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 become 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， as he
  advanced toward the prisoner. The latter turned his eyes upon him in silence，
  and then replied with perfect composure ； "No one will now marry her ，
  and she will marry no one." The prisoner was taken into the inn ， and
  Werther left the place. The mind of Werther was fearfully excited by this
  shocking occurrence. He ceased， however， to be oppressed by his usual
  feeling of melancholy ， moroseness ， and indifference to everything
  that passed around him. He entertained a strong degree of pity for the
  prisoner， and was seized with an indescribable anxiety to save him from
  his impending fate. He considered him so unfortunate， he deemed his crime
  so excusable， and thought his own condition so nearly similar， that
  he felt convinced he could make every one else view the matter in the
  light in which he saw it himself. He now became anxious to undertake his
  defence ， and commenced composing an eloquent speech for the occasion
  ； and， on his way to the hunting-lodge， he could not refrain from speaking
  aloud the statement which he resolved to make to the judge.
  Upon his arrival， he found Albert had been before him： and he was
  a little perplexed by this meeting； but he soon recovered himself， and
  expressed his opinion with much warmth to the judge. The latter shook ，
  his head doubtingly ； and although Werther urged his case with the utmost
  zeal， feeling， and determination in defence of his client ， yet， as
  we may easily suppose ， the judge was not much influenced by his appeal.
  On the contrary ， he interrupted him in his address， reasoned with him
  seriously ， and even administered a rebuke to him for becoming the advocate
  of a murderer. He demonstrated， that ， according to this precedent，
  every law might be violated ， and the public security utterly destroyed.
  He added， moreover ， that in such a case he could himself do nothing，
  without incurring the greatest responsibility ； that everything must
  follow in the usual course， and pursue the ordinary channel.
  Werther ， however， did not abandon his enterprise ， and even besought
  the judge to connive at the flight of the prisoner. But this proposal
  was peremptorily rejected. Albert ， who had taken some part in the discussion，
  coincided in opinion with the judge. At this Werther became enraged ，
  and took his leave in great anger ， after the judge had more than once
  assured him that the prisoner could not be saved.
  The excess of his grief at this assurance may be inferred from a note
  we have found amongst his papers， and which was doubtless written upon
  this very occasion.
  "You cannot be saved， unfortunate man！