按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 again till Christmas Eve