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Title: The Sorrows of Young Werther

Author: J.W. von Goethe

Editor: Nathen Haskell Dole

Translator: R.D. Boylan

Posting Date: January 2, 2009 [EBook #2527]
Release Date: February, 2001

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER ***

Produced by Michael Potter, and Irene Potter

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