Thus, thus I'll cling, thus grovel at thy feet 'Till thou haft freed my doubts! If I'm the cause Thy fears are falfe-oh, by mine honour, falfe!

Honour!

ALBERT.

CHARLOTTE.

Ha! you mock me ftill.

ALBERT.

Yet, leave me :

A new unusual fury rages here,

And foon 'twill blaze abroad-away

CHARLOTTE.

'Tis well.

Albert miftrufts his Charlotte-yes, high Heaven!
He doubts her honour, he suspects her love :
Oh hear and answer if fhe merits this!

ALBERT (laying hold of her).

Werter!

CHARLOTTE (much confused).

Hal what of him?

ALBERT.

O guilt! guilt!

CHAR

CHARLOTTE.

Guilt.

ALBERT.

Yes, guilt!

Haft thou not art enough to hide thy fhame?
But thus, muft boast it! thus to the very face
Of him thou haft abus'd.

CHARLOTTE.

If it be guilt to fuffer keen reproach,
Regret, affliction, terror, and despair,
With every torture that can rack the foul!
Rather than wander from my truth to thee,
In action, word, or thought-if this be guilt!
I own, my Lord, the juftice of your charge,
And well deferve the phrafe.

ALBERT.

This fyren's fong

No more fhall captivate my pliant foul;

I've been too long amus'd, too long deceiv'd;
My love has been long abus'd, my liberal conduct
Scorn'd and derided-but thou shalt know

I'm not that dupe, that eafy, placid fool

Thy falfhood wifh'd! no, I'll exert my powers,
Enforce my rights, and be a tyrant too:

Yes; mark me, Madam, I charge thee on thy

truth,

D

Nay,

Nay, on thy peril, never to be seen

Or found in converfe with thy minion more.

CHARLOTTE.

Minion! muft I bear this?

ALBERT.

Ay, and much more.

CHARLOTTE.

No, Albert, a little while ago

You found me fond, affectionate, and weak,
Made up of folly, levity, and fears;

But your own rathness has restor'd my sense,
And I defpife your threats-minion! O fhame!
Ufe fuch another word, and here I vow,
If e'er I deign to liften to you more,
'Tis but with fcorn-unalterable scorn.

ALBERT.

This poor pretended spirit is in vain ;
Thy ftubborn heart fhall bleed.

CHARLOTTE.

You little know

The heart of Charlotte, if you think 'twill bleed
At folly's idle race-no, my Lord,
When you return to your accuftom'd peace,
And converse like yourself, I am your own;

Proud

Proud to indulge, and happy to obey you;
But when you lofe that calmness you profefs,
And thus infult me, I am only taught

That Albert is no better than a tyrant,
Whose vain presumption merits my disdain.

ALBERT.

Away, away-I'll trifle time no more;

Now hear my laft refolve:-by Heaven I love

thee

More than romantic fancy can express,

And would not leave thee for eternal peace.

But if you still perfift

To let another triumph in your heart,

Thou art no longer mine-we part for ever!

CHARLOTTE.

Ungenerous man!

Is it for this my foul refign'd its love,
And kept its vow to thee! is it for this!
He you abuse in endless anguish lives,
Perhaps I cannot fpeak-(weeps).

ALBERT.

Ha! do'st thou weep! perfidious woman, go,

Go to thy Werter, revel in his arms,

Albert will never interrupt you more.

ค

CHARLOTTE.

When, angry Heaven, fhall thy vengeance cease! When fhall this little victim be allow'd

A momentary calm-never, never

Yet fomething-myself shall fave him from
The horrid deed.

Enter WERTER (Supported by Leuthrop).

WERTER.

A little onward bear me, faithful Leuthrop,
To figh my life out at my Charlotte's feet,
And I fhall die content.

CHARLOTTE.

Oh Heavens! was Sebaftian

WERTER.

He was deceiv'd-I yielded to his wifh,
And while he left me to prepare for Manheim,
Completed my defign-it was my fate

To catch a fad diftemper in the heart,

Which grew contagious, and while it canker'd

here

Infected all who footh'd-could I then live

But to destroy the sharers of my pains!

CHAR