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and satisfaction； expressive of her conviction that we should be
happy； happy with one another。〃 Albert fell upon her neck； and
kissed her； and exclaimed； 〃We are so； and we shall be so！〃 Even
Albert； generally so tranquil； had quite lost his composure； and
I was excited beyond expression。
〃And such a being；〃 She continued； 〃was to leave us； Werther！
Great God； must we thus part with everything we hold dear in this
world？ Nobody felt this more acutely than the children： they cried
and lamented for a long time afterward； complaining that men had
carried away their dear mamma。〃
Charlotte rose。 It aroused me； but I continued sitting； and held
her hand。 〃Let us go；〃 she said： 〃it grows late。〃 She attempted
to withdraw her hand： I held it still。 〃We shall see each other
again；〃 I exclaimed： 〃we shall recognise each other under every
possible change！ I am going；〃 I continued； 〃going willingly； but；
should I say for ever； perhaps I may not keep my word。 Adieu；
Charlotte； adieu； Albert。 We shall meet again。〃 〃Yes： tomorrow；
I think；〃 she answered with a smile。 Tomorrow！ how I felt the word！
Ah！ she little thought； when she drew her hand away from mine。
They walked down the avenue。 I stood gazing after them in the
moonlight。 I threw myself upon the ground； and wept： I then sprang
up； and ran out upon the terrace； and saw； under the shade of the
linden…trees； her white dress disappearing near the garden…gate。
I stretched out my arms； and she vanished。
BOOK II。
OCTOBER 2O。
We arrived here yesterday。 The ambassador is indisposed； and will
not go out for some days。 If he were less peevish and morose； all
would be well。 I see but too plainly that Heaven has destined me
to severe trials； but courage！ a light heart may bear anything。
A light heart！ I smile to find such a word proceeding from my pen。
A little more lightheartedness would render me the happiest being
under the sun。 But must I despair of my talents and faculties；
whilst others of far inferior abilities parade before me with the
utmost self…satisfaction？ Gracious Providence； to whom I owe all
my powers； why didst thou not withhold some of those blessings I
possess； and substitute in their place a feeling of self…confidence
and contentment？
But patience！ all will yet be well； for I assure you； my dear
friend； you were right： since I have been obliged to associate
continually with other people； and observe what they do； and how
they employ themselves； I have become far better satisfied with
myself。 For we are so constituted by nature； that we are ever
prone to compare ourselves with others； and our happiness or misery
depends very much on the objects and persons around us。 On this
account； nothing is more dangerous than solitude： there our
imagination； always disposed to rise； taking a new flight on the
wings of fancy； pictures to us a chain of beings of whom we seem
the most inferior。 All things appear greater than they really
are； and all seem superior to us。 This operation of the mind is
quite natural： we so continually feel our own imperfections； and
fancy we perceive in others the qualities we do not possess；
attributing to them also all that we enjoy ourselves； that by this
process we form the idea of a perfect； happy man； a man； however；
who only exists in our own imagination。
But when； in spite of weakness and disappointments； we set to work
in earnest； and persevere steadily； we often find； that； though
obliged continually to tack； we make more way than others who have
the assistance of wind and tide； and； in truth； there can be no
greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip
them in the race。
November 26。
I begin to find my situation here more tolerable； considering all
circumstances。 I find a great advantage in being much occupied；
and the number of persons I meet； and their different pursuits；
create a varied entertainment for me。 I have formed the acquaintance
of the Count C and I esteem him more and more every day。 He is
a man of strong understanding and great discernment； but； though
he sees farther than other people； he is not on that account cold
in his manner； but capable of inspiring and returning the warmest
affection。 He appeared interested in me on one occasion； when I
had to transact some business with him。 He perceived； at the first
word； that we understood each other； and that he could converse
with me in a different tone from what he used with others。 I
cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me。 It
is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great
mind in sympathy with our own。
DECEMBER 24。
As I anticipated； the ambassador occasions me infinite annoyance。
He is the most punctilious blockhead under heaven。 He does
everything step by step； with the trifling minuteness of an old
woman； and he is a man whom it is impossible to please； because
he is never pleased with himself。 I like to do business regularly
and cheerfully； and； when it is finished； to leave it。 But he
constantly returns my papers to me； saying； 〃They will do；〃 but
recommending me to look over them again； as 〃one may always improve
by using a better word or a more appropriate particle。〃 I then
lose all patience； and wish myself at the devil's。 Not a conjunction；
not an adverb； must be omitted： he has a deadly antipathy to all
those transpositions of which I am so fond； and； if the music of
our periods is not tuned to the established； official key； he
cannot comprehend our meaning。 It is deplorable to be connected
with such a fellow。
My acquaintance with the Count C is the only compensation for
such an evil。 He told me frankly； the other day； that he was much
displeased with the difficulties and delays of the ambassador；
that people like him are obstacles； both to themselves and to
others。 〃But；〃 added he； 〃one must submit； like a traveller who
has to ascend a mountain： if the mountain was not there； the road
would be both shorter and pleasanter； but there it is； and he must
get over it。〃
The old man perceives the count's partiality for me： this annoys
him； and； he seizes every opportunity to depreciate the count in
my hearing。 I naturally defend him； and that only makes matters
worse。 Yesterday he made me indignant； for he also alluded to me。
〃The count；〃 he said； 〃is a man of the world； and a good man of
business： his style is good； and he writes with facility； but；
like other geniuses； he has no solid learning。〃 He looked at me
with an expression that seemed to ask if I felt the blow。 But it
did not produce the desired effect： I despise a man who can think
and act in such a manner。 However； I made a stand； and answered
with not a little warmth。 The count； I said； was a man entitled
to respect； alike for his character and his acquirements。 I had
never met a person whose mind was stored with more useful and
extensive knowledge； who had； in fact； mastered such an infinite
variety of subjects； and who yet retained all his activity for the
details of ordinary business。 This was altogether beyond his
comprehension； and I took my leave； lest my anger should be t