he fondly dreams that he is grasping at infinity， does he not feel pelled
to return to a consciousness of his cold， monotonous existence ？
THE EDITOR TO THE READER。
It is a matter of extreme regret that we want original evidence of
the last remarkable days of our friend； and we are ， therefore， obliged
to interrupt the progress of his correspondence ， and to supply the deficiency
by a connected narration。
I have felt it my duty to collect accurate information from the mouths
of persons well acquainted with his history。 The story is simple； and
all the accounts agree， except in some unimportant particulars。 It is
true， that ， with respect to the characters of the persons spoken of，
opinions and judgments vary。
We have only， then ， to relate conscientiously the facts which our
diligent labour has enabled us to collect ， to give the letters of the
deceased， and to pay particular attention to the slightest fragment from
his pen ， more especially as it is so difficult to discover the real
and correct motives of men who are not of the mon order。
Sorrow and discontent had taken deep root in Werther's soul ， and
gradually imparted their character to his whole being。 The harmony of
his mind became pletely disturbed； a perpetual excitement and mental
irritation， which weakened his natural powers， produced the saddest
etfects upon him， and rendered him at length the victim of an exhaustion
against which he struggled with still more painful efforts than he had
displayed ， even in contending with his other misfortunes。 His mental
anxiety weakened his various good qualities ； and he was soon converted
into a gloomy panion ， always unhappy and unjust in his ideas ， the
more wretched he became。 This was ， at least ， the opinion of Albert's
friends。 They assert， moreover ， that the character of Albert himself
had undergone no change in the meantime ： he was still the same being
whom Werther had loved， honoured ， and respected from the mencement。
His love for Charlotte was unbounded： he was proud of her， and desired
that she should be recognised by every one as the noblest of created beings。
Was he， however， to blame for wishing to avert from her every appearance
of suspicion？ or for his unwillingness to share his rich prize with another，
even for a moment ， and in the most innocent manner？ It is asserted
that Albert frequently retired from his wife's apartment during Werther's
visits； but this did not arise from hatred or aversion to his friend ，
but only from a feeling that his presence was oppressive to Werther。
Charlotte's father， who was confined to the house by indisposition，
was accustomed to send his carriage for her ， that she might make excursions
in the neighbourhood。 One day the weather had been unusually severe ，
and the whole country was covered with snow。
Werther went for Charlotte the following morning， in order that，
if Albert were absent ， he might conduct her home。
The beautiful weather produced but little impression on his troubled
spirit。 A heavy weight lay upon his soul， deep melancholy had taken possession
of him， and his mind knew no change save from one painful thought to
another。
As he now never enjoyed internal peace， the condition of his fellow
creatures was to him a perpetual source of trouble and distress。 He believed
he had disturbed the happiness of Albert and his wife ； and， whilst
he censured himself strongly for this ， he began to entertain a secret
dislike to Albert。
His thoughts were occasionally directed to this point。 〃Yes ，〃 he
would repeat to himself ， with ill…concealed dissatisfaction ， 〃yes ，
this is ， after all， the extent of that confiding ， dear ， tender ，
and sympathetic love， that calm and eternal fidelity ！ What do I behold
but satiety and indifference？ Does not every frivolous engagement attract
him more than his charming and lovely wife？ Does he know how to prize
his happiness ？ Can he value her as she deserves ？ He possesses her ，
it is true， I know that， as I know much more， and I have bee accustomed
to the thought that he will drive me mad， or ， perhaps， murder me。
Is his friendship toward me unimpaired？ Does he not view my attachment
to Charlotte as an infringement upon his rights ， and consider my attention
to her as a silent rebuke to himself？ I know ， and indeed feel， that
he dislikes me， that he wishes for my absence， that my presence is hateful
to him。〃
He would often pause when on his way to visit Charlotte ， stand still，
as though in doubt， and seem desirous of returning ， but would nevertheless
proceed ； and， engaged in such thoughts and soliloquies as we have described，
he finally reached the hunting…lodge， with a sort of involuntary consent。
Upon one occasion he entered the house； and， inquiring for Charlotte，
he observed that the inmates were in a state of unusual confusion。 The
eldest boy informed him that a dreadful misfortune had occurred at Walheim，
—— that a peasant had been murdered ！ But this made little impression
upon him。 Entering the apartment， he found Charlotte engaged reasoning
with her father ， who， in spite of his infirmity， insisted on going
to the scene of the crime ， in order to institute an inquiry。 The criminal
was unknown ； the victim had been found dead at his own door that morning。
Suspicions were excited ： the murdered man had been in the service of
a widow ， and the person who had previously filled the situation had
been dismissed from her employment。
As soon as Werther heard this ， he exclaimed with great excitement，
〃Is it possible ！ I must go to the spot—— I cannot delay a moment！
〃 He hastened to Walheim。 Every incident returned vividly to his remembrance
； and he entertained not the slightest doubt that that man was the murderer
to whom he had so often spoken， and for whom he entertained so much regard。
His way took him past the well…known lime trees ， to the house where
the body had been carried ； and his feelings were greatly excited at
the sight of the fondly recollected spot。 That threshold where the neighbours'
children had so often played together was stained with blood； love and
attachment， the noblest feelings of human nature ， had been converted
into violence and murder。 The huge trees stood there leafless and covered
with hoarfrost； the beautiful hedgerows which surrounded the old churchyard
wall were withered； and the gravestones， half covered with snow ， were
visible through the openings。
As he approached the inn， in front of which the whole village was
assembled ， screams were suddenly heard。 A troop of armed peasants was
seen approaching， and every one exclaimed that the criminal had been
apprehended。 Werther looked ， and was not long in doubt。 The prisoner
was no other than the servant ， who had been formerly so attached to
the widow ， and whom he had met prowling about ， with that suppressed
anger and ill…concealed despair ， which we have before described。
〃What have you done ， unfortunate man？〃 inquired Werther，