Title:  The Sorrows of Young Werther

Author:  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Release Date:  February, 2001 [EBook #2527] [This file was last updated on April 13, 2003]

Edition:  11

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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The Sorrows of Young Werther by J.W. von Goethe
Translated by R.D.  Boylan
Edited by Nathen Haskell Dole

The Sorrows of Young Werther

PREFACE

I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn of the story of poor Werther, and here present it to you, knowing that you will thank me for it.  To his spirit and character you cannot refuse your admiration and love:  to his fate you will not deny your tears.

And thou, good soul, who sufferest the same distress as he endured once, draw comfort from his sorrows; and let this little book be thy friend, if, owing to fortune or through thine own fault, thou canst not find a dearer companion.

BOOK I

May 4.

How happy I am that I am gone!  My dear friend, what a thing is the heart of man!  To leave you, from whom I have been inseparable, whom I love so dearly, and yet to feel happy!  I know you will forgive me.  Have not other attachments been specially appointed by fate to torment a head like mine?  Poor Leonora! and yet I was not to blame.  Was it my fault, that, whilst the peculiar charms of her sister afforded me an agreeable entertainment, a passion for me was engendered in her feeble heart?  And yet am I wholly blameless?  Did I not encourage her emotions?  Did I not feel charmed at those truly genuine expressions of nature, which, though but little mirthful in reality, so often amused us?  Did I not —­ but oh! what is man, that he dares so to accuse himself?  My dear friend I promise you I will improve; I will no longer, as has ever been my habit, continue to ruminate on every petty vexation which fortune may dispense; I will enjoy the present, and the past shall be for me the past.  No doubt you are right, my best of friends, there would be far less suffering amongst mankind, if men —­ and God knows why they are so fashioned —­ did not employ their imaginations so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow, instead of bearing their present lot with equanimity.  Be kind enough to inform my mother that I shall attend to her business to the best of my ability, and shall give her the earliest information about it.  I have seen my aunt, and find that she is very far