pray you to have a regard for it! Thousands of kiffes have I imprinted on it, and a thousand times have I addreffed myself to it as I went out and came in.

I have wrote a note to your father, to beg he will protect my remains. At the corner of the church-yard, which looks towards the fields, there are two lime-trees; it is there I wish to rest: this is in your father's power, and he will do it for his friend. Join your entreaties to mine. Perhaps pious Chriftians will not chufe that their bodies fhould be interred near the corpfe of an unhappy wretch like me. Ah! let me then be laid in fome remote valley;

or by the fide of the highway, that the Prieft and the Levite, when they pafs my tomb, may lift their eyes to Heaven, and render thanks to the Lord, whilft the Samaritan gives a tear to my fate.

Charlotte! I do not fhudder now that I hold in my hand the fatal inftrument of my death. You prefent it to me, and I do not draw back. All, all is now finifhed;this is the accomplishment of all my hopes; thus all my vows are fulfilled!

Why had I not the fatisfaction to die for you, Charlotte? to facrifice myself for you? And could I reftore peace and happiness to your bofom, with what refolution, with what

pleasure

pleasure fhould I meet my fate! But to a chofen few only it is given to fhed their blood for those who are dear to them, and augment their happiness by the facrifice.

I wish, Charlotte, to be buried in the cloaths I now wear: you have touched them, and they are facred. I have asked this favour too of your father. My foul hovers over my grave. My pockets are not to be fearched. The knot of pink ribband, which you wore on your bofom the first time I faw you, furrounded by your children(Dear children! I think I fee them playing round you; give them a thousand kiffes, and tell them the

fate

fate of their unfortunate friend. Ah! at that first moment, how ftrongly was I attracted to you! how unable ever fince to loose myself from you!) This knot of ribband is to be buried with me; you gave it to me on my birth-day. Be at peace; let me entreat you, be at peace !

They are loaded the clock

strikes twelve-I go—Charlotte ! Charlotte! Farewell! Farewell!

[One of the neighbours faw the flash, and heard the report of the piftol; but every thing remaining quiet, he thought no more of it.

At

At fix in the morning, his fervant went into the room with a candle. He found his master ftretched on the floor and weltering in his blood: he took him up in his arms, and spoke to him, but received no answer. Some fmall fymptoms of life ftilk appearing, the fervant ran to fetch a furgeon, and then went to Albert's. Charlotte heard the gate-bell ring; an univerfal tremor feized her; fhe waked her husband, and both got up. The fervant, all in tears, told them the dreadful event. Charlotte fell fenfelefs at Albert's feet.

When the furgeon came to the unfortunate Werter, he was ftill ly ing on the floor, and his pulfe beat:

3

but