University of Virginia Library

ACT. III.

SCENE III.

A grand Apartment in ALBERT's House.
ALBERT discovered amongst his Friends.
Albert.
Most welcome all!—O this kind friendly sight!
Doubles the pleasures of the bridal day,
And gives to Albert purest happiness!
But not alone to him—all, all shall share it—
For Charlotte like the fun, her power exerts;
She shines with equal lustre upon all;
Warms each cold heart, and chears each languid soul.
This day has made her mine—and for that gift
It shall be chronicl'd most sacred here!
But wherefore comes she not?

Enter LAURA.
Albert.
My gentle Laura,
Where is the truant bride?

Laura.
Alas! my Lord,
I left her musing on the hapless tale
Thy kindness had conceal'd—But now she heard
That Werter fled last night.

Albert.
Then could I share her grief!
For still I hop'd wishes would prevail.

Enter CHARLOTTE.
Albert.
My lovely partner—

Charlotte.
Pardon, my Lord,
This long neglect, but.—

Albert.
Nay, name it not—
These friends are come to mingle in the general joy,
And share your Albert's bliss.

Charlotte.
They are most welcome.

Albert.
Now would the measure of my joys be full,
Was there not wanting to compleat my hopes—
Charlotte—our mutual hopes—one honest friend!
One, whose aspiring virtues would have charm'd
Each heart to rapture—one, whose noble spirit
Merits of Albert.—

Charlotte.
If thy Charlotte's peace,
Or that her happiness be worth a thought,
Never, O never name him! Let the fatal sound
Sink in oblivion! so shall our mutual peace
Rise to perfection.

Albert.
I have no more to say—
Let music sound!

Here follows the EPITHALAMIUM set by Mr. RAUZZINI.
(appointed)
Albert
(to Charlotte, observing her sad.)
Music was won't to elevate your soul,
And double every joy!—why has it lost its charms?

Charlotte.
Oh, it recalls past actions of my life!
And brings to memory those unhappy thoughts
That ever pierce my soul—but, Albert, once
I had no sorrows—once no bitter thoughts
To wound reflection—then the lively sounds
Added new pleasures, and my ravish'd heart
Bounded with joy!—but now—

Albert.
Nay, it is not kind,
Thus to be mourning on the happy day
That makes thee mine—I shall in truth complain.
If sorrow thus engages all your thoughts,
And none are left for Albert, or for love.

Charlotte.
'Twas but a sudden weakness of the soul,
Which now is fled—but oh! thou generous man.
Think not I mean to sorrow at the fate
That made thee mine.—No, by you powers above,
I would be not else but what I am,
To be the mistress of a monarch's love!

Albert.
And I would rather of thy gifts partake
Than share the pleasures of the fairest fair,
That yet trod earth.

(A servant enters and whispers Albert.)
Albert.
We will attend—my friends
We're summon'd to partake the feast—lead on—
Let sorrow's vapours now disperse away,
And general pleasure crown this festive hour.

[Exeunt. Flourish of music.
SCENE, WERTER's Apartment.
Enter WERTER and LEUTHROP.
(Werter giving Leuthrop letters.)
These to my mother—from Sebastian these—
Get them convey'd and meet me here again,
And mark me—that I prevail'd upon my friend
Not to depart from Manheim 'till to-night,
Must be divulg'd to none.

Leuthrop.
I shall obey, sir.

Werter.
How goes the night?

Leuthrop.
'Tis near the second watch.

Werter.
Then, time, I must no longer trifle with thee—
Something must be done—and that most quickly—
Yet, what is to be done?—O, 'tis an awful
Moment! and I must use it like a man—
Away, and leave me.

Leuthrop.
His disorder'd speech,
And the wild fury in his looks, foretell
Some new misfortune—I will not leave him.

(goes up the stage.
Werter
(pausing.)
Death is the common medicine for woe—
The peaceful haven, which the shatter'd bark
In tempests ever seeks.—'Tis but to raise
The curtain, and another scene succeeds—
Then why delay'd?—why yet these doubtful fears?
Oh! 'tis the mind that shudders at the thought
Of dark uncertainty!

Leuthrop
(coming forward.)
O, Sir, forgive the ardour of your slave,
Who rudely thus intrudes—but much I fear
Some new affliction wounds my master's peace,
Which I perhaps can lessen or avert.

Werter.
Away! away!

Leuthrop.
O do but try me, sir!
I would walk bare-foot o'er the boundless world,
And every step that wrung my aged feet,
Should be a shoot of comfort to my soul,
Could I but mitigate my master's woes?

Werter.
If thou would'st shew obedience to my will,
This instant leave me, nor increase my pain.
[Exit Leuthrop.
(pausing again.)
Yet in this world can I e'er hope for peace?
Peace!—when my Charlotte is another's wife.
E'en now perhaps she languishes away,
And melts transported in her Albert's arm.—
Ha! that dread thought works inward on my soul
Like darting poison—and my mad'ning brain
Is swell'd with desperation—O, 'tis an hour
Of horrors! and it calls for horrid deeds—
One of the three must die—that heaven decrees—
Shall it be Albert? shall these yet spotless hands
Shed virtue's blood? and shall the honest fall,
To let the guilty take their happier seats?
O damn'd thought!—I shudder at myself,
For bare imagination of the deed!
Shall Charlotte then?—shall that sweet angel form
Be torn—be mangled—and in Werter's cause?
Oh, cruel! cruel fate!—I'll pause no more—
One thought alone possesses all my soul,
And that shall be obey'd—Werter himself shall die!
This long has struggl'd in my wither'd brain,
And now it bursts, and my whole soul's at peace!
In such a glorious cause who would not fall?
Now, Albert, live! and bless that perfect fair,
For whom I liv'd, for whom—I soon shall die—
And, Charlotte, when the grave holds all that's left
Of that unhappy agitated being,
Who knew no pleasure but in sight of thee!
Oh! when you wander thro' your long-lov'd vale,
Then think of Werter!—think how oft his sighs
Have fill'd the sounding woods!—how oft his tears
Have dew'd the weeping grass!—and if you wish
To feed on sorrows never tasted yet!
Look!—towards the church-yard that contains his bones,
And see! with pity, how the evening breeze
Waves the high grass that grows upon his grave!
Alas!—these thoughts recal such tender scenes!
They quite unman me.

Re-enter LEUTHROP.
Leuthrop.
In tears—O heaven!
Teach me some way to sooth my master's woes—
My gentle master.—

Werter.
Whence this intrusion?

Leuthrop.
I have obey'd your orders, Sir!

Werter.
'Tis well.—
(pausing.)
To night shall close the scene—the midnight watch
Shall be the hour—e're that—she may be seen.—
Attend me to my chamber!—and now high heaven!
Aid me with calmness 'till I meet my fate!

[Exeunt.