Hide him from heaven, the world, and from himself! Here let him fall forfaken and forgot,

And sigh in solitude his life away!

[Throws himself on the ground

Enter SEBASTIAN and LEUTHROP.

SEBASTIAN.

I fear the generous Albert has prevail'd,
For I have waited at the gate in vain :-
This way I know they met-Alas! how's this?
My friend upon the ground!-and fenfe lefs too!
9, Werter, fpeak!

WERTER.

Away, I'll perish here.

SEBASTIAN

Look up my friend !-thy lov'd Sebaftian calls;
Perhaps he brings thee peace!

WERTER(Starting up.)

Who talks of peace?

'Tis not to be found !-The Cherub fits on high,
And fmiling mocks mankind-pursue it not,
For it will lead thee to a dangerous fea,

And there will vanith!-Rather, thou like me,
Plunge deep in forrow! millions of fathoms deep;
And gorge upon defpair!-'till fatisfy

Thy hungry foul, and leave it nothing wanting!

SEBASTIAN.

Oh, heaven! the thought of leaving all his foul holds

dear,

Has, for a while, depriv'd him of his fenfes :

We must delude him hence.

WIRTIR.

Look, look, and read;

Tis fate's dire volume! and on the bloody page,
Self murder's doom'd damnation !—and fee! around
Avenging demons wait to lash their prey.

Hark, how thy yell!--and now they pull-they tear
O, torture! torture!

(falls on Leuthrop, and is fupported off.)

END OF THE SECOND ACT,

[Exeunt

ACT

ACT III. SCENE III.

A grand Apartment in ALBERT's Houfe.

ALBERT difcovered among ft_his Friends.

ALBERT.

MOST welcome all!-O this kind friendly fight Į Doubles the pleasures of the bridal day,

And gives to Albert pureft happiness !

But not alone to him-all, all shall share it
For Charlotte like the fun, her power exerts ;

She fhines with equal luftre upon all ;

Warms each cold heart, and chears each languid foul; This day has made her mine and for that gift

It fhall be chronicl'd most facred here !

But wherefore comes the not ?

Enter LAURA:

ALBERT.

My gentle Laura

Where is the truant bride ?

LAURA:

Alas! my Lord,

I left her mufing on the haplefs tale

Thy kindness had conceal'd-But now she heard
That Werter fled last night.

ALBERT.

Then could I fhare her grief!

For fill I hop'd wishes would prevail.

Enter

32

Enter CHARLOTTE.

ALBERT.

My lovely partner

CHARLOTTE.

Pardon, my Lord,

This long neglect, but.

ALBERT.

Nay, name it not

Thefe friends are come to mingle in the general joy, And fhare

your Albert's blifs.

CHARLOTTE.

They are most welcome.

ALBERT.

Now would the measure of my joys be full,
Was there not wanting to compleat my hopes-
Charlotte-our mutual hopes-one honest friend !
One, whofe afpiring virtues would have charm'd
Each heart to rapture-one, whofe noble spirit
Merits of Albert.-

CHARLOTTE.

If thy Charlotte's peace,

Or that her happiness be worth a thought,
Never! O never name him! Let the fatal found
Sink in oblivion! fo fhall our mutual peace
Rife to perfection.

ALBERT (to Charlotte, obferving her fadỳ.

Mufic was won't to elevate your foul,

And double every joy 1-why has it lost its charms

CHARLOTTE.

Oh, it recalls paft actions of my life!
And brings to memory thofe unhappy thoughts
That ever pierce my foul-but, Albert, once
I had no forrows-once no bitter thoughts
To wound reflection-then the lively founds
Added new pleasures, and my ravish'd heart
Bounded with joy!--but now-

ALBERT.

Nay, it is not kind,

Thus to be mourning on the happy day
That makes thee mine- fhall in truth complai
It forrow thus engages all your thoughts,
And none are left for Albert, or for love.

CHARLOTTE.

Twas but a fudden weaknefs of the foul,
Which now is fled-but oh ! thou generous man!
Think not I mean to forrow at the fate

That made thee mine.-No, by you powers above
I would not be elfe but what I am,

To be the miftrefs of a monarch's love!

ALBERT.

And I would rather of thy gifts partake
Than fhare the pleasures of the fairest fair,
That yet trod earth.

(A fervant enters and whispers Albert

ALBERT.

We will attend-my friends

We're fummon'd to partake the feast-lead on-
Let forrow's vapours now difperfe away,

And general pleasure crown this feftive hour.

[Exeunt. Flourish of music,