the eyes of Charlotte, and gave fome relief to the oppreffion of heart which fhe felt. Werter threw down the paper, feized her hand, and wept over it. She leaned on the other arm, and held her handkerchief to her eyes. They were both of them in the utmost agitation. In this unhappy ftory they felt their own misfortunes; together they felt them, and their tears flowed from the fame fource. The ardent eyes and lips of Werter were rivetted to her arm. She trembled, and wished to go from him; but forrow and foft compaffion preffed upon her, and weighed her down. At length

the

fhe heaved a deep figh to recover herself, and fobbing, defired him to go on. Werter, quite exhausted,, took up the manufcript, and in broken accents continued.

Why doft thou awake me, O gale? It seems to fay, I am covered with the drops of heaven.

The

time of my fading is near, and the blast that shall fcatter my leaves. To-morrow fhall the traveller come; he that faw me in my beauty fhall come; his eyes will fearch the field, but they will not find me."

[The whole force of these words fell like a stroke of thunder on the

heart of the unfortunate Werter. In his defpair he threw himself at Charlotte's feet, feized her hands, and put them to his eyes and to his forehead. An apprehenfion of his fatal project for the first time ftruck her: her fenfes were bewildered; fhe preffed his hands, preffed them to her bofom, and leaning towards him, with emotions of tender pity, her warm cheek touched his. Then they loft fight of every thing; the whole world difappeared from before their eyes. He clafped her in his arms, ftrained her to his bofom, and covered her trembling lips with paffionate kiffes.

"Werter !" fhe

L

cried, in a faint voice, and turned

..

her face from him; Werter!" and

with a feeble hand put him from her. At length, with the firm determined voice of virtue, fhe cried, "Werter!" and he was awed by it; and tearing himself from her arms, fell on his knees before her. Charlotte rofe, and with difordered grief, and in a voice of love mixed with refentment, said, This is the last time; Werter, you will never fee me more !" She caft one last tender look upon her unfortunate lover, then ran into her room, and bolted the door. Werter held out his arms to her, but did not dare to

66

detain her. He continued on the ground with his head refting on the fofa for above half an hour, till he heard a noife ;-it was the fervant coming to lay the cloth. He then walked and down the room; and up

when he was again left alone, he went to Charlotte's door, and in a low voice, faid, "Charlotte! Charlotte! but one word more, only one adieu. He stopped, and liftened. She made no answer.-He entreated-liftened again; then tore himself from the place, crying, "Adieu, Charlotte! Adieu, for ever !"

Werter ran to the gate of the

town;