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re me； and her wondrous prospects are ineffectual to extract one tear of joy from my withered heart； I feel that in such a moment I stand like a reprobate before heaven； hardened； insensible； and unmoved。 Oftentimes do I then bend my knee to the earth； and implore God for the blessing of tears； as the desponding labourer in some scorching climate prays for the dews of heaven to moisten his parched corn。 But I feel that God does not grant sunshine or rain to our importunate entreaties。 And oh； those bygone days； whose memory now torments me！ why were they so fortunate？ Because I then waited with patience for the blessings of the Eternal； and received his gifts with the grateful feelings of a thankful heart。
NOVEMBER 8。
Charlotte has reproved me for my excesses； with so much tenderness and goodness！ I have lately been in the habit of drinking more wine than heretofore。 〃Don't do it；〃 she said。 〃Think of Charlotte！〃 〃Think of you！〃 I answered； 〃need you bid me do so？ Think of you I do not think of you： you are ever before my soul！ This very morning I sat on the spot where； a few days ago； you descended from the carriage； and〃 She immediately changed the subject to prevent me from pursuing it farther。 My dear friend； my energies are all prostrated： she can do with me what she pleases。
NOVEMBER 15。
I thank you； Wilhelm； for your cordial sympathy； for your excellent advice； and I implore you to be quiet。 Leave me to my sufferings。 In spite of my wretchedness； I have still strength enough for endurance。 I revere religion you know I do。 I feel that it can impart strength to the feeble and comfort to the afflicted； but does it affect all men equally？ Consider this vast universe： you will see thousands for whom it has never existed； thousands for whom it will never exist； whether it be preached to them； or not； and must it； then； necessarily exist for me？ Does not the Son of God himself say that they are his whom the Father has given to him？ Have I been given to him？ What if the Father will retain me for himself； as my heart sometimes suggests？ I pray you； do not misinterpret this。 Do not extract derision from my harmless words。 I pour out my whole soul before you。 Silence were otherwise preferable to me； but I need not shrink from a subject of which few know more than I do myself。 What is the destiny of man； but to fill up the measure of his sufferings； and to drink his allotted cup of bitterness？ And if that same cup proved bitter to the God of heaven； under a human form； why should I affect a foolish pride； and call it sweet？ Why should I be ashamed of shrinking at that fearful moment； when my whole being will tremble between existence and annihilation； when a remembrance of the past； like a flash of lightning； will illuminate the dark gulf of futurity； when everything shall dissolve around me； and the whole world vanish away？ Is not this the voice of a creature oppressed beyond all resource； self…deficient； about to plunge into inevitable destruction； and groaning deeply at its inadequate strength； 〃My God！ my God！ why hast thou forsaken me？〃 And should I feel ashamed to utter the same expression？ Should I not shudder at a prospect which had its fears； even for him who folds up the heavens like a garment？
NOVEMBER 21。
She does not feel； she does not know； that she is preparing a poison which will destroy us both； and I drink deeply of the draught which is to prove my destruction。 What mean those looks of kindness with which she often often？ no； not often； but sometimes； regards me； that complacency with which she hears the involuntary sentiments which frequently escape me； and the tender pity for my sufferings which appears in her countenance？
Yesterday； when I took leave she seized me by the hand； and said； 〃Adieu； dear Werther。〃 Dear Werther！ It was the first time she ever called me dear： the sound sunk deep into my heart。 I have repeated it a hundred times； and last night； on going to bed； and talking to myself of various things； I suddenly said； 〃Good night； dear Werther！〃 and then could not but laugh at myself。
NOVEMBER 22
I cannot pray； 〃Leave her to me ！〃 and yet she often seems to belong to me。 I cannot pray； 〃Give her to me！〃 for she is another's。 In this way I affect mirth over my troubles； and； if I had time； I could compose a whole litany of antitheses。
NOVEMBER 24。
She is sensible of my sufferings。 This morning her look pierced my very soul。 I found her alone； and she was silent： she steadfastly surveyed me。 I no longer saw in her face the charms of beauty or the fire of genius： these had disappeared。 But I was affected by an expression much more touching； a look of the deepest sympathy and of the softest pity。 Why was I afraid to throw myself at her feet？ Why did I not dare to take her in my arms； and answer her by a thousand kisses？ She had recourse to her piano for relief； and in a low and sweet voice accompanied the music with delicious sounds。 Her lips never appeared so lovely： they seemed but just to open； that they might imbibe the sweet tones which issued from the instrument； and return the heavenly vibration from her lovely mouth。 Oh！ who can express my sensations？ I was quite overcome； and； bending down； pronounced this vow： 〃Beautiful lips； which the angels guard； never will I seek to profane your purity with a kiss。〃 And yet； my friend； oh； I wish but my heart is darkened by doubt and indecision could I but taste felicity； and then die to expiate the sin！ What sin？
NOVEMBER 26。
Oftentimes I say to myself； 〃Thou alone art wretched： all other mortals are happy； none are distressed like thee！〃 Then I read a passage in an ancient poet； and I seem to understand my own heart。 I have so much to endure！ Have men before me ever been so wretched？
NOVEMBER 30。
I shall never be myself again！ Wherever I go； some fatality occurs to distract me。 Even to…day alas for our destiny！ alas for human nature！
About dinner…time I went to walk by the river…side； for I had no appetite。 Everything around seemed gloomy： a cold and damp easterly wind blew from the mountains； and black； heavy clouds spread over the plain。 I observed at a distance a man in a tattered coat： he was wandering among the rocks； and seemed to be looking for plants。 When I approached； he turned round at the noise； and I saw that he had an interesting countenance in which a settled melancholy； strongly marked by benevolence； formed the principal feature。 His long black hair was divided； and flowed over his shoulders。 As his garb betokened a person of the lower order； I thought he would not take it ill if I inquired about his business； and I therefore asked what he was seeking。 He replied； with a deep sigh； that he was looking for flowers； and could find none。 〃But it is not the season；〃 I observed； with a smile。 〃Oh； there are so many flowers！〃 he answered； as he came nearer to me。 〃In my garden there are roses and honeysuckles of two sorts： one sort was given to me by my father！ they grow as plentifully as weeds； I have been looking for them these two days； and cannot find them。 There are flowers out there； yellow； blue； and red； and that centaury has a v