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Do not oppose my wifh-for you well know
Albert has been moft kind-his generous love
Merits return-and I could rather die
Than willingly torment him with a care!
Therefore, alas! I tremble as I speak!

We meet with prudence, or we meet no more!

33

(Here they both rife.

WERTER.

'Tis well-'tis very well!

CHARLOTTE.

Honour incites

The fix'd refolve !-Heavens relieve me now!
I scarce have power to speak-ha, thou art pale !

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Some fmother'd paffion ftruggles in thy breast:

Speak

WERTER.

I dare not.

CHARLOTTE.

Oh fpeak, in mercy fpeak. (Bell tolls.

'Tis Walheim abbey bell

That tolls for fome poor wandering pilgrim's death!

WERTER.

Death-ha! did'ft thou fay death!-Lo! where he

ftalks!

Hence, thou pale warrior, hence,

(Takes Charlotte by the band.

You shall not, cannot part us!

Alas! where am I?-Ah, my brain is turn'd!

Pity me, Charlotte, pity me! I am

The verieft wretch alive!

CHARLOTTE.

Alas! my Werter!

WERTER.

Oh! forgive me; the raging tumult's o'er,
And I'm again myself-'twas but a fancy
Of my too-troubl'd mind-think on't no more;
Some better fubject may employ our thoughts.
Oft have we chac'd the heavy hour away

In reading Offian-may we not read again?

II

CHAR

CHARLOTTE..

Here is your own tranflation of his fongs.

(Here they feat themselves.

WERTER.

O Charlotte, what ravages hard time has made
Since laft I read them!-Of that no more-

Alas! the leaf 's turn'd down

Where hopeless Armin mourns his murder'd child! WERTER (reads).

"Alone on the fea beat rock my daughter was "heard to complain-frequent and loud were "her cries, nor could her father relieve her. "All night I ftood on the fhore-I faw her by "the faint beam of the moon, and before morning "appear'd, her voice was weak-It died away, like "the evening breeze amongst the grafs of the rocks "-fpent with grief fhe expired, and left thee, "Armin-alone!"

(Here Werter throws down the book, feizes Charlotte's band, and weeps o'er it-fhe leans on ber other arm, holding her bandkerchief to her eyesthey are both in the utmost agitation.-In this unhappy story they feel their own misfortunes.At length Charlotte fays, "Go on."

WERTER, (reads.)

"Why doft thou awake me, O gale!-It "feems to fay I am cover'd with the drops of

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"heaven--The time of my fading-is near, " and the blast-that fhall fcatter my leaves" to-morrow-fhall the traveller come-He that "faw me in my beauty-fhall come-His eyes "fhall fearch the field-But-they will not"find me!"

(Thefe words fall like a stroke of thunder on the heart

of the unfortunate Werter! in defpair he throws
himself at her feet, feizes her hand, and puts it to
bis forehead. An apprehenfion of his fatal project,
for the first time, ftruck Charlotte-fhe is dif-
tracted.)

CHARLOTTE (Starting from the couch.)
Heavens Suicide-am I to be fo curft?
Is there no mercy to be found in heaven?
O Werter! O Werter!

WERTER.

(Falling on him.)

I will not lofe thee

Thus let me ever clasp thee to my heart.

Here they lofe fight of every thing, and the whole world disappears before them.-He clafps her in his arms, and strains her to his bofom.

CHARLOT ГЕ.

Werter! (with a faint voice) Werter! (gently pufking him away) Werter! (with a firm voice of virtue) This is the laft time-we never-nevermeet again!

[Exit.

WERTER,

WERTER, (folus.)

Now art thou satisfied, indignant fate !

Is not thy vengeance glutted now?—Then look,
And fate thy foul with triumph and revenge,
For I am curs'd beyond the reach of hope!
Heavens! how the tempeft rages in my brain!
'Tis all on fire!-O Charlotte, Charlotte,

Once more come forth and foften me to calmness! (Throws himself on a couch.)

Enter ALBERt.

ALBERT.

The night and ceafelefs fury of the storm
Compell'd me to return-ftrange fancies too
Perplex'd my mind and agitate me much.
I know not what to think-How! Werter here!
This is most strange !—bur, Albert, have a care,
Sufpect not without cause, for when thou doft,
Then thou art damn'd indeed!-of all calamities,
Sufpicion I have yet avoided moft-

And ever will!-Welcome again to Walheim.

WERTER (not looking up)

Away-away-and leave me to my forrows.

ALBERT.

Still on affliction, Werter-I hop'd e'er this
Thy friends had chas'd each dismal care away,

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