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can you ， be annihilated ？ We exist。 What is annihilation ？ A mere
word， an unmeaning sound that fixes no impression on the mind。 Dead，
Charlotte ！ laid in the cold earth ， in the dark and narrow grave ！
I had a friend once who was everything to me in early youth。 She died。
I followed her hearse ； I stood by her grave when the coffin was lowered
； and when I heard the creaking of the cords as they were loosened and
drawn up， when the first shovelful of earth was thrown in， and the coffin
returned a hollow sound ， which grew fainter and fainter till all was
pletely covered over ， I threw myself on the ground ； my heart was
smitten ， grieved， shattered， rent —— but I neither knew what had
happened， nor what was to happen to me。 Death！ the grave！ I understand
not the words。—— Forgive， oh ， forgive me ！ Yesterday—— ah ， that
day should have been the last of my life！ Thou angel ！ for the first
time in my existence， I felt rapture glow within my inmost soul。 She
loves ， she loves me ！ Still burns upon my lips the sacred fire they
received from thine。 New torrents of delight overwhelm my soul。 Forgive
me， oh ， forgive！
〃I knew that I was dear to you； I saw it in your first entrancing
look， knew it by the first pressure of your hand ； but when I was absent
from you， when I saw Albert at your side ， my doubts and fears returned。
〃Do you remember the flowers you sent me， when ， at that crowded
assembly， you could neither speak nor extend your hand to me ？ Half
the night I was on my knees before those flowers， and I regarded them
as the pledges of your love ； but those impressions grew fainter ， and
were at length effaced。
〃Everything passes away ； but a whole eternity could not extinguish
the living flame which was yesterday kindled by your lips ， and which
now burns within me。 She loves me ！ These arms have encircled her waist，
these lips have trembled upon hers。 She is mine ！ Yes， Charlotte， you
are mine for ever ！
〃And what do they mean by saying Albert is your husband ？ He may
be so for this world； and in this world it is a sin to love you， to
wish to tear you from his embrace。 Yes， it is a crime； and I suffer
the punishment， but I have enjoyed the full delight of my sin。 I have
inhaled a balm that has revived my soul。 From this hour you are mine；
yes ， Charlotte， you are mine ！ I go before you。 I go to my Father
and to your Father。 I will pour out my sorrows before him ， and he will
give me fort till you arrive。 Then will I fly to meet you。 I will claim
you ， and remain your eternal embrace， in the presence of the Almighty。
〃I do not dream ， I do not rave。 Drawing nearer to the grave my perceptions
bee clearer。 We shall exist； we shall see each other again； we shall
behold your mother； I shall behold her ， and expose to her my inmost
heart。 Your mother—— your image ！〃
About eleven o'clock Werther asked his servant if Albert had returned。
He answered ， 〃Yes ；〃 for he had seen him pass on horseback ： upon
which Werther sent him the following note ， unsealed ：
〃Be so good as to lend me your pistols for a journey。 Adieu。〃
Charlotte had slept little during the past night。 All her apprehensions
were realised in a way that she could neither foresee nor avoid。 Her blood
was boiling in her veins， and a thousand painful sensations rent her
pure heart。 Was it the ardour of Werther's passionate embraces that she
felt within her bosom ？ Was it anger at his daring ？ Was it the sad
parison of her present condition with former days of innocence ， tranquillity，
and self…confidence ？ How could she approach her husband ， and confess
a scene which she had no reason to conceal， and which she yet felt ，
nevertheless， unwilling to avow？ They had preserved so long a silence
toward each other and should she be the first to break it by so unexpected
a discovery ？ She feared that the mere statement of Werther's visit would
trouble him ， and his distress would be heightened by her perfect candour。
She wished that he could see her in her true light， and judge her without
prejudice ； but was she anxious that he should read her inmost soul？
On the other hand ， could she deceive a being to whom all her thoughts
had ever been exposed as clearly as crystal ， and from whom no sentiment
had ever been concealed ？ These reflections made her anxious and thoughtful。
Her mind still dwelt on Werther ， who was now lost to her， but whom
she could not bring herself to resign ， and for whom she knew nothing
was left but despair if she should be lost to him for ever。
A recollection of that mysterious estrangement which had lately subsisted
between herself and Albert， and which she could never thoroughly understand，
was now beyond measure painful to her。 Even the prudent and the good have
before now hesitated to explain their mutual differences， and have dwelt
in silence upon their imaginary grievances， until circumstances have
bee so entangled ， that in that critical juncture ， when a calm explanation
would have saved all parties， an understanding was impossible。 And thus
if domestic confidence had been earlier 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 municated 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 t