ALBERT.

Nay, figh not Werter-you will be soon at peace.

WERTER.

Yes, Albert! very foon!I would be gone

ALBERT..

I will conduct thee.

WERTER.

How can I ever make thee a return!

ALBERT.

Nay, fay no more-bear up my friend-bear upTime will restore you to your wonted peace.

O may

fhe grant the favour I entreat,

And with attractions that might captivate
A heart lefs weak, lefs ardent, than

my

Friend's!

Enter CHARLOTTE,

Your pardon, lady, that I thus intrude-
I come deputed by a wretched friend,
To tell you, he repents his follies paft,
And will offend no more Tis his intereft
To leave this place to-night-Yet c'er he goes,
He could have wifh'd for one parting look,
One thort farewell, to cheer him on his way-
And if my wishes will not leffen his,
I add them from my foul.

CHARLOTTE.

Oh Sir! your friend

Has but deceiv'd you with this flattering tale.
A fecret paffion ftruggles in his breaft,
Which when reveal'd.

EBASTIAN.

SEBASTIAN.

A fecret paffion!

CHARLOTTE.

Alas! I fear

He has refolv'd upon a fatal act,

Which you, Sebaftian, only can preveut.

SEBASTIAN.

Heavens! what act ?

CHARLOTTE.

Suicide!

SEBASTIAN,

It cannot be

He is too great to ftoop to fuch a thought.

CHARLOTTE.

Too well I know it-E'er we parted laft,
In a fond moment he betray'd his purpose;
And I unable to fupport the conflict,
Left him, I fear, determin'd on the deed
Fly, Sir, this inftant, and avert the blow.
Why doft thou hefirate?

SEBASTIAN.

If it be true,

I fcorn him from my foul.

CHARLOTTE.

O do not paufe! be fwifter than the wind,
Or he will fall for ever.

SEBASTIAN.

When virtue's dead, he is not fit to live;
Had one good fentiment infpir'd his breaft,
It wou'd have prompted him to cherish life.

E

Has

Has it no object then!-does he not ow
Diftrefs his fuccour, penury his aid,
Grief his affiftance, merit his fupport!

Has heaven, his country, and his friends no claim
Oh! by my foul, he merits inftant death:
That he may feel the agonies that wait
On guilt fo great as his

CHARLOTTE.

Deluded man!

You paint the various vices of your friend
With all the terrors that attend on death;
And yet would let him fall, when but a word
From thee, Sebastian, might protect him still;
'The guilt is thine then, for by thee he dies:
And well remember, fir, when fortune fmil'd,
You were the pilot of his profperous bark
But at a moment, when a tempeft rofe,
And dangers thicken'd round, you fhun'd your post,
And, like a coward, left him to the storm.

SEBASTIA N.

No more, no more.

In the wild transport of a heart too warm,
I had forgot my friend-let me begone!
And yet protect him from the desperate act.

CHARLOTTE.

Yet hold, compaffion prompts me to return him this If he relents,

And turns with horror from this act,

I once will fee him more.

This, this alone, will make him fhrink from death:
Methinks he stands on danger's naked cliff,

And tottering ponders on the gulph below;

From

From that I'll fnatch him, fold him in my arms,
And waft him to the blessed shores of peace.

CHARLOTTE folus.

O what a fate is nine!a generous lover,
E'er now refolving on a fudden death,

[Exit.

And I his murderer! a faithful husband,
Who long has lov'd, long watched my cruel heart,
Offend'd and incens'd!-ah! there's the rock
On which my fshatter'd veffe! will be crush'd:
Reproof from Albert will afflict me more
Than all my forrows past.

Enter ALBERT.

ALBERT.

The more I think, the more I am perplex'd--
E'en now I met Sebaftian at the portal,
And Werter left her not an hour ago:

Can fhe be falfe!—can heaven's own image!
Can Charlotte but ah! I reafon as I with---
Wou'd the were true! and memory cou'd forget
The various follies that my fondnefs lavifh'd-
Oh! I deferve the torments I endure.

CHARLOTTE.

Ha! fo disturb'd-then are my fears confirm'd :....
I hope, my lord, no fudden accident

Delay'd your journey.

ALBERT.

I crave your pardon, Charlotte;

It is impoflible! that angel form

Wou'd blush at frailty-but be it as it may,
I still adore, and ftill confefs her power.
Omy dear partner!