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 common 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 completely 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 companion ， 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 commencement.
  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 ！