Chapter 15

           Suchwasthehistoryofmybelovedcottagers.Itimpressedmedeeply.Ilearned,fromtheviewsofsociallifewhichitdeveloped,toadmiretheirvirtuesandtodeprecatethevicesofmankind.

           "AsyetIlookeduponcrimeasadistantevil,benevolenceandgenerositywereeverpresentbeforeme,incitingwithinmeadesiretobecomeanactorinthebusyscenewheresomanyadmirablequalitieswerecalledforthanddisplayed.Butingivinganaccountoftheprogressofmyintellect,ImustnotomitacircumstancewhichoccurredinthebeginningofthemonthofAugustofthesameyear.

           "OnenightduringmyaccustomedvisittotheneighbouringwoodwhereIcollectedmyownfoodandbroughthomefiringformyprotectors,Ifoundonthegroundaleathernportmanteaucontainingseveralarticlesofdressandsomebooks.Ieagerlyseizedtheprizeandreturnedwithittomyhovel.Fortunatelythebookswerewritteninthelanguage,theelementsofwhichIhadacquiredatthecottage;theyconsistedofParadiseLost,avolumeofPlutarch’sLives,andtheSorrowsofWerter.Thepossessionofthesetreasuresgavemeextremedelight;Inowcontinuallystudiedandexercisedmyminduponthesehistories,whilstmyfriendswereemployedintheirordinaryoccupations.

           "Icanhardlydescribetoyoutheeffectofthesebooks.Theyproducedinmeaninfinityofnewimagesandfeelings,thatsometimesraisedmetoecstasy,butmorefrequentlysunkmeintothelowestdejection.IntheSorrowsofWerter,besidestheinterestofitssimpleandaffectingstory,somanyopinionsarecanvassedandsomanylightsthrownuponwhathadhithertobeentomeobscuresubjectsthatIfoundinitanever-endingsourceofspeculationandastonishment.