"I can see the house now." "Thank you." "I do not know if I awake... or if I am dreaming." "Everything around me... seems like paradise." "The woods are rustling... like the strings of a harp... and I can see a wondrous world... before my eyes." "Mother Nature, full of grace... queen of time and space... deign to welcome one... who passes by and greets you... a humble mortal!" "What a mysterious silence!" "What sublime peace!" "How beautiful it is here... this wall and this shaded place... this clear spring... and the coolness of the shade." "There is not a single hedge or bush... which is not in flower... or full of life." "Mother Nature... in your eternal youth... and in your purity, fill me... with your heady perfumes." "And you, 0 sun... shower upon me... your warm rays." "Monsieur Werther!" "You have come to visit... my humble hermitage... or rather, my little kingdom... and I am truly honored." "My daughter... who has taken care of the household... and of all these spoiled children... since the day... when their mother left us." "Please, forgive me, monsieur... for having kept you waiting... but I am, in fact... a very doting mama... and my children insist... that I be the one... to serve them their daily bread." "What a charming image... of innocence and love!" "It delights both my eyes... and my heart." "What a dream it would be... to spend my whole life... soothed by those eyes... and by that tender voice." "Monsieur Werther." "Farewell, Father!" "Farewell, my dearest!" "We must part." "This is our house." "It is time for sleep." "If only I could look... into those eyes forever." "They would be my guide." "Those gentle eyes would be my hope... and my only source of joy." "What do I care for sleep?" "The stars and the sun... can take turns... appearing in the sky." "I no longer know if it is day... or if it is night." "My whole being is indifferent... to everything but you." "But you know nothing about me." "My soul has touched... your soul, Charlotte... and I have seen enough to know... the woman you are." "You know me?" "You are the finest... and the most beautiful... of all creatures." "No!" "Do you want me to appeal... to those you call your children?" "Oh, dear, yes, my children." "What you say is true!" "I think the image of my mother... lives on with everyone here." "As for me, I think I can see... a smile on her face... when I look after... the children-- my children." "Ah!" "I would dearly love for her... to come back to this house... and see for herself... for at least a short while... that I have kept the promise..." "I made to her in her last moments." "Dearest Mama... can you still see us?" "0h, Charlotte... angel of duty... the blessing of heaven... shine down on you." "If you had but known her!" "What a cruel thing it is... to lose someone... who was so dear to us." "What tender memories we have... and how bitterly we miss her!" "Why is it that those dear to us should die?" "The children felt it very deeply... and they often ask... in the most inconsolable way... why the men dressed in black... took their mother away." "What a dream!" "What ecstasy!" "what JOY'" "I would give my life... to gaze forever into those eyes... and at that sweet face, that adorable mouth... so pert and pretty... and to keep them... all to myself!" "What a divine smile!" "0h, Charlotte..." "I love you... and I respect you." "We are both mad." "Let's go home!" "But we will see each other again?" "Albert!" "Albert?" "Yes, he is the man that my mother... made me swear to take as my husband." "As God is my witness... for one moment, while I was with you..." "I had forgotten the vow... which I remember now." "And you will remain true... to this promise!" "I would die." "Charlotte!" "Another man!" "Her husband!" "Three months." "Is it now three months since we were married." "How quickly the time has passed!" "And yet it seems... that we have always been together." "Albert!" "If you knew how happy you have made me." "But I wonder if the young girl... who was so happy and smiling... in the bosom of her family... is happy as my wife... and has no regrets?" "When a woman... has beside her at all times... the noblest of spirits... and the very best of souls... what can she possibly regret?" "What sweet words!" "When I hear them... my happiness is complete... and my heart sings with joy." "Another man is her husband!" "Another man is her husband!" "Sweet Lord... if you had allowed me... to go through life with this angel... bl' my side... my whole existence would have been... one long, heartfelt prayer." "But now, at times..." "I am afraid I will blaspheme." "I am the one... she might have loved!" "I should have held against my heart... the most divine... and the most beautiful being... ever created by God Himself." "I am the one she might have loved!" "The very moment..." "I first glimpsed heaven... the doors slammed shut." "The doors slammed shut!" "I am the one she might have loved!" "I should have held against my heart... the most divine... and the most beautiful being... ever created by God Himself." "I am the one she might have loved!" "My whole body is trembling." "My whole being weeps." "My soul is filled with happiness... but, my friend, my happiness is tinged... with remorse." "Remorse?" "I know that you are brave and loyal... but the lady who is now my wife... was once attached to you while she was still free... and perhaps... by her side you had a dream... which is now gone forever?" "Seeing her so radiant and so tender..." "I am only too aware of the price... of the precious thing granted to me... and I can well understand... the cruel loss you suffered." "I understand such torment... and am able to forgive it." "You say that I am loyal and honest." "If I had suffered... such a bitter blow... when I withdrew my hand from the hand that held it..." "I would go far away from you never to return." "But just as after a storm... a wave becomes calm... my heart no longer suffers... from having given up a dream." "Anyone who can read... the depths of my consciousness... will find nothing other... than true friendship there." "This will be my share... of happiness on earth!" "Brother, look at the beautiful bouquet." "For the pastor I have plundered... the whole garden." "And then there is dancing." "I am counting on you for the first minuet." "But how gloomy you look!" "Today, Monsieur Werther... everyone must be happy." "Joy is in the air." "Did I tell the truth?" "Isn't my love for her... the very purest love... like divine love?" "Has any base desire... ever entered my soul?" "Yes, I was lying!" "God!" "I must suffer forever... or I must live a lie." "It is too much shame, too much weakness!" "I have to leave." "Leave?" "No!" "The only thing I want is to be near her." "How renewed one feels... through prayer." "Charlotte!" "Are you coming to the pastor's as well?" "What for?" "Just to see you with someone else?" "How long ago is that day... filled with tender intimacy... when my eyes met yours... for the first time!" "The day we both... stayed for so long... close to one another, saying nothing... bathed in the golden light... which shone from heaven... and seemed to smile... on our silent love." "Albert loves me... and I am his wife!" "Albert?" "Love you?" "Who wouldn't love you?" "Werther!" "Isn't there some other woman here... worthy of your love... a woman who is still free?" "I am no longer free." "Why love me?" "Ask a madman... why he has lost his sanity!" "Stop!" "Our fate must forever... keep us apart." "Go away!" "Just leave!" "Leave!" "Ah. what are you saying?" "What I must say." "What is expected of me!" "Who says so?" "My duty!" "Sometimes separation can... make the pain less bitter." "But nothing can make me forget!" "Why forget?" "0n the contrary, think of Charlotte." "Think of her inner peace." "Be strong, be good." "Yes!" "My only desire is... that you should be happy... but never to see you again... that's impossible." "No!" "My friend, I will not... hold you to that." "And I do not wish to send you... into exile forever." "You will come back... soon." "Let's say... at Christmas!" "Charlotte!" "Until Christmas." "Yes, I will do what she asks... for her peace of mind." "I will do it." "But if my strength fails me..." "I shall be the one... who will find eternal peace." "Why should death cause us such fear?" "Our own death?" "A curtain lifts up... and you pass through to the other side." "That is what they call death!" "Do we offend heaven... when we cease to suffer?" "When a child returns early... from a journey... rather than bear him any resentment... at the first sound of his footsteps... through the house... his father, with delight... hugs him in a long embrace." "0 God, my creator... would you be any less merciful?" "No!" "You in your mercy... would not drive away... into the night... your poor, naked son." "Your son would sense your smile... amongst the stars... and would come towards you... knowing he was already forgiven!" "Father, Father, Father... although I do not know you..." "I have faith in you." "Speak to my heart." "Call me to you." "Call me!" "Are you coming!" "The procession is arriving." "I don't mean to reproach you... but you're the only one missing." "Forgive me, I'm leaving!" " You're leaving?" " Right now!" "Right now?" "But you'll be coming back tomorrow?" "0r soon?" "No!" "Never!" "Farewell!" "Monsieur Werther!" "He's gone round the corner... disappeare d..." "My God!" "90ne!" "I was so happy till now!" "What is it?" "She's crying!" "Sophie!" "0h, sister!" "Monsieur Werther has left." " Werther!" " Forever!" "He just told me... and then he rushed off like a madman!" "Forever!" "He still loves her!" "Werther, Werther." "Who could have imagined... the place which he would occupy in my heart today?" "Since he went away... in spite of myself, I can find no pleasure... and he fills my very soul." "His letters..." "I read them again and again." "They are so charming... but they are also so sad." "I should destroy them... but I cannot!" ""I am writing to you... from my little room." "A heavy, gray December sky... hangs over me... like a shroud." "I am alone... alone... forever alone."" "Ah, he has no one... no one to show him tenderness... or to comfort him!" "God!" "How was I able to show... such sad courage... to force him to endure this exile... and this loneliness?" ""I hear the happy shouts of children... beneath my window... and my thoughts stray to the happy time... when all the dear little ones played around us." "They have probably forgotten me!"" "No, Werther." "In their minds... you are still a vivid memory... and when you come back" "But should he return?" "Ah!" "This last letter... makes me go cold and fills me with fear!" ""You said, 'Until Christmas'... and I shouted out, 'Never!" "'" "We shall soon see... which one of us was telling the truth!" "But if I should not come to you... on the day we agreed... do not reproach me." "Weep for me!"" "Do not reproach me." "Weep for me!" ""Yes, from those eyes... so full of charm... when you reread these lines... tears will fall... oh, Charlotte... and you will tremble!"" "And you will tremble." "Good day, sister!" "I have come to hear your news." "Albert is away." "We don't see you anymore... and Father is very unhappy." "My child!" "But you are unwell?" "What makes you think that?" "Your hands are freezing... and your eyes are red." "I can see." "No, it is nothing." "Sometimes I feel... a bit sad... and lonely." "But if there is anything worrying me..." "I can't think what it is... and you can see... now I am smiling." "That's it, you must laugh." "Laugh as in the old days." "The old days!" "Listen, Charlotte, believe me... don't stay here." "Come home and we shall... make you forget all your cares." "Father had the children learn some wonderful songs... for Christmas." "Christmas!" "Oh, that letter!" ""If you do not see me... on the day we agreed... do not reproach me." "Weep for me, weep for me!"" "So it's agreed." "You will come?" "Yes, perhaps." "No, no, you will come!" "I will come." "Really?" "Yes, really." "I promise, my darling." "You will?" "Yes, I will." "You'll come." "Oh, come here." "Let me kiss you again!" "Oh, my courage fails me!" "0 Lord, my God!" "I have followed your laws." "I have done and will always do my duty." "You are my only hope... but this is a hard test... and my heart is very weak!" "0 Lord, my God!" "You can see into my soul, alas." "It is wounded and filled with fear!" "Have mercy on me... and protect me in my weakness!" "My good Lord!" "Come to my aid!" "Hear my pfai/9'--~" "my good Lord!" "You are my only hope... 0 Lord God." "Heavens!" "Werther!" "Yes, it is me." "I have returned, but even far away from you... not an hour has gone by... not a single moment when I have not said..." ""I would rather die... than see her again!"" "But then the day came... which you named for my return... and I set out." "On your doorstep..." "I was still hesitating." "I wanted to run away." "But what difference does all that make now?" "I am here!" "Why such bitter words?" "Why shouldn't you return... when everyone here was looking forward to seeing you?" "My father... the children" "And you?" "You as well?" "Look!" "The house is the same... as when you left it!" "And when you look around... doesn't it look as though it remembers?" "Yes, I can see... that nothing here has changed... except people's hearts!" "Every object is still... in its appointed place." "Every object is still... in its appointed place." "This is the piano... which sung out my happiness... or trembled at my pain... when your voice... joined with mine." "When your voice... joined with mine." "These are the books... over which we would so often pore... our heads close together." "And these weapons!" "One day..." "I touched them with my hand." "I was already impatient... for the long sleep for which I yearn!" "And these are the poems of Ossian... which you had begun to translate." "Translate!" "Ah!" "My dreams often floated away... with the words of these poems... but it was you, dear poet... rather than me... who acted as my interpreter!" "My very soul is here!" "Why should I awake... 0 zephyr of spring?" "I can feel your gentle caresses on my face... but it is not long now... to the season of storms... and sadness." "Why should I awake... 0 zephyr of spring?" "Tomorrow, in the valley... a traveler will arrive... who will recall the glory of my youth... and his eyes will search... in vain for that splendor." "They will find nothing... other than gloom and misery!" "Why should I awake... 0 zephyr of spring?" "Don't finish it!" "Alas!" "The despair... this gloom!" "It sounds just like me" "Did I hear that correctly?" "In that trembling voice... in those tender eyes filled with tears... is that an admission?" "Oh, please be quiet!" "Why go on deceiving ourselves?" "I beg you!" "But we are both lying... when we say we have overcome... the undying love... which trembles in our hearts." "Werther!" "A first sweet kiss... all I dream of and desire... happiness so long awaited... will be mine today." "It already burns my lips... which long for it." "A kiss is all I am asking... the first kiss." "Oh, I am going out of my mind!" "You do love me!" "You do love me!" "No!" "Can we possibly forget everything which comes between us?" " You love me!" " Have mercy!" "No longer any remorse." "No longer any pain." " Have mercy!" " Nothing exists apart from us." "Nothing else matters." "Dear Lord, protect me." "Only love is true." "Love is divine." "Protect me, 0 Lord." "I love you." "I love you." "Oh, what am I doing... in his arms?" "Forgive me!" "No!" "You shall never see me again!" "Charlotte!" "You are the one I am running away from." "My soul is in despair." "Farewell for the very last time!" "But no!" "It is not possible." "Listen to me, I beg you!" "Come back!" "You shall be sacred to me." "Come back." "Come back!" "Nothing!" "Not a word!" "She is silent." "So be it!" "Farewell then!" "Charlotte has dictated... ml' fate!" "Go into mourning, 0 nature!" "Your son, your beloved son... your lover is going to die... taking away with him eternal pain." "My tomb can now open." "Werther has returned." "He was seen entering town." "No one here?" "And the door open onto the street." "What is going on?" "Charlotte!" "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "You look shaken, anxious." "I was startled." "Who has been here?" "Here?" "Tell me!" "A message." "From Werther!" "My God!" ""I am leaving... on a long journey." "Would you please lend me your pistols?"" "He's leaving!" ""May God protect you both."" "Something terrible will happen!" "Give them to him!" "Who?" "Me?" "Of course." "What a look!" "0 God, please do not let me... get there too late!" "Werther, Werther!" "No one." "Oh, God!" "Blood!" "No!" "No!" "It's impossible!" "He can't be dead!" "Werther!" "Werther!" "Can you hear me?" "Say something!" "Oh, how terrible!" "Whose voice is that?" "0h, Charlotte... it's you." "Forgive me!" "Me forgive you?" "I'm the one who should be forgiven for taking your life." "The blood coming from your wound..." "I'm the one who spilled it." "No, you only did... what was right and proper." "I bless you with my whole soul." "For this death... you are innocent of it... and it spares me remorse!" "But I must get help!" "No!" "Don't call anyone." "It would be to no avail!" "Just give me your hand." "You see?" "I need help... from no one but you." "And I also do not want... anyone to come... to tear us apart." "We are fine like this!" "In my last moments..." "I am happy." "I shall die telling you... how much I adore you!" "And I, Werther..." "I also love you!" "From the very first day..." "I saw you..." "I have felt a chain... which could not be broken... joining us both together!" "Lost in my own sense of duty..." "I preferred to let you suffer... and so as not to become lost myself..." "I lost you instead!" "Goom" "Go on, I beg you!" "Death grows near... but before she snatches you from me..." "I shall at least have granted you... the kiss you asked for." "Your soul and mine... shall become one forever." "This one kiss will drive away forever... all our troubles... and our sadness!" "All our pain!" "We shall forget everything!" "We shall forget everything!" "Forget everything!" "Noel, Noel, Noel." "My God!" "Happy voices and laughter... at such a cruel moment." "Jesus is born!" "Behold our divine master... kings and shepherds of Israel!" "It's the children... or angels." "Yes, the song is of Noel... a song of salvation... a hymn of forgiveness... sung by innocents." "Werther!" "Why these tears?" "Do you believe that at this moment... my life is coming to an end?" "It is just the beginning!" "Don't you see?" "God grants us joy!" "Happiness is in the air." "Everyone is full of joy." "God grants us joy!" "His eyes are closing." "His hand is growing cold." "He is dying... dying!" "oh, pity, mercy!" "It can't be." "0h, Werther, say something." "Just a word!" "Death would not dare... snatch you out of my arms." "You will live!" "Look, I am not afraid of anything anymore." "No, Charlotte..." "I am dying" "I am." "But listen." "Down at the bottom of the cemetery... there are two great lime trees." "That's the place where..." "I would like to rest forever." "Be quiet!" "Mercy!" "If they won't allow it... if Christian soil... is denied to the body... of this unhappy soul... by the side of the road... in the lonely valley... erect a tomb for me." "The priest will look away... as he passes by." "Have mercy, Werther!" "But in secret... a woman will come... to visit the outcast... and by the sweet tears... which fall in her shadow... the poor man buried there... will consider himself blessed!" "Jesus is born!" "Behold our divine master... kings and shepherds of Israel!"