we were delighted when， in our early acquaintance， we discovered thatwe each loved the same spot ， which is indeed as romantic as any thatever captivated the fancy of an artist.　　From beneath the chestnut trees ， there is an extensive view. ButI remember that I have mentioned all this in a former letter， and havedescribed the tall mass of beech trees at the end ， and how the avenuegrows darker and darker as it winds its way among them， till it endsin a gloomy recess， which has all the charm of a mysterious solitude.I still remember the strange feeling of melancholy which came over methe first time I entered that dark retreat， at bright midday. I feltsome secret foreboding that it would， one day， be to me the scene ofsome happiness or misery.　　I had spent half an hour struggling between the contending thoughtsof going and returning， when I heard them coming up the terrace. I ranto meet them. I trembled as I took her hand ， and kissed it. As we reachedthe top of the terrace， the moon rose from behind the wooded hill. Weconversed on many subjects， and， without perceiving it， approachedthe gloomy recess. Charlotte entered， and sat down. Albert seated himselfbeside her. I did the same， but my agitation did not suffer me to remainlong seated. I got up ， and stood before her ， then walked backwardand forward ， and sat down again. I was restless and miserable. Charlottedrew our attention to the beautiful effect of the moonlight ， which threwa 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 darknesswhich surrounded the spot where we were. We remained for some time silent，when Charlotte observed ， "Whenever I walk by moonlight， it brings tomy remembrance all my beloved and departed friends， and I am filled withthoughts of death and futurity. We shall live again ， Werther！" shecontinued ， with a firm but feeling voice； "but shall we know one anotheragain what do you think ？ what do you say？"　　"Charlotte，" I said， as I took her hand in mine ， and my eyes filledwith tears， "we shall see each other again —— here and hereafter weshall meet again." I could say no more. Why ， Wilhelm， should she putthis question to me ， just at the monent when the fear of our cruel separationfilled 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 recalltheir memories with the fondest love？ In the silent hour of evening theshade of my mother hovers around me ； when seated in the midst of mychildren， I see them assembled near me ， as they used to assemble nearher ； and then I raise my anxious eyes to heaven ， and wish she couldlook down upon us ， and witness how I fulfil the promise I made to herin her last moments ， to be a mother to her children. With what emotiondo I then exclaim ， 'Pardon， dearest of mothers ， pardon me， if Ido not adequately supply your place ！ Alas ！ I do my utmost. They areclothed and fed ； and， still better ， they are loved and educated.Could you but see ， sweet saint！ the peace and harmony that dwells amongstus， you would glorify God with the warmest feelings of gratitude ， towhom， in your last hour， you addressed such fervent prayers for ourhappiness.'" Thus did she express herself ； but O Wilhelm！ who can dojustice to her language ？ how can cold and passionless words convey theheavenly expressions of the spirit？ Albert interrupted her gently. "Thisaffects you too deeply， my dear Charlotte. I know your soul dwells onsuch recollections wlth intense delight ； but I implore—— " "O Albert！" she continued ， "I am sure you do not forget the evenings when we threeused to sit at the little round table ， when papa was absent ， and thelittle ones had retired. You often had a good book with you ， but seldomread 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 itwith a thousand tears. "Charlotte ！" I exclaimed ， "God's blessing andyour 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 beingknown to you." I thought I should have fainted： never had I receivedpraise so flattering. She continued ， "And yet she was doomed to diein the flower of her youth， when her youngest child was scarcely sixmonths old. Her illness was but short ， but she was calm and resigned； and it was only for her children ， especially the youngest， thatshe 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 ， whilethe 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 haveoften witnessed ， by your tears of gratitude ， that you know what isa mother's tenderness ： show it to your brothers and sisters ， and bedutiful 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 someone moving： she inquired who it was， and desired you to approach. Shesurveyed us both with a look of composure and satisfaction， expressiveof her conviction that we should be happy ，—— happy with one another."Albert fell upon her neck ， and kissed her ， and exclaimed， "We areso， and we shall be so ！" Even Albert ， generally so tranquil， hadquite 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 lamentedfor a long time afterward ， complaining that men had carried away theirdear mamma."　　Charlotte rose. It aroused me ； but I continued sitting， and heldher hand. "Let us go，" she said： "it grows late." She attempted to withdrawher hand： I held it still. "We shall see each other again，" I exclaimed： "we shall recognise each other under every possible change ！ I amgoing ，" I continued ， "going willingly ； but， should I say for ever，perhaps I may not keep my word. Adieu ， Charlotte； adieu， Albert. Weshall meet again." "Yes ： tomorrow ， I think，" she answered with asmile. Tomorrow ！ how I felt the word！ Ah ！ she little thought ， whenshe drew her hand away from mine. They walked down the avenue. I stoodgazing after them in the moonlight. I threw myself upon the ground， andwept： I then sprang up ， and ran out upon the terrace ， and saw， underthe shade of the linden-trees ， her white dress disappearing near thegarden-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 tosevere trials ； but courage！ a light heart may bear anything. A lightheart ！ I smile to find such a word proceeding from my pen. A littlemore lightheartedness would render me the happiest being under the sun.But must I despair of my talents and faculties， whilst others of farinferior abilities parade before me with the utmost self-satisfaction ？Gracious Providence ， to whom I owe all my powers， why didst thou notwithhold some of those blessings I possess， and substitute in their placea feeling of self-confidence and contentment？　　But patience！ all will yet be well ； for I assure you ， my dearfriend， you were right ： since I have been obliged to associate continuallywith other people ， and observe what they do ， and how they employ themselves，I have become far better satisfied with myself. For we are so constitutedby nature ， that we are ever prone to compare ourselves with others；and our happiness or misery depends very much on the objects and personsaround us. On this account， nothing is more dangerous than solitude：there our imagination ， always disposed to rise， taking a new flighton the wings of fancy ， pictures to us a chain of beings of whom we seemthe most inferior. All things appear greater than they really are ， andall seem superior to us. This operation of the mind is quite natural：we so continually feel our own imperfections， and fancy we perceive inothers the qualities we do not possess， attributing to them also allthat we enjoy ourselves ， that by this process we form the idea of aperfect ， happy man，—— a man， however， who only exists in our ownimagination. But when ， in spite of weakness and disappointments ， weset to work in earnest， and persevere steadily ， we often find， that，though obliged continually to tack， we make more way than others whohave the assistance of wind and tide； and， in truth ， there can beno greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip themin the race.　　NOVEMBER 26. I begin to find my situation here more tolerable ， consideringall circumstances. I find a great advantage in being much occupied； andthe number of persons I meet， and their different pursuits ， createa varied entertainment for me. I have formed the acquaintance of the CountC —— and I esteem him more and more every day. He is a man of strongunderstanding and great discernment ； but， though he sees farther thanother people， he is not on that account cold in his manner ， but capableof inspiring and returning the warmest affection. He appeared interestedin me on one occasion ， when I had to transact some business with him.He perceived， at the first word， that we understood each other， andthat he could converse with me in a different tone from what he used withothers. I cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me.It is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great mindin sympathy with our own.　　DECEMBER 24. As I anticipated ， the ambassador occasions me infiniteannoyance. He is the most punctilious blockhead under heaven. He doeseverything 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 neverpleased with himself. I like to do business regularly and cheerfully，and ， when it is finished， to leave it. But he constantly returns mypapers to me， saying ， "They will do，" but recommending me to lookover them again ， as "one may always improve by using a better word ora more appropriate particle." I then lose all patience， and wish myselfat 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 sofond； and， if the music of our periods is not tuned to the established，official key， he cannot comprehend our meaning. It is deplorable to beconnected with such a fellow.　　My acquaintance with the Count C—— is the only compensation forsuch an evil. He told me frankly， the other day， that he was much displeasedwith the difficulties and delays of the ambassador； that people likehim are obstacles ， both to themselves and to others. "But ，" addedhe， "one must submit ， like a traveller who has to ascend a mountain： if the mountain was not there， the road would be both shorter andpleasanter； but there it is， and he must get over it." The old man perceivesthe count's partiality for me ： this annoys him， and， he seizes everyopportunity to depreciate the count in my hearing. I naturally defendhim ， 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 theworld ， and a good man of business ： his style is good， and he writeswith 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 thinkand act in such a manner. However ， I made a stand ， and answered withnot 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 personwhose mind was stored with more useful and extensive knowledge，—— whohad ， in fact， mastered such an infinite variety of subjects， and whoyet retained all his activity for the details of ordinary business. Thiswas altogether beyond his comprehension ； and I took my leave， lestmy 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 bendmy neck to this yoke by preaching a life of activity to me. If the manwho plants vegetables ， and carries his corn to town on market-days，is not more usefully employed than I am ， then let me work ten yearslonger at the galleys to which I am now chained.　　Oh， the brilliant wretchedness ， the weariness， that one is doomedto witness among the silly people whom we meet in society here！ The ambitionof rank ！ How they watch ， how they toil， to gain precedence ！ Whatpoor and contemptible passions are displayed in their utter nakedness ！We have a woman here， for example， who never ceases to entertain thecompany with accounts of her family and her estates. Any stranger wouldconsider her a silly being， whose head was turned by her pretensionsto rank and property； but she is in reality even more ridiculous ， thedaughter of a mere magistrate's clerk from this neighbourhood. I cannotunderstand how human beings can so debase themselves.　　Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others byourselves ； and I have so much trouble with myseif ， and my own heartis in such constant agitation ， that I am well content to let otherspursue their own course ， if they only allow me the same privilege.　　What provokes me most is the unhappy extent to which distinctionsof rank are carried. I know perfectly well how necessary are inequalitiesof condition， and I am sensible of the advantages I myself derive therefrom； but I would not have these institutions prove a barrier to the smallchance of happiness which I may enjoy on this earth.　　I have lately become acquainted with a Miss B ——， a very agreeablegirl， who has retained her natural manners in the midst of artificiallife. Our first conversation pleased us both equally； and， at takingleave ， I requested permission to visit her. She consented in so obliginga manner， that I waited with impatience for the arrival of the happymoment. She is not a native of this place ， but resides here with heraunt. The countenance of the old lady is not prepossessing. I paid hermuch attention， addressing the greater part of my conversation to her； and， in less than half an hour， I discovered what her niece subsequentlyacknowledged to me， that her aged aunt ， having but a small fortune ，and a still smaller share of understanding， enjoys no satisfaction exceptin 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 thehumble citizens. She was， no doubt ， handsome in her youth， and inher early years probably trifled away her time in rendering many a pooryouth the sport of her caprice： in her riper years she has submittedto the yoke of a veteran officer， who， in return for her person andher small independence， has spent with her what we may designate herage of brass. He is dead； and she is now a widow ， and deserted. Shespends her iron age alone ， and would not be approached， except forthe loveliness of her niece.　　JANUARY 8 ， 1772. What beings are men， whose whole thoughts areoccupied with form and ceremony ， who for years together devote theirmental and physical exertions to the task of advancing themselves butone step， and endeavouring to occupy a higher place at the table. Notthat such persons would otherwise want employment ： on the contrary，they give themselves much trouble by neglecting important business forsuch 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 constitutesreal greatness， since the man who occupies the first place but seldomplays the principal part. How many kings are governed by their ministers—— how many ministers by their secretaries？ Who， in such cases， isreally 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 passionssubservient 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 asevere 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 withyou ； but in this cottage， in this retirement ， in this solitude ，with the snow and hail beating against my lattice-pane， you are my firstthought. The instant I entered， your figure rose up before me， and theremembrance ！ O my Charlotte ， the sacred ， tender remembrance ！ GraciousHeaven！ 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. Ienjoy no single moment of happiness ： all is vain—— nothing touchesme. I stand ， as it were ， before the raree-show： I see the littlepuppets move， and I ask whether it is not an optical illusion. I am amusedwith these puppets， or ， rather ， I am myself one of them： but， whenI 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 enjoythe next morning's sunrise， and yet I remain in bed： in the day I promiseto ramble by moonlight； and I， nevertheless ， remain at home. I knownot why I rise， nor why I go to sleep.　　The leaven which animated my existence is gone： the charm which cheeredme in the gloom of night， and aroused me from my morning slumbers， isfor ever fled.　　I have found but one being here to interest me， a Miss B ——。 Sheresembles you ， my dear Charlotte， if any one can possibly resembleyou. "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 wasnot in my power to be otherwise. I have ， moreover ， a deal of wit：and the ladies say that no one understands flattery better， or falsehoodsyou will add； since the one accomplishment invariably accompanies theother. 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 fromthis whirl of fashion ， and we often picture to ourselves a life of undisturbedhappiness in distant scenes of rural retirement ： and then we speak ofyou ， my dear Charlotte； for she knows you， and renders homage to yourmerits； 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 troublesometo you， I would tell them some appalling goblin story； and they wouldcrowd round me with silent attention. The sun is setting in glory ； hislast 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 ！—— IsAlbert 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 ， nota single fine day has beamed from the heavens ， but has been lost tome by the intrusion of somebody. During the severity of rain， sleet，frost ， and storm， I congratulate myself that it cannot be worse indoorsthan abroad ， nor worse abroad than it is within doors ； and so I becomereconciled. When the sun rises bright in the morning， and promises aglorious day， I never omit to exclaim， "There ， now， they have anotherblessing from Heaven， which they will be sure to destroy ： they spoileverything，—— health ， fame ， happiness， amusement； and they dothis generally through folly， ignorance， or imbecility， and always ，according to their own account， with the best intentions ！" I couldoften beseech them， on my bended knees ， to be less resolved upon theirown destruction.　　FEBRUARY 17. I fear that my ambassador and I shall not continue muchlonger together. He is really growing past endurance. He transacts hisbusiness in so ridiculous a manner， that I am often compelled to contradicthim ， and do things my own way ； and then ， of course， he thinks themvery ill done. He complained of me lately on this account at court； andthe minister gave me a reprimand，—— a gentle one it is true， but stilla reprimand. In consequence of this ， I was about to tender my resignation，when I received a letter， to which I submitted with great respect， onaccount of the high ， noble， and generous spirit which dictated it.He endeavoured to soothe my excessive sensibility ， paid a tribute tomy 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 seekto destroy， but only to moderate ， that it might have proper play andbe productive of good. So now I am at rest for another week ， and nolonger at variance with myself. Content and peace of mind are valuablethings： I could wish ， my dear friend ， that these precious jewelswere less transitory.　　FEBRUARY 20. God bless you， my dear friends， and may he grant youthat happiness which he denies to me！　　I thank you ， Albert ， for having deceived me. I waited for thenews that your wedding-day was fixed； and I intended on that day ， withsolemnity ， to take down Charlotte's profile from the wall ， and tobury it with some other papers I possess. You are now united， and herpicture 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 placeuninjured 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 ofheaven farewell ， Charlotte！　　MARCH 15. I have just had a sad adventure ， which will drive me awayfrom 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 filla 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 fatalityto my impetuous temper， I send you ， my dear sir， a plain and simplenarration of the affair ， as a mere chronicler of facts would describeit.　　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 withhim. It is the day on which the nobility are accustomed to assemble athis house in the evening. I never once thought of the assembly， nor thatwe subalterns did not belong to such society. Well， I dined with thecount ； and， after dinner ， we adjourned to the large hall. We walkedup 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 thehonourable Lady accompanied by her noble husband and their silly， schemingdaughter， with her small waist and flat neck ； and， with disdainfullooks and a haughty air they passed me by. As I heartily detest the wholerace， I determined upon going away ； and only waited till the counthad disengaged himself from their impertinent prattle ， to take leave，when the agreeable Miss B —— came in. As I never meet her without experiencinga heartfelt pleasure， I stayed and talked to her ， leaning over theback of her chair ， and did not perceive ， till after some time ， thatshe seemed a little confused， and ceased to answer me with her usualease of manner. I was struck with it. "Heavens！" I said to myself， "canshe ， 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