 | Werter |  |
SCENE,—Albert's Garden by Moon-light.
Enter WERTER.
How oft this gloomy solitude has pleas'd;
How oft yon valley been the scene of bliss:
Ah me!—it calls past pleasures to my mind;
Pleasures! I fear that never will return.
Such is the fate of man—I murmur not.
Of these bright flowers that gild the scene of life,
How many fade unnoticed and unknown?
How few by fruit succeeded? and that fruit,
How rarely does it ripen? yet, alas!
The little which is ripen'd. and remains,
We still allow to perish and decay.
[turn up the stage.
Enter ALBERT and CHARLOTTE.
Albert
(to Charlotte aside as they enter.)
Yes, I much hope our wishes will prevail:
He seem'd reluctant, but some careless words
Betray'd consent.
Charlotte.
I do not doubt it, Albert;
And as we wish to dissipate his woes,
Say not to-morrow is our bridal day—
I know 'twill wound him much.
Albert.
O do not fear;
I would not wound him for the world's wide wealth.
[Here they turn to Werter.]
Come, Werter, let us contemplate the sweet
Beauties that surround us
How sweet the solitude of this retreat;
'Tis solemn silence all—and yon pale moon,
That dully glimmers on the passing stream,
Compleats the awful scene.
Charlotte.
Yes, 'tis most awful,
And ever when I walk by Dian's light,
A musing melancholy wraps my soul,
And memory ponders on departed friends:
On friends! I never shall again behold!
O, Werter, shall we converse after death?
Shall we in unknown climes again exist,
And once again be known?
Werter
(in agitation.)
Charlotte, Charlotte!
Here and hereafter we shall meet again.
Charlotte.
And do the buried know the living's thoughts?
Are they partakers of our various scenes?
Oh, if my long-lost parent could be told,
That I my proffer'd promise had fulfill'd—
To be protectress of her children's youth:
Could she be witness of the social love,
The mutual harmony that now subsists,
How would she worship that great power above,
Whom in her dying prayers she so implor'd
For our protection!
Albert.
These thoughts, my Charlotte,
May please remembrace, yet—
Charlotte.
Oh, Albert!
You well remember her exalted soul,
And oft have wonder'd at its various charms!
Oft call'd her generous, chearful, mild, and fair:
And heaven can witness she deserv'd thy praise.—
Ah me!—how often have I vainly pray'd
To be the image of such great perfection.
Werter
(throwing himself at her feet.)
Thou art that image, 'tis by heaven proclaim'd!
The gods own blessings, all thy mother's charms,
With double splendour grace an angel now!
Charlotte
(laying hold of his hand.)
You should have known her, Werter:
Yes, she was worthy to be known to thee!
A heart so good, deserv'd a friend so great:—
Yet, in the mid'st of happiness and life,
She was to perish, she was to be lost.
Alas! how hard to part with those we love?
Werter—'tis sharper than the stings of death.
Werter.
Charlotte, 'tis more than nature can support!
'Tis agony extreme! 'tis horrible to think on!—
Gracious powers above!
Why am I tortur'd with these questions now?
Albert.
Be patient, Werter; let not reason yield
To these tumultuous transports of the soul!
Werter.
Fools may be patient—my controuling woes
Shall ne'er be silent; they must roar aloud,
Else my expanding heart would burst—Albert.
Thou hast not drank of sorrow's bitter cup,
Thou hast not borne the miseries of love,
Nor felt one agony that Werter feels!
Oh! if thou had'st—thou wou'd'st invoke the gods,
Thy ceaseless groans would be as loud as mine,
Thy madness—raging madness!—wild as mine!
Albert.
Werter, farewell—'tis time we should be gone.
Werter.
And can'st thou leave me on the brink of fate?
Can Charlotte leave me like a wretch cast off
Stay but a moment—oh, one parting look!
Am I so lost she will not grant me that?
I am content—now leave me to my fate;
Farewell to both!—and may you never bear
What I have borne?—but we shall meet again—
'Tis not for ever that we now divide.
Charlotte.
No, for to-morrow we will meet again.
Werter.
To-morrow, Charlotte—;oh! oh! oh!
Albert.
Werter, farewell!
Some pitying angel guide thy steps,
And sooth thy soul to peace.
[Exeunt Albert and Charlotte.
Werter
solus.
She's fled!—the image of my soul is fled!
My other self, my only refuge's gone!
Then what remains for Werter but—despair.
Now grief! now sorrow! I am all thine own.
Ye shades of night! expand your sable wings,
Cover in darkness a deserted wretch!
Hide him from heaven, the world; and from himself!
Here let him fall forsaken and forgot,
And sigh in solitude his life away!
[Throws himself on the ground.
Enter SEBASTIAN and LEUTHROP.
Sebastian.
I fear the generous Albert has prevail'd,
For I have waited at the gate in vain:—
This way I know they met—Alas! how's this?
My friend upon the ground!—and senseless too!
O, Werter, speak!
Werter.
Away, I'll perish here.
Sebastian.
Look up my friend!—thy lov'd Sebastian calls,
Perhaps he brings thee peace!
Werter
(starting up.)
Who talks of peace?—
'Tis not to be found!—The Cherub sits on high,
And smiling mocks mankind—pursue it not,
For it will lead thee to a dangerous sea,
And there will vanish!—Rather, thou like me,
Plunge deep in sorrow! millions of fathoms deep;
And gorge upon despair!—'till satisfy
Thy hungry soul, and leave it nothing wanting!
Sebastian.
Oh, heaven! the thought of leaving all his soul holds dear,
Has, for a while, depriv'd him of his senses:
We must delude him hence.
Werter.
Look, look, and read;
'Tis fate's dire volume! and on the bloody page,
Self murder's doom'd damnation!—and see! around
Avenging demons wait to lash their prey.—
Hark, how they yell!—and now they pull—they tear—
O, torture! torture!
(falls on Leuthrop, and is supported off.)
[Exeunt,
Enter WERTER.
How oft this gloomy solitude has pleas'd;
How oft yon valley been the scene of bliss:
Ah me!—it calls past pleasures to my mind;
Pleasures! I fear that never will return.
Such is the fate of man—I murmur not.
Of these bright flowers that gild the scene of life,
How many fade unnoticed and unknown?
How few by fruit succeeded? and that fruit,
How rarely does it ripen? yet, alas!
The little which is ripen'd. and remains,
We still allow to perish and decay.
[turn up the stage.
Enter ALBERT and CHARLOTTE.
Albert
(to Charlotte aside as they enter.)
Yes, I much hope our wishes will prevail:
He seem'd reluctant, but some careless words
Betray'd consent.
Charlotte.
I do not doubt it, Albert;
And as we wish to dissipate his woes,
Say not to-morrow is our bridal day—
I know 'twill wound him much.
Albert.
O do not fear;
I would not wound him for the world's wide wealth.
[Here they turn to Werter.]
26
Beauties that surround us
How sweet the solitude of this retreat;
'Tis solemn silence all—and yon pale moon,
That dully glimmers on the passing stream,
Compleats the awful scene.
Charlotte.
Yes, 'tis most awful,
And ever when I walk by Dian's light,
A musing melancholy wraps my soul,
And memory ponders on departed friends:
On friends! I never shall again behold!
O, Werter, shall we converse after death?
Shall we in unknown climes again exist,
And once again be known?
Werter
(in agitation.)
Charlotte, Charlotte!
Here and hereafter we shall meet again.
Charlotte.
And do the buried know the living's thoughts?
Are they partakers of our various scenes?
Oh, if my long-lost parent could be told,
That I my proffer'd promise had fulfill'd—
To be protectress of her children's youth:
Could she be witness of the social love,
The mutual harmony that now subsists,
How would she worship that great power above,
Whom in her dying prayers she so implor'd
For our protection!
Albert.
These thoughts, my Charlotte,
May please remembrace, yet—
27
Oh, Albert!
You well remember her exalted soul,
And oft have wonder'd at its various charms!
Oft call'd her generous, chearful, mild, and fair:
And heaven can witness she deserv'd thy praise.—
Ah me!—how often have I vainly pray'd
To be the image of such great perfection.
Werter
(throwing himself at her feet.)
Thou art that image, 'tis by heaven proclaim'd!
The gods own blessings, all thy mother's charms,
With double splendour grace an angel now!
Charlotte
(laying hold of his hand.)
You should have known her, Werter:
Yes, she was worthy to be known to thee!
A heart so good, deserv'd a friend so great:—
Yet, in the mid'st of happiness and life,
She was to perish, she was to be lost.
Alas! how hard to part with those we love?
Werter—'tis sharper than the stings of death.
Werter.
Charlotte, 'tis more than nature can support!
'Tis agony extreme! 'tis horrible to think on!—
Gracious powers above!
Why am I tortur'd with these questions now?
Albert.
Be patient, Werter; let not reason yield
To these tumultuous transports of the soul!
Werter.
Fools may be patient—my controuling woes
Shall ne'er be silent; they must roar aloud,
Else my expanding heart would burst—Albert.
Thou hast not drank of sorrow's bitter cup,
Thou hast not borne the miseries of love,
28
Oh! if thou had'st—thou wou'd'st invoke the gods,
Thy ceaseless groans would be as loud as mine,
Thy madness—raging madness!—wild as mine!
Albert.
Werter, farewell—'tis time we should be gone.
Werter.
And can'st thou leave me on the brink of fate?
Can Charlotte leave me like a wretch cast off
Stay but a moment—oh, one parting look!
Am I so lost she will not grant me that?
I am content—now leave me to my fate;
Farewell to both!—and may you never bear
What I have borne?—but we shall meet again—
'Tis not for ever that we now divide.
Charlotte.
No, for to-morrow we will meet again.
Werter.
To-morrow, Charlotte—;oh! oh! oh!
Albert.
Werter, farewell!
Some pitying angel guide thy steps,
And sooth thy soul to peace.
[Exeunt Albert and Charlotte.
Werter
solus.
She's fled!—the image of my soul is fled!
My other self, my only refuge's gone!
Then what remains for Werter but—despair.
Now grief! now sorrow! I am all thine own.
Ye shades of night! expand your sable wings,
Cover in darkness a deserted wretch!
29
Here let him fall forsaken and forgot,
And sigh in solitude his life away!
[Throws himself on the ground.
Enter SEBASTIAN and LEUTHROP.
Sebastian.
I fear the generous Albert has prevail'd,
For I have waited at the gate in vain:—
This way I know they met—Alas! how's this?
My friend upon the ground!—and senseless too!
O, Werter, speak!
Werter.
Away, I'll perish here.
Sebastian.
Look up my friend!—thy lov'd Sebastian calls,
Perhaps he brings thee peace!
Werter
(starting up.)
Who talks of peace?—
'Tis not to be found!—The Cherub sits on high,
And smiling mocks mankind—pursue it not,
For it will lead thee to a dangerous sea,
And there will vanish!—Rather, thou like me,
Plunge deep in sorrow! millions of fathoms deep;
And gorge upon despair!—'till satisfy
Thy hungry soul, and leave it nothing wanting!
Sebastian.
Oh, heaven! the thought of leaving all his soul holds dear,
Has, for a while, depriv'd him of his senses:
We must delude him hence.
30
Look, look, and read;
'Tis fate's dire volume! and on the bloody page,
Self murder's doom'd damnation!—and see! around
Avenging demons wait to lash their prey.—
Hark, how they yell!—and now they pull—they tear—
O, torture! torture!
(falls on Leuthrop, and is supported off.)
[Exeunt,
| Werter | |