The thing speaks for
  itself. Before Albert came， I knew all that I know now. I knew I could
  make no pretensions to her， nor did I offer any， that is， as far as
  it was possible ， in the presence of so much loveliness， not to pant
  for its enjoyment. And now， behold me like a silly fellow， staring with
  astonishment when another comes in， and deprives me of my love.
  I bite my lips， and feel infinite scorn for those who tell me to
  be resigned ， because there is no help for it. Let me escape from the
  yoke of such silly subterfuges！ I ramble through the woods ； and when
  I return to Charlotte ， and find Albert sitting by her side in the summer-house
  in the garden ， I am unable to bear it ， behave like a fool ， and commit
  a thousand extravagances. "For Heaven's sake，" said Charlotte today，
  "let us have no more scenes like those of last night！ You terrify me
  when you are so violent." Between ourselves ， I am always away now when
  he visits her ： and I feel delighted when I find her alone.
  AUGUST 8. Believe me， dear Wilhelm ， I did not allude to you when
  I spoke so severely of those who advise resignation to inevitable fate.
  I did not think it possible for you to indulge such a sentiment. But in
  fact you are right. I only suggest one objection. In this world one is
  seldom reduced to make a selection between two alternatives. There are
  as many varieties of conduct and opinion as there are turns of feature
  between an aquiline nose and a flat one.
  You will， therefore， permit me to concede your entire argument，
  and yet contrive means to escape your dilemma.
  Your position is this ， I hear you say ： "Either you have hopes
  of obtaining Charlotte， or you have none. Well ， in the first case，
  pursue your course， and press on to the fulfilment of your wishes. In
  the second， be a man ， and shake off a miserable passion， which will
  enervate and destroy you." My dear friend ， this is well and easily said.
  But would you require a wretched being， whose life is slowly wasting
  under a lingering disease ， to despatch himself at once by the stroke
  of a dagger ？ Does not the very disorder which consumes his strength
  deprive him of the courage to effect his deliverance？
  You may answer me ， if you please， with a similar analogy ， "Who
  would not prefer the amputation of an arm to the periling of life by doubt
  and procrastination ！" But I know not if I am right， and let us leave
  these comparisons.
  Enough！ There are moments， Wilhelm， when I could rise up and shake
  it all off， and when ， if I only knew where to go ， I could fly from
  this place.
  THE SAME EVENING.
  My diary， which I have for some time neglected ， came before me
  today ； and I am amazed to see how deliberately I have entangled myself
  step by step. To have seen my position so clearly ， and yet to have acted
  so like a child ！ Even still I behold the result plainly ， and yet have
  no thought of acting with greater prudence.
  AUGUST lO. If I were not a fool ， I could spend the happiest and
  most delightful life here. So many agreeable circumstances， and of a
  kind to ensure a worthy man's happiness ， are seldom united. Alas！ I
  feel it too sensibly，—— the heart alone makes our happiness！ To be
  admitted into this most charming family ， to be loved by the father as
  a son ， by the children as a father， and by Charlotte ！ then the noble
  Albert， who never disturbs my happiness by any appearance of ill-humour，
  receiving me with the heartiest affection ， and loving me， next to Charlotte，
  better than all the world ！