University of Virginia Library

ACT. V.

SCENE ALBERT's Apartment.
Enter SEBASTIAN and SERVANT.
Sebastian.
Have you inform'd your Lady,
Sebastian waits her leisure?

Servant.
I have, Sir,

Exit.
Sebastian.
O may she grant the favour I entreat,
And with attractions that might captivate
A heart less weak, less ardent, than my Friend's!
Enter CHARLOTTE.
Your pardon, lady, that I thus intrude—
I come deputed by a wretched friend,
To tell you, he repents his follies past,
And will offend no more—'Tis his interest
To leave this place to-night—Yet e'er he goes,
He could have wish'd for one parting look,
One short farewell, to cheer him on his way—
And if my wishes will not lessen his,
I add them from my soul.

Charlotte.
Oh Sir! your friend
Has but deceiv'd you with this flattering tale.
A secret passion struggles in his breast,
Which when reveal'd.—

Sebastian.
A secret passion!

Charlotte.
Alas! I fear
He has resolv'd upon a fatal act,
Which you, Sebastian, only can prevent.

Sebastian.
Heavens! what act?

Charlotte.
Suicide!

Sebastian.
It cannot be—
He is too great to stoop to such a thought.

Charlotte.
Too well I know it—E'er we parted last,
In a fond moment he betray'd his purpose;
And I unable to support the conflict,
Left him, I fear, determin'd on the deed—
Fly, Sir, this instant, and avert the blow.
Why dost thou hesitate?

Sebastian.
If it be true,
I scorn him from my soul.

Charlotte.
O do not pause! be swifter than the wind,
Or he will fall for ever.

Sebastian.
When virtue's dead, he is not fit to live;
Had one good sentiment inspir'd his breast,
It wou'd have prompted him to cherish life.
Has it no object then!—does he not owe
Distress his succour, penury his aid,
Grief his assistance, merit his support!
Has heaven, his country, and his friends no claim?
Oh! by my soul, he merits instant death:
That he may feel the agonies that wait
On guilt so great as his!

Charlotte.
Deluded man!
You paint the various vices of your friend
With all the terrors that attend on death;
And yet would let him fall, when but a word
From thee, Sebastian, might protect him still;
The guilt is thine then, for by thee he dies:
And well remember, sir, when fortune smil'd,
You were the pilot of his prosperous bark;
But at a moment, when a tempest rose,
And dangers thicken'd round, you shun'd your post,
And, like a coward, left him to the storm.

Sebastian.
No more, no more,
In the wild transport of a heart too warm,
I had forgot my friend—let me begone!
And yet protect him from the desperate act.

Charlotte.
Yet hold, compassion prompts me to return him this—
If he relents,
And turns with horror from this act,
I once will see him more.

Sebastian.
Generous offer!
This, this alone, will make him shrink from death:
Methinks he stands on danger's naked cliff,
And tottering ponders on the gulph below;
From that I'll snatch him, fold him in my arms,
And waft him to the blessed shores of peace.

[Exit.
Charlotte
solus.
O what a fate is mine!—a generous lover,
E'er now resolving on a sudden death,
And I his murderer! a faithful husband,
Who long has lov'd, long watched my cruel heart,
Offend'd and incens'd!—ah! there's the rock
On which my shatter'd vessel will be crush'd:
Reproof from Albert will afflict me more
Than all my sorrows past.

Enter ALBERT.
Albert.
The more I think, the more I am perplex'd—
E'en now I met Sebastian at the portal,
And Werter left her not an hour ago:
Can she be false!—can heaven's own image!
Can Charlotte?—but ah! I reason as I wish—
Wou'd she were true! and memory cou'd forget
The various follies that my fondness lavish'd—
Oh! I deserve the torments I endure.

Charlotte.
Ha! so disturb'd—then are my fears confirm'd:
I hope, my lord, no sudden accident
Delay'd your journey.

Albert.
I crave your pardon, Charlotte;
It is impossible! that angel form
Wou'd blush at frailty—but be it as it may,
I still adore, and still confess her power.
O my dear partner!

Charlotte.
In tears, my lord:
What can this mean!

Albert.
Have I no cause to weep?

Charlotte.
I know of none.

Albert.
Of none! my Charlotte.

Charlotte.
No; on my soul—if innocence—

Albert.
Innocence!

Charlotte.
Oh! on my knees let me intreat thee, Albert,
Unfold this mystery!—let not my mind
Be tortured with suspence—speak! quickly speak,
Or sudden madness will distract my brain.

Albert.
Nay, do not kneel—I prithee leave me now—
My mind is much disturb'd.—

Charlotte.
No! kill me quite.
Let me not linger in my pain—oh, Albert!
Thus, thus I'll cling, thus grovel at thy feet,
'Till thou hast freed my doubts!—If I'm the cause
Thy fears are false—oh, by mine honour, false!

Albert.
Honour!

Charlotte.
Ha! you mock me still.

Albert.
Yet, leave me:
A new unusual fury rages here,
And soon 'twill blaze abroad—away—

Charlotte.
'Tis well.
Albert mistrusts his Charlotte—yes, high heaven!
He doubts her honour, he suspects her love:
Oh hear! and answer if she merits this!

Albert
(laying hold of her.)
Werter.

Charlotte
(much confused.)
Ha! what of him?

Albert.
O, Guilt! Guilt!

Charlotte.
Guilt!

Albert.
Yes, guilt!
Hast thou not art enough to hide thy shame?
But thus must boast it! thus to the very face
Of him thou hast abus'd.

Charlotte.
If it be guilt to suffer keen reproach,
Regret, affliction, terror, and despair,
With every torture that can rack the soul!
Rather than wander from my truth to thee,
In action, word or thought—if this be guilt!
I own, my lord, the justice of your charge,
And well deserves the phrase.

Albert.
This syren's song
No more shall captivate my pliant soul;
I've been too long amus'd, too long deceiv'd;
My love has been long abus'd, my liberal conduct
Scorn'd and derid'd—but thou shalt know
I'm not that dupe, that easy placid fool
Thy falshood wish'd! no; I'll exert my powers,
Enforce my rights, and be a tyrant too:
Yes; mark me, madam, I charge thee on thy truth,
Nay, on thy peril, never to be seen
Or found in converse with thy minion more.

Charlotte.
Minion! must I bear this?

Albert.
Ay, and more, much more.

Charlotte.
No, Albert, a little while ago
You found me fond, affectionate, and weak,
Made up of folly, levity and fears;
But your own rashness has restor'd my sense,
And I despise your threats—minion! O shame!
Use such another word, and here I vow,
If e'er I deign to listen to you more,
'Tis but with scorn—unalterable scorn.

Albert.
This poor pretended spirit is in vain,
Thy stubborn heart shall bleed.

Charlotte.
You little know
The heart of Charlotte, if you think 'twill bleed
At follies idle race—no, my lord,
When you return to your accustom'd peace,
And converse like yourself I am your own;
Proud to indulge, and happy to obey you;
But when you lose that calmness you profess,
And thus insult me, I am only taught
That Albert is no better than a tyrant,
Whose vain presumption merits my disdain.

Albert.
Away, away—I'll trifle time no more;
Now, hear my last resolve:—by heaven I love thee
More than romantic fancy can express,
And wou'd not leave thee for eternal peace;
But if you still persist
To let another triumph in your heart,
Thou art no longer mine—we part for ever!

Charlotte.
Ungenerous man!
Is it for this my soul resign'd its love,
And kept its vow to thee! Is it for this
He you abuse in endless anguish lives,
Perhaps—I cannot speak— (weeps.)


Albert.
Ha! dost thou weep! perfidious woman, go,
Go to thy Werter, revel in his arms,
Albert will never interrupt you more,

[Exit.
Charlotte.
When, angry heaven, shall thy vengeance cease!
When shall this little victim be allow'd
A momentary calm—never, never—
Yet something—myself shall save him from
The horrid deed.

Enter WERTER (supported by Leuthrop.)
Werter.
A little onward bear me, faithful Leuthrop,
To sigh my life out at my Charlotte's feet,
And I shall die content.

Charlotte.
O heavens, was Sebastian—

Werter.
He was deceiv'd—I yielded to his wish,
And while he left me to prepare for Manheim,
Compleated my design—it was my fate
To catch a sad distemper in the heart,
Which grew contagious, and while it canker'd here
Infected all who sooth'd—could I then live
But to destroy the sharers of my pains!

Charlotte.
Haste to Sebastian, tell him all—away—
Some speedy antidote may yet be found:
He cannot, shall not die.

Werter.
Give me some comfort,
For I am coward all—I fear'd to brave
Life's common chances, and I shudder now
To meet that death I sought—horror! horror!
I dare not think upon the deed I've done;
I have invaded nature's sacred law,
Rebell'd against heaven itself!—O my Charlotte!
Is there no hope of pardon?

Charlotte.
Cruel, cruel hour!
And must I lose thee, Werter!

Werter.
Tell Albert to forgive me,
For I have injur'd and abus'd him much:
Forgive me too thyself!—could I but live!
It will not be—ha! that pang was death's—
It will not be—mercy, mercy, heaven!

Dies.
(Charlotte falls on the body.)
Enter ALBERT, SEBASTIAN, and LEUTHROP.
Sebastian.
The sharpest torments cruelty suggests,
Wou'd be indulgence to the pangs I feel:
Who but Sebastian wou'd have left his friend!
Had I remain'd and sooth'd him as I ought,
This ne'er had happen'd—curst! curst reflection!
I am the fatal cause of all these sorrows.

Albert
(Weeping over Charlotte,)
No, 'tis from Albert every sorrow flows.
Had I not been the weakest, worst of men,
I had resign'd my Charlotte! and been happy
In seeing her so exquisitely blest.
What am I now! thou injur'd innocence!
Pronounce my doom!

Charlotte.
(Starting up.)
Talk not to me—away!
Be swift as light'ning, or you'll be too late:
He's in your fatal vale!—I left him there,
His sword was drawn, and death sat brooding by;
Fly or he's murder'd!—Hark! a shriek—a shriek!—
Ah! now! 'tis past, the sweet deluder's vanish'd,
And I must wander o'er the world alone.

Sebastian.
(To Charlotte.)
Let not excess of grief
O'ercome thy reason, but with pity look
On wretched Albert.

Charlotte.
Albert! I know him well,
He is my husband, guardian of my honour!
Honour! no more of that—no more of that—
That kill'd the innocent!—Oh my poor heart!

Albert.
Hold, Hold my brain!—will none attempt to sooth her!
Will none assist! I can no longer bear
The madening sight!

(Falls on Leuthrop.)
Charlotte.
There—there's his sepulchre—
Ha! see it shakes—The tomb is all convuls'd!
Soft—now it yawns, and gently steals apart—
'Tis burst asunder!—Here the body lies!
Alas! how chang'd! These tears, neglect'd shade,
Shall wash thy rankling wounds—These hands—Ah! look,
His eye-balls roll! he tremble's in his shroud—
He is alive! and all will still be well.
See! see! to heaven he mounts;
Legions of angels hover round his form,
He beckons me! Werter, I come! I come—
And now let honour part us if it can!

Sebastian.