Enthusiasm ！ 0 God！
  thou seest my tears. Thou hast allotted us our portion of misery： must
  we also have brethren to persecute us ， to deprive us of our consolation，
  of our trust in thee， and in thy love and mercy？ For our trust in the
  virtue of the healing root， or in the strength of the vine ， what is
  it else than a belief in thee from whom all that surrounds us derives
  its healing and restoring powers？ Father ， whom I know not，—— who
  wert once wont to fill my soul， but who now hidest thy face from me，
  —— call me back to thee ； be silent no longer； thy silence shall not
  delay a soul which thirsts after thee. What man ， what father， could
  be angry with a son for returning to him suddenly ， for falling on his
  neck， and exclaiming ， "I am here again ， my father！ forgive me if
  I have anticipated my journey ， and returned before the appointed time！
  The world is everywhere the same，—— a scene of labour and pain ， of
  pleasure and reward ； but what does it all avail ？ I am happy only where
  thou art， and in thy presence am I content to suffer or enjoy." And wouldst
  thou， heavenly Father， banish such a child from thy presence？
  DECEMBER 1. Wilhelm ， the man about whom I wrote to you—— that
  man so enviable in his misfortunes—— was secretary to Charlotte's father
  ； and an unhappy passion for her which he cherished， concealed， and
  at length discovered， caused him to be dismissed from his situation.
  This made him mad. Think， whilst you peruse this plain narration ， what
  an impression the circumstance has made upon me ！ But it was related
  to me by Albert with as much calmness as you will probably peruse it.
  DECEMBER 4. I implore your attention. It is all over with me. I can
  support this state no longer. To-day I was sitting by Charlotte. She was
  playing upon her piano a succession of delightful melodies， with such
  intense expression！ Her little sister was dressing her doll upon my lap.
  The tears came into my eyes. I leaned down， and looked intently at her
  wedding-ring： my tears fell—— immediately she began to play that favourite，
  that divine ， air which has so often enchanted me. I felt comfort from
  a recollection of the past， of those bygone days when that air was familiar
  to me ； and then I recalled all the sorrows and the disappointments which
  I had since endured. I paced with hasty strides through the room， my
  heart became convulsed with painful emotions. At length I went up to her，
  and exclaimed With eagerness， "For Heaven's sake ， play that air no
  longer！" She stopped ， and looked steadfastly at me. She then said，
  with a smile which sunk deep into my heart， "Werther ， you are ill：
  your dearest food is distasteful to you. But go ， I entreat you， and
  endeavour to compose yourself." I tore myself away. God ， thou seest
  my torments ， and wilt end them！
  DECEMBER 6. How her image haunts me ！ Waking or asleep ， she fills
  my entire soul！ Soon as I close my eyes， here ， in my brain， where
  all the nerves of vision are concentrated ， her dark eyes are imprinted.
  Here—— I do not know how to describe it ； but， if I shut my eyes，
  hers are immediately before me： dark as an abyss they open upon me ，
  and absorb my senses.
  And what is man —— that boasted demigod ？ Do not his powers fail
  when he most requires their use ？ And whether he soar in joy ， or sink
  in sorrow ， is not his career in both inevitably arrested？ And， whilst
  he fondly dreams that he is grasping at infinity， does he not feel compelled
  to return to a consciousness of his cold， monotonous existence ？