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agreed； and it was arranged that our partners should mutually
entertain each other。
We set off； and； at first； delighted ourselves with the usual
graceful motions of the arms。 With what grace； with what ease；
she moved！ When the waltz commenced； and the dancers whirled
around each other in the giddy maze； there was some confusion；
owing to the incapacity of some of the dancers。 We judiciously
remained still； allowing the others to weary themselves； and； when
the awkward dancers had withdrawn； we joined in； and kept it up
famously together with one other couple； Andran and his partner。
Never did I dance more lightly。 I felt myself more than mortal；
holding this loveliest of creatures in my arms； flying； with her
as rapidly as the wind； till I lost sight of every other object；
and O Wilhelm； I vowed at that moment； that a maiden whom I loved；
or for whom I felt the slightest attachment； never； never should
waltz with any one else but with me； if I went to perdition for it！
you will understand this。
We took a few turns in the room to recover our breath。 Charlotte
sat down； and felt refreshed by partaking of some oranges which I
had had secured； the only ones that had been left； but at every
slice which； from politeness； she offered to her neighbours； I felt
as though a dagger went through my heart。
We were the second couple in the third country dance。 As we were
going down （and Heaven knows with what ecstasy I gazed at her arms
and eyes； beaming with the sweetest feeling of pure and genuine
enjoyment）； we passed a lady whom I had noticed for her charming
expression of countenance； although she was no longer young。 She
looked at Charlotte with a smile； then； holding up her finger in
a threatening attitude； repeated twice in a very significant tone
of voice the name of 〃Albert。〃
〃Who is Albert；〃 said I to Charlotte； 〃if it is not impertinent
to ask？〃 She was about to answer； when we were obliged to separate；
in order to execute a figure in the dance； and； as we crossed over
again in front of each other； I perceived she looked somewhat
pensive。 〃Why need I conceal it from you？〃 she said； as she gave
me her hand for the promenade。 〃Albert is a worthy man； to whom
I am engaged。〃 Now； there was nothing new to me in this （for the
girls had told me of it on the way）； but it was so far new that
I had not thought of it in connection with her whom； in so short
a time； I had learned to prize so highly。 Enough； I became confused；
got out in the figure； and occasioned general confusion； so that
it required all Charlotte's presence of mind to set me right by
pulling and pushing me into my proper place。
The dance was not yet finished when the lightning which had for
some time been seen in the horizon； and which I had asserted to
proceed entirely from heat； grew more violent； and the thunder was
heard above the music。 When any distress or terror surprises us
in the midst of our amusements； it naturally makes a deeper impression
than at other times； either because the contrast makes us more
keenly susceptible； or rather perhaps because our senses are then
more open to impressions； and the shock is consequently stronger。
To this cause I must ascribe the fright and shrieks of the ladies。
One sagaciously sat down in a corner with her back to the window；
and held her fingers to her ears； a second knelt down before her；
and hid her face in her lap； a third threw herself between them；
and embraced her sister with a thousand tears； some insisted on
going home； others； unconscious of their actions； wanted sufficient
presence of mind to repress the impertinence of their young partners；
who sought to direct to themselves those sighs which the lips of
our agitated beauties intended for heaven。 Some of the gentlemen
had gone down…stairs to smoke a quiet cigar； and the rest of the
company gladly embraced a happy suggestion of the hostess to retire
into another room which was provided with shutters and curtains。
We had hardly got there； when Charlotte placed the chairs in a
circle； and； when the company had sat down in compliance with her
request； she forthwith proposed a round game。
I noticed some of the company prepare their mouths and draw
themselves up at the prospect of some agreeable forfeit。 〃Let us
play at counting；〃 said Charlotte。 〃Now； pay attention： I shall
go round the circle from right to left； and each person is to count；
one after the other； the number that comes to him； and must count
fast； whoever stops or mistakes is to have a box on the ear； and
so on； till we have counted a thousand。〃 It was delightful to see
the fun。 She went round the circle with upraised arm。 〃One；〃
said the first； 〃two；〃 the second； 〃three；〃 the third； and so on；
till Charlotte went faster and faster。 One made a mistake； instantly
a box on the ear； and； amid the laughter that ensued； came another
box； and so on； faster and faster。 I myself came in for two。 I
fancied they were harder than the rest； and felt quite delighted。
A general laughter and confusion put an end to the game long before
we had counted as far as a thousand。 The party broke up into
little separate knots： the storm had ceased； and I followed Charlotte
into the ballroom。 On the way she said； 〃The game banished their
fears of the storm。〃 I could make no reply。 〃I myself；〃 she
continued； 〃was as much frightened as any of them； but by affecting
courage； to keep up the spirits of the others； I forgot my
apprehensions。〃 We went to the window。 It was still thundering
at a distance： a soft rain was pouring down over the country；
and filled the air around us with delicious odours。 Charlotte
leaned forward on her arm； her eyes wandered over the scene； she
raised them to the sky； and then turned them upon me； they were
moistened with tears； she placed her hand on mine and said；
〃Klopstock！〃 at once I remembered the magnificent ode which was
in her thoughts： I felt oppressed with the weight of my sensations；
and sank under them。 It was more than I could bear。 I bent over
her hand； kissed it in a stream of delicious tears； and again
looked up to her eyes。 Divine Klopstock！ why didst thou not see
thy apotheosis in those eyes？ And thy name so often profaned；
would that I never heard it repeated！
JUNE 19。
I no longer remember where I stopped in my narrative： I only know
it was two in the morning when I went to bed； and if you had been
with me； that I might have talked instead of writing to you； I
should； in all probability； have kept you up till daylight。
I think I have not yet related what happened as we rode home from
the ball； nor have I time to tell you now。 It was a most magnificent
sunrise： the whole country was refreshed； and the rain fell drop
by drop from the trees in the forest。 Our companions were asleep。
Charlotte asked me if I did not wish to sleep also； and begged of
me not to make any ceremony on her account。 Looking steadfastly
at her； I answered； 〃As long as I see those eyes open； there is
no fear of my falling asleep。〃 We both continued awake till we
reached her door。 The maid opened it softly； and assured her； in
answer to her inquiries； that her father and the children were
well； and still sleeping。 I left her asking permission to visit
her in the course of the day。 She consented； and I went； and；
since that time； sun； moon； and stars may pursue their course： I
know not whether it is day or night； the whole world is nothing
to me。
JUNE 21。
My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect； and；
whatever be my fate hereafter； I can never say that I have not
tasted joy； the purest joy of life。 You know Walheim。 I am
now completely settled there。 In that spot I am only half a league
from Charlotte； and there I enjoy myself； and taste all the pleasure
which can fall to the lot of man。
Little did I imagine； when I selected Walheim for my pedestrian
excursions； that all heaven lay so near it。 How often in my
wanderings from the hillside or from the meadows across the river；
have I beheld this hunting…lodge； which now contains within it all
the joy of my heart！
I have often； my dear Wilhelm； reflected on the eagerness men feel
to wander and make new discoveries； and upon that secret impulse
which afterward inclines them to return to their narrow circle；
conform to the laws of custom； and embarrass themselves no longer
with what passes around them。
It is so strange how； when I came here first； and gazed upon that
lovely valley from the hillside； I felt charmed with the entire
scene surrounding me。 The little wood opposite how delightful
to sit under its shade！ How fine the view from that point of
rock！ Then； that delightful chain of hills； and the exquisite
valleys at their feet！ Could I but wander and lose myself amongst
them！ I went； and returned without finding what I wished。 Distance；
my friend； is like futurity。 A dim vastness is spread before our
souls： the perceptions of our mind are as obscure as those of our
vision； and we desire earnestly to surrender up our whole being；
that it may be filled with the complete and perfect bliss of one
glorious emotion。 But alas！ when we