And every step that wrung my aged feet,
Should be a fhoot of comfort to my foul,
Could I but mitigate my mafter's woes!

WERTER.

If thou would'st fhew obedience to my will,
This inftant leave me, nor increase my pain.
Exit Leutbrop.

(Paufing again.)

Yet in this world can I e'er hope for peace?
Peace!-when my Charlotte is another's wife.
E'en now perhaps fhe languishes away,

And melts tranfported in her Albert's arms-
Ha! that dread thought works inward on my foul
Like darting poifon-and my mad❜ning brain
Is fwell'd with desperation.-Oh, 'tis an hour
Of horrors! and it calls for horrid deeds

One of the three muft die-that heaven decrees-
Shall it be Albert? fhall thefe yet spotless hands
Shed virtue's blood? and shall the honeft fall,
To let the guilty take their happier seats?
O damn'd thought!-I fhudder at myself,
For bare imagination of the deed!

Shall Charlotte then? fhall that sweet angel form
Be torn-be mangled-and in Werter's caufe?
O cruel, cruel fate!-I'll paufe no more-
One thought alone poffeffes all my foul,

And that shall be hey'd-Werter himself shall

die!

This long has ftruggl'd in my wither'd brain,
And now it bursts, and my whole foul 's at peace!
Now, Albert, live! and bless that perfect fair,
For whom I liv'd, for whom-I foon fhall die-
And, Charlotte, when the grave holds all that's left,
Of that unhappy agitated being,

Who knew no pleasure but in fight of thee!

Oh, when you wander thro' your long-lov'd vale, Then think of Werter !

Think how oft his fighs

Have fill'd the founding woods! how oft his tears Have dew'd the weeping grafs! and if you wish To feed on forrows never tafted yet!

Look-towards the church-yard that contains his bones,

And fee! with pity how the evening breeze Waves the high grafs that grows upon his grave! Alas!-these thoughts recal fuch tender scenes! They quite unman me.

Re-enter LEUTHROP,

LEUTHROP.

In tears-O heavens !

Teach me fome way to foothe my mafter's woesMy gentle mafter

WERTER

Whence this intrufion?

LEU

LEUTHROP.

I have obey'd your orders, Sir.

WERTER.

'Tis well

(Paufing.)

This night fhall clofe the fcene-the midnight watch

Shall be the hour-e'er that-fhe may be seen

Attend

me to my chamber-and now, high

heaven!

Aid me with calmnefs till I meet my fate!

An Apartment in Albert's Houfe.

Enter CHARLOTTE.

[Exeunt.

CHARLOTTE.

O what a fate is mine! a generous lover,

E'er now refolving on a fudden death,
And I his murderer! a faithful husband,

Who long has lov'd, long watch'd my cruel heart,
Offended and incens'd!-ah! there's the rock
On which my shatter'd veffel will be crush'd;
Reproof from Albert will afflict me more
Than all my forrows paft.

Enter

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 heav'n's own image?
Can Charlotte? but, ah! I reafon as I wish-
Wou'd fhe were true! and memory cou'd forget
The various follies that my fondness lavished—
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 impoffible! that angel form

Would blush at frailty

O my dear partner!

CHARLOTTE.

In tears, my Lord:

What can this mean!

ALBERT.

ALBERT.

Have I no cause to weep ?

CHARLOTTE.

I know of none.

ALBERT.

Of none! my Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE.

No; on my foul-if innocence

ALBERT.

Innocence !

CHARLOTTE.

Oh! on my knees let me intreat thee, Albert,
Unfold this mystery !-let not my mind

Be tortur'd with fufpenfe fpeak! quickly speak,
suspense-speak!
Or fudden madnefs will distract my brain.

ALBERT.

Nay, do not kneel-I pri'thee leave me now-
My mind is much disturb'd and

CHARLOTTE.

No! kill me quite.

Let me not linger in my pain-oh, Albert!

Thus