Charlotte ！ And could I but restore peace and joy to your bosom， with
what resolution ， with what joy， would I not meet my fate ！ But it
is the lot of only a chosen few to shed their blood for their friends ，
and by their death to augment ， a thousand times ， the happiness of
those by whom they are beloved。
I wish， Charlotte， to be buried in the dress I wear at present：
it has been rendered sacred by your touch。 I have begged this favour of
your father。 My spirit soars above my sepulchre。 I do not wish my pockets
to be searched。 The knot of pink ribbon which you wore on your bosom the
first time I saw you， surrounded by the children —— Oh ， kiss them
a thousand times for me ， and tell them the fate of their unhappy friend！
I think I see them playing around me。 The dear children ！ How warmly
have I been attached to you ， Charlotte！ Since the first hour I saw
you ， how impossible have I found it to leave you。 This ribbon must be
buried with me： it was a present from you on my birthday。 How confused
it all appears！ Little did I then think that I should journey this road。
But peace ！ I pray you ， peace！
〃They are loaded—— the clock strikes twelve。 I say amen。 Charlotte，
Charlotte ！ farewell ， farewell ！〃
A neighbour saw the flash ， and heard the report of the pistol ；
but ， as everything remained quiet ， he thought no more of it。
In the morning， at six o'clock ， the servant went into Werther's
room with a candle。 He found his master stretched upon the floor， weltering
in his blood， and the pistols at his side。 He called ， he took him in
his arms， but received no answer。 Life was not yet quite extinct。 The
servant ran for a surgeon ， and then went to fetch Albert。 Charlotte
heard the ringing of the bell ： a cold shudder seized her。 She wakened
her husband ， and they both rose。 The servant， bathed in tears faltered
forth the dreadful news。 Charlotte fell senseless at Albert's feet。
When the surgeon came to the unfortunate Werther， he was still lying
on the floor； and his pulse beat ， but his limbs were cold。 The bullet，
entering the forehead ， over the right eye ， had penetrated the skull。
A vein was opened in his right arm： the blood came ， and he still continued
to breathe。
From the blood which flowed from the chair， it could be inferred
that he had mitted the rash act sitting at his bureau， and that he
afterward fell upon the floor。 He was found lying on his back near the
window。 He was in full…dress costume。
The house ， the neighbourhood， and the whole town were immediately
in motion。 Albert arrived。 They had laid Werther on the bed： his head
was bound up， and the paleness of death was upon his face。 His limbs
were motionless ； but he still breathed， at one time strongly ， then
weaker—— his death was momently expected。
He had drunk only one glass of the wine。 〃Emilia Galotti〃 lay open
upon his bureau。
I shall say nothing of Albert's distress， or of Charlotte's grief。
The old steward hastened to the house immediately upon hearing the
news： he embraced his dying friend amid a flood of tears。 His eldest
boys soon followed him on foot。 In speechless sorrow they threw themselves
on their knees by the bedside ， and kissed his hands and face。 The eldest，
who was his favourite ， hung over him till he expired； and even then
he was removed by force。 At twelve o'clock Werther breathed his last。
The presence of the steward ， and the precautions he had adopted ， prevented
a disturbance ； and that night ， at the hour of eleven， he caused the
body to be interred in the place which Werther had selected for himself。
The steward and his sons followed the corpse to the grave。 Albert
was unable to acpany them。 Charlotte's life was despaired of。 The body
was carried by labourers。 No priest attended。