fecretary to Charlotte's father. He conceived an unhappy paffion for her; he cherished, concealed, and at length discovered it was dif miffed, and became fuch as I yefterday faw him.-Think what an impreffion these few words made upon me! which Albert repeated with as much tranquillity, as perhaps you read them. LETTER LXXIII. December 4. IT T is all over, my dear friend; longer. To-day I was fitting by VOL. II. G Char Charlotte; he was playing on her harpfichord, with an expreffion it is impoffible for me to defcribe to you. Her little fifter was dreffing her doll upon my lap; the tears came into my eyes; I leaned down and looked intently at her wedding ring; my tears fell-immediately fhe began to play the favourite, the divine air which has fo often enchanted me, -felt comforted by it; but foon it recalled to my mind the times that are paft-Grief, disappointed hopes.-I began to walk with hasty ftrides about the room-I was choaked At length I went up to her, and with eagerness faid, "For Heaven's Heaven's fake play that no longer." She stopped, looked ftedfaftly at me, and faid, with a smile that funk deep into my heart, "Werter, you are indeed very ill; your most favourite food difgufts you. Pray go, and try to compofe yourself." I tore myself from her.Great God! thou feeft my torments, and thou wilt put an end to them! LETTER LXXIV. December 6. OW her image haunts me! How Awake or afleep, the is ever prefent to my foul!-Soon as I close G 2 my eyes, here in this brain, where all my nerves are concentered, her dark eyes are imprinted. Here I don't know how to defcribe it :but if I fhut my eyes, her's are immediately before me like a fea, like a precipice, and they occupy all the fibres of my head.-What is man! that boasted demi-god! his ftrength fails him when he moft wants itand whether he fwims in pleasure, or bends under a load of forrow, he is forced to ftop; and whilft he is grafping at infinity, finds he muft return again to his first cold exist ence. LET LETTER LXXV. December 8. I FEEL as thofe wretches muft have felt, who were formerly supposed to be poffeffed with devils. Sometimes I am feized with strange ftarts and motions:-it is not agony, it is not paffion; it is an inferior fecret rage which tears my bosom, and feems to feize my throatWretch that I am!Then I run and wander amidst the dark and gloomy fcenes which this unfriendly feafon exhibits. Laft night I felt thus conftrained to go out of the |