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song comes with its music to melt and please the soul。 It is like
soft mist that； rising from a lake； pours on the silent vale；
the green flowers are filled with dew； but the sun returns in his
strength； and the mist is gone。 Why art thou sad； O Armin； chief
of sea…surrounded Gorma？
〃Sad I am！ nor small is my cause of woe！ Carmor； thou hast lost
no son； thou hast lost no daughter of beauty。 Colgar the valiant
lives； and Annira； fairest maid。 The boughs of thy house ascend；
O Carmor！ but Armin is the last of his race。 Dark is thy bed； O
Daura！ deep thy sleep in the tomb！ When shalt thou wake with thy
songs？ with all thy voice of music？
〃Arise； winds of autumn； arise： blow along the heath。 Streams of
the mountains； roar； roar； tempests in the groves of my oaks！ Walk
through broken clouds； O moon！ show thy pale face at intervals；
bring to my mind the night when all my children fell； when Arindal
the mighty fell when Daura the lovely failed。 Daura； my daughter；
thou wert fair； fair as the moon on Fura； white as the driven snow；
sweet as the breathing gale。 Arindal； thy bow was strong； thy spear
was swift on the field； thy look was like mist on the wave； thy
shield a red cloud in a storm！ Armar； renowned in war； came and
sought Daura's love。 He was not long refused： fair was the hope
of their friends。
〃Erath； son of Odgal； repined： his brother had been slain by Armar。
He came disguised like a son of the sea： fair was his cliff on the
wave； white his locks of age； calm his serious brow。 Fairest of
women； he said； lovely daughter of Armin！ a rock not distant in
the sea bears a tree on its side； red shines the fruit afar。 There
Armar waits for Daura。 I come to carry his love！ she went she
called on Armar。 Nought answered； but the son of the rock。 Armar；
my love； my love！ why tormentest thou me with fear？ Hear； son of
Arnart； hear！ it is Daura who calleth thee。 Erath； the traitor；
fled laughing to the land。 She lifted up her voice she called
for her brother and her father。 Arindal！ Armin！ none to relieve
you； Daura。
〃Her voice came over the sea。 Arindal； my son； descended from the
hill； rough in the spoils of the chase。 His arrows rattled by his
side； his bow was in his hand； five dark…gray dogs attended his
steps。 He saw fierce Erath on the shore； he seized and bound him
to an oak。 Thick wind the thongs of the hide around his limbs；
he loads the winds with his groans。 Arindal ascends the deep in
his boat to bring Daura to land。 Armar came in his wrath； and
let fly the gray…feathered shaft。 It sung； it sunk in thy heart；
O Arindal； my son！ for Erath the traitor thou diest。 The oar is
stopped at once： he panted on the rock； and expired。 What is thy
grief； O Daura； when round thy feet is poured thy brother's blood。
The boat is broken in twain。 Armar plunges into the sea to rescue
his Daura； or die。 Sudden a blast from a hill came over the waves；
he sank； and he rose no more。
〃Alone； on the sea…beat rock； my daughter was heard to complain；
frequent and loud were her cries。 What could her father do？ All
night I stood on the shore： I saw her by the faint beam of the moon。
All night I heard her cries。 Loud was the wind； the rain beat hard
on the hill。 Before morning appeared； her voice was weak； it died
away like the evening breeze among the grass of the rocks。 Spent
with grief； she expired； and left thee； Armin； alone。 Gone is my
strength in war； fallen my pride among women。 When the storms
aloft arise； when the north lifts the wave on high； I sit by the
sounding shore； and look on the fatal rock。
〃Often by the setting moon I see the ghosts of my children； half
viewless they walk in mournful conference together。〃
A torrent of tears which streamed from Charlotte's eyes and gave
relief to her bursting heart； stopped Werther's recitation。 He
threw down the book； seized her hand； and wept bitterly。 Charlotte
leaned upon her hand； and buried her face in her handkerchief：
the agitation of both was excessive。 They felt that their own
fate was pictured in the misfortunes of Ossian's heroes； they
felt this together； and their tears redoubled。 Werther supported
his forehead on Charlotte's arm： she trembled； she wished to be
gone； but sorrow and sympathy lay like a leaden weight upon her
soul。 She recovered herself shortly； and begged Werther； with
broken sobs； to leave her； implored him with the utmost earnestness
to comply with her request。 He trembled； his heart was ready to
burst： then； taking up the book again； he recommenced reading； in
a voice broken by sobs。
〃Why dost thou waken me； O spring？ Thy voice woos me； exclaiming；
I refresh thee with heavenly dews； but the time of my decay is
approaching； the storm is nigh that shall whither my leaves。
Tomorrow the traveller shall come； he shall come； who beheld me
in beauty： his eye shall seek me in the field around； but he shall
not find me。〃
The whole force of these words fell upon the unfortunate Werther。
Full of despair； he threw himself at Charlotte's feet； seized her
hands； and pressed them to his eyes and to his forehead。 An
apprehension of his fatal project now struck her for the first
time。 Her senses were bewildered： she held his hands； pressed
them to her bosom； and； leaning toward him with emotions of the
tenderest pity； her warm cheek touched his。 They lost sight of
everything。 The world disappeared from their eyes。 He clasped
her in his arms； strained her to his bosom； and covered her trembling
lips with passionate kisses。 〃Werther！〃 she cried with a faint
voice； turning herself away； 〃Werther！〃 and； with a feeble hand；
she pushed him from her。 At length； with the firm voice of virtue；
she exclaimed； 〃Werther！〃 He resisted not； but； tearing himself
from her arms； fell on his knees before her。 Charlotte rose； and；
with disordered grief； in mingled tones of love and resentment；
she exclaimed； 〃It is the last time； Werther！ You shall never see
me any more！〃 Then； casting one last； tender look upon her
unfortunate lover； she rushed into the adjoining room； and locked
the door。 Werther held out his arms； but did not dare to detain
her。 He continued on the ground； with his head resting on the
sofa； for half an hour； till he heard a noise which brought him
to his senses。 The servant entered。 He then walked up and down
the room； and； when he was again left alone； he went to Charlotte's
door； and； in a low voice； said； 〃Charlotte； Charlotte！ but one
word more； one last adieu！〃 She returned no answer。 He stopped；
and listened and entreated； but all was silent。 At length he tore
himself from the place； crying； 〃Adieu； Charlotte； adieu for ever！〃
Werther ran to the gate of the town。 The guards； who knew him；
let him pass in silence。 The night was dark and stormy； it
rained and snowed。 He reached his own door about eleven。 His
servant； although seeing him enter the house without his hat； did
not venture to say anything； and； as he undressed his master； he
found that his clothes were wet。 His hat was afterward found on
the point of a rock overhanging the valley； and it is inconceivable
how he could