　to　shed　their　blood　for　their　friends；　and　by　their　death　to　augment；　a　thousand　times；　the　happiness　of　those　by　whom　they　are　beloved。

I　wish；　Charlotte；　to　be　buried　in　the　dress　I　wear　at　present：　it　has　been　rendered　sacred　by　your　touch。　　I　have　begged　this　favour　of　your　father。　　My　spirit　soars　above　my　sepulchre。　　I　do　not　wish　my　pockets　to　be　searched。　　The　knot　of　pink　ribbon　which　you　wore　on　your　bosom　the　first　time　I　saw　you；　surrounded　by　the　children　　Oh；　kiss　them　a　thousand　times　for　me；　and　tell　them　the　fate　of　their　unhappy　friend！　　I　think　I　see　them　playing　around　me。　　The　dear　children！　　How　warmly　have　I　been　attached　to　you；　Charlotte！　　Since　the　first　hour　I　saw　you；　how　impossible　have　I　found　it　to　leave　you。　　This　ribbon　must　be　buried　with　me：　it　was　a　present　from　you　on　my　birthday。　　How　confused　it　all　appears！　　Little　did　I　then　think　that　I　should　journey　this　road。　　But　peace！　　I　pray　you；　peace！

〃They　are　loaded　　the　clock　strikes　twelve。　　I　say　amen。　Charlotte；　Charlotte！　farewell；　farewell！〃

A　neighbour　saw　the　flash；　and　heard　the　report　of　the　pistol；　but；　as　everything　remained　quiet；　he　thought　no　more　of　it。

In　the　morning；　at　six　o'clock；　the　servant　went　into　Werther's　room　with　a　candle。　　He　found　his　master　stretched　upon　the　floor；　weltering　in　his　blood；　and　the　pistols　at　his　side。　　He　called；　he　took　him　in　his　arms；　but　received　no　answer。　　Life　was　not　yet　quite　extinct。　　The　servant　ran　for　a　surgeon；