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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！ I see clearly that we
cannot be saved！〃
Werther was highly incensed at the observations which Albert had
made to the judge in this matter of the prisoner。 He thought he
could detect therein a little bitterness toward himself personally；
and although； upon reflection； it could not escape his sound
judgment that their view of the matter was correct； he felt the
greatest possible reluctance to make such an admission。
A memorandum of Werther's upon this point； expressive of his general
feelings toward Albert； has been found amongst his papers。
〃What is the use of my continually repeating that he is a good and
estimable man？ He is an inward torment to me； and I am incapable
of being just toward him。〃
One fine evening in winter； when the weather seemed inclined to
thaw； Charlotte and Albert were returning home together。 The
former looked from time to time about her； as if she missed Werther's
company。 Albert began to speak of him； and censured him for his
prejudices。 He alluded to his unfortunate attachment； and wished
it were possible to discontinue his acquaintance。 〃I desire it on
our own account；〃 he added； 〃and I request you will compel him to
alter his deportment toward you； and to visit you less frequently。
The world is censorious； and I know that here and there we are
spoken of。〃 Charlotte made no reply； and Albert seemed to feel
her silence。 At least； from that time he never again spoke of
Werther； and； when she introduced the subject； he allowed the
conversation to die away； or else he directed the discourse into
another channel。
The vain attempt Werther had made to save the unhappy murderer was
the last feeble glimmering of a flame about to be extinguished。
He sank almost immediately afterward into a state of gloom and
inactivity； until he was at length brought to perfect distraction
by learning that he was to be summoned as a witness against the
prisoner； who asserted his complete innocence。
His mind now became oppressed by the recollection of every misfortune
of his past life。 The mortification he had suffered at the
ambassador's； and his subsequent troubles； were rev