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diff --git a/42324-0.txt b/42324-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bf3869 --- /dev/null +++ b/42324-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7641 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42324 *** + + FRANKENSTEIN: + + OR, + + THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. + + BY MARY W. SHELLEY. + + AUTHOR OF THE LAST MAN, PERKIN WARBECK, &c. &c. + + [Transcriber's Note: This text was produced from a photo-reprint of + the 1831 edition.] + + + REVISED, CORRECTED, + AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION, + BY THE AUTHOR. + + LONDON: + HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, + NEW BURLINGTON STREET: + BELL AND BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH; + AND CUMMING, DUBLIN. + 1831. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The Publishers of the Standard Novels, in selecting "Frankenstein" for +one of their series, expressed a wish that I should furnish them with +some account of the origin of the story. I am the more willing to +comply, because I shall thus give a general answer to the question, so +very frequently asked me--"How I, when a young girl, came to think of, +and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea?" It is true that I am very +averse to bringing myself forward in print; but as my account will only +appear as an appendage to a former production, and as it will be +confined to such topics as have connection with my authorship alone, I +can scarcely accuse myself of a personal intrusion. + +It is not singular that, as the daughter of two persons of distinguished +literary celebrity, I should very early in life have thought of writing. +As a child I scribbled; and my favourite pastime, during the hours given +me for recreation, was to "write stories." Still I had a dearer pleasure +than this, which was the formation of castles in the air--the indulging +in waking dreams--the following up trains of thought, which had for +their subject the formation of a succession of imaginary incidents. My +dreams were at once more fantastic and agreeable than my writings. In +the latter I was a close imitator--rather doing as others had done, +than putting down the suggestions of my own mind. What I wrote was +intended at least for one other eye--my childhood's companion and +friend; but my dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; +they were my refuge when annoyed--my dearest pleasure when free. + +I lived principally in the country as a girl, and passed a considerable +time in Scotland. I made occasional visits to the more picturesque +parts; but my habitual residence was on the blank and dreary northern +shores of the Tay, near Dundee. Blank and dreary on retrospection I call +them; they were not so to me then. They were the eyry of freedom, and +the pleasant region where unheeded I could commune with the creatures of +my fancy. I wrote then--but in a most common-place style. It was beneath +the trees of the grounds belonging to our house, or on the bleak sides +of the woodless mountains near, that my true compositions, the airy +flights of my imagination, were born and fostered. I did not make myself +the heroine of my tales. Life appeared to me too common-place an affair +as regarded myself. I could not figure to myself that romantic woes or +wonderful events would ever be my lot; but I was not confined to my own +identity, and I could people the hours with creations far more +interesting to me at that age, than my own sensations. + +After this my life became busier, and reality stood in place of fiction. +My husband, however, was from the first, very anxious that I should +prove myself worthy of my parentage, and enrol myself on the page of +fame. He was for ever inciting me to obtain literary reputation, which +even on my own part I cared for then, though since I have become +infinitely indifferent to it. At this time he desired that I should +write, not so much with the idea that I could produce any thing worthy +of notice, but that he might himself judge how far I possessed the +promise of better things hereafter. Still I did nothing. Travelling, and +the cares of a family, occupied my time; and study, in the way of +reading, or improving my ideas in communication with his far more +cultivated mind, was all of literary employment that engaged my +attention. + +In the summer of 1816, we visited Switzerland, and became the neighbours +of Lord Byron. At first we spent our pleasant hours on the lake, or +wandering on its shores; and Lord Byron, who was writing the third canto +of Childe Harold, was the only one among us who put his thoughts upon +paper. These, as he brought them successively to us, clothed in all the +light and harmony of poetry, seemed to stamp as divine the glories of +heaven and earth, whose influences we partook with him. + +But it proved a wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined +us for days to the house. Some volumes of ghost stories, translated from +the German into French, fell into our hands. There was the History of +the Inconstant Lover, who, when he thought to clasp the bride to whom he +had pledged his vows, found himself in the arms of the pale ghost of her +whom he had deserted. There was the tale of the sinful founder of his +race, whose miserable doom it was to bestow the kiss of death on all the +younger sons of his fated house, just when they reached the age of +promise. His gigantic, shadowy form, clothed like the ghost in Hamlet, +in complete armour, but with the beaver up, was seen at midnight, by +the moon's fitful beams, to advance slowly along the gloomy avenue. The +shape was lost beneath the shadow of the castle walls; but soon a gate +swung back, a step was heard, the door of the chamber opened, and he +advanced to the couch of the blooming youths, cradled in healthy sleep. +Eternal sorrow sat upon his face as he bent down and kissed the forehead +of the boys, who from that hour withered like flowers snapt upon the +stalk. I have not seen these stories since then; but their incidents are +as fresh in my mind as if I had read them yesterday. + +"We will each write a ghost story," said Lord Byron; and his proposition +was acceded to. There were four of us. The noble author began a tale, a +fragment of which he printed at the end of his poem of Mazeppa. Shelley, +more apt to embody ideas and sentiments in the radiance of brilliant +imagery, and in the music of the most melodious verse that adorns our +language, than to invent the machinery of a story, commenced one founded +on the experiences of his early life. Poor Polidori had some terrible +idea about a skull-headed lady, who was so punished for peeping through +a key-hole--what to see I forget--something very shocking and wrong of +course; but when she was reduced to a worse condition than the renowned +Tom of Coventry, he did not know what to do with her, and was obliged to +despatch her to the tomb of the Capulets, the only place for which she +was fitted. The illustrious poets also, annoyed by the platitude of +prose, speedily relinquished their uncongenial task. + +I busied myself _to think of a story_,--a story to rival those which had +excited us to this task. One which would speak to the mysterious fears +of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror--one to make the reader dread +to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the +heart. If I did not accomplish these things, my ghost story would be +unworthy of its name. I thought and pondered--vainly. I felt that blank +incapability of invention which is the greatest misery of authorship, +when dull Nothing replies to our anxious invocations. _Have you thought +of a story?_ I was asked each morning, and each morning I was forced to +reply with a mortifying negative. + +Every thing must have a beginning, to speak in Sanchean phrase; and that +beginning must be linked to something that went before. The Hindoos give +the world an elephant to support it, but they make the elephant stand +upon a tortoise. Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist +in creating out of void, but out of chaos; the materials must, in the +first place, be afforded: it can give form to dark, shapeless +substances, but cannot bring into being the substance itself. In all +matters of discovery and invention, even of those that appertain to the +imagination, we are continually reminded of the story of Columbus and +his egg. Invention consists in the capacity of seizing on the +capabilities of a subject, and in the power of moulding and fashioning +ideas suggested to it. + +Many and long were the conversations between Lord Byron and Shelley, to +which I was a devout but nearly silent listener. During one of these, +various philosophical doctrines were discussed, and among others the +nature of the principle of life, and whether there was any probability +of its ever being discovered and communicated. They talked of the +experiments of Dr. Darwin, (I speak not of what the Doctor really did, +or said that he did, but, as more to my purpose, of what was then spoken +of as having been done by him,) who preserved a piece of vermicelli in a +glass case, till by some extraordinary means it began to move with +voluntary motion. Not thus, after all, would life be given. Perhaps a +corpse would be re-animated; galvanism had given token of such things: +perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought +together, and endued with vital warmth. + +Night waned upon this talk, and even the witching hour had gone by, +before we retired to rest. When I placed my head on my pillow, I did not +sleep, nor could I be said to think. My imagination, unbidden, possessed +and guided me, gifting the successive images that arose in my mind with +a vividness far beyond the usual bounds of reverie. I saw--with shut +eyes, but acute mental vision,--I saw the pale student of unhallowed +arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous +phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some +powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital +motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the +effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the +Creator of the world. His success would terrify the artist; he would +rush away from his odious handywork, horror-stricken. He would hope +that, left to itself, the slight spark of life which he had communicated +would fade; that this thing, which had received such imperfect +animation, would subside into dead matter; and he might sleep in the +belief that the silence of the grave would quench for ever the transient +existence of the hideous corpse which he had looked upon as the cradle +of life. He sleeps; but he is awakened; he opens his eyes; behold the +horrid thing stands at his bedside, opening his curtains, and looking on +him with yellow, watery, but speculative eyes. + +I opened mine in terror. The idea so possessed my mind, that a thrill of +fear ran through me, and I wished to exchange the ghastly image of my +fancy for the realities around. I see them still; the very room, the +dark _parquet_, the closed shutters, with the moonlight struggling +through, and the sense I had that the glassy lake and white high Alps +were beyond. I could not so easily get rid of my hideous phantom; still +it haunted me. I must try to think of something else. I recurred to my +ghost story,--my tiresome unlucky ghost story! O! if I could only +contrive one which would frighten my reader as I myself had been +frightened that night! + +Swift as light and as cheering was the idea that broke in upon me. "I +have found it! What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only +describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow." On the +morrow I announced that I had _thought of a story_. I began that day +with the words, _It was on a dreary night of November_, making only a +transcript of the grim terrors of my waking dream. + +At first I thought but of a few pages--of a short tale; but Shelley +urged me to develope the idea at greater length. I certainly did not owe +the suggestion of one incident, nor scarcely of one train of feeling, to +my husband, and yet but for his incitement, it would never have taken +the form in which it was presented to the world. From this declaration I +must except the preface. As far as I can recollect, it was entirely +written by him. + +And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper. I +have an affection for it, for it was the offspring of happy days, when +death and grief were but words, which found no true echo in my heart. +Its several pages speak of many a walk, many a drive, and many a +conversation, when I was not alone; and my companion was one who, in +this world, I shall never see more. But this is for myself; my readers +have nothing to do with these associations. + +I will add but one word as to the alterations I have made. They are +principally those of style. I have changed no portion of the story, nor +introduced any new ideas or circumstances. I have mended the language +where it was so bald as to interfere with the interest of the narrative; +and these changes occur almost exclusively in the beginning of the first +volume. Throughout they are entirely confined to such parts as are mere +adjuncts to the story, leaving the core and substance of it untouched. + +M. W. S. + +_London, October 15, 1831._ + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The event on which this fiction is founded, has been supposed, by Dr. +Darwin, and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of +impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as according the remotest +degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as +the basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely +weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the +interest of the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere +tale of spectres or enchantment. It was recommended by the novelty of +the situations which it developes; and, however impossible as a physical +fact, affords a point of view to the imagination for the delineating of +human passions more comprehensive and commanding than any which the +ordinary relations of existing events can yield. + +I have thus endeavoured to preserve the truth of the elementary +principles of human nature, while I have not scrupled to innovate upon +their combinations. The Iliad, the tragic poetry of Greece,--Shakspeare, +in the Tempest, and Midsummer Night's Dream,--and most especially +Milton, in Paradise Lost, conform to this rule; and the most humble +novelist, who seeks to confer or receive amusement from his labours, +may, without presumption, apply to prose fiction a licence, or rather a +rule, from the adoption of which so many exquisite combinations of human +feeling have resulted in the highest specimens of poetry. + +The circumstance on which my story rests was suggested in casual +conversation. It was commenced partly as a source of amusement, and +partly as an expedient for exercising any untried resources of mind. +Other motives were mingled with these, as the work proceeded. I am by +no means indifferent to the manner in which whatever moral tendencies +exist in the sentiments or characters it contains shall affect the +reader; yet my chief concern in this respect has been limited to the +avoiding the enervating effects of the novels of the present day, and to +the exhibition of the amiableness of domestic affection, and the +excellence of universal virtue. The opinions which naturally spring from +the character and situation of the hero are by no means to be conceived +as existing always in my own conviction; nor is any inference justly to +be drawn from the following pages as prejudicing any philosophical +doctrine of whatever kind. + +It is a subject also of additional interest to the author, that this +story was begun in the majestic region where the scene is principally +laid, and in society which cannot cease to be regretted. I passed the +summer of 1816 in the environs of Geneva. The season was cold and rainy, +and in the evenings we crowded around a blazing wood fire, and +occasionally amused ourselves with some German stories of ghosts, which +happened to fall into our hands. These tales excited in us a playful +desire of imitation. Two other friends (a tale from the pen of one of +whom would be far more acceptable to the public than any thing I can +ever hope to produce) and myself agreed to write each a story, founded +on some supernatural occurrence. + +The weather, however, suddenly became serene; and my two friends left me +on a journey among the Alps, and lost, in the magnificent scenes which +they present, all memory of their ghostly visions. The following tale is +the only one which has been completed. + +Marlow, September, 1817. + + + + +FRANKENSTEIN; + +OR, + +THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. + + + + +LETTER I. + + +_To Mrs. Saville, England._ + +St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17--. + +You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the +commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil +forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my +dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of +my undertaking. + +I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of +Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which +braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this +feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which +I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by +this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try +in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and +desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of +beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible; its +broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual +splendour. There--for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust +in preceding navigators--there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing +over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in +beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe. Its +productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of +the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. +What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there +discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate +a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to +render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate +my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before +visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. +These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of +danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with +the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday +mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. But, supposing +all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable +benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by +discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which +at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret +of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an +undertaking such as mine. + +These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my +letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to +heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillise the mind as a +steady purpose,--a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. +This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have +read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been +made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the +seas which surround the pole. You may remember, that a history of all +the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our +good uncle Thomas's library. My education was neglected, yet I was +passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night, +and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as +a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my +uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life. + +These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets +whose effusions entranced my soul, and lifted it to heaven. I also +became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my own creation; +I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the +names of Homer and Shakspeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted +with my failure, and how heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at +that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin, and my thoughts were +turned into the channel of their earlier bent. + +Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, +even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great +enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied +the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily +endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder +than the common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the +study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of +physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive the greatest +practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a +Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt +a little proud, when my captain offered me the second dignity in the +vessel, and entreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness; so +valuable did he consider my services. + +And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great +purpose? My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I +preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, +that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage +and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are +often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, +the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not +only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, +when theirs are failing. + +This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly +quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in +my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stage-coach. The +cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs,--a dress which I +have already adopted; for there is a great difference between walking +the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise +prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I have no +ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St. Petersburgh and +Archangel. + +I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my +intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying +the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think +necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing. I do not +intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I return? Ah, +dear sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, many, many +months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, +you will see me again soon, or never. + +Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on +you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for +all your love and kindness. + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. WALTON. + + + + +LETTER II. + + +_To Mrs. Saville, England._ + +Archangel, 28th March, 17--. + +How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow! +yet a second step is taken towards my enterprise. I have hired a vessel, +and am occupied in collecting my sailors; those whom I have already +engaged, appear to be men on whom I can depend, and are certainly +possessed of dauntless courage. + +But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy; and the +absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have +no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, +there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by +disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. I +shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium +for the communication of feeling. I desire the company of a man who +could sympathise with me; whose eyes would reply to mine. You may deem +me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend. I +have no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as +well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or +amend my plans. How would such a friend repair the faults of your poor +brother! I am too ardent in execution, and too impatient of +difficulties. But it is a still greater evil to me that I am +self-educated: for the first fourteen years of my life I ran wild on a +common, and read nothing but our uncle Thomas's books of voyages. At +that age I became acquainted with the celebrated poets of our own +country; but it was only when it had ceased to be in my power to derive +its most important benefits from such a conviction, that I perceived the +necessity of becoming acquainted with more languages than that of my +native country. Now I am twenty-eight, and am in reality more illiterate +than many schoolboys of fifteen. It is true that I have thought more, +and that my day dreams are more extended and magnificent; but they want +(as the painters call it) _keeping_; and I greatly need a friend who +would have sense enough not to despise me as romantic, and affection +enough for me to endeavour to regulate my mind. + +Well, these are useless complaints; I shall certainly find no friend on +the wide ocean, nor even here in Archangel, among merchants and seamen. +Yet some feelings, unallied to the dross of human nature, beat even in +these rugged bosoms. My lieutenant, for instance, is a man of wonderful +courage and enterprise; he is madly desirous of glory: or rather, to +word my phrase more characteristically, of advancement in his +profession. He is an Englishman, and in the midst of national and +professional prejudices, unsoftened by cultivation, retains some of the +noblest endowments of humanity. I first became acquainted with him on +board a whale vessel: finding that he was unemployed in this city, I +easily engaged him to assist in my enterprise. + +The master is a person of an excellent disposition, and is remarkable in +the ship for his gentleness and the mildness of his discipline. This +circumstance, added to his well known integrity and dauntless courage, +made me very desirous to engage him. A youth passed in solitude, my best +years spent under your gentle and feminine fosterage, has so refined the +groundwork of my character, that I cannot overcome an intense distaste +to the usual brutality exercised on board ship: I have never believed it +to be necessary; and when I heard of a mariner equally noted for his +kindliness of heart, and the respect and obedience paid to him by his +crew, I felt myself peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure his +services. I heard of him first in rather a romantic manner, from a lady +who owes to him the happiness of her life. This, briefly, is his story. +Some years ago, he loved a young Russian lady, of moderate fortune; and +having amassed a considerable sum in prize-money, the father of the girl +consented to the match. He saw his mistress once before the destined +ceremony; but she was bathed in tears, and, throwing herself at his +feet, entreated him to spare her, confessing at the same time that she +loved another, but that he was poor, and that her father would never +consent to the union. My generous friend reassured the suppliant, and on +being informed of the name of her lover, instantly abandoned his +pursuit. He had already bought a farm with his money, on which he had +designed to pass the remainder of his life; but he bestowed the whole on +his rival, together with the remains of his prize-money to purchase +stock, and then himself solicited the young woman's father to consent to +her marriage with her lover. But the old man decidedly refused, thinking +himself bound in honour to my friend; who, when he found the father +inexorable, quitted his country, nor returned until he heard that his +former mistress was married according to her inclinations. "What a noble +fellow!" you will exclaim. He is so; but then he is wholly uneducated: +he is as silent as a Turk, and a kind of ignorant carelessness attends +him, which, while it renders his conduct the more astonishing, detracts +from the interest and sympathy which otherwise he would command. + +Yet do not suppose, because I complain a little, or because I can +conceive a consolation for my toils which I may never know, that I am +wavering in my resolutions. Those are as fixed as fate; and my voyage is +only now delayed until the weather shall permit my embarkation. The +winter has been dreadfully severe; but the spring promises well, and it +is considered as a remarkably early season; so that perhaps I may sail +sooner than I expected. I shall do nothing rashly: you know me +sufficiently to confide in my prudence and considerateness, whenever the +safety of others is committed to my care. + +I cannot describe to you my sensations on the near prospect of my +undertaking. It is impossible to communicate to you a conception of the +trembling sensation, half pleasurable and half fearful, with which I am +preparing to depart. I am going to unexplored regions, to "the land of +mist and snow"; but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be +alarmed for my safety, or if I should come back to you as worn and woful +as the "Ancient Mariner"? You will smile at my allusion; but I will +disclose a secret. I have often attributed my attachment to, my +passionate enthusiasm for, the dangerous mysteries of ocean, to that +production of the most imaginative of modern poets. There is something +at work in my soul, which I do not understand. I am practically +industrious--pains-taking;--a workman to execute with perseverance and +labour:--but besides this, there is a love for the marvellous, a belief +in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out +of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited +regions I am about to explore. + +But to return to dearer considerations. Shall I meet you again, after +having traversed immense seas, and returned by the most southern cape of +Africa or America? I dare not expect such success, yet I cannot bear to +look on the reverse of the picture. Continue for the present to write to +me by every opportunity: I may receive your letters on some occasions +when I need them most to support my spirits. I love you very tenderly. +Remember me with affection, should you never hear from me again. + +Your affectionate brother, + +ROBERT WALTON. + + + + +LETTER III. + + +_To Mrs. Saville, England._ + +MY DEAR SISTER, July 7th, 17--. + +I write a few lines in haste, to say that I am safe, and well advanced +on my voyage. This letter will reach England by a merchantman now on its +homeward voyage from Archangel; more fortunate than I, who may not see +my native land, perhaps, for many years. I am, however, in good spirits: +my men are bold, and apparently firm of purpose; nor do the floating +sheets of ice that continually pass us, indicating the dangers of the +region towards which we are advancing, appear to dismay them. We have +already reached a very high latitude; but it is the height of summer, +and although not so warm as in England, the southern gales, which blow +us speedily towards those shores which I so ardently desire to attain, +breathe a degree of renovating warmth which I had not expected. + +No incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a +letter. One or two stiff gales, and the springing of a leak, are +accidents which experienced navigators scarcely remember to record; and +I shall be well content if nothing worse happen to us during our voyage. + +Adieu, my dear Margaret. Be assured, that for my own sake, as well as +yours, I will not rashly encounter danger. I will be cool, persevering, +and prudent. + +But success _shall_ crown my endeavours. Wherefore not? Thus far I have +gone, tracing a secure way over the pathless seas: the very stars +themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph. Why not still +proceed over the untamed yet obedient element? What can stop the +determined heart and resolved will of man? + +My swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus. But I must +finish. Heaven bless my beloved sister! + +R. W. + + + + +LETTER IV. + + +_To Mrs. Saville, England._ + +August 5th, 17--. + +So strange an accident has happened to us, that I cannot forbear +recording it, although it is very probable that you will see me before +these papers can come into your possession. + +Last Monday (July 31st), we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed +in the ship on all sides, scarcely leaving her the sea-room in which she +floated. Our situation was somewhat dangerous, especially as we were +compassed round by a very thick fog. We accordingly lay to, hoping that +some change would take place in the atmosphere and weather. + +About two o'clock the mist cleared away, and we beheld, stretched out in +every direction, vast and irregular plains of ice, which seemed to have +no end. Some of my comrades groaned, and my own mind began to grow +watchful with anxious thoughts, when a strange sight suddenly attracted +our attention, and diverted our solicitude from our own situation. We +perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on +towards the north, at the distance of half a mile: a being which had the +shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, +and guided the dogs. We watched the rapid progress of the traveller with +our telescopes, until he was lost among the distant inequalities of the +ice. + +This appearance excited our unqualified wonder. We were, as we believed, +many hundred miles from any land; but this apparition seemed to denote +that it was not, in reality, so distant as we had supposed. Shut in, +however, by ice, it was impossible to follow his track, which we had +observed with the greatest attention. + +About two hours after this occurrence, we heard the ground sea; and +before night the ice broke, and freed our ship. We, however, lay to +until the morning, fearing to encounter in the dark those large loose +masses which float about after the breaking up of the ice. I profited +of this time to rest for a few hours. + +In the morning, however, as soon as it was light, I went upon deck, and +found all the sailors busy on one side of the vessel, apparently talking +to some one in the sea. It was, in fact, a sledge, like that we had seen +before, which had drifted towards us in the night, on a large fragment +of ice. Only one dog remained alive; but there was a human being within +it, whom the sailors were persuading to enter the vessel. He was not, as +the other traveller seemed to be, a savage inhabitant of some +undiscovered island, but an European. When I appeared on deck, the +master said, "Here is our captain, and he will not allow you to perish +on the open sea." + +On perceiving me, the stranger addressed me in English, although with a +foreign accent. "Before I come on board your vessel," said he, "will +you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound?" + +You may conceive my astonishment on hearing such a question addressed to +me from a man on the brink of destruction, and to whom I should have +supposed that my vessel would have been a resource which he would not +have exchanged for the most precious wealth the earth can afford. I +replied, however, that we were on a voyage of discovery towards the +northern pole. + +Upon hearing this he appeared satisfied, and consented to come on board. +Good God! Margaret, if you had seen the man who thus capitulated for his +safety, your surprise would have been boundless. His limbs were nearly +frozen, and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I +never saw a man in so wretched a condition. We attempted to carry him +into the cabin; but as soon as he had quitted the fresh air, he fainted. +We accordingly brought him back to the deck, and restored him to +animation by rubbing him with brandy, and forcing him to swallow a small +quantity. As soon as he showed signs of life we wrapped him up in +blankets, and placed him near the chimney of the kitchen stove. By slow +degrees he recovered, and ate a little soup, which restored him +wonderfully. + +Two days passed in this manner before he was able to speak; and I often +feared that his sufferings had deprived him of understanding. When he +had in some measure recovered, I removed him to my own cabin, and +attended on him as much as my duty would permit. I never saw a more +interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, +and even madness; but there are moments when, if any one performs an act +of kindness towards him, or does him any the most trifling service, his +whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence +and sweetness that I never saw equalled. But he is generally melancholy +and despairing; and sometimes he gnashes his teeth, as if impatient of +the weight of woes that oppresses him. + +When my guest was a little recovered, I had great trouble to keep off +the men, who wished to ask him a thousand questions; but I would not +allow him to be tormented by their idle curiosity, in a state of body +and mind whose restoration evidently depended upon entire repose. Once, +however, the lieutenant asked, Why he had come so far upon the ice in so +strange a vehicle? + +His countenance instantly assumed an aspect of the deepest gloom; and he +replied, "To seek one who fled from me." + +"And did the man whom you pursued travel in the same fashion?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I fancy we have seen him; for the day before we picked you up, we +saw some dogs drawing a sledge, with a man in it, across the ice." + +This aroused the stranger's attention; and he asked a multitude of +questions concerning the route which the dæmon, as he called him, had +pursued. Soon after, when he was alone with me, he said,--"I have, +doubtless, excited your curiosity, as well as that of these good people; +but you are too considerate to make enquiries." + +"Certainly; it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to +trouble you with any inquisitiveness of mine." + +"And yet you rescued me from a strange and perilous situation; you have +benevolently restored me to life." + +Soon after this he enquired if I thought that the breaking up of the ice +had destroyed the other sledge? I replied, that I could not answer with +any degree of certainty; for the ice had not broken until near midnight, +and the traveller might have arrived at a place of safety before that +time; but of this I could not judge. + +From this time a new spirit of life animated the decaying frame of the +stranger. He manifested the greatest eagerness to be upon deck, to watch +for the sledge which had before appeared; but I have persuaded him to +remain in the cabin, for he is far too weak to sustain the rawness of +the atmosphere. I have promised that some one should watch for him, and +give him instant notice if any new object should appear in sight. + +Such is my journal of what relates to this strange occurrence up to the +present day. The stranger has gradually improved in health, but is very +silent, and appears uneasy when any one except myself enters his cabin. +Yet his manners are so conciliating and gentle, that the sailors are all +interested in him, although they have had very little communication with +him. For my own part, I begin to love him as a brother; and his constant +and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion. He must have been +a noble creature in his better days, being even now in wreck so +attractive and amiable. + +I said in one of my letters, my dear Margaret, that I should find no +friend on the wide ocean; yet I have found a man who, before his spirit +had been broken by misery, I should have been happy to have possessed as +the brother of my heart. + +I shall continue my journal concerning the stranger at intervals, should +I have any fresh incidents to record. + + +August 13th, 17--. + +My affection for my guest increases every day. He excites at once my +admiration and my pity to an astonishing degree. How can I see so noble +a creature destroyed by misery, without feeling the most poignant grief? +He is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated; and when he +speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, yet they +flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence. + +He is now much recovered from his illness, and is continually on the +deck, apparently watching for the sledge that preceded his own. Yet, +although unhappy, he is not so utterly occupied by his own misery, but +that he interests himself deeply in the projects of others. He has +frequently conversed with me on mine, which I have communicated to him +without disguise. He entered attentively into all my arguments in favour +of my eventual success, and into every minute detail of the measures I +had taken to secure it. I was easily led by the sympathy which he +evinced, to use the language of my heart; to give utterance to the +burning ardour of my soul; and to say, with all the fervour that warmed +me, how gladly I would sacrifice my fortune, my existence, my every +hope, to the furtherance of my enterprise. One man's life or death were +but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I +sought; for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the +elemental foes of our race. As I spoke, a dark gloom spread over my +listener's countenance. At first I perceived that he tried to suppress +his emotion; he placed his hands before his eyes; and my voice quivered +and failed me, as I beheld tears trickle fast from between his +fingers,--a groan burst from his heaving breast. I paused;--at length he +spoke, in broken accents:--"Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have +you drank also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me,--let me reveal my +tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!" + +Such words, you may imagine, strongly excited my curiosity; but the +paroxysm of grief that had seized the stranger overcame his weakened +powers, and many hours of repose and tranquil conversation were +necessary to restore his composure. + +Having conquered the violence of his feelings, he appeared to despise +himself for being the slave of passion; and quelling the dark tyranny of +despair, he led me again to converse concerning myself personally. He +asked me the history of my earlier years. The tale was quickly told: +but it awakened various trains of reflection. I spoke of my desire of +finding a friend--of my thirst for a more intimate sympathy with a +fellow mind than had ever fallen to my lot; and expressed my conviction +that a man could boast of little happiness, who did not enjoy this +blessing. + +"I agree with you," replied the stranger; "we are unfashioned creatures, +but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves--such a +friend ought to be--do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and +faulty natures. I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures, +and am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship. You have +hope, and the world before you, and have no cause for despair. But I--I +have lost every thing, and cannot begin life anew." + +As he said this, his countenance became expressive of a calm settled +grief, that touched me to the heart. But he was silent, and presently +retired to his cabin. + +Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does +the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight +afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of +elevating his soul from earth. Such a man has a double existence: he may +suffer misery, and be overwhelmed by disappointments; yet, when he has +retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit, that has a +halo around him, within whose circle no grief or folly ventures. + +Will you smile at the enthusiasm I express concerning this divine +wanderer? You would not, if you saw him. You have been tutored and +refined by books and retirement from the world, and you are, therefore, +somewhat fastidious; but this only renders you the more fit to +appreciate the extraordinary merits of this wonderful man. Sometimes I +have endeavoured to discover what quality it is which he possesses, that +elevates him so immeasurably above any other person I ever knew. I +believe it to be an intuitive discernment; a quick but never-failing +power of judgment; a penetration into the causes of things, unequalled +for clearness and precision; add to this a facility of expression, and a +voice whose varied intonations are soul-subduing music. + + +August 19. 17--. + +Yesterday the stranger said to me, "You may easily perceive, Captain +Walton, that I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes. I had +determined, at one time, that the memory of these evils should die with +me; but you have won me to alter my determination. You seek for +knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the +gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine +has been. I do not know that the relation of my disasters will be useful +to you; yet, when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, +exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, +I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale; one that may +direct you if you succeed in your undertaking, and console you in case +of failure. Prepare to hear of occurrences which are usually deemed +marvellous. Were we among the tamer scenes of nature, I might fear to +encounter your unbelief, perhaps your ridicule; but many things will +appear possible in these wild and mysterious regions, which would +provoke the laughter of those unacquainted with the ever-varied powers +of nature:--nor can I doubt but that my tale conveys in its series +internal evidence of the truth of the events of which it is composed." + +You may easily imagine that I was much gratified by the offered +communication; yet I could not endure that he should renew his grief by +a recital of his misfortunes. I felt the greatest eagerness to hear the +promised narrative, partly from curiosity, and partly from a strong +desire to ameliorate his fate, if it were in my power. I expressed these +feelings in my answer. + +"I thank you," he replied, "for your sympathy, but it is useless; my +fate is nearly fulfilled. I wait but for one event, and then I shall +repose in peace. I understand your feeling," continued he, perceiving +that I wished to interrupt him; "but you are mistaken, my friend, if +thus you will allow me to name you; nothing can alter my destiny: listen +to my history, and you will perceive how irrevocably it is determined." + +He then told me, that he would commence his narrative the next day when +I should be at leisure. This promise drew from me the warmest thanks. I +have resolved every night, when I am not imperatively occupied by my +duties, to record, as nearly as possible in his own words, what he has +related during the day. If I should be engaged, I will at least make +notes. This manuscript will doubtless afford you the greatest pleasure: +but to me, who know him, and who hear it from his own lips, with what +interest and sympathy shall I read it in some future day! Even now, as I +commence my task, his full-toned voice swells in my ears; his lustrous +eyes dwell on me with all their melancholy sweetness; I see his thin +hand raised in animation, while the lineaments of his face are +irradiated by the soul within. Strange and harrowing must be his story; +frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course, and +wrecked it--thus! + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +I am by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished +of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and +syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour +and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him, for his integrity +and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger +days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country; a variety of +circumstances had prevented his marrying early, nor was it until the +decline of life that he became a husband and the father of a family. + +As the circumstances of his marriage illustrate his character, I cannot +refrain from relating them. One of his most intimate friends was a +merchant, who, from a flourishing state, fell, through numerous +mischances, into poverty. This man, whose name was Beaufort, was of a +proud and unbending disposition, and could not bear to live in poverty +and oblivion in the same country where he had formerly been +distinguished for his rank and magnificence. Having paid his debts, +therefore, in the most honourable manner, he retreated with his daughter +to the town of Lucerne, where he lived unknown and in wretchedness. My +father loved Beaufort with the truest friendship, and was deeply grieved +by his retreat in these unfortunate circumstances. He bitterly deplored +the false pride which led his friend to a conduct so little worthy of +the affection that united them. He lost no time in endeavouring to seek +him out, with the hope of persuading him to begin the world again +through his credit and assistance. + +Beaufort had taken effectual measures to conceal himself; and it was ten +months before my father discovered his abode. Overjoyed at this +discovery, he hastened to the house, which was situated in a mean +street, near the Reuss. But when he entered, misery and despair alone +welcomed him. Beaufort had saved but a very small sum of money from the +wreck of his fortunes; but it was sufficient to provide him with +sustenance for some months, and in the mean time he hoped to procure +some respectable employment in a merchant's house. The interval was, +consequently, spent in inaction; his grief only became more deep and +rankling, when he had leisure for reflection; and at length it took so +fast hold of his mind, that at the end of three months he lay on a bed +of sickness, incapable of any exertion. + +His daughter attended him with the greatest tenderness; but she saw with +despair that their little fund was rapidly decreasing, and that there +was no other prospect of support. But Caroline Beaufort possessed a mind +of an uncommon mould; and her courage rose to support her in her +adversity. She procured plain work; she plaited straw; and by various +means contrived to earn a pittance scarcely sufficient to support life. + +Several months passed in this manner. Her father grew worse; her time +was more entirely occupied in attending him; her means of subsistence +decreased; and in the tenth month her father died in her arms, leaving +her an orphan and a beggar. This last blow overcame her; and she knelt +by Beaufort's coffin, weeping bitterly, when my father entered the +chamber. He came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who +committed herself to his care; and after the interment of his friend, he +conducted her to Geneva, and placed her under the protection of a +relation. Two years after this event Caroline became his wife. + +There was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents, but +this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted +affection. There was a sense of justice in my father's upright mind, +which rendered it necessary that he should approve highly to love +strongly. Perhaps during former years he had suffered from the +late-discovered unworthiness of one beloved, and so was disposed to set +a greater value on tried worth. There was a show of gratitude and +worship in his attachment to my mother, differing wholly from the +doating fondness of age, for it was inspired by reverence for her +virtues, and a desire to be the means of, in some degree, recompensing +her for the sorrows she had endured, but which gave inexpressible grace +to his behaviour to her. Every thing was made to yield to her wishes and +her convenience. He strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered +by the gardener, from every rougher wind, and to surround her with all +that could tend to excite pleasurable emotion in her soft and benevolent +mind. Her health, and even the tranquillity of her hitherto constant +spirit, had been shaken by what she had gone through. During the two +years that had elapsed previous to their marriage my father had +gradually relinquished all his public functions; and immediately after +their union they sought the pleasant climate of Italy, and the change of +scene and interest attendant on a tour through that land of wonders, as +a restorative for her weakened frame. + +From Italy they visited Germany and France. I, their eldest child, was +born at Naples, and as an infant accompanied them in their rambles. I +remained for several years their only child. Much as they were attached +to each other, they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection +from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me. My mother's tender +caresses, and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding +me, are my first recollections. I was their plaything and their idol, +and something better--their child, the innocent and helpless creature +bestowed on them by Heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future +lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as +they fulfilled their duties towards me. With this deep consciousness of +what they owed towards the being to which they had given life, added to +the active spirit of tenderness that animated both, it may be imagined +that while during every hour of my infant life I received a lesson of +patience, of charity, and of self-control, I was so guided by a silken +cord, that all seemed but one train of enjoyment to me. + +For a long time I was their only care. My mother had much desired to +have a daughter, but I continued their single offspring. When I was +about five years old, while making an excursion beyond the frontiers of +Italy, they passed a week on the shores of the Lake of Como. Their +benevolent disposition often made them enter the cottages of the poor. +This, to my mother, was more than a duty; it was a necessity, a +passion,--remembering what she had suffered, and how she had been +relieved,--for her to act in her turn the guardian angel to the +afflicted. During one of their walks a poor cot in the foldings of a +vale attracted their notice, as being singularly disconsolate, while the +number of half-clothed children gathered about it, spoke of penury in +its worst shape. One day, when my father had gone by himself to Milan, +my mother, accompanied by me, visited this abode. She found a peasant +and his wife, hard working, bent down by care and labour, distributing a +scanty meal to five hungry babes. Among these there was one which +attracted my mother far above all the rest. She appeared of a different +stock. The four others were dark-eyed, hardy little vagrants; this child +was thin, and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold, and, +despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of +distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes +cloudless, and her lips and the moulding of her face so expressive of +sensibility and sweetness, that none could behold her without looking on +her as of a distinct species, a being heaven-sent, and bearing a +celestial stamp in all her features. + +The peasant woman, perceiving that my mother fixed eyes of wonder and +admiration on this lovely girl, eagerly communicated her history. She +was not her child, but the daughter of a Milanese nobleman. Her mother +was a German, and had died on giving her birth. The infant had been +placed with these good people to nurse: they were better off then. They +had not been long married, and their eldest child was but just born. The +father of their charge was one of those Italians nursed in the memory of +the antique glory of Italy,--one among the _schiavi ognor frementi_, who +exerted himself to obtain the liberty of his country. He became the +victim of its weakness. Whether he had died, or still lingered in the +dungeons of Austria, was not known. His property was confiscated, his +child became an orphan and a beggar. She continued with her foster +parents, and bloomed in their rude abode, fairer than a garden rose +among dark-leaved brambles. + +When my father returned from Milan, he found playing with me in the hall +of our villa, a child fairer than pictured cherub--a creature who seemed +to shed radiance from her looks, and whose form and motions were lighter +than the chamois of the hills. The apparition was soon explained. With +his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield +their charge to her. They were fond of the sweet orphan. Her presence +had seemed a blessing to them; but it would be unfair to her to keep her +in poverty and want, when Providence afforded her such powerful +protection. They consulted their village priest, and the result was, +that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents' house--my more +than sister--the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations +and my pleasures. + +Every one loved Elizabeth. The passionate and almost reverential +attachment with which all regarded her became, while I shared it, my +pride and my delight. On the evening previous to her being brought to my +home, my mother had said playfully,--"I have a pretty present for my +Victor--to-morrow he shall have it." And when, on the morrow, she +presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish +seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth +as mine--mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on +her, I received as made to a possession of my own. We called each other +familiarly by the name of cousin. No word, no expression could body +forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me--my more than +sister, since till death she was to be mine only. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +We were brought up together; there was not quite a year difference in +our ages. I need not say that we were strangers to any species of +disunion or dispute. Harmony was the soul of our companionship, and the +diversity and contrast that subsisted in our characters drew us nearer +together. Elizabeth was of a calmer and more concentrated disposition; +but, with all my ardour, I was capable of a more intense application, +and was more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge. She busied +herself with following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the +majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our Swiss home--the +sublime shapes of the mountains; the changes of the seasons; tempest and +calm; the silence of winter, and the life and turbulence of our Alpine +summers,--she found ample scope for admiration and delight. While my +companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the +magnificent appearances of things, I delighted in investigating their +causes. The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine. +Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness +akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest +sensations I can remember. + +On the birth of a second son, my junior by seven years, my parents gave +up entirely their wandering life, and fixed themselves in their native +country. We possessed a house in Geneva, and a _campagne_ on Belrive, +the eastern shore of the lake, at the distance of rather more than a +league from the city. We resided principally in the latter, and the +lives of my parents were passed in considerable seclusion. It was my +temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach myself fervently to a few. I was +indifferent, therefore, to my schoolfellows in general; but I united +myself in the bonds of the closest friendship to one among them. Henry +Clerval was the son of a merchant of Geneva. He was a boy of singular +talent and fancy. He loved enterprise, hardship, and even danger, for +its own sake. He was deeply read in books of chivalry and romance. He +composed heroic songs, and began to write many a tale of enchantment and +knightly adventure. He tried to make us act plays, and to enter into +masquerades, in which the characters were drawn from the heroes of +Roncesvalles, of the Round Table of King Arthur, and the chivalrous +train who shed their blood to redeem the holy sepulchre from the hands +of the infidels. + +No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My +parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We +felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their +caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we +enjoyed. When I mingled with other families, I distinctly discerned how +peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the developement +of filial love. + +My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some +law in my temperature they were turned, not towards childish pursuits, +but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things +indiscriminately. I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor +the code of governments, nor the politics of various states, possessed +attractions for me. It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I +desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things, or +the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied +me, still my enquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or, in its +highest sense, the physical secrets of the world. + +Meanwhile Clerval occupied himself, so to speak, with the moral +relations of things. The busy stage of life, the virtues of heroes, and +the actions of men, were his theme; and his hope and his dream was to +become one among those whose names are recorded in story, as the +gallant and adventurous benefactors of our species. The saintly soul of +Elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home. Her +sympathy was ours; her smile, her soft voice, the sweet glance of her +celestial eyes, were ever there to bless and animate us. She was the +living spirit of love to soften and attract: I might have become sullen +in my study, rough through the ardour of my nature, but that she was +there to subdue me to a semblance of her own gentleness. And +Clerval--could aught ill entrench on the noble spirit of Clerval?--yet +he might not have been so perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his +generosity--so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion for +adventurous exploit, had she not unfolded to him the real loveliness of +beneficence, and made the doing good the end and aim of his soaring +ambition. + +I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, +before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of +extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self. +Besides, in drawing the picture of my early days, I also record those +events which led, by insensible steps, to my after tale of misery: for +when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion, which +afterwards ruled my destiny, I find it arise, like a mountain river, +from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but, swelling as it +proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away +all my hopes and joys. + +Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire, +therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my +predilection for that science. When I was thirteen years of age, we all +went on a party of pleasure to the baths near Thonon: the inclemency of +the weather obliged us to remain a day confined to the inn. In this +house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I +opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate, and +the wonderful facts which he relates, soon changed this feeling into +enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind; and, bounding with +joy, I communicated my discovery to my father. My father looked +carelessly at the titlepage of my book, and said, "Ah! Cornelius +Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad +trash." + +If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to +me, that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded, and that +a modern system of science had been introduced, which possessed much +greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were +chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical; under +such circumstances, I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside, and +have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with +greater ardour to my former studies. It is even possible, that the train +of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my +ruin. But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no +means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents; and I +continued to read with the greatest avidity. + +When I returned home, my first care was to procure the whole works of +this author, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read +and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight; they +appeared to me treasures known to few beside myself. I have described +myself as always having been embued with a fervent longing to penetrate +the secrets of nature. In spite of the intense labour and wonderful +discoveries of modern philosophers, I always came from my studies +discontented and unsatisfied. Sir Isaac Newton is said to have avowed +that he felt like a child picking up shells beside the great and +unexplored ocean of truth. Those of his successors in each branch of +natural philosophy with whom I was acquainted, appeared even to my boy's +apprehensions, as tyros engaged in the same pursuit. + +The untaught peasant beheld the elements around him, and was acquainted +with their practical uses. The most learned philosopher knew little +more. He had partially unveiled the face of Nature, but her immortal +lineaments were still a wonder and a mystery. He might dissect, +anatomise, and give names; but, not to speak of a final cause, causes in +their secondary and tertiary grades were utterly unknown to him. I had +gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep human +beings from entering the citadel of nature, and rashly and ignorantly I +had repined. + +But here were books, and here were men who had penetrated deeper and +knew more. I took their word for all that they averred, and I became +their disciple. It may appear strange that such should arise in the +eighteenth century; but while I followed the routine of education in the +schools of Geneva, I was, to a great degree, self taught with regard to +my favourite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to +struggle with a child's blindness, added to a student's thirst for +knowledge. Under the guidance of my new preceptors, I entered with the +greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and the +elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention. +Wealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend the +discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render +man invulnerable to any but a violent death! + +Nor were these my only visions. The raising of ghosts or devils was a +promise liberally accorded by my favourite authors, the fulfilment of +which I most eagerly sought; and if my incantations were always +unsuccessful, I attributed the failure rather to my own inexperience and +mistake, than to a want of skill or fidelity in my instructors. And thus +for a time I was occupied by exploded systems, mingling, like an +unadept, a thousand contradictory theories, and floundering desperately +in a very slough of multifarious knowledge, guided by an ardent +imagination and childish reasoning, till an accident again changed the +current of my ideas. + +When I was about fifteen years old we had retired to our house near +Belrive, when we witnessed a most violent and terrible thunder-storm. It +advanced from behind the mountains of Jura; and the thunder burst at +once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavens. I +remained, while the storm lasted, watching its progress with curiosity +and delight. As I stood at the door, on a sudden I beheld a stream of +fire issue from an old and beautiful oak, which stood about twenty yards +from our house; and so soon as the dazzling light vanished, the oak had +disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump. When we visited +it the next morning, we found the tree shattered in a singular manner. +It was not splintered by the shock, but entirely reduced to thin ribands +of wood. I never beheld any thing so utterly destroyed. + +Before this I was not unacquainted with the more obvious laws of +electricity. On this occasion a man of great research in natural +philosophy was with us, and, excited by this catastrophe, he entered on +the explanation of a theory which he had formed on the subject of +electricity and galvanism, which was at once new and astonishing to me. +All that he said threw greatly into the shade Cornelius Agrippa, +Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, the lords of my imagination; but by +some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my +accustomed studies. It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be +known. All that had so long engaged my attention suddenly grew +despicable. By one of those caprices of the mind, which we are perhaps +most subject to in early youth, I at once gave up my former occupations; +set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive +creation; and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science, +which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge. In +this mood of mind I betook myself to the mathematics, and the branches +of study appertaining to that science, as being built upon secure +foundations, and so worthy of my consideration. + +Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by such slight ligaments +are we bound to prosperity or ruin. When I look back, it seems to me as +if this almost miraculous change of inclination and will was the +immediate suggestion of the guardian angel of my life--the last effort +made by the spirit of preservation to avert the storm that was even then +hanging in the stars, and ready to envelope me. Her victory was +announced by an unusual tranquillity and gladness of soul, which +followed the relinquishing of my ancient and latterly tormenting +studies. It was thus that I was to be taught to associate evil with +their prosecution, happiness with their disregard. + +It was a strong effort of the spirit of good; but it was ineffectual. +Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and +terrible destruction. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +When I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I +should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt. I had hitherto +attended the schools of Geneva; but my father thought it necessary, for +the completion of my education, that I should be made acquainted with +other customs than those of my native country. My departure was +therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon +could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred--an omen, as it +were, of my future misery. + +Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she +was in the greatest danger. During her illness, many arguments had been +urged to persuade my mother to refrain from attending upon her. She had, +at first, yielded to our entreaties; but when she heard that the life of +her favourite was menaced, she could no longer control her anxiety. She +attended her sick bed,--her watchful attentions triumphed over the +malignity of the distemper,--Elizabeth was saved, but the consequences +of this imprudence were fatal to her preserver. On the third day my +mother sickened; her fever was accompanied by the most alarming +symptoms, and the looks of her medical attendants prognosticated the +worst event. On her death-bed the fortitude and benignity of this best +of women did not desert her. She joined the hands of Elizabeth and +myself:--"My children," she said, "my firmest hopes of future happiness +were placed on the prospect of your union. This expectation will now be +the consolation of your father. Elizabeth, my love, you must supply my +place to my younger children. Alas! I regret that I am taken from you; +and, happy and beloved as I have been, is it not hard to quit you all? +But these are not thoughts befitting me; I will endeavour to resign +myself cheerfully to death, and will indulge a hope of meeting you in +another world." + +She died calmly; and her countenance expressed affection even in death. +I need not describe the feelings of those whose dearest ties are rent by +that most irreparable evil; the void that presents itself to the soul; +and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance. It is so long +before the mind can persuade itself that she, whom we saw every day, and +whose very existence appeared a part of our own, can have departed for +ever--that the brightness of a beloved eye can have been extinguished, +and the sound of a voice so familiar, and dear to the ear, can be +hushed, never more to be heard. These are the reflections of the first +days; but when the lapse of time proves the reality of the evil, then +the actual bitterness of grief commences. Yet from whom has not that +rude hand rent away some dear connection? and why should I describe a +sorrow which all have felt, and must feel? The time at length arrives, +when grief is rather an indulgence than a necessity; and the smile that +plays upon the lips, although it may be deemed a sacrilege, is not +banished. My mother was dead, but we had still duties which we ought to +perform; we must continue our course with the rest, and learn to think +ourselves fortunate, whilst one remains whom the spoiler has not seized. + +My departure for Ingolstadt, which had been deferred by these events, +was now again determined upon. I obtained from my father a respite of +some weeks. It appeared to me sacrilege so soon to leave the repose, +akin to death, of the house of mourning, and to rush into the thick of +life. I was new to sorrow, but it did not the less alarm me. I was +unwilling to quit the sight of those that remained to me; and, above +all, I desired to see my sweet Elizabeth in some degree consoled. + +She indeed veiled her grief, and strove to act the comforter to us all. +She looked steadily on life, and assumed its duties with courage and +zeal. She devoted herself to those whom she had been taught to call her +uncle and cousins. Never was she so enchanting as at this time, when +she recalled the sunshine of her smiles and spent them upon us. She +forgot even her own regret in her endeavours to make us forget. + +The day of my departure at length arrived. Clerval spent the last +evening with us. He had endeavoured to persuade his father to permit him +to accompany me, and to become my fellow student; but in vain. His +father was a narrow-minded trader, and saw idleness and ruin in the +aspirations and ambition of his son. Henry deeply felt the misfortune of +being debarred from a liberal education. He said little; but when he +spoke, I read in his kindling eye and in his animated glance a +restrained but firm resolve, not to be chained to the miserable details +of commerce. + +[Illustration: _The day of my departure at length arrived._] + +We sat late. We could not tear ourselves away from each other, nor +persuade ourselves to say the word "Farewell!" It was said; and we +retired under the pretence of seeking repose, each fancying that the +other was deceived: but when at morning's dawn I descended to the +carriage which was to convey me away, they were all there--my father +again to bless me, Clerval to press my hand once more, my Elizabeth to +renew her entreaties that I would write often, and to bestow the last +feminine attentions on her playmate and friend. + +I threw myself into the chaise that was to convey me away, and indulged +in the most melancholy reflections. I, who had ever been surrounded by +amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavouring to bestow mutual +pleasure, I was now alone. In the university, whither I was going, I +must form my own friends, and be my own protector. My life had hitherto +been remarkably secluded and domestic; and this had given me invincible +repugnance to new countenances. I loved my brothers, Elizabeth, and +Clerval; these were "old familiar faces;" but I believed myself totally +unfitted for the company of strangers. Such were my reflections as I +commenced my journey; but as I proceeded, my spirits and hopes rose. I +ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge. I had often, when at +home, thought it hard to remain during my youth cooped up in one place, +and had longed to enter the world, and take my station among other +human beings. Now my desires were complied with, and it would, indeed, +have been folly to repent. + +I had sufficient leisure for these and many other reflections during my +journey to Ingolstadt, which was long and fatiguing. At length the high +white steeple of the town met my eyes. I alighted, and was conducted to +my solitary apartment, to spend the evening as I pleased. + +The next morning I delivered my letters of introduction, and paid a +visit to some of the principal professors. Chance--or rather the evil +influence, the Angel of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over +me from the moment I turned my reluctant steps from my father's +door--led me first to Mr. Krempe, professor of natural philosophy. He +was an uncouth man, but deeply embued in the secrets of his science. He +asked me several questions concerning my progress in the different +branches of science appertaining to natural philosophy. I replied +carelessly; and, partly in contempt, mentioned the names of my +alchymists as the principal authors I had studied. The professor stared: +"Have you," he said, "really spent your time in studying such nonsense?" + +I replied in the affirmative. "Every minute," continued M. Krempe with +warmth, "every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly +and entirely lost. You have burdened your memory with exploded systems +and useless names. Good God! in what desert land have you lived, where +no one was kind enough to inform you that these fancies, which you have +so greedily imbibed, are a thousand years old, and as musty as they are +ancient? I little expected, in this enlightened and scientific age, to +find a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. My dear sir, you must +begin your studies entirely anew." + +So saying, he stept aside, and wrote down a list of several books +treating of natural philosophy, which he desired me to procure; and +dismissed me, after mentioning that in the beginning of the following +week he intended to commence a course of lectures upon natural +philosophy in its general relations, and that M. Waldman, a +fellow-professor, would lecture upon chemistry the alternate days that +he omitted. + +I returned home, not disappointed, for I have said that I had long +considered those authors useless whom the professor reprobated; but I +returned, not at all the more inclined to recur to these studies in any +shape. M. Krempe was a little squat man, with a gruff voice and a +repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in +favour of his pursuits. In rather a too philosophical and connected a +strain, perhaps, I have given an account of the conclusions I had come +to concerning them in my early years. As a child, I had not been content +with the results promised by the modern professors of natural science. +With a confusion of ideas only to be accounted for by my extreme youth, +and my want of a guide on such matters, I had retrod the steps of +knowledge along the paths of time, and exchanged the discoveries of +recent enquirers for the dreams of forgotten alchymists. Besides, I had +a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very +different, when the masters of the science sought immortality and power; +such views, although futile, were grand: but now the scene was changed. +The ambition of the enquirer seemed to limit itself to the annihilation +of those visions on which my interest in science was chiefly founded. I +was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of +little worth. + +Such were my reflections during the first two or three days of my +residence at Ingolstadt, which were chiefly spent in becoming acquainted +with the localities, and the principal residents in my new abode. But as +the ensuing week commenced, I thought of the information which M. Krempe +had given me concerning the lectures. And although I could not consent +to go and hear that little conceited fellow deliver sentences out of a +pulpit, I recollected what he had said of M. Waldman, whom I had never +seen, as he had hitherto been out of town. + +Partly from curiosity, and partly from idleness, I went into the +lecturing room, which M. Waldman entered shortly after. This professor +was very unlike his colleague. He appeared about fifty years of age, but +with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence; a few grey hairs +covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly +black. His person was short, but remarkably erect; and his voice the +sweetest I had ever heard. He began his lecture by a recapitulation of +the history of chemistry, and the various improvements made by different +men of learning, pronouncing with fervour the names of the most +distinguished discoverers. He then took a cursory view of the present +state of the science, and explained many of its elementary terms. After +having made a few preparatory experiments, he concluded with a panegyric +upon modern chemistry, the terms of which I shall never forget:-- + +"The ancient teachers of this science," said he, "promised +impossibilities, and performed nothing. The modern masters promise very +little; they know that metals cannot be transmuted, and that the elixir +of life is a chimera. But these philosophers, whose hands seem only made +to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or +crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the +recesses of nature, and show how she works in her hiding places. They +ascend into the heavens: they have discovered how the blood circulates, +and the nature of the air we breathe. They have acquired new and almost +unlimited powers; they can command the thunders of heaven, mimic the +earthquake, and even mock the invisible world with its own shadows." + +Such were the professor's words--rather let me say such the words of +fate, enounced to destroy me. As he went on, I felt as if my soul were +grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were +touched which formed the mechanism of my being: chord after chord was +sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, +one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of +Frankenstein,--more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps +already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and +unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. + +I closed not my eyes that night. My internal being was in a state of +insurrection and turmoil; I felt that order would thence arise, but I +had no power to produce it. By degrees, after the morning's dawn, sleep +came. I awoke, and my yesternight's thoughts were as a dream. There +only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies, and to +devote myself to a science for which I believed myself to possess a +natural talent. On the same day, I paid M. Waldman a visit. His manners +in private were even more mild and attractive than in public; for there +was a certain dignity in his mien during his lecture, which in his own +house was replaced by the greatest affability and kindness. I gave him +pretty nearly the same account of my former pursuits as I had given to +his fellow-professor. He heard with attention the little narration +concerning my studies, and smiled at the names of Cornelius Agrippa and +Paracelsus, but without the contempt that M. Krempe had exhibited. He +said, that "these were men to whose indefatigable zeal modern +philosophers were indebted for most of the foundations of their +knowledge. They had left to us, as an easier task, to give new names, +and arrange in connected classifications, the facts which they in a +great degree had been the instruments of bringing to light. The labours +of men of genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in +ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind." I listened to his +statement, which was delivered without any presumption or affectation; +and then added, that his lecture had removed my prejudices against +modern chemists; I expressed myself in measured terms, with the modesty +and deference due from a youth to his instructor, without letting escape +(inexperience in life would have made me ashamed) any of the enthusiasm +which stimulated my intended labours. I requested his advice concerning +the books I ought to procure. + +"I am happy," said M. Waldman, "to have gained a disciple; and if your +application equals your ability, I have no doubt of your success. +Chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the greatest +improvements have been and may be made: it is on that account that I +have made it my peculiar study; but at the same time I have not +neglected the other branches of science. A man would make but a very +sorry chemist if he attended to that department of human knowledge +alone. If your wish is to become really a man of science, and not merely +a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch +of natural philosophy, including mathematics." + +He then took me into his laboratory, and explained to me the uses of his +various machines; instructing me as to what I ought to procure, and +promising me the use of his own when I should have advanced far enough +in the science not to derange their mechanism. He also gave me the list +of books which I had requested; and I took my leave. + +Thus ended a day memorable to me: it decided my future destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the +most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. +I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, +which modern enquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the +lectures, and cultivated the acquaintance, of the men of science of the +university; and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense +and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy +and manners, but not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I +found a true friend. His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism; and +his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature, +that banished every idea of pedantry. In a thousand ways he smoothed for +me the path of knowledge, and made the most abstruse enquiries clear and +facile to my apprehension. My application was at first fluctuating and +uncertain; it gained strength as I proceeded, and soon became so ardent +and eager, that the stars often disappeared in the light of morning +whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory. + +As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was +rapid. My ardour was indeed the astonishment of the students, and my +proficiency that of the masters. Professor Krempe often asked me, with +a sly smile, how Cornelius Agrippa went on? whilst M. Waldman expressed +the most heart-felt exultation in my progress. Two years passed in this +manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, heart +and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries, which I hoped to make. +None but those who have experienced them can conceive of the enticements +of science. In other studies you go as far as others have gone before +you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit +there is continual food for discovery and wonder. A mind of moderate +capacity, which closely pursues one study, must infallibly arrive at +great proficiency in that study; and I, who continually sought the +attainment of one object of pursuit, and was solely wrapt up in this, +improved so rapidly, that, at the end of two years, I made some +discoveries in the improvement of some chemical instruments, which +procured me great esteem and admiration at the university. When I had +arrived at this point, and had become as well acquainted with the theory +and practice of natural philosophy as depended on the lessons of any of +the professors at Ingolstadt, my residence there being no longer +conducive to my improvements, I thought of returning to my friends and +my native town, when an incident happened that protracted my stay. + +One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the +structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. +Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? It was +a bold question, and one which has ever been considered as a mystery; +yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming acquainted, +if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our enquiries. I revolved +these circumstances in my mind, and determined thenceforth to apply +myself more particularly to those branches of natural philosophy which +relate to physiology. Unless I had been animated by an almost +supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been +irksome, and almost intolerable. To examine the causes of life, we must +first have recourse to death. I became acquainted with the science of +anatomy: but this was not sufficient; I must also observe the natural +decay and corruption of the human body. In my education my father had +taken the greatest precautions that my mind should be impressed with no +supernatural horrors. I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale +of superstition, or to have feared the apparition of a spirit. Darkness +had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the +receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of +beauty and strength, had become food for the worm. Now I was led to +examine the cause and progress of this decay, and forced to spend days +and nights in vaults and charnel-houses. My attention was fixed upon +every object the most insupportable to the delicacy of the human +feelings. I saw how the fine form of man was degraded and wasted; I +beheld the corruption of death succeed to the blooming cheek of life; I +saw how the worm inherited the wonders of the eye and brain. I paused, +examining and analysing all the minutiæ of causation, as exemplified in +the change from life to death, and death to life, until from the midst +of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me--a light so brilliant +and wondrous, yet so simple, that while I became dizzy with the +immensity of the prospect which it illustrated, I was surprised, that +among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the +same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing +a secret. + +Remember, I am not recording the vision of a madman. The sun does not +more certainly shine in the heavens, than that which I now affirm is +true. Some miracle might have produced it, yet the stages of the +discovery were distinct and probable. After days and nights of +incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of +generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing +animation upon lifeless matter. + +The astonishment which I had at first experienced on this discovery soon +gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful +labour, to arrive at once at the summit of my desires, was the most +gratifying consummation of my toils. But this discovery was so great +and overwhelming, that all the steps by which I had been progressively +led to it were obliterated, and I beheld only the result. What had been +the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world +was now within my grasp. Not that, like a magic scene, it all opened +upon me at once: the information I had obtained was of a nature rather +to direct my endeavours so soon as I should point them towards the +object of my search, than to exhibit that object already accomplished. I +was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead, and found a +passage to life, aided only by one glimmering, and seemingly +ineffectual, light. + +I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes +express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with +which I am acquainted; that cannot be: listen patiently until the end of +my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that +subject. I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to +your destruction and infallible misery. Learn from me, if not by my +precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of +knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town +to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature +will allow. + +When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated +a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it. Although +I possessed the capacity of bestowing animation, yet to prepare a frame +for the reception of it, with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles, +and veins, still remained a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour. +I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like +myself, or one of simpler organization; but my imagination was too much +exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give +life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man. The materials at +present within my command hardly appeared adequate to so arduous an +undertaking; but I doubted not that I should ultimately succeed. I +prepared myself for a multitude of reverses; my operations might be +incessantly baffled, and at last my work be imperfect: yet, when I +considered the improvement which every day takes place in science and +mechanics, I was encouraged to hope my present attempts would at least +lay the foundations of future success. Nor could I consider the +magnitude and complexity of my plan as any argument of its +impracticability. It was with these feelings that I began the creation +of a human being. As the minuteness of the parts formed a great +hinderance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to +make the being of a gigantic stature; that is to say, about eight feet +in height, and proportionably large. After having formed this +determination, and having spent some months in successfully collecting +and arranging my materials, I began. + +No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like +a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared +to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a +torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as +its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their +being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so +completely as I should deserve theirs. Pursuing these reflections, I +thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might +in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where +death had apparently devoted the body to corruption. + +These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with +unremitting ardour. My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person +had become emaciated with confinement. Sometimes, on the very brink of +certainty, I failed; yet still I clung to the hope which the next day or +the next hour might realise. One secret which I alone possessed was the +hope to which I had dedicated myself; and the moon gazed on my midnight +labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued +nature to her hiding-places. Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret +toil, as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave, or tortured +the living animal to animate the lifeless clay? My limbs now tremble, +and my eyes swim with the remembrance; but then a resistless, and +almost frantic, impulse, urged me forward; I seemed to have lost all +soul or sensation but for this one pursuit. It was indeed but a passing +trance, that only made me feel with renewed acuteness so soon as, the +unnatural stimulus ceasing to operate, I had returned to my old habits. +I collected bones from charnel-houses; and disturbed, with profane +fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. In a solitary +chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all +the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of +filthy creation: my eye-balls were starting from their sockets in +attending to the details of my employment. The dissecting room and the +slaughter-house furnished many of my materials; and often did my human +nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by +an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a +conclusion. + +The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in +one pursuit. It was a most beautiful season; never did the fields bestow +a more plentiful harvest, or the vines yield a more luxuriant vintage: +but my eyes were insensible to the charms of nature. And the same +feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also to +forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not +seen for so long a time. I knew my silence disquieted them; and I well +remembered the words of my father: "I know that while you are pleased +with yourself, you will think of us with affection, and we shall hear +regularly from you. You must pardon me if I regard any interruption in +your correspondence as a proof that your other duties are equally +neglected." + +I knew well therefore what would be my father's feelings; but I could +not tear my thoughts from my employment, loathsome in itself, but which +had taken an irresistible hold of my imagination. I wished, as it were, +to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the +great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, should be +completed. + +I then thought that my father would be unjust if he ascribed my neglect +to vice, or faultiness on my part; but I am now convinced that he was +justified in conceiving that I should not be altogether free from +blame. A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and +peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to +disturb his tranquillity. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge +is an exception to this rule. If the study to which you apply yourself +has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for +those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that +study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human +mind. If this rule were always observed; if no man allowed any pursuit +whatsoever to interfere with the tranquillity of his domestic +affections, Greece had not been enslaved; Cæsar would have spared his +country; America would have been discovered more gradually; and the +empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed. + +But I forget that I am moralising in the most interesting part of my +tale; and your looks remind me to proceed. + +My father made no reproach in his letters, and only took notice of my +silence by enquiring into my occupations more particularly than before. +Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours; but I did not +watch the blossom or the expanding leaves--sights which before always +yielded me supreme delight--so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. +The leaves of that year had withered before my work drew near to a +close; and now every day showed me more plainly how well I had +succeeded. But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety, and I appeared +rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, or any other +unwholesome trade, than an artist occupied by his favourite employment. +Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a +most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my +fellow-creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime. Sometimes I grew +alarmed at the wreck I perceived that I had become; the energy of my +purpose alone sustained me: my labours would soon end, and I believed +that exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease; and +I promised myself both of these when my creation should be complete. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +It was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment +of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected +the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being +into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the +morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was +nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I +saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a +convulsive motion agitated its limbs. + +[Illustration: "_By the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw +the dull, yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a +convulsive motion agitated its limbs, ... I rushed out of the +room._"] + +How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the +wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? +His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as +beautiful. Beautiful!--Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the +work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, +and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only +formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost +of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his +shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. + +The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of +human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole +purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived +myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far +exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the +dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. +Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of +the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber, unable to +compose my mind to sleep. At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I +had before endured; and I threw myself on the bed in my clothes, +endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness. But it was in vain: +I slept, indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest dreams. I thought I +saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking in the streets of +Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her; but as I imprinted +the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her +features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my +dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the +grave-worms crawling in the folds of the flannel. I started from my +sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, +and every limb became convulsed: when, by the dim and yellow light of +the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the +wretch--the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain +of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. +His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin +wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand +was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed +down stairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which +I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up +and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and +fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the +demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life. + +Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy +again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I +had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those +muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing +such as even Dante could not have conceived. + +I passed the night wretchedly. Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and +hardly, that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly +sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Mingled with +this horror, I felt the bitterness of disappointment; dreams that had +been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a +hell to me; and the change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete! + +Morning, dismal and wet, at length dawned, and discovered to my +sleepless and aching eyes the church of Ingolstadt, its white steeple +and clock, which indicated the sixth hour. The porter opened the gates +of the court, which had that night been my asylum, and I issued into the +streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the +wretch whom I feared every turning of the street would present to my +view. I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt +impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a +black and comfortless sky. + +I continued walking in this manner for some time, endeavouring, by +bodily exercise, to ease the load that weighed upon my mind. I traversed +the streets, without any clear conception of where I was, or what I was +doing. My heart palpitated in the sickness of fear; and I hurried on +with irregular steps, not daring to look about me:-- + + "Like one who, on a lonely road, + Doth walk in fear and dread, + And, having once turned round, walks on, + And turns no more his head; + Because he knows a frightful fiend + Doth close behind him tread."[1] + +[Footnote 1: Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner."] + +Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the inn at which the +various diligences and carriages usually stopped. Here I paused, I knew +not why; but I remained some minutes with my eyes fixed on a coach that +was coming towards me from the other end of the street. As it drew +nearer, I observed that it was the Swiss diligence: it stopped just +where I was standing; and, on the door being opened, I perceived Henry +Clerval, who, on seeing me, instantly sprung out. "My dear +Frankenstein," exclaimed he, "how glad I am to see you! how fortunate +that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting!" + +Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; his presence brought +back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home +so dear to my recollection. I grasped his hand, and in a moment forgot +my horror and misfortune; I felt suddenly, and for the first time during +many months, calm and serene joy. I welcomed my friend, therefore, in +the most cordial manner, and we walked towards my college. Clerval +continued talking for some time about our mutual friends, and his own +good fortune in being permitted to come to Ingolstadt. "You may easily +believe," said he, "how great was the difficulty to persuade my father +that all necessary knowledge was not comprised in the noble art of +book-keeping; and, indeed, I believe I left him incredulous to the last, +for his constant answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that +of the Dutch schoolmaster in the Vicar of Wakefield:--'I have ten +thousand florins a year without Greek, I eat heartily without Greek.' +But his affection for me at length overcame his dislike of learning, and +he has permitted me to undertake a voyage of discovery to the land of +knowledge." + +"It gives me the greatest delight to see you; but tell me how you left +my father, brothers, and Elizabeth." + +"Very well, and very happy, only a little uneasy that they hear from you +so seldom. By the by, I mean to lecture you a little upon their account +myself.--But, my dear Frankenstein," continued he, stopping short, and +gazing full in my face, "I did not before remark how very ill you +appear; so thin and pale; you look as if you had been watching for +several nights." + +"You have guessed right; I have lately been so deeply engaged in one +occupation, that I have not allowed myself sufficient rest, as you see: +but I hope, I sincerely hope, that all these employments are now at an +end, and that I am at length free." + +I trembled excessively; I could not endure to think of, and far less to +allude to, the occurrences of the preceding night. I walked with a quick +pace, and we soon arrived at my college. I then reflected, and the +thought made me shiver, that the creature whom I had left in my +apartment might still be there, alive, and walking about. I dreaded to +behold this monster; but I feared still more that Henry should see him. +Entreating him, therefore, to remain a few minutes at the bottom of the +stairs, I darted up towards my own room. My hand was already on the lock +of the door before I recollected myself. I then paused; and a cold +shivering came over me. I threw the door forcibly open, as children are +accustomed to do when they expect a spectre to stand in waiting for them +on the other side; but nothing appeared. I stepped fearfully in: the +apartment was empty; and my bed-room was also freed from its hideous +guest. I could hardly believe that so great a good fortune could have +befallen me; but when I became assured that my enemy had indeed fled, I +clapped my hands for joy, and ran down to Clerval. + +We ascended into my room, and the servant presently brought breakfast; +but I was unable to contain myself. It was not joy only that possessed +me; I felt my flesh tingle with excess of sensitiveness, and my pulse +beat rapidly. I was unable to remain for a single instant in the same +place; I jumped over the chairs, clapped my hands, and laughed aloud. +Clerval at first attributed my unusual spirits to joy on his arrival; +but when he observed me more attentively, he saw a wildness in my eyes +for which he could not account; and my loud, unrestrained, heartless +laughter, frightened and astonished him. + +"My dear Victor," cried he, "what, for God's sake, is the matter? Do not +laugh in that manner. How ill you are! What is the cause of all this?" + +"Do not ask me," cried I, putting my hands before my eyes, for I thought +I saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room; "_he_ can tell.--Oh, save +me! save me!" I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled +furiously, and fell down in a fit. + +Poor Clerval! what must have been his feelings? A meeting, which he +anticipated with such joy, so strangely turned to bitterness. But I was +not the witness of his grief; for I was lifeless, and did not recover my +senses for a long, long time. + +This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for +several months. During all that time Henry was my only nurse. I +afterwards learned that, knowing my father's advanced age, and unfitness +for so long a journey, and how wretched my sickness would make +Elizabeth, he spared them this grief by concealing the extent of my +disorder. He knew that I could not have a more kind and attentive nurse +than himself; and, firm in the hope he felt of my recovery, he did not +doubt that, instead of doing harm, he performed the kindest action that +he could towards them. + +But I was in reality very ill; and surely nothing but the unbounded and +unremitting attentions of my friend could have restored me to life. The +form of the monster on whom I had bestowed existence was for ever before +my eyes, and I raved incessantly concerning him. Doubtless my words +surprised Henry: he at first believed them to be the wanderings of my +disturbed imagination; but the pertinacity with which I continually +recurred to the same subject, persuaded him that my disorder indeed owed +its origin to some uncommon and terrible event. + +By very slow degrees, and with frequent relapses, that alarmed and +grieved my friend, I recovered. I remember the first time I became +capable of observing outward objects with any kind of pleasure, I +perceived that the fallen leaves had disappeared, and that the young +buds were shooting forth from the trees that shaded my window. It was a +divine spring; and the season contributed greatly to my convalescence. I +felt also sentiments of joy and affection revive in my bosom; my gloom +disappeared, and in a short time I became as cheerful as before I was +attacked by the fatal passion. + +"Dearest Clerval," exclaimed I, "how kind, how very good you are to me. +This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised +yourself, has been consumed in my sick room. How shall I ever repay you? +I feel the greatest remorse for the disappointment of which I have been +the occasion; but you will forgive me." + +"You will repay me entirely, if you do not discompose yourself, but get +well as fast as you can; and since you appear in such good spirits, I +may speak to you on one subject, may I not?" + +I trembled. One subject! what could it be? Could he allude to an object +on whom I dared not even think? + +"Compose yourself," said Clerval, who observed my change of colour, "I +will not mention it, if it agitates you; but your father and cousin +would be very happy if they received a letter from you in your own +handwriting. They hardly know how ill you have been, and are uneasy at +your long silence." + +"Is that all, my dear Henry? How could you suppose that my first +thought would not fly towards those dear, dear friends whom I love, and +who are so deserving of my love." + +"If this is your present temper, my friend, you will perhaps be glad to +see a letter that has been lying here some days for you: it is from your +cousin, I believe." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Clerval then put the following letter into my hands. It was from my own +Elizabeth:-- + +"My dearest Cousin, + +"You have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear kind +Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account. You are +forbidden to write--to hold a pen; yet one word from you, dear Victor, +is necessary to calm our apprehensions. For a long time I have thought +that each post would bring this line, and my persuasions have restrained +my uncle from undertaking a journey to Ingolstadt. I have prevented his +encountering the inconveniences and perhaps dangers of so long a +journey; yet how often have I regretted not being able to perform it +myself! I figure to myself that the task of attending on your sick bed +has devolved on some mercenary old nurse, who could never guess your +wishes, nor minister to them with the care and affection of your poor +cousin. Yet that is over now: Clerval writes that indeed you are getting +better. I eagerly hope that you will confirm this intelligence soon in +your own handwriting. + +"Get well--and return to us. You will find a happy, cheerful home, and +friends who love you dearly. Your father's health is vigorous, and he +asks but to see you,--but to be assured that you are well; and not a +care will ever cloud his benevolent countenance. How pleased you would +be to remark the improvement of our Ernest! He is now sixteen, and full +of activity and spirit. He is desirous to be a true Swiss, and to enter +into foreign service; but we cannot part with him, at least until his +elder brother return to us. My uncle is not pleased with the idea of a +military career in a distant country; but Ernest never had your powers +of application. He looks upon study as an odious fetter;--his time is +spent in the open air, climbing the hills or rowing on the lake. I fear +that he will become an idler, unless we yield the point, and permit him +to enter on the profession which he has selected. + +"Little alteration, except the growth of our dear children, has taken +place since you left us. The blue lake, and snow-clad mountains, they +never change;--and I think our placid home, and our contented hearts are +regulated by the same immutable laws. My trifling occupations take up my +time and amuse me, and I am rewarded for any exertions by seeing none +but happy, kind faces around me. Since you left us, but one change has +taken place in our little household. Do you remember on what occasion +Justine Moritz entered our family? Probably you do not; I will relate +her history, therefore, in a few words. Madame Moritz, her mother, was a +widow with four children, of whom Justine was the third. This girl had +always been the favourite of her father; but, through a strange +perversity, her mother could not endure her, and, after the death of M. +Moritz, treated her very ill. My aunt observed this; and, when Justine +was twelve years of age, prevailed on her mother to allow her to live at +our house. The republican institutions of our country have produced +simpler and happier manners than those which prevail in the great +monarchies that surround it. Hence there is less distinction between the +several classes of its inhabitants; and the lower orders, being neither +so poor nor so despised, their manners are more refined and moral. A +servant in Geneva does not mean the same thing as a servant in France +and England. Justine, thus received in our family, learned the duties of +a servant; a condition which, in our fortunate country, does not include +the idea of ignorance, and a sacrifice of the dignity of a human being. + +"Justine, you may remember, was a great favourite of yours; and I +recollect you once remarked, that if you were in an ill-humour, one +glance from Justine could dissipate it, for the same reason that +Ariosto gives concerning the beauty of Angelica--she looked so +frank-hearted and happy. My aunt conceived a great attachment for her, +by which she was induced to give her an education superior to that which +she had at first intended. This benefit was fully repaid; Justine was +the most grateful little creature in the world: I do not mean that she +made any professions; I never heard one pass her lips; but you could see +by her eyes that she almost adored her protectress. Although her +disposition was gay, and in many respects inconsiderate, yet she paid +the greatest attention to every gesture of my aunt. She thought her the +model of all excellence, and endeavoured to imitate her phraseology and +manners, so that even now she often reminds me of her. + +"When my dearest aunt died, every one was too much occupied in their own +grief to notice poor Justine, who had attended her during her illness +with the most anxious affection. Poor Justine was very ill; but other +trials were reserved for her. + +"One by one, her brothers and sister died; and her mother, with the +exception of her neglected daughter, was left childless. The conscience +of the woman was troubled; she began to think that the deaths of her +favourites was a judgment from heaven to chastise her partiality. She +was a Roman catholic; and I believe her confessor confirmed the idea +which she had conceived. Accordingly, a few months after your departure +for Ingolstadt, Justine was called home by her repentant mother. Poor +girl! she wept when she quitted our house; she was much altered since +the death of my aunt; grief had given softness and a winning mildness to +her manners, which had before been remarkable for vivacity. Nor was her +residence at her mother's house of a nature to restore her gaiety. The +poor woman was very vacillating in her repentance. She sometimes begged +Justine to forgive her unkindness, but much oftener accused her of +having caused the deaths of her brothers and sister. Perpetual fretting +at length threw Madame Moritz into a decline, which at first increased +her irritability, but she is now at peace for ever. She died on the +first approach of cold weather, at the beginning of this last winter. +Justine has returned to us; and I assure you I love her tenderly. She is +very clever and gentle, and extremely pretty; as I mentioned before, her +mien and her expressions continually remind me of my dear aunt. + +"I must say also a few words to you, my dear cousin, of little darling +William. I wish you could see him; he is very tall of his age, with +sweet laughing blue eyes, dark eyelashes, and curling hair. When he +smiles, two little dimples appear on each cheek, which are rosy with +health. He has already had one or two little _wives_, but Louisa Biron +is his favourite, a pretty little girl of five years of age. + +"Now, dear Victor, I dare say you wish to be indulged in a little gossip +concerning the good people of Geneva. The pretty Miss Mansfield has +already received the congratulatory visits on her approaching marriage +with a young Englishman, John Melbourne, Esq. Her ugly sister, Manon, +married M. Duvillard, the rich banker, last autumn. Your favourite +schoolfellow, Louis Manoir, has suffered several misfortunes since the +departure of Clerval from Geneva. But he has already recovered his +spirits, and is reported to be on the point of marrying a very lively +pretty Frenchwoman, Madame Tavernier. She is a widow, and much older +than Manoir; but she is very much admired, and a favourite with +everybody. + +"I have written myself into better spirits, dear cousin; but my anxiety +returns upon me as I conclude. Write, dearest Victor,--one line--one +word will be a blessing to us. Ten thousand thanks to Henry for his +kindness, his affection, and his many letters: we are sincerely +grateful. Adieu! my cousin; take care of yourself; and, I entreat you, +write! + +"ELIZABETH LAVENZA. + +"Geneva, March 18th, 17--." + + * * * * * + +"Dear, dear Elizabeth!" I exclaimed, when I had read her letter, "I will +write instantly, and relieve them from the anxiety they must feel." I +wrote, and this exertion greatly fatigued me; but my convalescence had +commenced, and proceeded regularly. In another fortnight I was able to +leave my chamber. + +One of my first duties on my recovery was to introduce Clerval to the +several professors of the university. In doing this, I underwent a kind +of rough usage, ill befitting the wounds that my mind had sustained. +Ever since the fatal night, the end of my labours, and the beginning of +my misfortunes, I had conceived a violent antipathy even to the name of +natural philosophy. When I was otherwise quite restored to health, the +sight of a chemical instrument would renew all the agony of my nervous +symptoms. Henry saw this, and had removed all my apparatus from my view. +He had also changed my apartment; for he perceived that I had acquired a +dislike for the room which had previously been my laboratory. But these +cares of Clerval were made of no avail when I visited the professors. M. +Waldman inflicted torture when he praised, with kindness and warmth, the +astonishing progress I had made in the sciences. He soon perceived that +I disliked the subject; but not guessing the real cause, he attributed +my feelings to modesty, and changed the subject from my improvement, to +the science itself, with a desire, as I evidently saw, of drawing me +out. What could I do? He meant to please, and he tormented me. I felt as +if he had placed carefully, one by one, in my view those instruments +which were to be afterwards used in putting me to a slow and cruel +death. I writhed under his words, yet dared not exhibit the pain I felt. +Clerval, whose eyes and feelings were always quick in discerning the +sensations of others, declined the subject, alleging, in excuse, his +total ignorance; and the conversation took a more general turn. I +thanked my friend from my heart, but I did not speak. I saw plainly that +he was surprised, but he never attempted to draw my secret from me; and +although I loved him with a mixture of affection and reverence that knew +no bounds, yet I could never persuade myself to confide to him that +event which was so often present to my recollection, but which I feared +the detail to another would only impress more deeply. + +M. Krempe was not equally docile; and in my condition at that time, of +almost insupportable sensitiveness, his harsh blunt encomiums gave me +even more pain than the benevolent approbation of M. Waldman. "D--n the +fellow!" cried he; "why, M. Clerval, I assure you he has outstript us +all. Ay, stare if you please; but it is nevertheless true. A youngster +who, but a few years ago, believed in Cornelius Agrippa as firmly as in +the gospel, has now set himself at the head of the university; and if he +is not soon pulled down, we shall all be out of countenance.--Ay, ay," +continued he, observing my face expressive of suffering, "M. +Frankenstein is modest; an excellent quality in a young man. Young men +should be diffident of themselves, you know, M. Clerval: I was myself +when young; but that wears out in a very short time." + +M. Krempe had now commenced an eulogy on himself, which happily turned +the conversation from a subject that was so annoying to me. + +Clerval had never sympathised in my tastes for natural science; and his +literary pursuits differed wholly from those which had occupied me. He +came to the university with the design of making himself complete master +of the oriental languages, as thus he should open a field for the plan +of life he had marked out for himself. Resolved to pursue no inglorious +career, he turned his eyes toward the East, as affording scope for his +spirit of enterprise. The Persian, Arabic, and Sanscrit languages +engaged his attention, and I was easily induced to enter on the same +studies. Idleness had ever been irksome to me, and now that I wished to +fly from reflection, and hated my former studies, I felt great relief in +being the fellow-pupil with my friend, and found not only instruction +but consolation in the works of the orientalists. I did not, like him, +attempt a critical knowledge of their dialects, for I did not +contemplate making any other use of them than temporary amusement. I +read merely to understand their meaning, and they well repaid my +labours. Their melancholy is soothing, and their joy elevating, to a +degree I never experienced in studying the authors of any other country. +When you read their writings, life appears to consist in a warm sun and +a garden of roses,--in the smiles and frowns of a fair enemy, and the +fire that consumes your own heart. How different from the manly and +heroical poetry of Greece and Rome! + +Summer passed away in these occupations, and my return to Geneva was +fixed for the latter end of autumn; but being delayed by several +accidents, winter and snow arrived, the roads were deemed impassable, +and my journey was retarded until the ensuing spring. I felt this delay +very bitterly; for I longed to see my native town and my beloved +friends. My return had only been delayed so long, from an unwillingness +to leave Clerval in a strange place, before he had become acquainted +with any of its inhabitants. The winter, however, was spent cheerfully; +and although the spring was uncommonly late, when it came its beauty +compensated for its dilatoriness. + +The month of May had already commenced, and I expected the letter daily +which was to fix the date of my departure, when Henry proposed a +pedestrian tour in the environs of Ingolstadt, that I might bid a +personal farewell to the country I had so long inhabited. I acceded with +pleasure to this proposition: I was fond of exercise, and Clerval had +always been my favourite companion in the rambles of this nature that I +had taken among the scenes of my native country. + +We passed a fortnight in these perambulations: my health and spirits had +long been restored, and they gained additional strength from the +salubrious air I breathed, the natural incidents of our progress, and +the conversation of my friend. Study had before secluded me from the +intercourse of my fellow-creatures, and rendered me unsocial; but +Clerval called forth the better feelings of my heart; he again taught me +to love the aspect of nature, and the cheerful faces of children. +Excellent friend! how sincerely did you love me, and endeavour to +elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own! A selfish pursuit +had cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection warmed +and opened my senses; I became the same happy creature who, a few years +ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care. When happy, +inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful +sensations. A serene sky and verdant fields filled me with ecstasy. The +present season was indeed divine; the flowers of spring bloomed in the +hedges, while those of summer were already in bud. I was undisturbed by +thoughts which during the preceding year had pressed upon me, +notwithstanding my endeavours to throw them off, with an invincible +burden. + +Henry rejoiced in my gaiety, and sincerely sympathised in my feelings: +he exerted himself to amuse me, while he expressed the sensations that +filled his soul. The resources of his mind on this occasion were truly +astonishing: his conversation was full of imagination; and very often, +in imitation of the Persian and Arabic writers, he invented tales of +wonderful fancy and passion. At other times he repeated my favourite +poems, or drew me out into arguments, which he supported with great +ingenuity. + +We returned to our college on a Sunday afternoon: the peasants were +dancing, and every one we met appeared gay and happy. My own spirits +were high, and I bounded along with feelings of unbridled joy and +hilarity. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +On my return, I found the following letter from my father:-- + +"My dear Victor, + +"You have probably waited impatiently for a letter to fix the date of +your return to us; and I was at first tempted to write only a few lines, +merely mentioning the day on which I should expect you. But that would +be a cruel kindness, and I dare not do it. What would be your surprise, +my son, when you expected a happy and glad welcome, to behold, on the +contrary, tears and wretchedness? And how, Victor, can I relate our +misfortune? Absence cannot have rendered you callous to our joys and +griefs; and how shall I inflict pain on my long absent son? I wish to +prepare you for the woful news, but I know it is impossible; even now +your eye skims over the page, to seek the words which are to convey to +you the horrible tidings. + +"William is dead!--that sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed +my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered! + +"I will not attempt to console you; but will simply relate the +circumstances of the transaction. + +"Last Thursday (May 7th), I, my niece, and your two brothers, went to +walk in Plainpalais. The evening was warm and serene, and we prolonged +our walk farther than usual. It was already dusk before we thought of +returning; and then we discovered that William and Ernest, who had gone +on before, were not to be found. We accordingly rested on a seat until +they should return. Presently Ernest came, and enquired if we had seen +his brother: he said, that he had been playing with him, that William +had run away to hide himself, and that he vainly sought for him, and +afterwards waited for him a long time, but that he did not return. + +"This account rather alarmed us, and we continued to search for him +until night fell, when Elizabeth conjectured that he might have returned +to the house. He was not there. We returned again, with torches; for I +could not rest, when I thought that my sweet boy had lost himself, and +was exposed to all the damps and dews of night; Elizabeth also suffered +extreme anguish. About five in the morning I discovered my lovely boy, +whom the night before I had seen blooming and active in health, +stretched on the grass livid and motionless: the print of the murderer's +finger was on his neck. + +"He was conveyed home, and the anguish that was visible in my +countenance betrayed the secret to Elizabeth. She was very earnest to +see the corpse. At first I attempted to prevent her; but she persisted, +and entering the room where it lay, hastily examined the neck of the +victim, and clasping her hands exclaimed, 'O God! I have murdered my +darling child!' + +"She fainted, and was restored with extreme difficulty. When she again +lived, it was only to weep and sigh. She told me, that that same evening +William had teased her to let him wear a very valuable miniature that +she possessed of your mother. This picture is gone, and was doubtless +the temptation which urged the murderer to the deed. We have no trace +of him at present, although our exertions to discover him are +unremitted; but they will not restore my beloved William! + +"Come, dearest Victor; you alone can console Elizabeth. She weeps +continually, and accuses herself unjustly as the cause of his death; her +words pierce my heart. We are all unhappy; but will not that be an +additional motive for you, my son, to return and be our comforter? Your +dear mother! Alas, Victor! I now say, Thank God she did not live to +witness the cruel, miserable death of her youngest darling! + +"Come, Victor; not brooding thoughts of vengeance against the assassin, +but with feelings of peace and gentleness, that will heal, instead of +festering, the wounds of our minds. Enter the house of mourning, my +friend, but with kindness and affection for those who love you, and not +with hatred for your enemies. + +"Your affectionate and afflicted father, + +"ALPHONSE FRANKENSTEIN. + +"Geneva, May 12th, 17--." + + * * * * * + +Clerval, who had watched my countenance as I read this letter, was +surprised to observe the despair that succeeded to the joy I at first +expressed on receiving news from my friends. I threw the letter on the +table, and covered my face with my hands. + +"My dear Frankenstein," exclaimed Henry, when he perceived me weep with +bitterness, "are you always to be unhappy? My dear friend, what has +happened?" + +I motioned to him to take up the letter, while I walked up and down the +room in the extremest agitation. Tears also gushed from the eyes of +Clerval, as he read the account of my misfortune. + +"I can offer you no consolation, my friend," said he; "your disaster is +irreparable. What do you intend to do?" + +"To go instantly to Geneva: come with me, Henry, to order the horses." + +During our walk, Clerval endeavoured to say a few words of consolation; +he could only express his heart-felt sympathy. "Poor William!" said he, +"dear lovely child, he now sleeps with his angel mother! Who that had +seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty, but must weep over his +untimely loss! To die so miserably; to feel the murderer's grasp! How +much more a murderer, that could destroy such radiant innocence! Poor +little fellow! one only consolation have we; his friends mourn and weep, +but he is at rest. The pang is over, his sufferings are at an end for +ever. A sod covers his gentle form, and he knows no pain. He can no +longer be a subject for pity; we must reserve that for his miserable +survivors." + +Clerval spoke thus as we hurried through the streets; the words +impressed themselves on my mind, and I remembered them afterwards in +solitude. But now, as soon as the horses arrived, I hurried into a +cabriolet, and bade farewell to my friend. + +My journey was very melancholy. At first I wished to hurry on, for I +longed to console and sympathise with my loved and sorrowing friends; +but when I drew near my native town, I slackened my progress. I could +hardly sustain the multitude of feelings that crowded into my mind. I +passed through scenes familiar to my youth, but which I had not seen for +nearly six years. How altered every thing might be during that time! One +sudden and desolating change had taken place; but a thousand little +circumstances might have by degrees worked other alterations, which, +although they were done more tranquilly, might not be the less decisive. +Fear overcame me; I dared not advance, dreading a thousand nameless +evils that made me tremble, although I was unable to define them. + +I remained two days at Lausanne, in this painful state of mind. I +contemplated the lake: the waters were placid; all around was calm; and +the snowy mountains, "the palaces of nature," were not changed. By +degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my +journey towards Geneva. + +The road ran by the side of the lake, which became narrower as I +approached my native town. I discovered more distinctly the black sides +of Jura, and the bright summit of Mont Blanc. I wept like a child. +"Dear mountains! my own beautiful lake! how do you welcome your +wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. +Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock at my unhappiness?" + +I fear, my friend, that I shall render myself tedious by dwelling on +these preliminary circumstances; but they were days of comparative +happiness, and I think of them with pleasure. My country, my beloved +country! who but a native can tell the delight I took in again beholding +thy streams, thy mountains, and, more than all, thy lovely lake! + +Yet, as I drew nearer home, grief and fear again overcame me. Night also +closed around; and when I could hardly see the dark mountains, I felt +still more gloomily. The picture appeared a vast and dim scene of evil, +and I foresaw obscurely that I was destined to become the most wretched +of human beings. Alas! I prophesied truly, and failed only in one single +circumstance, that in all the misery I imagined and dreaded, I did not +conceive the hundredth part of the anguish I was destined to endure. + +It was completely dark when I arrived in the environs of Geneva; the +gates of the town were already shut; and I was obliged to pass the night +at Secheron, a village at the distance of half a league from the city. +The sky was serene; and, as I was unable to rest, I resolved to visit +the spot where my poor William had been murdered. As I could not pass +through the town, I was obliged to cross the lake in a boat to arrive at +Plainpalais. During this short voyage I saw the lightnings playing on +the summit of Mont Blanc in the most beautiful figures. The storm +appeared to approach rapidly; and, on landing, I ascended a low hill, +that I might observe its progress. It advanced; the heavens were +clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large drops, but its +violence quickly increased. + +I quitted my seat, and walked on, although the darkness and storm +increased every minute, and the thunder burst with a terrific crash over +my head. It was echoed from Salêve, the Juras, and the Alps of Savoy; +vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes, illuminating the lake, +making it appear like a vast sheet of fire; then for an instant every +thing seemed of a pitchy darkness, until the eye recovered itself from +the preceding flash. The storm, as is often the case in Switzerland, +appeared at once in various parts of the heavens. The most violent storm +hung exactly north of the town, over that part of the lake which lies +between the promontory of Belrive and the village of Copêt. Another +storm enlightened Jura with faint flashes; and another darkened and +sometimes disclosed the Môle, a peaked mountain to the east of the lake. + +While I watched the tempest, so beautiful yet terrific, I wandered on +with a hasty step. This noble war in the sky elevated my spirits; I +clasped my hands, and exclaimed aloud, "William, dear angel! this is thy +funeral, this thy dirge!" As I said these words, I perceived in the +gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me; I stood +fixed, gazing intently: I could not be mistaken. A flash of lightning +illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its +gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than +belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the +filthy dæmon, to whom I had given life. What did he there? Could he be +(I shuddered at the conception) the murderer of my brother? No sooner +did that idea cross my imagination, than I became convinced of its +truth; my teeth chattered, and I was forced to lean against a tree for +support. The figure passed me quickly, and I lost it in the gloom. +Nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child. _He_ was +the murderer! I could not doubt it. The mere presence of the idea was an +irresistible proof of the fact. I thought of pursuing the devil; but it +would have been in vain, for another flash discovered him to me hanging +among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of Mont Salêve, a +hill that bounds Plainpalais on the south. He soon reached the summit, +and disappeared. + +I remained motionless. The thunder ceased; but the rain still continued, +and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness. I revolved in +my mind the events which I had until now sought to forget: the whole +train of my progress towards the creation; the appearance of the work of +my own hands alive at my bedside; its departure. Two years had now +nearly elapsed since the night on which he first received life; and was +this his first crime? Alas! I had turned loose into the world a depraved +wretch, whose delight was in carnage and misery; had he not murdered my +brother? + +No one can conceive the anguish I suffered during the remainder of the +night, which I spent, cold and wet, in the open air. But I did not feel +the inconvenience of the weather; my imagination was busy in scenes of +evil and despair. I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind, +and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes of horror, such +as the deed which he had now done, nearly in the light of my own +vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy +all that was dear to me. + +Day dawned; and I directed my steps towards the town. The gates were +open, and I hastened to my father's house. My first thought was to +discover what I knew of the murderer, and cause instant pursuit to be +made. But I paused when I reflected on the story that I had to tell. A +being whom I myself had formed, and endued with life, had met me at +midnight among the precipices of an inaccessible mountain. I remembered +also the nervous fever with which I had been seized just at the time +that I dated my creation, and which would give an air of delirium to a +tale otherwise so utterly improbable. I well knew that if any other had +communicated such a relation to me, I should have looked upon it as the +ravings of insanity. Besides, the strange nature of the animal would +elude all pursuit, even if I were so far credited as to persuade my +relatives to commence it. And then of what use would be pursuit? Who +could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Mont +Salêve? These reflections determined me, and I resolved to remain +silent. + +It was about five in the morning when I entered my father's house. I +told the servants not to disturb the family, and went into the library +to attend their usual hour of rising. + +Six years had elapsed, passed as a dream but for one indelible trace, +and I stood in the same place where I had last embraced my father before +my departure for Ingolstadt. Beloved and venerable parent! He still +remained to me. I gazed on the picture of my mother, which stood over +the mantel-piece. It was an historical subject, painted at my father's +desire, and represented Caroline Beaufort in an agony of despair, +kneeling by the coffin of her dead father. Her garb was rustic, and her +cheek pale; but there was an air of dignity and beauty, that hardly +permitted the sentiment of pity. Below this picture was a miniature of +William; and my tears flowed when I looked upon it. While I was thus +engaged, Ernest entered: he had heard me arrive, and hastened to welcome +me. He expressed a sorrowful delight to see me: "Welcome, my dearest +Victor," said he. "Ah! I wish you had come three months ago, and then +you would have found us all joyous and delighted. You come to us now to +share a misery which nothing can alleviate; yet your presence will, I +hope, revive our father, who seems sinking under his misfortune; and +your persuasions will induce poor Elizabeth to cease her vain and +tormenting self-accusations.--Poor William! he was our darling and our +pride!" + +Tears, unrestrained, fell from my brother's eyes; a sense of mortal +agony crept over my frame. Before, I had only imagined the wretchedness +of my desolated home; the reality came on me as a new, and a not less +terrible, disaster. I tried to calm Ernest; I enquired more minutely +concerning my father, and her I named my cousin. + +"She most of all," said Ernest, "requires consolation; she accused +herself of having caused the death of my brother, and that made her very +wretched. But since the murderer has been discovered--" + +"The murderer discovered! Good God! how can that be? who could attempt +to pursue him? It is impossible; one might as well try to overtake the +winds, or confine a mountain-stream with a straw. I saw him too; he was +free last night!" + +"I do not know what you mean," replied my brother, in accents of wonder, +"but to us the discovery we have made completes our misery. No one would +believe it at first; and even now Elizabeth will not be convinced, +notwithstanding all the evidence. Indeed, who would credit that Justine +Moritz, who was so amiable, and fond of all the family, could suddenly +become capable of so frightful, so appalling a crime?" + +"Justine Moritz! Poor, poor girl, is she the accused? But it is +wrongfully; every one knows that; no one believes it, surely, Ernest?" + +"No one did at first; but several circumstances came out, that have +almost forced conviction upon us; and her own behaviour has been so +confused, as to add to the evidence of facts a weight that, I fear, +leaves no hope for doubt. But she will be tried to-day, and you will +then hear all." + +He related that, the morning on which the murder of poor William had +been discovered, Justine had been taken ill, and confined to her bed for +several days. During this interval, one of the servants, happening to +examine the apparel she had worn on the night of the murder, had +discovered in her pocket the picture of my mother, which had been judged +to be the temptation of the murderer. The servant instantly showed it to +one of the others, who, without saying a word to any of the family, went +to a magistrate; and, upon their deposition, Justine was apprehended. On +being charged with the fact, the poor girl confirmed the suspicion in a +great measure by her extreme confusion of manner. + +This was a strange tale, but it did not shake my faith; and I replied +earnestly, "You are all mistaken; I know the murderer. Justine, poor, +good Justine, is innocent." + +At that instant my father entered. I saw unhappiness deeply impressed on +his countenance, but he endeavoured to welcome me cheerfully; and, after +we had exchanged our mournful greeting, would have introduced some other +topic than that of our disaster, had not Ernest exclaimed, "Good God, +papa! Victor says that he knows who was the murderer of poor William." + +"We do also, unfortunately," replied my father; "for indeed I had rather +have been for ever ignorant than have discovered so much depravity and +ingratitude in one I valued so highly." + +"My dear father, you are mistaken; Justine is innocent." + +"If she is, God forbid that she should suffer as guilty. She is to be +tried to-day, and I hope, I sincerely hope, that she will be acquitted." + +This speech calmed me. I was firmly convinced in my own mind that +Justine, and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder. I +had no fear, therefore, that any circumstantial evidence could be +brought forward strong enough to convict her. My tale was not one to +announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness +by the vulgar. Did any one indeed exist, except I, the creator, who +would believe, unless his senses convinced him, in the existence of the +living monument of presumption and rash ignorance which I had let loose +upon the world? + +We were soon joined by Elizabeth. Time had altered her since I last +beheld her; it had endowed her with loveliness surpassing the beauty of +her childish years. There was the same candour, the same vivacity, but +it was allied to an expression more full of sensibility and intellect. +She welcomed me with the greatest affection. "Your arrival, my dear +cousin," said she, "fills me with hope. You perhaps will find some means +to justify my poor guiltless Justine. Alas! who is safe, if she be +convicted of crime? I rely on her innocence as certainly as I do upon my +own. Our misfortune is doubly hard to us; we have not only lost that +lovely darling boy, but this poor girl, whom I sincerely love, is to be +torn away by even a worse fate. If she is condemned, I never shall know +joy more. But she will not, I am sure she will not; and then I shall be +happy again, even after the sad death of my little William." + +"She is innocent, my Elizabeth," said I, "and that shall be proved; fear +nothing, but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance of her +acquittal." + +"How kind and generous you are! every one else believes in her guilt, +and that made me wretched, for I knew that it was impossible: and to see +every one else prejudiced in so deadly a manner rendered me hopeless and +despairing." She wept. + +"Dearest niece," said my father, "dry your tears. If she is, as you +believe, innocent, rely on the justice of our laws, and the activity +with which I shall prevent the slightest shadow of partiality." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +We passed a few sad hours, until eleven o'clock, when the trial was to +commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend +as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this +wretched mockery of justice I suffered living torture. It was to be +decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would +cause the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of +innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered, with every +aggravation of infamy that could make the murder memorable in horror. +Justine also was a girl of merit, and possessed qualities which promised +to render her life happy: now all was to be obliterated in an +ignominious grave; and I the cause! A thousand times rather would I have +confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was +absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been +considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her +who suffered through me. + +The appearance of Justine was calm. She was dressed in mourning; and her +countenance, always engaging, was rendered, by the solemnity of her +feelings, exquisitely beautiful. Yet she appeared confident in +innocence, and did not tremble, although gazed on and execrated by +thousands; for all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have +excited, was obliterated in the minds of the spectators by the +imagination of the enormity she was supposed to have committed. She was +tranquil, yet her tranquillity was evidently constrained; and as her +confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guilt, she worked up +her mind to an appearance of courage. When she entered the court, she +threw her eyes round it, and quickly discovered where we were seated. A +tear seemed to dim her eye when she saw us; but she quickly recovered +herself, and a look of sorrowful affection seemed to attest her utter +guiltlessness. + +The trial began; and, after the advocate against her had stated the +charge, several witnesses were called. Several strange facts combined +against her, which might have staggered any one who had not such proof +of her innocence as I had. She had been out the whole of the night on +which the murder had been committed, and towards morning had been +perceived by a market-woman not far from the spot where the body of the +murdered child had been afterwards found. The woman asked her what she +did there; but she looked very strangely, and only returned a confused +and unintelligible answer. She returned to the house about eight +o'clock; and, when one enquired where she had passed the night, she +replied that she had been looking for the child, and demanded earnestly +if any thing had been heard concerning him. When shown the body, she +fell into violent hysterics, and kept her bed for several days. The +picture was then produced, which the servant had found in her pocket; +and when Elizabeth, in a faltering voice, proved that it was the same +which, an hour before the child had been missed, she had placed round +his neck, a murmur of horror and indignation filled the court. + +Justine was called on for her defence. As the trial had proceeded, her +countenance had altered. Surprise, horror, and misery were strongly +expressed. Sometimes she struggled with her tears; but, when she was +desired to plead, she collected her powers, and spoke, in an audible, +although variable voice. + +"God knows," she said, "how entirely I am innocent. But I do not pretend +that my protestations should acquit me: I rest my innocence on a plain +and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me; +and I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a +favourable interpretation, where any circumstance appears doubtful or +suspicious." + +She then related that, by the permission of Elizabeth, she had passed +the evening of the night on which the murder had been committed at the +house of an aunt at Chêne, a village situated at about a league from +Geneva. On her return, at about nine o'clock, she met a man, who asked +her if she had seen any thing of the child who was lost. She was alarmed +by this account, and passed several hours in looking for him, when the +gates of Geneva were shut, and she was forced to remain several hours of +the night in a barn belonging to a cottage, being unwilling to call up +the inhabitants, to whom she was well known. Most of the night she spent +here watching; towards morning she believed that she slept for a few +minutes; some steps disturbed her, and she awoke. It was dawn, and she +quitted her asylum, that she might again endeavour to find my brother. +If she had gone near the spot where his body lay, it was without her +knowledge. That she had been bewildered when questioned by the +market-woman was not surprising, since she had passed a sleepless night, +and the fate of poor William was yet uncertain. Concerning the picture +she could give no account. + +"I know," continued the unhappy victim, "how heavily and fatally this +one circumstance weighs against me, but I have no power of explaining +it; and when I have expressed my utter ignorance, I am only left to +conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been +placed in my pocket. But here also I am checked. I believe that I have +no enemy on earth, and none surely would have been so wicked as to +destroy me wantonly. Did the murderer place it there? I know of no +opportunity afforded him for so doing; or, if I had, why should he have +stolen the jewel, to part with it again so soon? + +"I commit my cause to the justice of my judges, yet I see no room for +hope. I beg permission to have a few witnesses examined concerning my +character; and if their testimony shall not overweigh my supposed guilt, +I must be condemned, although I would pledge my salvation on my +innocence." + +Several witnesses were called, who had known her for many years, and +they spoke well of her; but fear, and hatred of the crime of which they +supposed her guilty, rendered them timorous, and unwilling to come +forward. Elizabeth saw even this last resource, her excellent +dispositions and irreproachable conduct, about to fail the accused, +when, although violently agitated, she desired permission to address the +court. + +"I am," said she, "the cousin of the unhappy child who was murdered, or +rather his sister, for I was educated by, and have lived with his +parents ever since and even long before, his birth. It may therefore be +judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasion; but when I see a +fellow-creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended +friends, I wish to be allowed to speak, that I may say what I know of +her character. I am well acquainted with the accused. I have lived in +the same house with her, at one time for five, and at another for nearly +two years. During all that period she appeared to me the most amiable +and benevolent of human creatures. She nursed Madame Frankenstein, my +aunt, in her last illness, with the greatest affection and care; and +afterwards attended her own mother during a tedious illness, in a manner +that excited the admiration of all who knew her; after which she again +lived in my uncle's house, where she was beloved by all the family. She +was warmly attached to the child who is now dead, and acted towards him +like a most affectionate mother. For my own part, I do not hesitate to +say, that, notwithstanding all the evidence produced against her, I +believe and rely on her perfect innocence. She had no temptation for +such an action: as to the bauble on which the chief proof rests, if she +had earnestly desired it, I should have willingly given it to her; so +much do I esteem and value her." + +A murmur of approbation followed Elizabeth's simple and powerful appeal; +but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in favour of +poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed +violence, charging her with the blackest ingratitude. She herself wept +as Elizabeth spoke, but she did not answer. My own agitation and anguish +was extreme during the whole trial. I believed in her innocence; I knew +it. Could the dæmon, who had (I did not for a minute doubt) murdered my +brother, also in his hellish sport have betrayed the innocent to death +and ignominy? I could not sustain the horror of my situation; and when I +perceived that the popular voice, and the countenances of the judges, +had already condemned my unhappy victim, I rushed out of the court in +agony. The tortures of the accused did not equal mine; she was sustained +by innocence, but the fangs of remorse tore my bosom, and would not +forego their hold. + +I passed a night of unmingled wretchedness. In the morning I went to the +court; my lips and throat were parched. I dared not ask the fatal +question; but I was known, and the officer guessed the cause of my +visit. The ballots had been thrown; they were all black, and Justine was +condemned. + +I cannot pretend to describe what I then felt. I had before experienced +sensations of horror; and I have endeavoured to bestow upon them +adequate expressions, but words cannot convey an idea of the +heart-sickening despair that I then endured. The person to whom I +addressed myself added, that Justine had already confessed her guilt. +"That evidence," he observed, "was hardly required in so glaring a case, +but I am glad of it; and, indeed, none of our judges like to condemn a +criminal upon circumstantial evidence, be it ever so decisive." + +This was strange and unexpected intelligence; what could it mean? Had my +eyes deceived me? and was I really as mad as the whole world would +believe me to be, if I disclosed the object of my suspicions? I hastened +to return home, and Elizabeth eagerly demanded the result. + +"My cousin," replied I, "it is decided as you may have expected; all +judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer, than that one guilty +should escape. But she has confessed." + +This was a dire blow to poor Elizabeth, who had relied with firmness +upon Justine's innocence. "Alas!" said she, "how shall I ever again +believe in human goodness? Justine, whom I loved and esteemed as my +sister, how could she put on those smiles of innocence only to betray? +her mild eyes seemed incapable of any severity or guile, and yet she has +committed a murder." + +Soon after we heard that the poor victim had expressed a desire to see +my cousin. My father wished her not to go; but said, that he left it to +her own judgment and feelings to decide. "Yes," said Elizabeth, "I will +go, although she is guilty; and you, Victor, shall accompany me: I +cannot go alone." The idea of this visit was torture to me, yet I could +not refuse. + +We entered the gloomy prison-chamber, and beheld Justine sitting on some +straw at the farther end; her hands were manacled, and her head rested +on her knees. She rose on seeing us enter; and when we were left alone +with her, she threw herself at the feet of Elizabeth, weeping bitterly. +My cousin wept also. + +"Oh, Justine!" said she, "why did you rob me of my last consolation? I +relied on your innocence; and although I was then very wretched, I was +not so miserable as I am now." + +"And do you also believe that I am so very, very wicked? Do you also +join with my enemies to crush me, to condemn me as a murderer?" Her +voice was suffocated with sobs. + +"Rise, my poor girl," said Elizabeth, "why do you kneel, if you are +innocent? I am not one of your enemies; I believed you guiltless, +notwithstanding every evidence, until I heard that you had yourself +declared your guilt. That report, you say, is false; and be assured, +dear Justine, that nothing can shake my confidence in you for a moment, +but your own confession." + +"I did confess; but I confessed a lie. I confessed, that I might obtain +absolution; but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than all my +other sins. The God of heaven forgive me! Ever since I was condemned, my +confessor has besieged me; he threatened and menaced, until I almost +began to think that I was the monster that he said I was. He threatened +excommunication and hell fire in my last moments, if I continued +obdurate. Dear lady, I had none to support me; all looked on me as a +wretch doomed to ignominy and perdition. What could I do? In an evil +hour I subscribed to a lie; and now only am I truly miserable." + +She paused, weeping, and then continued--"I thought with horror, my +sweet lady, that you should believe your Justine, whom your blessed aunt +had so highly honoured, and whom you loved, was a creature capable of a +crime which none but the devil himself could have perpetrated. Dear +William! dearest blessed child! I soon shall see you again in heaven, +where we shall all be happy; and that consoles me, going as I am to +suffer ignominy and death." + +"Oh, Justine! forgive me for having for one moment distrusted you. Why +did you confess? But do not mourn, dear girl. Do not fear. I will +proclaim, I will prove your innocence. I will melt the stony hearts of +your enemies by my tears and prayers. You shall not die!--You, my +play-fellow, my companion, my sister, perish on the scaffold! No! no! I +never could survive so horrible a misfortune." + +Justine shook her head mournfully. "I do now not fear to die," she said; +"that pang is past. God raises my weakness, and gives me courage to +endure the worst. I leave a sad and bitter world; and if you remember +me, and think of me as of one unjustly condemned, I am resigned to the +fate awaiting me. Learn from me, dear lady, to submit in patience to the +will of Heaven!" + +During this conversation I had retired to a corner of the prison-room, +where I could conceal the horrid anguish that possessed me. Despair! Who +dared talk of that? The poor victim, who on the morrow was to pass the +awful boundary between life and death, felt not as I did, such deep and +bitter agony. I gnashed my teeth, and ground them together, uttering a +groan that came from my inmost soul. Justine started. When she saw who +it was, she approached me, and said, "Dear sir, you are very kind to +visit me; you, I hope, do not believe that I am guilty?" + +I could not answer. "No, Justine," said Elizabeth; "he is more convinced +of your innocence than I was; for even when he heard that you had +confessed, he did not credit it." + +"I truly thank him. In these last moments I feel the sincerest gratitude +towards those who think of me with kindness. How sweet is the affection +of others to such a wretch as I am! It removes more than half my +misfortune; and I feel as if I could die in peace, now that my innocence +is acknowledged by you, dear lady, and your cousin." + +Thus the poor sufferer tried to comfort others and herself. She indeed +gained the resignation she desired. But I, the true murderer, felt the +never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or +consolation. Elizabeth also wept, and was unhappy; but her's also was +the misery of innocence, which, like a cloud that passes over the fair +moon, for a while hides but cannot tarnish its brightness. Anguish and +despair had penetrated into the core of my heart; I bore a hell within +me, which nothing could extinguish. We stayed several hours with +Justine; and it was with great difficulty that Elizabeth could tear +herself away. "I wish," cried she, "that I were to die with you; I +cannot live in this world of misery." + +Justine assumed an air of cheerfulness, while she with difficulty +repressed her bitter tears. She embraced Elizabeth, and said, in a voice +of half-suppressed emotion, "Farewell, sweet lady, dearest Elizabeth, my +beloved and only friend; may Heaven, in its bounty, bless and preserve +you; may this be the last misfortune that you will ever suffer! Live, +and be happy, and make others so." + +And on the morrow Justine died. Elizabeth's heart-rending eloquence +failed to move the judges from their settled conviction in the +criminality of the saintly sufferer. My passionate and indignant appeals +were lost upon them. And when I received their cold answers, and heard +the harsh unfeeling reasoning of these men, my purposed avowal died away +on my lips. Thus I might proclaim myself a madman, but not revoke the +sentence passed upon my wretched victim. She perished on the scaffold as +a murderess! + +From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and +voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father's +woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home--all was the work +of my thrice-accursed hands! Ye weep, unhappy ones; but these are not +your last tears! Again shall you raise the funeral wail, and the sound +of your lamentations shall again and again be heard! Frankenstein, your +son, your kinsman, your early, much-loved friend; he who would spend +each vital drop of blood for your sakes--who has no thought nor sense of +joy, except as it is mirrored also in your dear countenances--who would +fill the air with blessings, and spend his life in serving you--he bids +you weep--to shed countless tears; happy beyond his hopes, if thus +inexorable fate be satisfied, and if the destruction pause before the +peace of the grave have succeeded to your sad torments! + +Thus spoke my prophetic soul, as, torn by remorse, horror, and despair, +I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and +Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Nothing is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have +been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of +inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul both of hope +and fear. Justine died; she rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed +freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my +heart, which nothing could remove. Sleep fled from my eyes; I wandered +like an evil spirit, for I had committed deeds of mischief beyond +description horrible, and more, much more (I persuaded myself), was yet +behind. Yet my heart overflowed with kindness, and the love of virtue. I +had begun life with benevolent intentions, and thirsted for the moment +when I should put them in practice, and make myself useful to my +fellow-beings. Now all was blasted: instead of that serenity of +conscience, which allowed me to look back upon the past with +self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was +seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a +hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe. + +This state of mind preyed upon my health, which had perhaps never +entirely recovered from the first shock it had sustained. I shunned the +face of man; all sound of joy or complacency was torture to me; solitude +was my only consolation--deep, dark, deathlike solitude. + +My father observed with pain the alteration perceptible in my +disposition and habits, and endeavoured by arguments deduced from the +feelings of his serene conscience and guiltless life, to inspire me with +fortitude, and awaken in me the courage to dispel the dark cloud which +brooded over me. "Do you think, Victor," said he, "that I do not suffer +also? No one could love a child more than I loved your brother;" (tears +came into his eyes as he spoke;) "but is it not a duty to the survivors, +that we should refrain from augmenting their unhappiness by an +appearance of immoderate grief? It is also a duty owed to yourself; for +excessive sorrow prevents improvement or enjoyment, or even the +discharge of daily usefulness, without which no man is fit for society." + +This advice, although good, was totally inapplicable to my case; I +should have been the first to hide my grief, and console my friends, if +remorse had not mingled its bitterness, and terror its alarm with my +other sensations. Now I could only answer my father with a look of +despair, and endeavour to hide myself from his view. + +About this time we retired to our house at Belrive. This change was +particularly agreeable to me. The shutting of the gates regularly at ten +o'clock, and the impossibility of remaining on the lake after that hour, +had rendered our residence within the walls of Geneva very irksome to +me. I was now free. Often, after the rest of the family had retired for +the night, I took the boat, and passed many hours upon the water. +Sometimes, with my sails set, I was carried by the wind; and sometimes, +after rowing into the middle of the lake, I left the boat to pursue its +own course, and gave way to my own miserable reflections. I was often +tempted, when all was at peace around me, and I the only unquiet thing +that wandered restless in a scene so beautiful and heavenly--if I except +some bat, or the frogs, whose harsh and interrupted croaking was heard +only when I approached the shore--often, I say, I was tempted to plunge +into the silent lake, that the waters might close over me and my +calamities for ever. But I was restrained, when I thought of the heroic +and suffering Elizabeth, whom I tenderly loved, and whose existence was +bound up in mine. I thought also of my father, and surviving brother: +should I by my base desertion leave them exposed and unprotected to the +malice of the fiend whom I had let loose among them? + +At these moments I wept bitterly, and wished that peace would revisit my +mind only that I might afford them consolation and happiness. But that +could not be. Remorse extinguished every hope. I had been the author of +unalterable evils; and I lived in daily fear, lest the monster whom I +had created should perpetrate some new wickedness. I had an obscure +feeling that all was not over, and that he would still commit some +signal crime, which by its enormity should almost efface the +recollection of the past. There was always scope for fear, so long as +any thing I loved remained behind. My abhorrence of this fiend cannot be +conceived. When I thought of him, I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became +inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so +thoughtlessly bestowed. When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my +hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation. I would have made a +pilgrimage to the highest peak of the Andes, could I, when there, have +precipitated him to their base. I wished to see him again, that I might +wreak the utmost extent of abhorrence on his head, and avenge the deaths +of William and Justine. + +Our house was the house of mourning. My father's health was deeply +shaken by the horror of the recent events. Elizabeth was sad and +desponding; she no longer took delight in her ordinary occupations; all +pleasure seemed to her sacrilege toward the dead; eternal woe and tears +she then thought was the just tribute she should pay to innocence so +blasted and destroyed. She was no longer that happy creature, who in +earlier youth wandered with me on the banks of the lake, and talked with +ecstasy of our future prospects. The first of those sorrows which are +sent to wean us from the earth, had visited her, and its dimming +influence quenched her dearest smiles. + +"When I reflect, my dear cousin," said she, "on the miserable death of +Justine Moritz, I no longer see the world and its works as they before +appeared to me. Before, I looked upon the accounts of vice and +injustice, that I read in books or heard from others, as tales of +ancient days, or imaginary evils; at least they were remote, and more +familiar to reason than to the imagination; but now misery has come +home, and men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other's blood. +Yet I am certainly unjust. Every body believed that poor girl to be +guilty; and if she could have committed the crime for which she +suffered, assuredly she would have been the most depraved of human +creatures. For the sake of a few jewels, to have murdered the son of her +benefactor and friend, a child whom she had nursed from its birth, and +appeared to love as if it had been her own! I could not consent to the +death of any human being; but certainly I should have thought such a +creature unfit to remain in the society of men. But she was innocent. I +know, I feel she was innocent; you are of the same opinion, and that +confirms me. Alas! Victor, when falsehood can look so like the truth, +who can assure themselves of certain happiness? I feel as if I were +walking on the edge of a precipice, towards which thousands are +crowding, and endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss. William and +Justine were assassinated, and the murderer escapes; he walks about the +world free, and perhaps respected. But even if I were condemned to +suffer on the scaffold for the same crimes, I would not change places +with such a wretch." + +I listened to this discourse with the extremest agony. I, not in deed, +but in effect, was the true murderer. Elizabeth read my anguish in my +countenance, and kindly taking my hand, said, "My dearest friend, you +must calm yourself. These events have affected me, God knows how deeply; +but I am not so wretched as you are. There is an expression of despair, +and sometimes of revenge, in your countenance, that makes me tremble. +Dear Victor, banish these dark passions. Remember the friends around +you, who centre all their hopes in you. Have we lost the power of +rendering you happy? Ah! while we love--while we are true to each other, +here in this land of peace and beauty, your native country, we may reap +every tranquil blessing,--what can disturb our peace?" + +And could not such words from her whom I fondly prized before every +other gift of fortune, suffice to chase away the fiend that lurked in my +heart? Even as she spoke I drew near to her, as if in terror; lest at +that very moment the destroyer had been near to rob me of her. + +Thus not the tenderness of friendship, nor the beauty of earth, nor of +heaven, could redeem my soul from woe: the very accents of love were +ineffectual. I was encompassed by a cloud which no beneficial influence +could penetrate. The wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some +untrodden brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and +to die--was but a type of me. + +Sometimes I could cope with the sullen despair that overwhelmed me: but +sometimes the whirlwind passions of my soul drove me to seek, by bodily +exercise and by change of place, some relief from my intolerable +sensations. It was during an access of this kind that I suddenly left my +home, and bending my steps towards the near Alpine valleys, sought in +the magnificence, the eternity of such scenes, to forget myself and my +ephemeral, because human, sorrows. My wanderings were directed towards +the valley of Chamounix. I had visited it frequently during my boyhood. +Six years had passed since then: _I_ was a wreck--but nought had changed +in those savage and enduring scenes. + +I performed the first part of my journey on horseback. I afterwards +hired a mule, as the more sure-footed, and least liable to receive +injury on these rugged roads. The weather was fine: it was about the +middle of the month of August, nearly two months after the death of +Justine; that miserable epoch from which I dated all my woe. The weight +upon my spirit was sensibly lightened as I plunged yet deeper in the +ravine of Arve. The immense mountains and precipices that overhung me on +every side--the sound of the river raging among the rocks, and the +dashing of the waterfalls around, spoke of a power mighty as +Omnipotence--and I ceased to fear, or to bend before any being less +almighty than that which had created and ruled the elements, here +displayed in their most terrific guise. Still, as I ascended higher, the +valley assumed a more magnificent and astonishing character. Ruined +castles hanging on the precipices of piny mountains; the impetuous +Arve, and cottages every here and there peeping forth from among the +trees, formed a scene of singular beauty. But it was augmented and +rendered sublime by the mighty Alps, whose white and shining pyramids +and domes towered above all, as belonging to another earth, the +habitations of another race of beings. + +I passed the bridge of Pélissier, where the ravine, which the river +forms, opened before me, and I began to ascend the mountain that +overhangs it. Soon after I entered the valley of Chamounix. This valley +is more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque, as +that of Servox, through which I had just passed. The high and snowy +mountains were its immediate boundaries; but I saw no more ruined +castles and fertile fields. Immense glaciers approached the road; I +heard the rumbling thunder of the falling avalanche, and marked the +smoke of its passage. Mont Blanc, the supreme and magnificent Mont +Blanc, raised itself from the surrounding _aiguilles_, and its +tremendous _dôme_ overlooked the valley. + +A tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me during this +journey. Some turn in the road, some new object suddenly perceived and +recognised, reminded me of days gone by, and were associated with the +light-hearted gaiety of boyhood. The very winds whispered in soothing +accents, and maternal nature bade me weep no more. Then again the kindly +influence ceased to act--I found myself fettered again to grief, and +indulging in all the misery of reflection. Then I spurred on my animal, +striving so to forget the world, my fears, and, more than all, +myself--or, in a more desperate fashion, I alighted, and threw myself on +the grass, weighed down by horror and despair. + +At length I arrived at the village of Chamounix. Exhaustion succeeded to +the extreme fatigue both of body and of mind which I had endured. For a +short space of time I remained at the window, watching the pallid +lightnings that played above Mont Blanc, and listening to the rushing of +the Arve, which pursued its noisy way beneath. The same lulling sounds +acted as a lullaby to my too keen sensations: when I placed my head upon +my pillow, sleep crept over me; I felt it as it came, and blest the +giver of oblivion. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +I spent the following day roaming through the valley. I stood beside the +sources of the Arveiron, which take their rise in a glacier, that with +slow pace is advancing down from the summit of the hills, to barricade +the valley. The abrupt sides of vast mountains were before me; the icy +wall of the glacier overhung me; a few shattered pines were scattered +around; and the solemn silence of this glorious presence-chamber of +imperial Nature was broken only by the brawling waves, or the fall of +some vast fragment, the thunder sound of the avalanche, or the cracking, +reverberated along the mountains of the accumulated ice, which, through +the silent working of immutable laws, was ever and anon rent and torn, +as if it had been but a plaything in their hands. These sublime and +magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was +capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling; +and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and +tranquillised it. In some degree, also, they diverted my mind from the +thoughts over which it had brooded for the last month. I retired to rest +at night; my slumbers, as it were, waited on and ministered to by the +assemblance of grand shapes which I had contemplated during the day. +They congregated round me; the unstained snowy mountain-top, the +glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine; the eagle, +soaring amidst the clouds--they all gathered round me, and bade me be at +peace. + +Where had they fled when the next morning I awoke? All of +soul-inspiriting fled with sleep, and dark melancholy clouded every +thought. The rain was pouring in torrents, and thick mists hid the +summits of the mountains, so that I even saw not the faces of those +mighty friends. Still I would penetrate their misty veil, and seek them +in their cloudy retreats. What were rain and storm to me? My mule was +brought to the door, and I resolved to ascend to the summit of +Montanvert. I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous and +ever-moving glacier had produced upon my mind when I first saw it. It +had then filled me with a sublime ecstasy, that gave wings to the soul, +and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy. The +sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect +of solemnising my mind, and causing me to forget the passing cares of +life. I determined to go without a guide, for I was well acquainted with +the path, and the presence of another would destroy the solitary +grandeur of the scene. + +The ascent is precipitous, but the path is cut into continual and short +windings, which enable you to surmount the perpendicularity of the +mountain. It is a scene terrifically desolate. In a thousand spots the +traces of the winter avalanche may be perceived, where trees lie broken +and strewed on the ground; some entirely destroyed, others bent, leaning +upon the jutting rocks of the mountain, or transversely upon other +trees. The path, as you ascend higher, is intersected by ravines of +snow, down which stones continually roll from above; one of them is +particularly dangerous, as the slightest sound, such as even speaking in +a loud voice, produces a concussion of air sufficient to draw +destruction upon the head of the speaker. The pines are not tall or +luxuriant, but they are sombre, and add an air of severity to the scene. +I looked on the valley beneath; vast mists were rising from the rivers +which ran through it, and curling in thick wreaths around the opposite +mountains, whose summits were hid in the uniform clouds, while rain +poured from the dark sky, and added to the melancholy impression I +received from the objects around me. Alas! why does man boast of +sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders +them more necessary beings. If our impulses were confined to hunger, +thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by +every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may +convey to us. + + We rest; a dream has power to poison sleep. + We rise; one wand'ring thought pollutes the day. + We feel, conceive, or reason; laugh or weep, + Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away; + It is the same: for, be it joy or sorrow, + The path of its departure still is free. + Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; + Nought may endure but mutability! + +It was nearly noon when I arrived at the top of the ascent. For some +time I sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of ice. A mist covered +both that and the surrounding mountains. Presently a breeze dissipated +the cloud, and I descended upon the glacier. The surface is very uneven, +rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low, and +interspersed by rifts that sink deep. The field of ice is almost a +league in width, but I spent nearly two hours in crossing it. The +opposite mountain is a bare perpendicular rock. From the side where I +now stood Montanvert was exactly opposite, at the distance of a league; +and above it rose Mont Blanc, in awful majesty. I remained in a recess +of the rock, gazing on this wonderful and stupendous scene. The sea, or +rather the vast river of ice, wound among its dependent mountains, whose +aerial summits hung over its recesses. Their icy and glittering peaks +shone in the sunlight over the clouds. My heart, which was before +sorrowful, now swelled with something like joy; I exclaimed--"Wandering +spirits, if indeed ye wander, and do not rest in your narrow beds, allow +me this faint happiness, or take me, as your companion, away from the +joys of life." + +As I said this, I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, +advancing towards me with superhuman speed. He bounded over the crevices +in the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his stature, also, as +he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. I was troubled: a mist came +over my eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me; but I was quickly +restored by the cold gale of the mountains. I perceived, as the shape +came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch +whom I had created. I trembled with rage and horror, resolving to wait +his approach, and then close with him in mortal combat. He approached; +his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with disdain and +malignity, while its unearthly ugliness rendered it almost too horrible +for human eyes. But I scarcely observed this; rage and hatred had at +first deprived me of utterance, and I recovered only to overwhelm him +with words expressive of furious detestation and contempt. + +"Devil," I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me? and do not you fear the +fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile +insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! and, oh! that I +could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those +victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!" + +"I expected this reception," said the dæmon. "All men hate the wretched; +how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! +Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art +bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You +purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty +towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. If +you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; +but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated +with the blood of your remaining friends." + +"Abhorred monster! fiend that thou art! the tortures of hell are too +mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devil! you reproach me with +your creation; come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so +negligently bestowed." + +My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the +feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another. + +He easily eluded me, and said-- + +"Be calm! I entreat you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred +on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to +increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of +anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made +me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine; my joints +more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to +thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my +natural lord and king, if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which +thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other, and +trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and +affection, is most due. Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be +thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy +for no misdeed. Every where I see bliss, from which I alone am +irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. +Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." + +"Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and +me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in +which one must fall." + +"How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable +eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe +me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and +humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor +me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me +nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary +glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of +ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one +which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder +to me than your fellow-beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my +existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my +destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no +terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my +wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them +from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great, that not +only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up +in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and do not +disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or +commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The +guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their +own defence before they are condemned. Listen to me, Frankenstein. You +accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, +destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man! Yet I +ask you not to spare me: listen to me; and then, if you can, and if you +will, destroy the work of your hands." + +"Why do you call to my remembrance," I rejoined, "circumstances, of +which I shudder to reflect, that I have been the miserable origin and +author? Cursed be the day, abhorred devil, in which you first saw light! +Cursed (although I curse myself) be the hands that formed you! You have +made me wretched beyond expression. You have left me no power to +consider whether I am just to you, or not. Begone! relieve me from the +sight of your detested form." + +"Thus I relieve thee, my creator," he said, and placed his hated hands +before my eyes, which I flung from me with violence; "thus I take from +thee a sight which you abhor. Still thou canst listen to me, and grant +me thy compassion. By the virtues that I once possessed, I demand this +from you. Hear my tale; it is long and strange, and the temperature of +this place is not fitting to your fine sensations; come to the hut upon +the mountain. The sun is yet high in the heavens; before it descends to +hide itself behind yon snowy precipices, and illuminate another world, +you will have heard my story, and can decide. On you it rests, whether I +quit for ever the neighbourhood of man, and lead a harmless life, or +become the scourge of your fellow-creatures, and the author of your own +speedy ruin." + +As he said this, he led the way across the ice: I followed. My heart was +full, and I did not answer him; but, as I proceeded, I weighed the +various arguments that he had used, and determined at least to listen to +his tale. I was partly urged by curiosity, and compassion confirmed my +resolution. I had hitherto supposed him to be the murderer of my +brother, and I eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of this opinion. +For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards +his creature were, and that I ought to render him happy before I +complained of his wickedness. These motives urged me to comply with his +demand. We crossed the ice, therefore, and ascended the opposite rock. +The air was cold, and the rain again began to descend: we entered the +hut, the fiend with an air of exultation, I with a heavy heart, and +depressed spirits. But I consented to listen; and, seating myself by the +fire which my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of +my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. +A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, +and smelt, at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I +learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By +degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I +was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled +me; but hardly had I felt this, when, by opening my eyes, as I now +suppose, the light poured in upon me again. I walked, and, I believe, +descended; but I presently found a great alteration in my sensations. +Before, dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me, impervious to my touch +or sight; but I now found that I could wander on at liberty, with no +obstacles which I could not either surmount or avoid. The light became +more and more oppressive to me; and, the heat wearying me as I walked, I +sought a place where I could receive shade. This was the forest near +Ingolstadt; and here I lay by the side of a brook resting from my +fatigue, until I felt tormented by hunger and thirst. This roused me +from my nearly dormant state, and I ate some berries which I found +hanging on the trees, or lying on the ground. I slaked my thirst at the +brook; and then lying down, was overcome by sleep. + +"It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened, as it +were instinctively, finding myself so desolate. Before I had quitted +your apartment, on a sensation of cold, I had covered myself with some +clothes; but these were insufficient to secure me from the dews of +night. I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could +distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat +down and wept. + +"Soon a gentle light stole over the heavens, and gave me a sensation of +pleasure. I started up, and beheld a radiant form rise from among the +trees.[2] I gazed with a kind of wonder. It moved slowly, but it +enlightened my path; and I again went out in search of berries. I was +still cold, when under one of the trees I found a huge cloak, with which +I covered myself, and sat down upon the ground. No distinct ideas +occupied my mind; all was confused. I felt light, and hunger, and +thirst, and darkness; innumerable sounds rung in my ears, and on all +sides various scents saluted me: the only object that I could +distinguish was the bright moon, and I fixed my eyes on that with +pleasure. + +[Footnote 2: The moon.] + +"Several changes of day and night passed, and the orb of night had +greatly lessened, when I began to distinguish my sensations from each +other. I gradually saw plainly the clear stream that supplied me with +drink, and the trees that shaded me with their foliage. I was delighted +when I first discovered that a pleasant sound, which often saluted my +ears, proceeded from the throats of the little winged animals who had +often intercepted the light from my eyes. I began also to observe, with +greater accuracy, the forms that surrounded me, and to perceive the +boundaries of the radiant roof of light which canopied me. Sometimes I +tried to imitate the pleasant songs of the birds, but was unable. +Sometimes I wished to express my sensations in my own mode, but the +uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into +silence again. + +"The moon had disappeared from the night, and again, with a lessened +form, showed itself, while I still remained in the forest. My sensations +had, by this time, become distinct, and my mind received every day +additional ideas. My eyes became accustomed to the light, and to +perceive objects in their right forms; I distinguished the insect from +the herb, and, by degrees, one herb from another. I found that the +sparrow uttered none but harsh notes, whilst those of the blackbird and +thrush were sweet and enticing. + +"One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been +left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the +warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live +embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain. How strange, I +thought, that the same cause should produce such opposite effects! I +examined the materials of the fire, and to my joy found it to be +composed of wood. I quickly collected some branches; but they were wet, +and would not burn. I was pained at this, and sat still watching the +operation of the fire. The wet wood which I had placed near the heat +dried, and itself became inflamed. I reflected on this; and, by touching +the various branches, I discovered the cause, and busied myself in +collecting a great quantity of wood, that I might dry it, and have a +plentiful supply of fire. When night came on, and brought sleep with it, +I was in the greatest fear lest my fire should be extinguished. I +covered it carefully with dry wood and leaves, and placed wet branches +upon it; and then, spreading my cloak, I lay on the ground, and sunk +into sleep. + +"It was morning when I awoke, and my first care was to visit the fire. I +uncovered it, and a gentle breeze quickly fanned it into a flame. I +observed this also, and contrived a fan of branches, which roused the +embers when they were nearly extinguished. When night came again, I +found, with pleasure, that the fire gave light as well as heat; and that +the discovery of this element was useful to me in my food; for I found +some of the offals that the travellers had left had been roasted, and +tasted much more savoury than the berries I gathered from the trees. I +tried, therefore, to dress my food in the same manner, placing it on the +live embers. I found that the berries were spoiled by this operation, +and the nuts and roots much improved. + +"Food, however, became scarce; and I often spent the whole day searching +in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger. When I found +this, I resolved to quit the place that I had hitherto inhabited, to +seek for one where the few wants I experienced would be more easily +satisfied. In this emigration, I exceedingly lamented the loss of the +fire which I had obtained through accident, and knew not how to +reproduce it. I gave several hours to the serious consideration of this +difficulty; but I was obliged to relinquish all attempt to supply it; +and, wrapping myself up in my cloak, I struck across the wood towards +the setting sun. I passed three days in these rambles, and at length +discovered the open country. A great fall of snow had taken place the +night before, and the fields were of one uniform white; the appearance +was disconsolate, and I found my feet chilled by the cold damp substance +that covered the ground. + +"It was about seven in the morning, and I longed to obtain food and +shelter; at length I perceived a small hut, on a rising ground, which +had doubtless been built for the convenience of some shepherd. This was +a new sight to me; and I examined the structure with great curiosity. +Finding the door open, I entered. An old man sat in it, near a fire, +over which he was preparing his breakfast. He turned on hearing a noise; +and, perceiving me, shrieked loudly, and, quitting the hut, ran across +the fields with a speed of which his debilitated form hardly appeared +capable. His appearance, different from any I had ever before seen, and +his flight, somewhat surprised me. But I was enchanted by the appearance +of the hut: here the snow and rain could not penetrate; the ground was +dry; and it presented to me then as exquisite and divine a retreat as +Pandæmonium appeared to the dæmons of hell after their sufferings in the +lake of fire. I greedily devoured the remnants of the shepherd's +breakfast, which consisted of bread, cheese, milk, and wine; the latter, +however, I did not like. Then, overcome by fatigue, I lay down among +some straw, and fell asleep. + +"It was noon when I awoke; and, allured by the warmth of the sun, which +shone brightly on the white ground, I determined to recommence my +travels; and, depositing the remains of the peasant's breakfast in a +wallet I found, I proceeded across the fields for several hours, until +at sunset I arrived at a village. How miraculous did this appear! the +huts, the neater cottages, and stately houses, engaged my admiration by +turns. The vegetables in the gardens, the milk and cheese that I saw +placed at the windows of some of the cottages, allured my appetite. One +of the best of these I entered; but I had hardly placed my foot within +the door, before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. +The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, +grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I +escaped to the open country, and fearfully took refuge in a low hovel, +quite bare, and making a wretched appearance after the palaces I had +beheld in the village. This hovel, however, joined a cottage of a neat +and pleasant appearance; but, after my late dearly bought experience, I +dared not enter it. My place of refuge was constructed of wood, but so +low, that I could with difficulty sit upright in it. No wood, however, +was placed on the earth, which formed the floor, but it was dry; and +although the wind entered it by innumerable chinks, I found it an +agreeable asylum from the snow and rain. + +"Here then I retreated, and lay down happy to have found a shelter, +however miserable, from the inclemency of the season, and still more +from the barbarity of man. + +"As soon as morning dawned, I crept from my kennel, that I might view +the adjacent cottage, and discover if I could remain in the habitation I +had found. It was situated against the back of the cottage, and +surrounded on the sides which were exposed by a pig-sty and a clear pool +of water. One part was open, and by that I had crept in; but now I +covered every crevice by which I might be perceived with stones and +wood, yet in such a manner that I might move them on occasion to pass +out: all the light I enjoyed came through the sty, and that was +sufficient for me. + +"Having thus arranged my dwelling, and carpeted it with clean straw, I +retired; for I saw the figure of a man at a distance, and I remembered +too well my treatment the night before, to trust myself in his power. I +had first, however, provided for my sustenance for that day, by a loaf +of coarse bread, which I purloined, and a cup with which I could drink, +more conveniently than from my hand, of the pure water which flowed by +my retreat. The floor was a little raised, so that it was kept perfectly +dry, and by its vicinity to the chimney of the cottage it was tolerably +warm. + +"Being thus provided, I resolved to reside in this hovel, until +something should occur which might alter my determination. It was indeed +a paradise, compared to the bleak forest, my former residence, the +rain-dropping branches, and dank earth. I ate my breakfast with +pleasure, and was about to remove a plank to procure myself a little +water, when I heard a step, and looking through a small chink, I beheld +a young creature, with a pail on her head, passing before my hovel. The +girl was young, and of gentle demeanour, unlike what I have since found +cottagers and farm-house servants to be. Yet she was meanly dressed, a +coarse blue petticoat and a linen jacket being her only garb; her fair +hair was plaited, but not adorned: she looked patient, yet sad. I lost +sight of her; and in about a quarter of an hour she returned, bearing +the pail, which was now partly filled with milk. As she walked along, +seemingly incommoded by the burden, a young man met her, whose +countenance expressed a deeper despondence. Uttering a few sounds with +an air of melancholy, he took the pail from her head, and bore it to the +cottage himself. She followed, and they disappeared. Presently I saw the +young man again, with some tools in his hand, cross the field behind the +cottage; and the girl was also busied, sometimes in the house, and +sometimes in the yard. + +"On examining my dwelling, I found that one of the windows of the +cottage had formerly occupied a part of it, but the panes had been +filled up with wood. In one of these was a small and almost +imperceptible chink, through which the eye could just penetrate. Through +this crevice a small room was visible, whitewashed and clean, but very +bare of furniture. In one corner, near a small fire, sat an old man, +leaning his head on his hands in a disconsolate attitude. The young +girl was occupied in arranging the cottage; but presently she took +something out of a drawer, which employed her hands, and she sat down +beside the old man, who, taking up an instrument, began to play, and to +produce sounds sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the nightingale. +It was a lovely sight, even to me, poor wretch! who had never beheld +aught beautiful before. The silver hair and benevolent countenance of +the aged cottager won my reverence, while the gentle manners of the girl +enticed my love. He played a sweet mournful air, which I perceived drew +tears from the eyes of his amiable companion, of which the old man took +no notice, until she sobbed audibly; he then pronounced a few sounds, +and the fair creature, leaving her work, knelt at his feet. He raised +her, and smiled with such kindness and affection, that I felt sensations +of a peculiar and overpowering nature: they were a mixture of pain and +pleasure, such as I had never before experienced, either from hunger or +cold, warmth or food; and I withdrew from the window, unable to bear +these emotions. + +"Soon after this the young man returned, bearing on his shoulders a load +of wood. The girl met him at the door, helped to relieve him of his +burden, and, taking some of the fuel into the cottage, placed it on the +fire; then she and the youth went apart into a nook of the cottage, and +he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese. She seemed pleased, +and went into the garden for some roots and plants, which she placed in +water, and then upon the fire. She afterwards continued her work, whilst +the young man went into the garden, and appeared busily employed in +digging and pulling up roots. After he had been employed thus about an +hour, the young woman joined him, and they entered the cottage together. + +"The old man had, in the mean time, been pensive; but, on the appearance +of his companions, he assumed a more cheerful air, and they sat down to +eat. The meal was quickly despatched. The young woman was again occupied +in arranging the cottage; the old man walked before the cottage in the +sun for a few minutes, leaning on the arm of the youth. Nothing could +exceed in beauty the contrast between these two excellent creatures. +One was old, with silver hairs and a countenance beaming with +benevolence and love: the younger was slight and graceful in his figure, +and his features were moulded with the finest symmetry; yet his eyes and +attitude expressed the utmost sadness and despondency. The old man +returned to the cottage; and the youth, with tools different from those +he had used in the morning, directed his steps across the fields. + +"Night quickly shut in; but, to my extreme wonder, I found that the +cottagers had a means of prolonging light by the use of tapers, and was +delighted to find that the setting of the sun did not put an end to the +pleasure I experienced in watching my human neighbours. In the evening, +the young girl and her companion were employed in various occupations +which I did not understand; and the old man again took up the instrument +which produced the divine sounds that had enchanted me in the morning. +So soon as he had finished, the youth began, not to play, but to utter +sounds that were monotonous, and neither resembling the harmony of the +old man's instrument nor the songs of the birds: I since found that he +read aloud, but at that time I knew nothing of the science of words or +letters. + +"The family, after having been thus occupied for a short time, +extinguished their lights, and retired, as I conjectured, to rest." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +"I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences +of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these +people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered too well +the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous +villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter +think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in +my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which +influenced their actions. + +"The cottagers arose the next morning before the sun. The young woman +arranged the cottage, and prepared the food; and the youth departed +after the first meal. + +"This day was passed in the same routine as that which preceded it. The +young man was constantly employed out of doors, and the girl in various +laborious occupations within. The old man, whom I soon perceived to be +blind, employed his leisure hours on his instrument or in contemplation. +Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the younger cottagers +exhibited towards their venerable companion. They performed towards him +every little office of affection and duty with gentleness; and he +rewarded them by his benevolent smiles. + +"They were not entirely happy. The young man and his companion often +went apart, and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness; +but I was deeply affected by it. If such lovely creatures were +miserable, it was less strange that I, an imperfect and solitary being, +should be wretched. Yet why were these gentle beings unhappy? They +possessed a delightful house (for such it was in my eyes) and every +luxury; they had a fire to warm them when chill, and delicious viands +when hungry; they were dressed in excellent clothes; and, still more, +they enjoyed one another's company and speech, interchanging each day +looks of affection and kindness. What did their tears imply? Did they +really express pain? I was at first unable to solve these questions; but +perpetual attention and time explained to me many appearances which were +at first enigmatic. + +"A considerable period elapsed before I discovered one of the causes of +the uneasiness of this amiable family: it was poverty; and they suffered +that evil in a very distressing degree. Their nourishment consisted +entirely of the vegetables of their garden, and the milk of one cow, +which gave very little during the winter, when its masters could +scarcely procure food to support it. They often, I believe, suffered the +pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially the two younger cottagers; +for several times they placed food before the old man, when they +reserved none for themselves. + +"This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, during +the night, to steal a part of their store for my own consumption; but +when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I +abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots, which I +gathered from a neighbouring wood. + +"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist +their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in +collecting wood for the family fire; and, during the night, I often took +his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home +firing sufficient for the consumption of several days. + +"I remember, the first time that I did this, the young woman, when she +opened the door in the morning, appeared greatly astonished on seeing a +great pile of wood on the outside. She uttered some words in a loud +voice, and the youth joined her, who also expressed surprise. I +observed, with pleasure, that he did not go to the forest that day, but +spent it in repairing the cottage, and cultivating the garden. + +"By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that +these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and +feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that the words +they spoke sometimes, produced pleasure or pain, smiles or sadness, in +the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed a godlike +science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with it. But I was +baffled in every attempt I made for this purpose. Their pronunciation +was quick; and the words they uttered, not having any apparent +connection with visible objects, I was unable to discover any clue by +which I could unravel the mystery of their reference. By great +application, however, and after having remained during the space of +several revolutions of the moon in my hovel, I discovered the names that +were given to some of the most familiar objects of discourse; I learned +and applied the words, _fire_, _milk_, _bread_, and _wood_. I learned +also the names of the cottagers themselves. The youth and his companion +had each of them several names, but the old man had only one, which was +_father_. The girl was called _sister_, or _Agatha_; and the youth +_Felix_, _brother_, or _son_. I cannot describe the delight I felt when +I learned the ideas appropriated to each of these sounds, and was able +to pronounce them. I distinguished several other words, without being +able as yet to understand or apply them; such as _good_, _dearest_, +_unhappy_. + +"I spent the winter in this manner. The gentle manners and beauty of the +cottagers greatly endeared them to me: when they were unhappy, I felt +depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathised in their joys. I saw few +human beings beside them; and if any other happened to enter the +cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the +superior accomplishments of my friends. The old man, I could perceive, +often endeavoured to encourage his children, as sometimes I found that +he called them, to cast off their melancholy. He would talk in a +cheerful accent, with an expression of goodness that bestowed pleasure +even upon me. Agatha listened with respect, her eyes sometimes filled +with tears, which she endeavoured to wipe away unperceived; but I +generally found that her countenance and tone were more cheerful after +having listened to the exhortations of her father. It was not thus with +Felix. He was always the saddest of the group; and, even to my +unpractised senses, he appeared to have suffered more deeply than his +friends. But if his countenance was more sorrowful, his voice was more +cheerful than that of his sister, especially when he addressed the old +man. + +"I could mention innumerable instances, which, although slight, marked +the dispositions of these amiable cottagers. In the midst of poverty and +want, Felix carried with pleasure to his sister the first little white +flower that peeped out from beneath the snowy ground. Early in the +morning, before she had risen, he cleared away the snow that obstructed +her path to the milk-house, drew water from the well, and brought the +wood from the out-house, where, to his perpetual astonishment, he found +his store always replenished by an invisible hand. In the day, I +believe, he worked sometimes for a neighbouring farmer, because he often +went forth, and did not return until dinner, yet brought no wood with +him. At other times he worked in the garden; but, as there was little to +do in the frosty season, he read to the old man and Agatha. + +"This reading had puzzled me extremely at first; but, by degrees, I +discovered that he uttered many of the same sounds when he read, as when +he talked. I conjectured, therefore, that he found on the paper signs +for speech which he understood, and I ardently longed to comprehend +these also; but how was that possible, when I did not even understand +the sounds for which they stood as signs? I improved, however, sensibly +in this science, but not sufficiently to follow up any kind of +conversation, although I applied my whole mind to the endeavour: for I +easily perceived that, although I eagerly longed to discover myself to +the cottagers, I ought not to make the attempt until I had first become +master of their language; which knowledge might enable me to make them +overlook the deformity of my figure; for with this also the contrast +perpetually presented to my eyes had made me acquainted. + +"I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers--their grace, beauty, +and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified, when I viewed myself +in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that +it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully +convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with +the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did +not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity. + +"As the sun became warmer, and the light of day longer, the snow +vanished, and I beheld the bare trees and the black earth. From this +time Felix was more employed; and the heart-moving indications of +impending famine disappeared. Their food, as I afterwards found, was +coarse, but it was wholesome; and they procured a sufficiency of it. +Several new kinds of plants sprung up in the garden, which they dressed; +and these signs of comfort increased daily as the season advanced. + +"The old man, leaning on his son, walked each day at noon, when it did +not rain, as I found it was called when the heavens poured forth its +waters. This frequently took place; but a high wind quickly dried the +earth, and the season became far more pleasant than it had been. + +"My mode of life in my hovel was uniform. During the morning, I +attended the motions of the cottagers; and when they were dispersed in +various occupations, I slept: the remainder of the day was spent in +observing my friends. When they had retired to rest, if there was any +moon, or the night was star-light, I went into the woods, and collected +my own food and fuel for the cottage. When I returned, as often as it +was necessary, I cleared their path from the snow, and performed those +offices that I had seen done by Felix. I afterwards found that these +labours, performed by an invisible hand, greatly astonished them; and +once or twice I heard them, on these occasions, utter the words _good_ +_spirit_, _wonderful_; but I did not then understand the signification +of these terms. + +"My thoughts now became more active, and I longed to discover the +motives and feelings of these lovely creatures; I was inquisitive to +know why Felix appeared so miserable, and Agatha so sad. I thought +(foolish wretch!) that it might be in my power to restore happiness to +these deserving people. When I slept, or was absent, the forms of the +venerable blind father, the gentle Agatha, and the excellent Felix, +flitted before me. I looked upon them as superior beings, who would be +the arbiters of my future destiny. I formed in my imagination a thousand +pictures of presenting myself to them, and their reception of me. I +imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanour and +conciliating words, I should first win their favour, and afterwards +their love. + +"These thoughts exhilarated me, and led me to apply with fresh ardour to +the acquiring the art of language. My organs were indeed harsh, but +supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their +tones, yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease. +It was as the ass and the lap-dog; yet surely the gentle ass whose +intentions were affectionate, although his manners were rude, deserved +better treatment than blows and execration. + +"The pleasant showers and genial warmth of spring greatly altered the +aspect of the earth. Men, who before this change seemed to have been hid +in caves, dispersed themselves, and were employed in various arts of +cultivation. The birds sang in more cheerful notes, and the leaves began +to bud forth on the trees. Happy, happy earth! fit habitation for gods, +which, so short a time before, was bleak, damp, and unwholesome. My +spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past +was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil, and the future +gilded by bright rays of hope, and anticipations of joy." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +"I now hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate +events, that impressed me with feelings which, from what I had been, +have made me what I am. + +"Spring advanced rapidly; the weather became fine, and the skies +cloudless. It surprised me, that what before was desert and gloomy +should now bloom with the most beautiful flowers and verdure. My senses +were gratified and refreshed by a thousand scents of delight, and a +thousand sights of beauty. + +"It was on one of these days, when my cottagers periodically rested from +labour--the old man played on his guitar, and the children listened to +him--that I observed the countenance of Felix was melancholy beyond +expression; he sighed frequently; and once his father paused in his +music, and I conjectured by his manner that he enquired the cause of his +son's sorrow. Felix replied in a cheerful accent, and the old man was +recommencing his music, when some one tapped at the door. + +"It was a lady on horseback, accompanied by a countryman as a guide. The +lady was dressed in a dark suit, and covered with a thick black veil. +Agatha asked a question; to which the stranger only replied by +pronouncing, in a sweet accent, the name of Felix. Her voice was +musical, but unlike that of either of my friends. On hearing this word, +Felix came up hastily to the lady; who, when she saw him, threw up her +veil, and I beheld a countenance of angelic beauty and expression. Her +hair of a shining raven black, and curiously braided; her eyes were +dark, but gentle, although animated; her features of a regular +proportion, and her complexion wondrously fair, each cheek tinged with a +lovely pink. + +"Felix seemed ravished with delight when he saw her, every trait of +sorrow vanished from his face, and it instantly expressed a degree of +ecstatic joy, of which I could hardly have believed it capable; his eyes +sparkled, as his cheek flushed with pleasure; and at that moment I +thought him as beautiful as the stranger. She appeared affected by +different feelings; wiping a few tears from her lovely eyes, she held +out her hand to Felix, who kissed it rapturously, and called her, as +well as I could distinguish, his sweet Arabian. She did not appear to +understand him, but smiled. He assisted her to dismount, and dismissing +her guide, conducted her into the cottage. Some conversation took place +between him and his father; and the young stranger knelt at the old +man's feet, and would have kissed his hand, but he raised her, and +embraced her affectionately. + +"I soon perceived, that although the stranger uttered articulate sounds, +and appeared to have a language of her own, she was neither understood +by, nor herself understood, the cottagers. They made many signs which I +did not comprehend; but I saw that her presence diffused gladness +through the cottage, dispelling their sorrow as the sun dissipates the +morning mists. Felix seemed peculiarly happy, and with smiles of delight +welcomed his Arabian. Agatha, the ever-gentle Agatha, kissed the hands +of the lovely stranger; and, pointing to her brother, made signs which +appeared to me to mean that he had been sorrowful until she came. Some +hours passed thus, while they, by their countenances, expressed joy, the +cause of which I did not comprehend. Presently I found, by the frequent +recurrence of some sound which the stranger repeated after them, that +she was endeavouring to learn their language; and the idea instantly +occurred to me, that I should make use of the same instructions to the +same end. The stranger learned about twenty words at the first lesson, +most of them, indeed, were those which I had before understood, but I +profited by the others. + +"As night came on, Agatha and the Arabian retired early. When they +separated, Felix kissed the hand of the stranger, and said, 'Good night, +sweet Safie.' He sat up much longer, conversing with his father; and, by +the frequent repetition of her name, I conjectured that their lovely +guest was the subject of their conversation. I ardently desired to +understand them, and bent every faculty towards that purpose, but found +it utterly impossible. + +"The next morning Felix went out to his work; and, after the usual +occupations of Agatha were finished, the Arabian sat at the feet of the +old man, and, taking his guitar, played some airs so entrancingly +beautiful, that they at once drew tears of sorrow and delight from my +eyes. She sang, and her voice flowed in a rich cadence, swelling or +dying away, like a nightingale of the woods. + +"When she had finished, she gave the guitar to Agatha, who at first +declined it. She played a simple air, and her voice accompanied it in +sweet accents, but unlike the wondrous strain of the stranger. The old +man appeared enraptured, and said some words, which Agatha endeavoured +to explain to Safie, and by which he appeared to wish to express that +she bestowed on him the greatest delight by her music. + +"The days now passed as peaceably as before, with the sole alteration, +that joy had taken place of sadness in the countenances of my friends. +Safie was always gay and happy; she and I improved rapidly in the +knowledge of language, so that in two months I began to comprehend most +of the words uttered by my protectors. + +"In the meanwhile also the black ground was covered with herbage, and +the green banks interspersed with innumerable flowers, sweet to the +scent and the eyes, stars of pale radiance among the moonlight woods; +the sun became warmer, the nights clear and balmy; and my nocturnal +rambles were an extreme pleasure to me, although they were considerably +shortened by the late setting and early rising of the sun; for I never +ventured abroad during daylight, fearful of meeting with the same +treatment I had formerly endured in the first village which I entered. + +"My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily +master the language; and I may boast that I improved more rapidly than +the Arabian, who understood very little, and conversed in broken +accents, whilst I comprehended and could imitate almost every word that +was spoken. + +"While I improved in speech, I also learned the science of letters, as +it was taught to the stranger; and this opened before me a wide field +for wonder and delight. + +"The book from which Felix instructed Safie was Volney's 'Ruins of +Empires.' I should not have understood the purport of this book, had not +Felix, in reading it, given very minute explanations. He had chosen this +work, he said, because the declamatory style was framed in imitation of +the eastern authors. Through this work I obtained a cursory knowledge of +history, and a view of the several empires at present existing in the +world; it gave me an insight into the manners, governments, and +religions of the different nations of the earth. I heard of the slothful +Asiatics; of the stupendous genius and mental activity of the Grecians; +of the wars and wonderful virtue of the early Romans--of their +subsequent degenerating--of the decline of that mighty empire; of +chivalry, Christianity, and kings. I heard of the discovery of the +American hemisphere, and wept with Safie over the hapless fate of its +original inhabitants. + +"These wonderful narrations inspired me with strange feelings. Was man, +indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so +vicious and base? He appeared at one time a mere scion of the evil +principle, and at another, as all that can be conceived of noble and +godlike. To be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour that +can befall a sensitive being; to be base and vicious, as many on record +have been, appeared the lowest degradation, a condition more abject than +that of the blind mole or harmless worm. For a long time I could not +conceive how one man could go forth to murder his fellow, or even why +there were laws and governments; but when I heard details of vice and +bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I turned away with disgust and +loathing. + +"Every conversation of the cottagers now opened new wonders to me. +While I listened to the instructions which Felix bestowed upon the +Arabian, the strange system of human society was explained to me. I +heard of the division of property, of immense wealth and squalid +poverty; of rank, descent, and noble blood. + +"The words induced me to turn towards myself. I learned that the +possessions most esteemed by your fellow-creatures were, high and +unsullied descent united with riches. A man might be respected with only +one of these advantages; but, without either, he was considered, except +in very rare instances, as a vagabond and a slave, doomed to waste his +powers for the profits of the chosen few! And what was I? Of my creation +and creator I was absolutely ignorant; but I knew that I possessed no +money, no friends, no kind of property. I was, besides, endued with a +figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same +nature as man. I was more agile than they, and could subsist upon +coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to +my frame; my stature far exceeded theirs. When I looked around, I saw +and heard of none like me. Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, +from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned? + +"I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted +upon me: I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with +knowledge. Oh, that I had for ever remained in my native wood, nor known +nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, and heat! + +"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it +has once seized on it, like a lichen on the rock. I wished sometimes to +shake off all thought and feeling; but I learned that there was but one +means to overcome the sensation of pain, and that was death--a state +which I feared yet did not understand. I admired virtue and good +feelings, and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my +cottagers; but I was shut out from intercourse with them, except through +means which I obtained by stealth, when I was unseen and unknown, and +which rather increased than satisfied the desire I had of becoming one +among my fellows. The gentle words of Agatha, and the animated smiles +of the charming Arabian, were not for me. The mild exhortations of the +old man, and the lively conversation of the loved Felix, were not for +me. Miserable, unhappy wretch! + +"Other lessons were impressed upon me even more deeply. I heard of the +difference of sexes; and the birth and growth of children; how the +father doated on the smiles of the infant, and the lively sallies of the +older child; how all the life and cares of the mother were wrapped up in +the precious charge; how the mind of youth expanded and gained +knowledge; of brother, sister, and all the various relationships which +bind one human being to another in mutual bonds. + +"But where were my friends and relations? No father had watched my +infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses; or if +they had, all my past life was now a blot, a blind vacancy in which I +distinguished nothing. From my earliest remembrance I had been as I then +was in height and proportion. I had never yet seen a being resembling +me, or who claimed any intercourse with me. What was I? The question +again recurred, to be answered only with groans. + +"I will soon explain to what these feelings tended; but allow me now to +return to the cottagers, whose story excited in me such various feelings +of indignation, delight, and wonder, but which all terminated in +additional love and reverence for my protectors (for so I loved, in an +innocent, half painful self-deceit, to call them)." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +"Some time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was +one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding +as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to +one so utterly inexperienced as I was. + +"The name of the old man was De Lacey. He was descended from a good +family in France, where he had lived for many years in affluence, +respected by his superiors, and beloved by his equals. His son was bred +in the service of his country; and Agatha had ranked with ladies of the +highest distinction. A few months before my arrival, they had lived in a +large and luxurious city, called Paris, surrounded by friends, and +possessed of every enjoyment which virtue, refinement of intellect, or +taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune, could afford. + +"The father of Safie had been the cause of their ruin. He was a Turkish +merchant, and had inhabited Paris for many years, when, for some reason +which I could not learn, he became obnoxious to the government. He was +seized and cast into prison the very day that Safie arrived from +Constantinople to join him. He was tried, and condemned to death. The +injustice of his sentence was very flagrant; all Paris was indignant; +and it was judged that his religion and wealth, rather than the crime +alleged against him, had been the cause of his condemnation. + +"Felix had accidentally been present at the trial; his horror and +indignation were uncontrollable, when he heard the decision of the +court. He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to deliver him, and then +looked around for the means. After many fruitless attempts to gain +admittance to the prison, he found a strongly grated window in an +unguarded part of the building, which lighted the dungeon of the +unfortunate Mahometan; who, loaded with chains, waited in despair the +execution of the barbarous sentence. Felix visited the grate at night, +and made known to the prisoner his intentions in his favour. The Turk, +amazed and delighted, endeavoured to kindle the zeal of his deliverer by +promises of reward and wealth. Felix rejected his offers with contempt; +yet when he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father, +and who, by her gestures, expressed her lively gratitude, the youth +could not help owning to his own mind, that the captive possessed a +treasure which would fully reward his toil and hazard. + +"The Turk quickly perceived the impression that his daughter had made on +the heart of Felix, and endeavoured to secure him more entirely in his +interests by the promise of her hand in marriage, so soon as he should +be conveyed to a place of safety. Felix was too delicate to accept this +offer; yet he looked forward to the probability of the event as to the +consummation of his happiness. + +"During the ensuing days, while the preparations were going forward for +the escape of the merchant, the zeal of Felix was warmed by several +letters that he received from this lovely girl, who found means to +express her thoughts in the language of her lover by the aid of an old +man, a servant of her father, who understood French. She thanked him in +the most ardent terms for his intended services towards her parent; and +at the same time she gently deplored her own fate. + +"I have copies of these letters; for I found means, during my residence +in the hovel, to procure the implements of writing; and the letters were +often in the hands of Felix or Agatha. Before I depart, I will give them +to you, they will prove the truth of my tale; but at present, as the sun +is already far declined, I shall only have time to repeat the substance +of them to you. + +"Safie related, that her mother was a Christian Arab, seized and made a +slave by the Turks; recommended by her beauty, she had won the heart of +the father of Safie, who married her. The young girl spoke in high and +enthusiastic terms of her mother, who, born in freedom, spurned the +bondage to which she was now reduced. She instructed her daughter in the +tenets of her religion, and taught her to aspire to higher powers of +intellect, and an independence of spirit, forbidden to the female +followers of Mahomet. This lady died; but her lessons were indelibly +impressed on the mind of Safie, who sickened at the prospect of again +returning to Asia, and being immured within the walls of a haram, +allowed only to occupy herself with infantile amusements, ill suited to +the temper of her soul, now accustomed to grand ideas and a noble +emulation for virtue. The prospect of marrying a Christian, and +remaining in a country where women were allowed to take a rank in +society, was enchanting to her. + +"The day for the execution of the Turk was fixed; but, on the night +previous to it, he quitted his prison, and before morning was distant +many leagues from Paris. Felix had procured passports in the name of his +father, sister, and himself. He had previously communicated his plan to +the former, who aided the deceit by quitting his house, under the +pretence of a journey, and concealed himself, with his daughter, in an +obscure part of Paris. + +"Felix conducted the fugitives through France to Lyons, and across Mont +Cenis to Leghorn, where the merchant had decided to wait a favourable +opportunity of passing into some part of the Turkish dominions. + +"Safie resolved to remain with her father until the moment of his +departure, before which time the Turk renewed his promise that she +should be united to his deliverer; and Felix remained with them in +expectation of that event; and in the mean time he enjoyed the society +of the Arabian, who exhibited towards him the simplest and tenderest +affection. They conversed with one another through the means of an +interpreter, and sometimes with the interpretation of looks; and Safie +sang to him the divine airs of her native country. + +"The Turk allowed this intimacy to take place, and encouraged the hopes +of the youthful lovers, while in his heart he had formed far other +plans. He loathed the idea that his daughter should be united to a +Christian; but he feared the resentment of Felix, if he should appear +lukewarm; for he knew that he was still in the power of his deliverer, +if he should choose to betray him to the Italian state which they +inhabited. He revolved a thousand plans by which he should be enabled to +prolong the deceit until it might be no longer necessary, and secretly +to take his daughter with him when he departed. His plans were +facilitated by the news which arrived from Paris. + +"The government of France were greatly enraged at the escape of their +victim, and spared no pains to detect and punish his deliverer. The plot +of Felix was quickly discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown +into prison. The news reached Felix, and roused him from his dream of +pleasure. His blind and aged father, and his gentle sister, lay in a +noisome dungeon, while he enjoyed the free air, and the society of her +whom he loved. This idea was torture to him. He quickly arranged with +the Turks, that if the latter should find a favourable opportunity for +escape before Felix could return to Italy, Safie should remain as a +boarder at a convent at Leghorn; and then, quitting the lovely Arabian, +he hastened to Paris, and delivered himself up to the vengeance of the +law, hoping to free De Lacey and Agatha by this proceeding. + +"He did not succeed. They remained confined for five months before the +trial took place; the result of which deprived them of their fortune, +and condemned them to a perpetual exile from their native country. + +"They found a miserable asylum in the cottage in Germany, where I +discovered them. Felix soon learned that the treacherous Turk, for whom +he and his family endured such unheard-of oppression, on discovering +that his deliverer was thus reduced to poverty and ruin, became a +traitor to good feeling and honour, and had quitted Italy with his +daughter, insultingly sending Felix a pittance of money, to aid him, as +he said, in some plan of future maintenance. + +"Such were the events that preyed on the heart of Felix, and rendered +him, when I first saw him, the most miserable of his family. He could +have endured poverty; and while this distress had been the meed of his +virtue, he gloried in it: but the ingratitude of the Turk, and the loss +of his beloved Safie, were misfortunes more bitter and irreparable. The +arrival of the Arabian now infused new life into his soul. + +"When the news reached Leghorn, that Felix was deprived of his wealth +and rank, the merchant commanded his daughter to think no more of her +lover, but to prepare to return to her native country. The generous +nature of Safie was outraged by this command; she attempted to +expostulate with her father, but he left her angrily, reiterating his +tyrannical mandate. + +"A few days after, the Turk entered his daughter's apartment, and told +her hastily, that he had reason to believe that his residence at Leghorn +had been divulged, and that he should speedily be delivered up to the +French government; he had, consequently hired a vessel to convey him to +Constantinople, for which city he should sail in a few hours. He +intended to leave his daughter under the care of a confidential servant, +to follow at her leisure with the greater part of his property, which +had not yet arrived at Leghorn. + +"When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it +would become her to pursue in this emergency. A residence in Turkey was +abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were alike adverse to +it. By some papers of her father, which fell into her hands, she heard +of the exile of her lover, and learnt the name of the spot where he then +resided. She hesitated some time, but at length she formed her +determination. Taking with her some jewels that belonged to her, and a +sum of money, she quitted Italy with an attendant, a native of Leghorn, +but who understood the common language of Turkey, and departed for +Germany. + +"She arrived in safety at a town about twenty leagues from the cottage +of De Lacey, when her attendant fell dangerously ill. Safie nursed her +with the most devoted affection; but the poor girl died, and the Arabian +was left alone, unacquainted with the language of the country, and +utterly ignorant of the customs of the world. She fell, however, into +good hands. The Italian had mentioned the name of the spot for which +they were bound; and, after her death, the woman of the house in which +they had lived took care that Safie should arrive in safety at the +cottage of her lover." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"Such was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I +learned, from the views of social life which it developed, to admire +their virtues, and to deprecate the vices of mankind. + +"As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil; benevolence and +generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to +become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were +called forth and displayed. But, in giving an account of the progress of +my intellect, I must not omit a circumstance which occurred in the +beginning of the month of August of the same year. + +"One night, during my accustomed visit to the neighbouring wood, where I +collected my own food, and brought home firing for my protectors, I +found on the ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles +of dress and some books. I eagerly seized the prize, and returned with +it to my hovel. Fortunately the books were written in the language, the +elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of +'Paradise Lost,' a volume of 'Plutarch's Lives,' and the 'Sorrows of +Werter.' The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I +now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories, +whilst my friends were employed in their ordinary occupations. + +"I can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. They produced +in me an infinity of new images and feelings, that sometimes raised me +to ecstacy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection. In +the 'Sorrows of Werter,' besides the interest of its simple and +affecting story, so many opinions are canvassed, and so many lights +thrown upon what had hitherto been to me obscure subjects, that I found +in it a never-ending source of speculation and astonishment. The gentle +and domestic manners it described, combined with lofty sentiments and +feelings, which had for their object something out of self, accorded +well with my experience among my protectors, and with the wants which +were for ever alive in my own bosom. But I thought Werter himself a more +divine being than I had ever beheld or imagined; his character contained +no pretension, but it sunk deep. The disquisitions upon death and +suicide were calculated to fill me with wonder. I did not pretend to +enter into the merits of the case, yet I inclined towards the opinions +of the hero, whose extinction I wept, without precisely understanding +it. + +"As I read, however, I applied much personally to my own feelings and +condition. I found myself similar, yet at the same time strangely unlike +to the beings concerning whom I read, and to whose conversation I was a +listener. I sympathised with, and partly understood them, but I was +unformed in mind; I was dependent on none, and related to none. 'The +path of my departure was free;' and there was none to lament my +annihilation. My person was hideous, and my stature gigantic? What did +this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my +destination? These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to +solve them. + +"The volume of 'Plutarch's Lives,' which I possessed, contained the +histories of the first founders of the ancient republics. This book had +a far different effect upon me from the 'Sorrows of Werter.' I learned +from Werter's imaginations despondency and gloom: but Plutarch taught me +high thoughts; he elevated me above the wretched sphere of my own +reflections, to admire and love the heroes of past ages. Many things I +read surpassed my understanding and experience. I had a very confused +knowledge of kingdoms, wide extents of country, mighty rivers, and +boundless seas. But I was perfectly unacquainted with towns, and large +assemblages of men. The cottage of my protectors had been the only +school in which I had studied human nature; but this book developed new +and mightier scenes of action. I read of men concerned in public +affairs, governing or massacring their species. I felt the greatest +ardour for virtue rise within me, and abhorrence for vice, as far as I +understood the signification of those terms, relative as they were, as I +applied them, to pleasure and pain alone. Induced by these feelings, I +was of course led to admire peaceable lawgivers, Numa, Solon, and +Lycurgus, in preference to Romulus and Theseus. The patriarchal lives of +my protectors caused these impressions to take a firm hold on my mind; +perhaps, if my first introduction to humanity had been made by a young +soldier, burning for glory and slaughter, I should have been imbued with +different sensations. + +"But 'Paradise Lost' excited different and far deeper emotions. I read +it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as +a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and awe, that the +picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of +exciting. I often referred the several situations, as their similarity +struck me, to my own. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to +any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine +in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a +perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of +his Creator; he was allowed to converse with, and acquire knowledge +from, beings of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless, and +alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my +condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my +protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me. + +"Another circumstance strengthened and confirmed these feelings. Soon +after my arrival in the hovel, I discovered some papers in the pocket of +the dress which I had taken from your laboratory. At first I had +neglected them; but now that I was able to decipher the characters in +which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. It was +your journal of the four months that preceded my creation. You minutely +described in these papers every step you took in the progress of your +work; this history was mingled with accounts of domestic occurrences. +You, doubtless, recollect these papers. Here they are. Every thing is +related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole +detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it, is +set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person +is given, in language which painted your own horrors, and rendered mine +indelible. I sickened as I read. 'Hateful day when I received life!' I +exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so +hideous that even _you_ turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made +man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy +type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his +companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am +solitary and abhorred.' + +"These were the reflections of my hours of despondency and solitude; but +when I contemplated the virtues of the cottagers, their amiable and +benevolent dispositions, I persuaded myself that when they should become +acquainted with my admiration of their virtues, they would compassionate +me, and overlook my personal deformity. Could they turn from their door +one, however monstrous, who solicited their compassion and friendship? I +resolved, at least, not to despair, but in every way to fit myself for +an interview with them which would decide my fate. I postponed this +attempt for some months longer; for the importance attached to its +success inspired me with a dread lest I should fail. Besides, I found +that my understanding improved so much with every day's experience, that +I was unwilling to commence this undertaking until a few more months +should have added to my sagacity. + +"Several changes, in the mean time, took place in the cottage. The +presence of Safie diffused happiness among its inhabitants; and I also +found that a greater degree of plenty reigned there. Felix and Agatha +spent more time in amusement and conversation, and were assisted in +their labours by servants. They did not appear rich, but they were +contented and happy; their feelings were serene and peaceful, while mine +became every day more tumultuous. Increase of knowledge only discovered +to me more clearly what a wretched outcast I was. I cherished hope, it +is true; but it vanished, when I beheld my person reflected in water, or +my shadow in the moonshine, even as that frail image and that inconstant +shade. + +"I endeavoured to crush these fears, and to fortify myself for the trial +which in a few months I resolved to undergo; and sometimes I allowed my +thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and +dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathising with my +feelings, and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed +smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my +sorrows, nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's +supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me +and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed him. + +"Autumn passed thus. I saw, with surprise and grief, the leaves decay +and fall, and nature again assume the barren and bleak appearance it had +worn when I first beheld the woods and the lovely moon. Yet I did not +heed the bleakness of the weather; I was better fitted by my +conformation for the endurance of cold than heat. But my chief delights +were the sight of the flowers, the birds, and all the gay apparel of +summer; when those deserted me, I turned with more attention towards the +cottagers. Their happiness was not decreased by the absence of summer. +They loved, and sympathised with one another; and their joys, depending +on each other, were not interrupted by the casualties that took place +around them. The more I saw of them, the greater became my desire to +claim their protection and kindness; my heart yearned to be known and +loved by these amiable creatures: to see their sweet looks directed +towards me with affection, was the utmost limit of my ambition. I dared +not think that they would turn them from me with disdain and horror. The +poor that stopped at their door were never driven away. I asked, it is +true, for greater treasures than a little food or rest: I required +kindness and sympathy; but I did not believe myself utterly unworthy of +it. + +"The winter advanced, and an entire revolution of the seasons had taken +place since I awoke into life. My attention, at this time, was solely +directed towards my plan of introducing myself into the cottage of my +protectors. I revolved many projects; but that on which I finally fixed +was, to enter the dwelling when the blind old man should be alone. I had +sagacity enough to discover, that the unnatural hideousness of my person +was the chief object of horror with those who had formerly beheld me. My +voice, although harsh, had nothing terrible in it; I thought, therefore, +that if, in the absence of his children, I could gain the good-will and +mediation of the old De Lacey, I might, by his means, be tolerated by my +younger protectors. + +"One day, when the sun shone on the red leaves that strewed the ground, +and diffused cheerfulness, although it denied warmth, Safie, Agatha, and +Felix departed on a long country walk, and the old man, at his own +desire, was left alone in the cottage. When his children had departed, +he took up his guitar, and played several mournful but sweet airs, more +sweet and mournful than I had ever heard him play before. At first his +countenance was illuminated with pleasure, but, as he continued, +thoughtfulness and sadness succeeded; at length, laying aside the +instrument, he sat absorbed in reflection. + +"My heart beat quick; this was the hour and moment of trial, which would +decide my hopes, or realise my fears. The servants were gone to a +neighbouring fair. All was silent in and around the cottage: it was an +excellent opportunity; yet, when I proceeded to execute my plan, my +limbs failed me, and I sank to the ground. Again I rose; and, exerting +all the firmness of which I was master, removed the planks which I had +placed before my hovel to conceal my retreat. The fresh air revived me, +and, with renewed determination, I approached the door of their cottage. + +"I knocked. 'Who is there?' said the old man--'Come in.' + +"I entered; 'Pardon this intrusion,' said I: 'I am a traveller in want +of a little rest; you would greatly oblige me, if you would allow me to +remain a few minutes before the fire.' + +"'Enter,' said De Lacey; 'and I will try in what manner I can relieve +your wants; but, unfortunately, my children are from home, and, as I am +blind, I am afraid I shall find it difficult to procure food for you.' + +"'Do not trouble yourself, my kind host, I have food; it is warmth and +rest only that I need.' + +"I sat down, and a silence ensued. I knew that every minute was precious +to me, yet I remained irresolute in what manner to commence the +interview; when the old man addressed me-- + +"'By your language, stranger, I suppose you are my countryman;--are you +French?' + +"'No; but I was educated by a French family, and understand that +language only. I am now going to claim the protection of some friends, +whom I sincerely love, and of whose favour I have some hopes.' + +"'Are they Germans?' + +"'No, they are French. But let us change the subject. I am an +unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around, and I have no relation +or friend upon earth. These amiable people to whom I go have never seen +me, and know little of me. I am full of fears; for if I fail there, I am +an outcast in the world for ever.' + +"'Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate; but the +hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest, are full +of brotherly love and charity. Rely, therefore, on your hopes; and if +these friends are good and amiable, do not despair.' + +"'They are kind--they are the most excellent creatures in the world; +but, unfortunately, they are prejudiced against me. I have good +dispositions; my life has been hitherto harmless, and in some degree +beneficial; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they +ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable +monster.' + +"'That is indeed unfortunate; but if you are really blameless, cannot +you undeceive them?' + +"'I am about to undertake that task; and it is on that account that I +feel so many overwhelming terrors. I tenderly love these friends; I +have, unknown to them, been for many months in the habits of daily +kindness towards them; but they believe that I wish to injure them, and +it is that prejudice which I wish to overcome.' + +"'Where do these friends reside?' + +"'Near this spot.' + +"The old man paused, and then continued, 'If you will unreservedly +confide to me the particulars of your tale, I perhaps may be of use in +undeceiving them. I am blind, and cannot judge of your countenance, but +there is something in your words, which persuades me that you are +sincere. I am poor, and an exile; but it will afford me true pleasure to +be in any way serviceable to a human creature.' + +"'Excellent man! I thank you, and accept your generous offer. You raise +me from the dust by this kindness; and I trust that, by your aid, I +shall not be driven from the society and sympathy of your +fellow-creatures.' + +"'Heaven forbid! even if you were really criminal; for that can only +drive you to desperation, and not instigate you to virtue. I also am +unfortunate; I and my family have been condemned, although innocent: +judge, therefore, if I do not feel for your misfortunes.' + +"'How can I thank you, my best and only benefactor? From your lips first +have I heard the voice of kindness directed towards me; I shall be for +ever grateful; and your present humanity assures me of success with +those friends whom I am on the point of meeting.' + +"'May I know the names and residence of those friends?' + +"I paused. This, I thought, was the moment of decision, which was to rob +me of, or bestow happiness on me for ever. I struggled vainly for +firmness sufficient to answer him, but the effort destroyed all my +remaining strength; I sank on the chair, and sobbed aloud. At that +moment I heard the steps of my younger protectors. I had not a moment to +lose; but, seizing the hand of the old man, I cried, 'Now is the +time!--save and protect me! You and your family are the friends whom I +seek. Do not you desert me in the hour of trial!' + +"'Great God!' exclaimed the old man, 'who are you?' + +"At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and +Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on +beholding me? Agatha fainted; and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, +rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural +force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung: in a transport of +fury, he dashed me to the ground, and struck me violently with a stick. +I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope. +But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I +saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and +anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped +unperceived to my hovel." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +"Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not +extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I +know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were +those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the +cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks +and misery. + +"When night came, I quitted my retreat, and wandered in the wood; and +now, no longer restrained by the fear of discovery, I gave vent to my +anguish in fearful howlings. I was like a wild beast that had broken the +toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me, and ranging through +the wood with a stag-like swiftness. O! what a miserable night I passed! +the cold stars shone in mockery, and the bare trees waved their branches +above me: now and then the sweet voice of a bird burst forth amidst the +universal stillness. All, save I, were at rest or in enjoyment: I, like +the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me; and, finding myself unsympathised +with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around +me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin. + +"But this was a luxury of sensation that could not endure; I became +fatigued with excess of bodily exertion, and sank on the damp grass in +the sick impotence of despair. There was none among the myriads of men +that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness +towards my enemies? No: from that moment I declared everlasting war +against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, +and sent me forth to this insupportable misery. + +"The sun rose; I heard the voices of men, and knew that it was +impossible to return to my retreat during that day. Accordingly I hid +myself in some thick underwood, determining to devote the ensuing hours +to reflection on my situation. + +"The pleasant sunshine, and the pure air of day, restored me to some +degree of tranquillity; and when I considered what had passed at the +cottage, I could not help believing that I had been too hasty in my +conclusions. I had certainly acted imprudently. It was apparent that my +conversation had interested the father in my behalf, and I was a fool in +having exposed my person to the horror of his children. I ought to have +familiarised the old De Lacey to me, and by degrees to have discovered +myself to the rest of his family, when they should have been prepared +for my approach. But I did not believe my errors to be irretrievable; +and, after much consideration, I resolved to return to the cottage, seek +the old man, and by my representations win him to my party. + +"These thoughts calmed me, and in the afternoon I sank into a profound +sleep; but the fever of my blood did not allow me to be visited by +peaceful dreams. The horrible scene of the preceding day was for ever +acting before my eyes; the females were flying, and the enraged Felix +tearing me from his father's feet. I awoke exhausted; and, finding that +it was already night, I crept forth from my hiding-place, and went in +search of food. + +"When my hunger was appeased, I directed my steps towards the well-known +path that conducted to the cottage. All there was at peace. I crept into +my hovel, and remained in silent expectation of the accustomed hour when +the family arose. That hour passed, the sun mounted high in the heavens, +but the cottagers did not appear. I trembled violently, apprehending +some dreadful misfortune. The inside of the cottage was dark, and I +heard no motion; I cannot describe the agony of this suspense. + +"Presently two countrymen passed by; but, pausing near the cottage, they +entered into conversation, using violent gesticulations; but I did not +understand what they said, as they spoke the language of the country, +which differed from that of my protectors. Soon after, however, Felix +approached with another man: I was surprised, as I knew that he had not +quitted the cottage that morning, and waited anxiously to discover, from +his discourse, the meaning of these unusual appearances. + +"'Do you consider,' said his companion to him, 'that you will be +obliged to pay three months' rent, and to lose the produce of your +garden? I do not wish to take any unfair advantage, and I beg therefore +that you will take some days to consider of your determination.' + +"'It is utterly useless,' replied Felix; 'we can never again inhabit +your cottage. The life of my father is in the greatest danger, owing to +the dreadful circumstance that I have related. My wife and my sister +will never recover their horror. I entreat you not to reason with me any +more. Take possession of your tenement, and let me fly from this place.' + +"Felix trembled violently as he said this. He and his companion entered +the cottage, in which they remained for a few minutes, and then +departed. I never saw any of the family of De Lacey more. + +"I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of +utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed, and had broken the +only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of +revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control +them; but, allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my +mind towards injury and death. When I thought of my friends, of the mild +voice of De Lacey, the gentle eyes of Agatha, and the exquisite beauty +of the Arabian, these thoughts vanished, and a gush of tears somewhat +soothed me. But again, when I reflected that they had spurned and +deserted me, anger returned, a rage of anger; and, unable to injure any +thing human, I turned my fury towards inanimate objects. As night +advanced, I placed a variety of combustibles around the cottage; and, +after having destroyed every vestige of cultivation in the garden, I +waited with forced impatience until the moon had sunk to commence my +operations. + +"As the night advanced, a fierce wind arose from the woods, and quickly +dispersed the clouds that had loitered in the heavens: the blast tore +along like a mighty avalanche, and produced a kind of insanity in my +spirits, that burst all bounds of reason and reflection. I lighted the +dry branch of a tree, and danced with fury around the devoted cottage, +my eyes still fixed on the western horizon, the edge of which the moon +nearly touched. A part of its orb was at length hid, and I waved my +brand; it sunk, and, with a loud scream, I fired the straw, and heath, +and bushes, which I had collected. The wind fanned the fire, and the +cottage was quickly enveloped by the flames, which clung to it, and +licked it with their forked and destroying tongues. + +"As soon as I was convinced that no assistance could save any part of +the habitation, I quitted the scene, and sought for refuge in the woods. + +"And now, with the world before me, whither should I bend my steps? I +resolved to fly far from the scene of my misfortunes; but to me, hated +and despised, every country must be equally horrible. At length the +thought of you crossed my mind. I learned from your papers that you were +my father, my creator; and to whom could I apply with more fitness than +to him who had given me life? Among the lessons that Felix had bestowed +upon Safie, geography had not been omitted: I had learned from these the +relative situations of the different countries of the earth. You had +mentioned Geneva as the name of your native town; and towards this place +I resolved to proceed. + +"But how was I to direct myself? I knew that I must travel in a +south-westerly direction to reach my destination; but the sun was my +only guide. I did not know the names of the towns that I was to pass +through, nor could I ask information from a single human being; but I +did not despair. From you only could I hope for succour, although +towards you I felt no sentiment but that of hatred. Unfeeling, heartless +creator! you had endowed me with perceptions and passions, and then cast +me abroad an object for the scorn and horror of mankind. But on you only +had I any claim for pity and redress, and from you I determined to seek +that justice which I vainly attempted to gain from any other being that +wore the human form. + +"My travels were long, and the sufferings I endured intense. It was late +in autumn when I quitted the district where I had so long resided. I +travelled only at night, fearful of encountering the visage of a human +being. Nature decayed around me, and the sun became heatless; rain and +snow poured around me; mighty rivers were frozen; the surface of the +earth was hard and chill, and bare, and I found no shelter. Oh, earth! +how often did I imprecate curses on the cause of my being! The mildness +of my nature had fled, and all within me was turned to gall and +bitterness. The nearer I approached to your habitation, the more deeply +did I feel the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart. Snow fell, and +the waters were hardened; but I rested not. A few incidents now and then +directed me, and I possessed a map of the country; but I often wandered +wide from my path. The agony of my feelings allowed me no respite: no +incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its +food; but a circumstance that happened when I arrived on the confines of +Switzerland, when the sun had recovered its warmth, and the earth again +began to look green, confirmed in an especial manner the bitterness and +horror of my feelings. + +"I generally rested during the day, and travelled only when I was +secured by night from the view of man. One morning, however, finding +that my path lay through a deep wood, I ventured to continue my journey +after the sun had risen; the day, which was one of the first of spring, +cheered even me by the loveliness of its sunshine and the balminess of +the air. I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that had long +appeared dead, revive within me. Half surprised by the novelty of these +sensations, I allowed myself to be borne away by them; and, forgetting +my solitude and deformity, dared to be happy. Soft tears again bedewed +my cheeks, and I even raised my humid eyes with thankfulness towards the +blessed sun which bestowed such joy upon me. + +"I continued to wind among the paths of the wood, until I came to its +boundary, which was skirted by a deep and rapid river, into which many +of the trees bent their branches, now budding with the fresh spring. +Here I paused, not exactly knowing what path to pursue, when I heard the +sound of voices, that induced me to conceal myself under the shade of a +cypress. I was scarcely hid, when a young girl came running towards the +spot where I was concealed, laughing, as if she ran from some one in +sport. She continued her course along the precipitous sides of the +river, when suddenly her foot slipt, and she fell into the rapid +stream. I rushed from my hiding-place; and, with extreme labour from the +force of the current, saved her, and dragged her to shore. She was +senseless; and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to restore +animation, when I was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a rustic, +who was probably the person from whom she had playfully fled. On seeing +me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened +towards the deeper parts of the wood. I followed speedily, I hardly knew +why; but when the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he +carried, at my body, and fired. I sunk to the ground, and my injurer, +with increased swiftness, escaped into the wood. + +"This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being +from destruction, and, as a recompense, I now writhed under the +miserable pain of a wound, which shattered the flesh and bone. The +feelings of kindness and gentleness, which I had entertained but a few +moments before, gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth. +Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind. +But the agony of my wound overcame me; my pulses paused, and I fainted. + +"For some weeks I led a miserable life in the woods, endeavouring to +cure the wound which I had received. The ball had entered my shoulder, +and I knew not whether it had remained there or passed through; at any +rate I had no means of extracting it. My sufferings were augmented also +by the oppressive sense of the injustice and ingratitude of their +infliction. My daily vows rose for revenge--a deep and deadly revenge, +such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish I had +endured. + +"After some weeks my wound healed, and I continued my journey. The +labours I endured were no longer to be alleviated by the bright sun or +gentle breezes of spring; all joy was but a mockery, which insulted my +desolate state, and made me feel more painfully that I was not made for +the enjoyment of pleasure. + +"But my toils now drew near a close; and, in two months from this time, +I reached the environs of Geneva. + +"It was evening when I arrived, and I retired to a hiding-place among +the fields that surround it, to meditate in what manner I should apply +to you. I was oppressed by fatigue and hunger, and far too unhappy to +enjoy the gentle breezes of evening, or the prospect of the sun setting +behind the stupendous mountains of Jura. + +"At this time a slight sleep relieved me from the pain of reflection, +which was disturbed by the approach of a beautiful child, who came +running into the recess I had chosen, with all the sportiveness of +infancy. Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an idea seized me, that this +little creature was unprejudiced, and had lived too short a time to have +imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him, and +educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in +this peopled earth. + +"Urged by this impulse, I seized on the boy as he passed, and drew him +towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before his +eyes, and uttered a shrill scream: I drew his hand forcibly from his +face, and said, 'Child, what is the meaning of this? I do not intend to +hurt you; listen to me.' + +"He struggled violently. 'Let me go,' he cried; 'monster! ugly wretch! +you wish to eat me, and tear me to pieces--You are an ogre--Let me go, +or I will tell my papa.' + +"'Boy, you will never see your father again; you must come with me.' + +"'Hideous monster! let me go. My papa is a Syndic--he is M. +Frankenstein--he will punish you. You dare not keep me.' + +"'Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have +sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.' + +"The child still struggled, and loaded me with epithets which carried +despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a +moment he lay dead at my feet. + +"I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish +triumph: clapping my hands, I exclaimed, 'I, too, can create desolation; +my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and +a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.' + +"As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his +breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite +of my malignity, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I gazed +with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her lovely +lips; but presently my rage returned: I remembered that I was for ever +deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could bestow; and +that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in regarding me, have +changed that air of divine benignity to one expressive of disgust and +affright. + +"Can you wonder that such thoughts transported me with rage? I only +wonder that at that moment, instead of venting my sensations in +exclamations and agony, I did not rush among mankind, and perish in the +attempt to destroy them. + +"While I was overcome by these feelings, I left the spot where I had +committed the murder, and seeking a more secluded hiding-place, I +entered a barn which had appeared to me to be empty. A woman was +sleeping on some straw; she was young: not indeed so beautiful as her +whose portrait I held; but of an agreeable aspect, and blooming in the +loveliness of youth and health. Here, I thought, is one of those whose +joy-imparting smiles are bestowed on all but me. And then I bent over +her, and whispered 'Awake, fairest, thy lover is near--he who would give +his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes: my +beloved, awake!' + +"The sleeper stirred; a thrill of terror ran through me. Should she +indeed awake, and see me, and curse me, and denounce the murderer? Thus +would she assuredly act, if her darkened eyes opened, and she beheld me. +The thought was madness; it stirred the fiend within me--not I, but she +shall suffer: the murder I have committed because I am for ever robbed +of all that she could give me, she shall atone. The crime had its source +in her: be hers the punishment! Thanks to the lessons of Felix and the +sanguinary laws of man, I had learned now to work mischief. I bent over +her, and placed the portrait securely in one of the folds of her dress. +She moved again, and I fled. + +"For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place; +sometimes wishing to see you, sometimes resolved to quit the world and +its miseries for ever. At length I wandered towards these mountains, +and have ranged through their immense recesses, consumed by a burning +passion which you alone can gratify. We may not part until you have +promised to comply with my requisition. I am alone, and miserable; man +will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself +would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, +and have the same defects. This being you must create." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The being finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation +of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my +ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He +continued-- + +"You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the +interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone +can do; and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to +concede." + +The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had +died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers, and, +as he said this, I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within +me. + +"I do refuse it," I replied; "and no torture shall ever extort a consent +from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but you shall +never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create another like yourself, +whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I have answered +you; you may torture me, but I will never consent." + +"You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and, instead of threatening, +I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. +Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear +me to pieces, and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity +man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder, if you could +precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts, and destroy my frame, the +work of your own hands. Shall I respect man, when he contemns me? Let +him live with me in the interchange of kindness; and, instead of injury, +I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his +acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable +barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject +slavery. I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will +cause fear; and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, +do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care: I will work at your +destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall +curse the hour of your birth." + +A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled into +contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold; but presently he +calmed himself and proceeded-- + +"I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me; for you do not +reflect that _you_ are the cause of its excess. If any being felt +emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them an hundred and +an hundred fold; for that one creature's sake, I would make peace with +the whole kind! But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be +realised. What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a +creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is +small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It is +true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that +account we shall be more attached to one another. Our lives will not be +happy, but they will be harmless, and free from the misery I now feel. +Oh! my creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one +benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some existing thing; +do not deny me my request!" + +I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences of +my consent; but I felt that there was some justice in his argument. His +tale, and the feelings he now expressed, proved him to be a creature of +fine sensations; and did I not as his maker, owe him all the portion of +happiness that it was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of +feeling, and continued-- + +"If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us +again: I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that +of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; +acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will +be of the same nature as myself, and will be content with the same fare. +We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on +man, and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful +and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in the +wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards me, I +now see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable moment, and +persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire." + +"You propose," replied I, "to fly from the habitations of man, to dwell +in those wilds where the beasts of the field will be your only +companions. How can you, who long for the love and sympathy of man, +persevere in this exile? You will return, and again seek their kindness, +and you will meet with their detestation; your evil passions will be +renewed, and you will then have a companion to aid you in the task of +destruction. This may not be: cease to argue the point, for I cannot +consent." + +"How inconstant are your feelings! but a moment ago you were moved by my +representations, and why do you again harden yourself to my complaints? +I swear to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and by you that made me, +that, with the companion you bestow, I will quit the neighbourhood of +man, and dwell as it may chance, in the most savage of places. My evil +passions will have fled, for I shall meet with sympathy! my life will +flow quietly away, and, in my dying moments, I shall not curse my +maker." + +His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him, and +sometimes felt a wish to console him; but when I looked upon him, when I +saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened, and my +feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred. I tried to stifle +these sensations; I thought, that as I could not sympathise with him, I +had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which +was yet in my power to bestow. + +"You swear," I said, "to be harmless; but have you not already shown a +degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not +even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a +wider scope for your revenge." + +"How is this? I must not be trifled with: and I demand an answer. If I +have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; the +love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes, and I shall become +a thing, of whose existence every one will be ignorant. My vices are the +children of a forced solitude that I abhor; and my virtues will +necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel +the affections of a sensitive being, and become linked to the chain of +existence and events, from which I am now excluded." + +I paused some time to reflect on all he had related, and the various +arguments which he had employed. I thought of the promise of virtues +which he had displayed on the opening of his existence, and the +subsequent blight of all kindly feeling by the loathing and scorn which +his protectors had manifested towards him. His power and threats were +not omitted in my calculations: a creature who could exist in the +ice-caves of the glaciers, and hide himself from pursuit among the +ridges of inaccessible precipices, was a being possessing faculties it +would be vain to cope with. After a long pause of reflection, I +concluded that the justice due both to him and my fellow-creatures +demanded of me that I should comply with his request. Turning to him, +therefore, I said-- + +"I consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to quit Europe for ever, +and every other place in the neighbourhood of man, as soon as I shall +deliver into your hands a female who will accompany you in your exile." + +"I swear," he cried, "by the sun, and by the blue sky of Heaven, and by +the fire of love that burns my heart, that if you grant my prayer, while +they exist you shall never behold me again. Depart to your home, and +commence your labours: I shall watch their progress with unutterable +anxiety; and fear not but that when you are ready I shall appear." + +Saying this, he suddenly quitted me, fearful, perhaps, of any change in +my sentiments. I saw him descend the mountain with greater speed than +the flight of an eagle, and quickly lost among the undulations of the +sea of ice. + +His tale had occupied the whole day; and the sun was upon the verge of +the horizon when he departed. I knew that I ought to hasten my descent +towards the valley, as I should soon be encompassed in darkness; but my +heart was heavy, and my steps slow. The labour of winding among the +little paths of the mountains, and fixing my feet firmly as I advanced, +perplexed me, occupied as I was by the emotions which the occurrences of +the day had produced. Night was far advanced, when I came to the +half-way resting-place, and seated myself beside the fountain. The stars +shone at intervals, as the clouds passed from over them; the dark pines +rose before me, and every here and there a broken tree lay on the +ground: it was a scene of wonderful solemnity, and stirred strange +thoughts within me. I wept bitterly; and clasping my hands in agony, I +exclaimed, "Oh! stars and clouds, and winds, ye are all about to mock +me: if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as +nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness." + +These were wild and miserable thoughts; but I cannot describe to you how +the eternal twinkling of the stars weighed upon me, and how I listened +to every blast of wind, as if it were a dull ugly siroc on its way to +consume me. + +Morning dawned before I arrived at the village of Chamounix; I took no +rest, but returned immediately to Geneva. Even in my own heart I could +give no expression to my sensations--they weighed on me with a +mountain's weight, and their excess destroyed my agony beneath them. +Thus I returned home, and entering the house, presented myself to the +family. My haggard and wild appearance awoke intense alarm; but I +answered no question, scarcely did I speak. I felt as if I were placed +under a ban--as if I had no right to claim their sympathies--as if never +more might I enjoy companionship with them. Yet even thus I loved them +to adoration; and to save them, I resolved to dedicate myself to my most +abhorred task. The prospect of such an occupation made every other +circumstance of existence pass before me like a dream; and that thought +only had to me the reality of life. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Day after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and +I could not collect the courage to recommence my work. I feared the +vengeance of the disappointed fiend, yet I was unable to overcome my +repugnance to the task which was enjoined me. I found that I could not +compose a female without again devoting several months to profound study +and laborious disquisition. I had heard of some discoveries having been +made by an English philosopher, the knowledge of which was material to +my success, and I sometimes thought of obtaining my father's consent to +visit England for this purpose; but I clung to every pretence of delay, +and shrunk from taking the first step in an undertaking whose immediate +necessity began to appear less absolute to me. A change indeed had taken +place in me: my health, which had hitherto declined, was now much +restored; and my spirits, when unchecked by the memory of my unhappy +promise, rose proportionably. My father saw this change with pleasure, +and he turned his thoughts towards the best method of eradicating the +remains of my melancholy, which every now and then would return by fits, +and with a devouring blackness overcast the approaching sunshine. At +these moments I took refuge in the most perfect solitude. I passed whole +days on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and +listening to the rippling of the waves, silent and listless. But the +fresh air and bright sun seldom failed to restore me to some degree of +composure; and, on my return, I met the salutations of my friends with a +readier smile and a more cheerful heart. + +It was after my return from one of these rambles, that my father, +calling me aside, thus addressed me:-- + +"I am happy to remark, my dear son, that you have resumed your former +pleasures, and seem to be returning to yourself. And yet you are still +unhappy, and still avoid our society. For some time I was lost in +conjecture as to the cause of this; but yesterday an idea struck me, and +if it is well founded, I conjure you to avow it. Reserve on such a point +would be not only useless, but draw down treble misery on us all." + +I trembled violently at his exordium, and my father continued-- + +"I confess, my son, that I have always looked forward to your marriage +with our dear Elizabeth as the tie of our domestic comfort, and the stay +of my declining years. You were attached to each other from your +earliest infancy; you studied together, and appeared, in dispositions +and tastes, entirely suited to one another. But so blind is the +experience of man, that what I conceived to be the best assistants to my +plan, may have entirely destroyed it. You, perhaps, regard her as your +sister, without any wish that she might become your wife. Nay, you may +have met with another whom you may love; and, considering yourself as +bound in honour to Elizabeth, this struggle may occasion the poignant +misery which you appear to feel." + +"My dear father, reassure yourself. I love my cousin tenderly and +sincerely. I never saw any woman who excited, as Elizabeth does, my +warmest admiration and affection. My future hopes and prospects are +entirely bound up in the expectation of our union." + +"The expression of your sentiments of this subject, my dear Victor, +gives me more pleasure than I have for some time experienced. If you +feel thus, we shall assuredly be happy, however present events may cast +a gloom over us. But it is this gloom which appears to have taken so +strong a hold of your mind, that I wish to dissipate. Tell me, +therefore, whether you object to an immediate solemnisation of the +marriage. We have been unfortunate, and recent events have drawn us +from that every-day tranquillity befitting my years and infirmities. You +are younger; yet I do not suppose, possessed as you are of a competent +fortune, that an early marriage would at all interfere with any future +plans of honour and utility that you may have formed. Do not suppose, +however, that I wish to dictate happiness to you, or that a delay on +your part would cause me any serious uneasiness. Interpret my words with +candour, and answer me, I conjure you, with confidence and sincerity." + +I listened to my father in silence, and remained for some time incapable +of offering any reply. I revolved rapidly in my mind a multitude of +thoughts, and endeavoured to arrive at some conclusion. Alas! to me the +idea of an immediate union with my Elizabeth was one of horror and +dismay. I was bound by a solemn promise, which I had not yet fulfilled, +and dared not break; or, if I did, what manifold miseries might not +impend over me and my devoted family! Could I enter into a festival with +this deadly weight yet hanging round my neck, and bowing me to the +ground. I must perform my engagement, and let the monster depart with +his mate, before I allowed myself to enjoy the delight of an union from +which I expected peace. + +I remembered also the necessity imposed upon me of either journeying to +England, or entering into a long correspondence with those philosophers +of that country, whose knowledge and discoveries were of indispensable +use to me in my present undertaking. The latter method of obtaining the +desired intelligence was dilatory and unsatisfactory: besides, I had an +insurmountable aversion to the idea of engaging myself in my loathsome +task in my father's house, while in habits of familiar intercourse with +those I loved. I knew that a thousand fearful accidents might occur, the +slightest of which would disclose a tale to thrill all connected with me +with horror. I was aware also that I should often lose all self-command, +all capacity of hiding the harrowing sensations that would possess me +during the progress of my unearthly occupation. I must absent myself +from all I loved while thus employed. Once commenced, it would quickly +be achieved, and I might be restored to my family in peace and +happiness. My promise fulfilled, the monster would depart for ever. Or +(so my fond fancy imaged) some accident might meanwhile occur to destroy +him, and put an end to my slavery for ever. + +These feelings dictated my answer to my father. I expressed a wish to +visit England; but, concealing the true reasons of this request, I +clothed my desires under a guise which excited no suspicion, while I +urged my desire with an earnestness that easily induced my father to +comply. After so long a period of an absorbing melancholy, that +resembled madness in its intensity and effects, he was glad to find that +I was capable of taking pleasure in the idea of such a journey, and he +hoped that change of scene and varied amusement would, before my return, +have restored me entirely to myself. + +The duration of my absence was left to my own choice; a few months, or +at most a year, was the period contemplated. One paternal kind +precaution he had taken to ensure my having a companion. Without +previously communicating with me, he had, in concert with Elizabeth, +arranged that Clerval should join me at Strasburgh. This interfered with +the solitude I coveted for the prosecution of my task; yet at the +commencement of my journey the presence of my friend could in no way be +an impediment, and truly I rejoiced that thus I should be saved many +hours of lonely, maddening reflection. Nay, Henry might stand between me +and the intrusion of my foe. If I were alone, would he not at times +force his abhorred presence on me, to remind me of my task, or to +contemplate its progress? + +To England, therefore, I was bound, and it was understood that my union +with Elizabeth should take place immediately on my return. My father's +age rendered him extremely averse to delay. For myself, there was one +reward I promised myself from my detested toils--one consolation for my +unparalleled sufferings; it was the prospect of that day when, +enfranchised from my miserable slavery, I might claim Elizabeth, and +forget the past in my union with her. + +I now made arrangements for my journey; but one feeling haunted me, +which filled me with fear and agitation. During my absence I should +leave my friends unconscious of the existence of their enemy, and +unprotected from his attacks, exasperated as he might be by my +departure. But he had promised to follow me wherever I might go; and +would he not accompany me to England? This imagination was dreadful in +itself, but soothing, inasmuch as it supposed the safety of my friends. +I was agonised with the idea of the possibility that the reverse of this +might happen. But through the whole period during which I was the slave +of my creature, I allowed myself to be governed by the impulses of the +moment; and my present sensations strongly intimated that the fiend +would follow me, and exempt my family from the danger of his +machinations. + +It was in the latter end of September that I again quitted my native +country. My journey had been my own suggestion, and Elizabeth, +therefore, acquiesced: but she was filled with disquiet at the idea of +my suffering, away from her, the inroads of misery and grief. It had +been her care which provided me a companion in Clerval--and yet a man is +blind to a thousand minute circumstances, which call forth a woman's +sedulous attention. She longed to bid me hasten my return,--a thousand +conflicting emotions rendered her mute, as she bade me a tearful silent +farewell. + +I threw myself into the carriage that was to convey me away, hardly +knowing whither I was going, and careless of what was passing around. I +remembered only, and it was with a bitter anguish that I reflected on +it, to order that my chemical instruments should be packed to go with +me. Filled with dreary imaginations, I passed through many beautiful and +majestic scenes; but my eyes were fixed and unobserving. I could only +think of the bourne of my travels, and the work which was to occupy me +whilst they endured. + +After some days spent in listless indolence, during which I traversed +many leagues, I arrived at Strasburgh, where I waited two days for +Clerval. He came. Alas, how great was the contrast between us! He was +alive to every new scene; joyful when he saw the beauties of the setting +sun, and more happy when he beheld it rise, and recommence a new day. +He pointed out to me the shifting colours of the landscape, and the +appearances of the sky. "This is what it is to live," he cried, "now I +enjoy existence! But you, my dear Frankenstein, wherefore are you +desponding and sorrowful!" In truth, I was occupied by gloomy thoughts, +and neither saw the descent of the evening star, nor the golden sunrise +reflected in the Rhine.--And you, my friend, would be far more amused +with the journal of Clerval, who observed the scenery with an eye of +feeling and delight, than in listening to my reflections. I, a miserable +wretch, haunted by a curse that shut up every avenue to enjoyment. + +We had agreed to descend the Rhine in a boat from Strasburgh to +Rotterdam, whence we might take shipping for London. During this voyage, +we passed many willowy islands, and saw several beautiful towns. We +stayed a day at Manheim, and, on the fifth from our departure from +Strasburgh, arrived at Mayence. The course of the Rhine below Mayence +becomes much more picturesque. The river descends rapidly, and winds +between hills, not high, but steep, and of beautiful forms. We saw many +ruined castles standing on the edges of precipices, surrounded by black +woods, high and inaccessible. This part of the Rhine, indeed, presents a +singularly variegated landscape. In one spot you view rugged hills, +ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices, with the dark Rhine +rushing beneath; and, on the sudden turn of a promontory, flourishing +vineyards, with green sloping banks, and a meandering river, and +populous towns occupy the scene. + +We travelled at the time of the vintage, and heard the song of the +labourers, as we glided down the stream. Even I, depressed in mind, and +my spirits continually agitated by gloomy feelings, even I was pleased. +I lay at the bottom of the boat, and, as I gazed on the cloudless blue +sky, I seemed to drink in a tranquillity to which I had long been a +stranger. And if these were my sensations, who can describe those of +Henry? He felt as if he had been transported to Fairy-land, and enjoyed +a happiness seldom tasted by man. "I have seen," he said, "the most +beautiful scenes of my own country; I have visited the lakes of Lucerne +and Uri, where the snowy mountains descend almost perpendicularly to the +water, casting black and impenetrable shades, which would cause a gloomy +and mournful appearance, were it not for the most verdant islands that +relieve the eye by their gay appearance; I have seen this lake agitated +by a tempest, when the wind tore up whirlwinds of water, and gave you an +idea of what the water-spout must be on the great ocean; and the waves +dash with fury the base of the mountain, where the priest and his +mistress were overwhelmed by an avalanche, and where their dying voices +are still said to be heard amid the pauses of the nightly wind; I have +seen the mountains of La Valais, and the Pays de Vaud: but this country, +Victor, pleases me more than all those wonders. The mountains of +Switzerland are more majestic and strange; but there is a charm in the +banks of this divine river, that I never before saw equalled. Look at +that castle which overhangs yon precipice; and that also on the island, +almost concealed amongst the foliage of those lovely trees; and now that +group of labourers coming from among their vines; and that village half +hid in the recess of the mountain. Oh, surely, the spirit that inhabits +and guards this place has a soul more in harmony with man, than those +who pile the glacier, or retire to the inaccessible peaks of the +mountains of our own country." + +Clerval! beloved friend! even now it delights me to record your words, +and to dwell on the praise of which you are so eminently deserving. He +was a being formed in the "very poetry of nature." His wild and +enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart. +His soul overflowed with ardent affections, and his friendship was of +that devoted and wondrous nature that the worldly-minded teach us to +look for only in the imagination. But even human sympathies were not +sufficient to satisfy his eager mind. The scenery of external nature, +which others regard only with admiration, he loved with ardour:-- + + ----"The sounding cataract + Haunted him like a passion: the tall rock, + The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood, + Their colours and their forms, were then to him + An appetite; a feeling, and a love, + That had no need of a remoter charm, + By thought supplied, or any interest + Unborrow'd from the eye"[3] + +[Footnote 3: Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey.] + +And where does he now exist? Is this gentle and lovely being lost for +ever? Has this mind, so replete with ideas, imaginations fanciful and +magnificent, which formed a world, whose existence depended on the life +of its creator;--has this mind perished? Does it now only exist in my +memory? No, it is not thus; your form so divinely wrought, and beaming +with beauty, has decayed, but your spirit still visits and consoles your +unhappy friend. + +Pardon this gush of sorrow; these ineffectual words are but a slight +tribute to the unexampled worth of Henry, but they soothe my heart, +overflowing with the anguish which his remembrance creates. I will +proceed with my tale. + +Beyond Cologne we descended to the plains of Holland; and we resolved to +post the remainder of our way; for the wind was contrary, and the stream +of the river was too gentle to aid us. + +Our journey here lost the interest arising from beautiful scenery; but +we arrived in a few days at Rotterdam, whence we proceeded by sea to +England. It was on a clear morning, in the latter days of December, that +I first saw the white cliffs of Britain. The banks of the Thames +presented a new scene; they were flat, but fertile, and almost every +town was marked by the remembrance of some story. We saw Tilbury Fort, +and remembered the Spanish armada; Gravesend, Woolwich, and Greenwich, +places which I had heard of even in my country. + +At length we saw the numerous steeples of London, St. Paul's towering +above all, and the Tower famed in English history. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +London was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several +months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the +intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time; +but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with +the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of +my promise, and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction +that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural +philosophers. + +If this journey had taken place during my days of study and happiness, +it would have afforded me inexpressible pleasure. But a blight had come +over my existence, and I only visited these people for the sake of the +information they might give me on the subject in which my interest was +so terribly profound. Company was irksome to me; when alone, I could +fill my mind with the sights of heaven and earth; the voice of Henry +soothed me, and I could thus cheat myself into a transitory peace. But +busy uninteresting joyous faces brought back despair to my heart. I saw +an insurmountable barrier placed between me and my fellow-men; this +barrier was sealed with the blood of William and Justine; and to reflect +on the events connected with those names filled my soul with anguish. + +But in Clerval I saw the image of my former self; he was inquisitive, +and anxious to gain experience and instruction. The difference of +manners which he observed was to him an inexhaustible source of +instruction and amusement. He was also pursuing an object he had long +had in view. His design was to visit India, in the belief that he had in +his knowledge of its various languages, and in the views he had taken of +its society, the means of materially assisting the progress of European +colonisation and trade. In Britain only could he further the execution +of his plan. He was for ever busy; and the only check to his enjoyments +was my sorrowful and dejected mind. I tried to conceal this as much as +possible, that I might not debar him from the pleasures natural to one, +who was entering on a new scene of life, undisturbed by any care or +bitter recollection. I often refused to accompany him, alleging another +engagement, that I might remain alone. I now also began to collect the +materials necessary for my new creation, and this was to me like the +torture of single drops of water continually falling on the head. Every +thought that was devoted to it was an extreme anguish, and every word +that I spoke in allusion to it caused my lips to quiver, and my heart to +palpitate. + +After passing some months in London, we received a letter from a person +in Scotland, who had formerly been our visiter at Geneva. He mentioned +the beauties of his native country, and asked us if those were not +sufficient allurements to induce us to prolong our journey as far north +as Perth, where he resided. Clerval eagerly desired to accept this +invitation; and I, although I abhorred society, wished to view again +mountains and streams, and all the wondrous works with which Nature +adorns her chosen dwelling-places. + +We had arrived in England at the beginning of October, and it was now +February. We accordingly determined to commence our journey towards the +north at the expiration of another month. In this expedition we did not +intend to follow the great road to Edinburgh, but to visit Windsor, +Oxford, Matlock, and the Cumberland lakes, resolving to arrive at the +completion of this tour about the end of July. I packed up my chemical +instruments, and the materials I had collected, resolving to finish my +labours in some obscure nook in the northern highlands of Scotland. + +We quitted London on the 27th of March, and remained a few days at +Windsor, rambling in its beautiful forest. This was a new scene to us +mountaineers; the majestic oaks, the quantity of game, and the herds of +stately deer, were all novelties to us. + +From thence we proceeded to Oxford. As we entered this city, our minds +were filled with the remembrance of the events that had been transacted +there more than a century and a half before. It was here that Charles I. +had collected his forces. This city had remained faithful to him, after +the whole nation had forsaken his cause to join the standard of +parliament and liberty. The memory of that unfortunate king, and his +companions, the amiable Falkland, the insolent Goring, his queen, and +son, gave a peculiar interest to every part of the city, which they +might be supposed to have inhabited. The spirit of elder days found a +dwelling here, and we delighted to trace its footsteps. If these +feelings had not found an imaginary gratification, the appearance of the +city had yet in itself sufficient beauty to obtain our admiration. The +colleges are ancient and picturesque; the streets are almost +magnificent; and the lovely Isis, which flows beside it through meadows +of exquisite verdure, is spread forth into a placid expanse of waters, +which reflects its majestic assemblage of towers, and spires, and domes, +embosomed among aged trees. + +I enjoyed this scene; and yet my enjoyment was embittered both by the +memory of the past, and the anticipation of the future. I was formed for +peaceful happiness. During my youthful days discontent never visited my +mind; and if I was ever overcome by _ennui_, the sight of what is +beautiful in nature, or the study of what is excellent and sublime in +the productions of man, could always interest my heart, and communicate +elasticity to my spirits. But I am a blasted tree; the bolt has entered +my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit, what I shall +soon cease to be--a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity, pitiable to +others, and intolerable to myself. + +We passed a considerable period at Oxford, rambling among its environs, +and endeavouring to identify every spot which might relate to the most +animating epoch of English history. Our little voyages of discovery were +often prolonged by the successive objects that presented themselves. We +visited the tomb of the illustrious Hampden, and the field on which that +patriot fell. For a moment my soul was elevated from its debasing and +miserable fears, to contemplate the divine ideas of liberty and +self-sacrifice, of which these sights were the monuments and the +remembrancers. For an instant I dared to shake off my chains, and look +around me with a free and lofty spirit; but the iron had eaten into my +flesh, and I sank again, trembling and hopeless, into my miserable self. + +We left Oxford with regret, and proceeded to Matlock, which was our next +place of rest. The country in the neighbourhood of this village +resembled, to a greater degree, the scenery of Switzerland; but every +thing is on a lower scale, and the green hills want the crown of distant +white Alps, which always attend on the piny mountains of my native +country. We visited the wondrous cave, and the little cabinets of +natural history, where the curiosities are disposed in the same manner +as in the collections at Servox and Chamounix. The latter name made me +tremble, when pronounced by Henry; and I hastened to quit Matlock, with +which that terrible scene was thus associated. + +From Derby, still journeying northward, we passed two months in +Cumberland and Westmorland. I could now almost fancy myself among the +Swiss mountains. The little patches of snow which yet lingered on the +northern sides of the mountains, the lakes, and the dashing of the rocky +streams, were all familiar and dear sights to me. Here also we made some +acquaintances, who almost contrived to cheat me into happiness. The +delight of Clerval was proportionably greater than mine; his mind +expanded in the company of men of talent, and he found in his own nature +greater capacities and resources than he could have imagined himself to +have possessed while he associated with his inferiors. "I could pass my +life here," said he to me; "and among these mountains I should scarcely +regret Switzerland and the Rhine." + +But he found that a traveller's life is one that includes much pain +amidst its enjoyments. His feelings are for ever on the stretch; and +when he begins to sink into repose, he finds himself obliged to quit +that on which he rests in pleasure for something new, which again +engages his attention, and which also he forsakes for other novelties. + +We had scarcely visited the various lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland, +and conceived an affection for some of the inhabitants, when the period +of our appointment with our Scotch friend approached, and we left them +to travel on. For my own part I was not sorry. I had now neglected my +promise for some time, and I feared the effects of the dæmon's +disappointment. He might remain in Switzerland, and wreak his vengeance +on my relatives. This idea pursued me, and tormented me at every moment +from which I might otherwise have snatched repose and peace. I waited +for my letters with feverish impatience: if they were delayed, I was +miserable, and overcome by a thousand fears; and when they arrived, and +I saw the superscription of Elizabeth or my father, I hardly dared to +read and ascertain my fate. Sometimes I thought that the fiend followed +me, and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companion. When +these thoughts possessed me, I would not quit Henry for a moment, but +followed him as his shadow, to protect him from the fancied rage of his +destroyer. I felt as if I had committed some great crime, the +consciousness of which haunted me. I was guiltless, but I had indeed +drawn down a horrible curse upon my head, as mortal as that of crime. + +I visited Edinburgh with languid eyes and mind; and yet that city might +have interested the most unfortunate being. Clerval did not like it so +well as Oxford: for the antiquity of the latter city was more pleasing +to him. But the beauty and regularity of the new town of Edinburgh, its +romantic castle, and its environs, the most delightful in the world, +Arthur's Seat, St. Bernard's Well, and the Pentland Hills, compensated +him for the change, and filled him with cheerfulness and admiration. But +I was impatient to arrive at the termination of my journey. + +We left Edinburgh in a week, passing through Coupar, St. Andrew's, and +along the banks of the Tay, to Perth, where our friend expected us. But +I was in no mood to laugh and talk with strangers, or enter into their +feelings or plans with the good humour expected from a guest; and +accordingly I told Clerval that I wished to make the tour of Scotland +alone. "Do you," said I, "enjoy yourself, and let this be our +rendezvous. I may be absent a month or two; but do not interfere with my +motions, I entreat you: leave me to peace and solitude for a short time; +and when I return, I hope it will be with a lighter heart, more +congenial to your own temper." + +Henry wished to dissuade me; but, seeing me bent on this plan, ceased to +remonstrate. He entreated me to write often. "I had rather be with you," +he said, "in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people, whom +I do not know: hasten then, my dear friend, to return, that I may again +feel myself somewhat at home, which I cannot do in your absence." + +Having parted from my friend, I determined to visit some remote spot of +Scotland, and finish my work in solitude. I did not doubt but that the +monster followed me, and would discover himself to me when I should have +finished, that he might receive his companion. + +With this resolution I traversed the northern highlands, and fixed on +one of the remotest of the Orkneys as the scene of my labours. It was a +place fitted for such a work, being hardly more than a rock, whose high +sides were continually beaten upon by the waves. The soil was barren, +scarcely affording pasture for a few miserable cows, and oatmeal for its +inhabitants, which consisted of five persons, whose gaunt and scraggy +limbs gave tokens of their miserable fare. Vegetables and bread, when +they indulged in such luxuries, and even fresh water, was to be procured +from the main land, which was about five miles distant. + +On the whole island there were but three miserable huts, and one of +these was vacant when I arrived. This I hired. It contained but two +rooms, and these exhibited all the squalidness of the most miserable +penury. The thatch had fallen in, the walls were unplastered, and the +door was off its hinges. I ordered it to be repaired, bought some +furniture, and took possession; an incident which would, doubtless, have +occasioned some surprise, had not all the senses of the cottagers been +benumbed by want and squalid poverty. As it was, I lived ungazed at and +unmolested, hardly thanked for the pittance of food and clothes which I +gave; so much does suffering blunt even the coarsest sensations of men. + +In this retreat I devoted the morning to labour; but in the evening, +when the weather permitted, I walked on the stony beach of the sea, to +listen to the waves as they roared and dashed at my feet. It was a +monotonous yet ever-changing scene. I thought of Switzerland; it was +far different from this desolate and appalling landscape. Its hills are +covered with vines, and its cottages are scattered thickly in the +plains. Its fair lakes reflect a blue and gentle sky; and, when troubled +by the winds, their tumult is but as the play of a lively infant, when +compared to the roarings of the giant ocean. + +In this manner I distributed my occupations when I first arrived; but, +as I proceeded in my labour, it became every day more horrible and +irksome to me. Sometimes I could not prevail on myself to enter my +laboratory for several days; and at other times I toiled day and night +in order to complete my work. It was, indeed, a filthy process in which +I was engaged. During my first experiment, a kind of enthusiastic frenzy +had blinded me to the horror of my employment; my mind was intently +fixed on the consummation of my labour, and my eyes were shut to the +horror of my proceedings. But now I went to it in cold blood, and my +heart often sickened at the work of my hands. + +Thus situated, employed in the most detestable occupation, immersed in a +solitude where nothing could for an instant call my attention from the +actual scene in which I was engaged, my spirits became unequal; I grew +restless and nervous. Every moment I feared to meet my persecutor. +Sometimes I sat with my eyes fixed on the ground, fearing to raise them, +lest they should encounter the object which I so much dreaded to behold. +I feared to wander from the sight of my fellow-creatures, lest when +alone he should come to claim his companion. + +In the mean time I worked on, and my labour was already considerably +advanced. I looked towards its completion with a tremulous and eager +hope, which I dared not trust myself to question, but which was +intermixed with obscure forebodings of evil, that made my heart sicken +in my bosom. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +I sat one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was +just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, +and I remained idle, in a pause of consideration of whether I should +leave my labour for the night, or hasten its conclusion by an +unremitting attention to it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to +me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing. Three +years before I was engaged in the same manner, and had created a fiend +whose unparalleled barbarity had desolated my heart, and filled it for +ever with the bitterest remorse. I was now about to form another being, +of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant; she might become ten +thousand times more malignant than her mate, and delight, for its own +sake, in murder and wretchedness. He had sworn to quit the neighbourhood +of man, and hide himself in deserts; but she had not; and she, who in +all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, might +refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation. They might +even hate each other; the creature who already lived loathed his own +deformity, and might he not conceive a greater abhorrence for it when it +came before his eyes in the female form? She also might turn with +disgust from him to the superior beauty of man; she might quit him, and +he be again alone, exasperated by the fresh provocation of being +deserted by one of his own species. + +Even if they were to leave Europe, and inhabit the deserts of the new +world, yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the +dæmon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be +propagated upon the earth, who might make the very existence of the +species of man a condition precarious and full of terror. Had I right, +for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations? +I had before been moved by the sophisms of the being I had created; I +had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats: but now, for the +first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I shuddered to +think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness +had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the +existence of the whole human race. + +I trembled, and my heart failed within me; when, on looking up, I saw, +by the light of the moon, the dæmon at the casement. A ghastly grin +wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me, where I sat fulfilling the task +which he had allotted to me. Yes, he had followed me in my travels; he +had loitered in forests, hid himself in caves, or taken refuge in wide +and desert heaths; and he now came to mark my progress, and claim the +fulfilment of my promise. + +As I looked on him, his countenance expressed the utmost extent of +malice and treachery. I thought with a sensation of madness on my +promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, +tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The wretch saw me +destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for +happiness, and, with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew. + +I left the room, and, locking the door, made a solemn vow in my own +heart never to resume my labours; and then, with trembling steps, I +sought my own apartment. I was alone; none were near me to dissipate the +gloom, and relieve me from the sickening oppression of the most terrible +reveries. + +Several hours passed, and I remained near my window gazing on the sea; +it was almost motionless, for the winds were hushed, and all nature +reposed under the eye of the quiet moon. A few fishing vessels alone +specked the water, and now and then the gentle breeze wafted the sound +of voices, as the fishermen called to one another. I felt the silence, +although I was hardly conscious of its extreme profundity, until my ear +was suddenly arrested by the paddling of oars near the shore, and a +person landed close to my house. + +In a few minutes after, I heard the creaking of my door, as if some one +endeavoured to open it softly. I trembled from head to foot; I felt a +presentiment of who it was, and wished to rouse one of the peasants who +dwelt in a cottage not far from mine; but I was overcome by the +sensation of helplessness, so often felt in frightful dreams, when you +in vain endeavour to fly from an impending danger, and was rooted to the +spot. + +Presently I heard the sound of footsteps along the passage; the door +opened, and the wretch whom I dreaded appeared. Shutting the door, he +approached me, and said, in a smothered voice-- + +"You have destroyed the work which you began; what is it that you +intend? Do you dare to break your promise? I have endured toil and +misery: I left Switzerland with you; I crept along the shores of the +Rhine, among its willow islands, and over the summits of its hills. I +have dwelt many months in the heaths of England, and among the deserts +of Scotland. I have endured incalculable fatigue, and cold, and hunger; +do you dare destroy my hopes?" + +"Begone! I do break my promise; never will I create another like +yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness." + +"Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself +unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power; you believe +yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day +will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your +master;--obey!" + +"The hour of my irresolution is past, and the period of your power is +arrived. Your threats cannot move me to do an act of wickedness; but +they confirm me in a determination of not creating you a companion in +vice. Shall I, in cool blood, set loose upon the earth a dæmon, whose +delight is in death and wretchedness? Begone! I am firm, and your words +will only exasperate my rage." + +The monster saw my determination in my face, and gnashed his teeth in +the impotence of anger. "Shall each man," cried he, "find a wife for his +bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of +affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn. Man! you may +hate; but beware! your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the +bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness for ever. Are +you to be happy, while I grovel in the intensity of my wretchedness? +You can blast my other passions; but revenge remains--revenge, +henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die; but first you, my +tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. +Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. I will watch with the +wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall +repent of the injuries you inflict." + +"Devil, cease; and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice. I +have declared my resolution to you, and I am no coward to bend beneath +words. Leave me; I am inexorable." + +"It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your +wedding-night." + +I started forward, and exclaimed, "Villain! before you sign my +death-warrant, be sure that you are yourself safe." + +I would have seized him; but he eluded me, and quitted the house with +precipitation. In a few moments I saw him in his boat, which shot across +the waters with an arrowy swiftness, and was soon lost amidst the waves. + +All was again silent; but his words rung in my ears. I burned with rage +to pursue the murderer of my peace, and precipitate him into the ocean. +I walked up and down my room hastily and perturbed, while my imagination +conjured up a thousand images to torment and sting me. Why had I not +followed him, and closed with him in mortal strife? But I had suffered +him to depart, and he had directed his course towards the main land. I +shuddered to think who might be the next victim sacrificed to his +insatiate revenge. And then I thought again of his words--"_I will be +with you on your wedding-night._" That then was the period fixed for the +fulfilment of my destiny. In that hour I should die, and at once satisfy +and extinguish his malice. The prospect did not move me to fear; yet +when I thought of my beloved Elizabeth,--of her tears and endless +sorrow, when she should find her lover so barbarously snatched from +her,--tears, the first I had shed for many months, streamed from my +eyes, and I resolved not to fall before my enemy without a bitter +struggle. + +The night passed away, and the sun rose from the ocean; my feelings +became calmer, if it may be called calmness when the violence of rage +sinks into the depths of despair. I left the house, the horrid scene of +the last night's contention, and walked on the beach of the sea, which I +almost regarded as an insuperable barrier between me and my +fellow-creatures; nay, a wish that such should prove the fact stole +across me. I desired that I might pass my life on that barren rock, +wearily, it is true, but uninterrupted by any sudden shock of misery. If +I returned, it was to be sacrificed, or to see those whom I most loved +die under the grasp of a dæmon whom I had myself created. + +I walked about the isle like a restless spectre, separated from all it +loved, and miserable in the separation. When it became noon, and the sun +rose higher, I lay down on the grass, and was overpowered by a deep +sleep. I had been awake the whole of the preceding night, my nerves were +agitated, and my eyes inflamed by watching and misery. The sleep into +which I now sunk refreshed me; and when I awoke, I again felt as if I +belonged to a race of human beings like myself, and I began to reflect +upon what had passed with greater composure; yet still the words of the +fiend rung in my ears like a death-knell, they appeared like a dream, +yet distinct and oppressive as a reality. + +The sun had far descended, and I still sat on the shore, satisfying my +appetite, which had become ravenous, with an oaten cake, when I saw a +fishing-boat land close to me, and one of the men brought me a packet; +it contained letters from Geneva, and one from Clerval, entreating me to +join him. He said that he was wearing away his time fruitlessly where he +was; that letters from the friends he had formed in London desired his +return to complete the negotiation they had entered into for his Indian +enterprise. He could not any longer delay his departure; but as his +journey to London might be followed, even sooner than he now +conjectured, by his longer voyage, he entreated me to bestow as much of +my society on him as I could spare. He besought me, therefore, to leave +my solitary isle, and to meet him at Perth, that we might proceed +southwards together. This letter in a degree recalled me to life, and I +determined to quit my island at the expiration of two days. + +Yet, before I departed, there was a task to perform, on which I +shuddered to reflect: I must pack up my chemical instruments; and for +that purpose I must enter the room which had been the scene of my odious +work, and I must handle those utensils, the sight of which was sickening +to me. The next morning, at daybreak, I summoned sufficient courage, and +unlocked the door of my laboratory. The remains of the half-finished +creature, whom I had destroyed, lay scattered on the floor, and I almost +felt as if I had mangled the living flesh of a human being. I paused to +collect myself, and then entered the chamber. With trembling hand I +conveyed the instruments out of the room; but I reflected that I ought +not to leave the relics of my work to excite the horror and suspicion of +the peasants; and I accordingly put them into a basket, with a great +quantity of stones, and, laying them up, determined to throw them into +the sea that very night; and in the mean time I sat upon the beach, +employed in cleaning and arranging my chemical apparatus. + +Nothing could be more complete than the alteration that had taken place +in my feelings since the night of the appearance of the dæmon. I had +before regarded my promise with a gloomy despair, as a thing that, with +whatever consequences, must be fulfilled; but I now felt as if a film +had been taken from before my eyes, and that I, for the first time, saw +clearly. The idea of renewing my labours did not for one instant occur +to me; the threat I had heard weighed on my thoughts, but I did not +reflect that a voluntary act of mine could avert it. I had resolved in +my own mind, that to create another like the fiend I had first made +would be an act of the basest and most atrocious selfishness; and I +banished from my mind every thought that could lead to a different +conclusion. + +Between two and three in the morning the moon rose; and I then, putting +my basket aboard a little skiff, sailed out about four miles from the +shore. The scene was perfectly solitary: a few boats were returning +towards land, but I sailed away from them. I felt as if I was about the +commission of a dreadful crime, and avoided with shuddering anxiety any +encounter with my fellow-creatures. At one time the moon, which had +before been clear, was suddenly overspread by a thick cloud, and I took +advantage of the moment of darkness, and cast my basket into the sea: I +listened to the gurgling sound as it sunk, and then sailed away from the +spot. The sky became clouded; but the air was pure, although chilled by +the north-east breeze that was then rising. But it refreshed me, and +filled me with such agreeable sensations, that I resolved to prolong my +stay on the water; and, fixing the rudder in a direct position, +stretched myself at the bottom of the boat. Clouds hid the moon, every +thing was obscure, and I heard only the sound of the boat, as its keel +cut through the waves; the murmur lulled me, and in a short time I slept +soundly. + +I do not know how long I remained in this situation, but when I awoke I +found that the sun had already mounted considerably. The wind was high, +and the waves continually threatened the safety of my little skiff. I +found that the wind was north-east, and must have driven me far from the +coast from which I had embarked. I endeavoured to change my course, but +quickly found that, if I again made the attempt, the boat would be +instantly filled with water. Thus situated, my only resource was to +drive before the wind. I confess that I felt a few sensations of terror. +I had no compass with me, and was so slenderly acquainted with the +geography of this part of the world, that the sun was of little benefit +to me. I might be driven into the wide Atlantic, and feel all the +tortures of starvation, or be swallowed up in the immeasurable waters +that roared and buffeted around me. I had already been out many hours, +and felt the torment of a burning thirst, a prelude to my other +sufferings. I looked on the heavens, which were covered by clouds that +flew before the wind, only to be replaced by others: I looked upon the +sea, it was to be my grave. "Fiend," I exclaimed, "your task is already +fulfilled!" I thought of Elizabeth, of my father, and of Clerval; all +left behind, on whom the monster might satisfy his sanguinary and +merciless passions. This idea plunged me into a reverie, so despairing +and frightful, that even now, when the scene is on the point of closing +before me for ever, I shudder to reflect on it. + +Some hours passed thus; but by degrees, as the sun declined towards the +horizon, the wind died away into a gentle breeze, and the sea became +free from breakers. But these gave place to a heavy swell: I felt sick, +and hardly able to hold the rudder, when suddenly I saw a line of high +land towards the south. + +Almost spent, as I was, by fatigue, and the dreadful suspense I endured +for several hours, this sudden certainty of life rushed like a flood of +warm joy to my heart, and tears gushed from my eyes. + +How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we +have of life even in the excess of misery! I constructed another sail +with a part of my dress, and eagerly steered my course towards the land. +It had a wild and rocky appearance; but, as I approached nearer, I +easily perceived the traces of cultivation. I saw vessels near the +shore, and found myself suddenly transported back to the neighbourhood +of civilised man. I carefully traced the windings of the land, and +hailed a steeple which I at length saw issuing from behind a small +promontory. As I was in a state of extreme debility, I resolved to sail +directly towards the town, as a place where I could most easily procure +nourishment. Fortunately I had money with me. As I turned the +promontory, I perceived a small neat town and a good harbour, which I +entered, my heart bounding with joy at my unexpected escape. + +As I was occupied in fixing the boat and arranging the sails, several +people crowded towards the spot. They seemed much surprised at my +appearance; but, instead of offering me any assistance, whispered +together with gestures that at any other time might have produced in me +a slight sensation of alarm. As it was, I merely remarked that they +spoke English; and I therefore addressed them in that language: "My good +friends," said I, "will you be so kind as to tell me the name of this +town, and inform me where I am?" + +"You will know that soon enough," replied a man with a hoarse voice. +"May be you are come to a place that will not prove much to your taste; +but you will not be consulted as to your quarters, I promise you." + +I was exceedingly surprised on receiving so rude an answer from a +stranger; and I was also disconcerted on perceiving the frowning and +angry countenances of his companions. "Why do you answer me so roughly?" +I replied; "surely it is not the custom of Englishmen to receive +strangers so inhospitably." + +"I do not know," said the man, "what the custom of the English may be; +but is the custom of the Irish to hate villains." + +While this strange dialogue continued, I perceived the crowd rapidly +increase. Their faces expressed a mixture of curiosity and anger, which +annoyed, and in some degree alarmed me. I enquired the way to the inn; +but no one replied. I then moved forward, and a murmuring sound arose +from the crowd as they followed and surrounded me; when an ill-looking +man approaching, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, "Come, Sir, you +must follow me to Mr. Kirwin's, to give an account of yourself." + +"Who is Mr. Kirwin? Why am I to give an account of myself? Is not this a +free country?" + +"Ay, sir, free enough for honest folks. Mr. Kirwin is a magistrate; and +you are to give an account of the death of a gentleman who was found +murdered here last night." + +This answer startled me; but I presently recovered myself. I was +innocent; that could easily be proved: accordingly I followed my +conductor in silence, and was led to one of the best houses in the town. +I was ready to sink from fatigue and hunger; but, being surrounded by a +crowd, I thought it politic to rouse all my strength, that no physical +debility might be construed into apprehension or conscious guilt. Little +did I then expect the calamity that was in a few moments to overwhelm +me, and extinguish in horror and despair all fear of ignominy or death. + +I must pause here; for it requires all my fortitude to recall the memory +of the frightful events which I am about to relate, in proper detail, to +my recollection. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +I was soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old +benevolent man, with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, however, +with some degree of severity: and then, turning towards my conductors, +he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion. + +About half a dozen men came forward; and, one being selected by the +magistrate, he deposed, that he had been out fishing the night before +with his son and brother-in-law, Daniel Nugent, when, about ten o'clock, +they observed a strong northerly blast rising, and they accordingly put +in for port. It was a very dark night, as the moon had not yet risen; +they did not land at the harbour, but, as they had been accustomed, at a +creek about two miles below. He walked on first, carrying a part of the +fishing tackle, and his companions followed him at some distance. As he +was proceeding along the sands, he struck his foot against something, +and fell at his length on the ground. His companions came up to assist +him; and, by the light of their lantern, they found that he had fallen +on the body of a man, who was to all appearance dead. Their first +supposition was, that it was the corpse of some person who had been +drowned, and was thrown on shore by the waves; but, on examination, they +found that the clothes were not wet, and even that the body was not then +cold. They instantly carried it to the cottage of an old woman near the +spot, and endeavoured, but in vain, to restore it to life. It appeared +to be a handsome young man, about five and twenty years of age. He had +apparently been strangled; for there was no sign of any violence, except +the black mark of fingers on his neck. + +The first part of this deposition did not in the least interest me; but +when the mark of the fingers was mentioned, I remembered the murder of +my brother, and felt myself extremely agitated; my limbs trembled, and a +mist came over my eyes, which obliged me to lean on a chair for +support. The magistrate observed me with a keen eye, and of course drew +an unfavourable augury from my manner. + +The son confirmed his father's account: but when Daniel Nugent was +called, he swore positively that, just before the fall of his companion, +he saw a boat, with a single man in it, at a short distance from the +shore; and, as far as he could judge by the light of a few stars, it was +the same boat in which I had just landed. + +A woman deposed, that she lived near the beach, and was standing at the +door of her cottage, waiting for the return of the fishermen, about an +hour before she heard of the discovery of the body, when she saw a boat, +with only one man in it, push off from that part of the shore where the +corpse was afterwards found. + +Another woman confirmed the account of the fishermen having brought the +body into her house; it was not cold. They put it into a bed, and rubbed +it; and Daniel went to the town for an apothecary, but life was quite +gone. + +Several other men were examined concerning my landing; and they agreed, +that, with the strong north wind that had arisen during the night, it +was very probable that I had beaten about for many hours, and had been +obliged to return nearly to the same spot from which I had departed. +Besides, they observed that it appeared that I had brought the body from +another place, and it was likely, that as I did not appear to know the +shore, I might have put into the harbour ignorant of the distance of the +town of * * * from the place where I had deposited the corpse. + +Mr. Kirwin, on hearing this evidence, desired that I should be taken +into the room where the body lay for interment, that it might be +observed what effect the sight of it would produce upon me. This idea +was probably suggested by the extreme agitation I had exhibited when the +mode of the murder had been described. I was accordingly conducted, by +the magistrate and several other persons, to the inn. I could not help +being struck by the strange coincidences that had taken place during +this eventful night; but, knowing that I had been conversing with +several persons in the island I had inhabited about the time that the +body had been found, I was perfectly tranquil as to the consequences of +the affair. + +I entered the room where the corpse lay, and was led up to the coffin. +How can I describe my sensations on beholding it? I feel yet parched +with horror, nor can I reflect on that terrible moment without +shuddering and agony. The examination, the presence of the magistrate +and witnesses, passed like a dream from my memory, when I saw the +lifeless form of Henry Clerval stretched before me. I gasped for breath; +and, throwing myself on the body, I exclaimed, "Have my murderous +machinations deprived you also, my dearest Henry, of life? Two I have +already destroyed; other victims await their destiny: but you, Clerval, +my friend, my benefactor----" + +The human frame could no longer support the agonies that I endured, and +I was carried out of the room in strong convulsions. + +A fever succeeded to this. I lay for two months on the point of death: +my ravings, as I afterwards heard, were frightful; I called myself the +murderer of William, of Justine, and of Clerval. Sometimes I entreated +my attendants to assist me in the destruction of the fiend by whom I was +tormented; and at others, I felt the fingers of the monster already +grasping my neck, and screamed aloud with agony and terror. Fortunately, +as I spoke my native language, Mr. Kirwin alone understood me; but my +gestures and bitter cries were sufficient to affright the other +witnesses. + +Why did I not die? More miserable than man ever was before, why did I +not sink into forgetfulness and rest? Death snatches away many blooming +children, the only hopes of their doating parents: how many brides and +youthful lovers have been one day in the bloom of health and hope, and +the next a prey for worms and the decay of the tomb! Of what materials +was I made, that I could thus resist so many shocks, which, like the +turning of the wheel, continually renewed the torture? + +But I was doomed to live; and, in two months, found myself as awaking +from a dream, in a prison, stretched on a wretched bed, surrounded by +gaolers, turnkeys, bolts, and all the miserable apparatus of a dungeon. +It was morning, I remember, when I thus awoke to understanding: I had +forgotten the particulars of what had happened, and only felt as if some +great misfortune had suddenly overwhelmed me; but when I looked around, +and saw the barred windows, and the squalidness of the room in which I +was, all flashed across my memory, and I groaned bitterly. + +This sound disturbed an old woman who was sleeping in a chair beside me. +She was a hired nurse, the wife of one of the turnkeys, and her +countenance expressed all those bad qualities which often characterise +that class. The lines of her face were hard and rude, like that of +persons accustomed to see without sympathising in sights of misery. Her +tone expressed her entire indifference; she addressed me in English, and +the voice struck me as one that I had heard during my sufferings:-- + +"Are you better now, sir?" said she. + +I replied in the same language, with a feeble voice, "I believe I am; +but if it be all true, if indeed I did not dream, I am sorry that I am +still alive to feel this misery and horror." + +"For that matter," replied the old woman, "if you mean about the +gentleman you murdered, I believe that it were better for you if you +were dead, for I fancy it will go hard with you! However, that's none of +my business; I am sent to nurse you, and get you well; I do my duty with +a safe conscience; it were well if every body did the same." + +I turned with loathing from the woman who could utter so unfeeling a +speech to a person just saved, on the very edge of death; but I felt +languid, and unable to reflect on all that had passed. The whole series +of my life appeared to me as a dream; I sometimes doubted if indeed it +were all true, for it never presented itself to my mind with the force +of reality. + +As the images that floated before me became more distinct, I grew +feverish; a darkness pressed around me: no one was near me who soothed +me with the gentle voice of love; no dear hand supported me. The +physician came and prescribed medicines, and the old woman prepared them +for me; but utter carelessness was visible in the first, and the +expression of brutality was strongly marked in the visage of the second. +Who could be interested in the fate of a murderer, but the hangman who +would gain his fee? + +These were my first reflections; but I soon learned that Mr. Kirwin had +shown me extreme kindness. He had caused the best room in the prison to +be prepared for me (wretched indeed was the best); and it was he who had +provided a physician and a nurse. It is true, he seldom came to see me; +for, although he ardently desired to relieve the sufferings of every +human creature, he did not wish to be present at the agonies and +miserable ravings of a murderer. He came, therefore, sometimes, to see +that I was not neglected; but his visits were short, and with long +intervals. + +One day, while I was gradually recovering, I was seated in a chair, my +eyes half open, and my cheeks livid like those in death. I was overcome +by gloom and misery, and often reflected I had better seek death than +desire to remain in a world which to me was replete with wretchedness. +At one time I considered whether I should not declare myself guilty, and +suffer the penalty of the law, less innocent than poor Justine had been. +Such were my thoughts, when the door of my apartment was opened, and Mr. +Kirwin entered. His countenance expressed sympathy and compassion; he +drew a chair close to mine, and addressed me in French-- + +"I fear that this place is very shocking to you; can I do any thing to +make you more comfortable?" + +"I thank you; but all that you mention is nothing to me: on the whole +earth there is no comfort which I am capable of receiving." + +"I know that the sympathy of a stranger can be but of little relief to +one borne down as you are by so strange a misfortune. But you will, I +hope, soon quit this melancholy abode; for, doubtless, evidence can +easily be brought to free you from the criminal charge." + +"That is my least concern: I am, by a course of strange events, become +the most miserable of mortals. Persecuted and tortured as I am and have +been, can death be any evil to me?" + +"Nothing indeed could be more unfortunate and agonising than the strange +chances that have lately occurred. You were thrown, by some surprising +accident, on this shore, renowned for its hospitality; seized +immediately, and charged with murder. The first sight that was presented +to your eyes was the body of your friend, murdered in so unaccountable a +manner, and placed, as it were, by some fiend across your path." + +As Mr. Kirwin said this, notwithstanding the agitation I endured on this +retrospect of my sufferings, I also felt considerable surprise at the +knowledge he seemed to possess concerning me. I suppose some +astonishment was exhibited in my countenance; for Mr. Kirwin hastened to +say-- + +"Immediately upon your being taken ill, all the papers that were on your +person were brought me, and I examined them that I might discover some +trace by which I could send to your relations an account of your +misfortune and illness. I found several letters, and, among others, one +which I discovered from its commencement to be from your father. I +instantly wrote to Geneva: nearly two months have elapsed since the +departure of my letter.--But you are ill; even now you tremble: you are +unfit for agitation of any kind." + +"This suspense is a thousand times worse than the most horrible event: +tell me what new scene of death has been acted, and whose murder I am +now to lament?" + +"Your family is perfectly well," said Mr. Kirwin, with gentleness; "and +some one, a friend, is come to visit you." + +I know not by what chain of thought, the idea presented itself, but it +instantly darted into my mind that the murderer had come to mock at my +misery, and taunt me with the death of Clerval, as a new incitement for +me to comply with his hellish desires. I put my hand before my eyes, and +cried out in agony-- + +"Oh! take him away! I cannot see him; for God's sake, do not let him +enter!" + +Mr. Kirwin regarded me with a troubled countenance. He could not help +regarding my exclamation as a presumption of my guilt, and said, in +rather a severe tone-- + +"I should have thought, young man, that the presence of your father +would have been welcome, instead of inspiring such violent repugnance." + +"My father!" cried I, while every feature and every muscle was relaxed +from anguish to pleasure: "is my father indeed come? How kind, how very +kind! But where is he, why does he not hasten to me?" + +My change of manner surprised and pleased the magistrate; perhaps he +thought that my former exclamation was a momentary return of delirium, +and now he instantly resumed his former benevolence. He rose, and +quitted the room with my nurse, and in a moment my father entered it. + +Nothing, at this moment, could have given me greater pleasure than the +arrival of my father. I stretched out my hand to him, and cried-- + +"Are you then safe--and Elizabeth--and Ernest?" + +My father calmed me with assurances of their welfare, and endeavoured, +by dwelling on these subjects so interesting to my heart, to raise my +desponding spirits; but he soon felt that a prison cannot be the abode +of cheerfulness. "What a place is this that you inhabit, my son!" said +he, looking mournfully at the barred windows, and wretched appearance of +the room. "You travelled to seek happiness, but a fatality seems to +pursue you. And poor Clerval--" + +The name of my unfortunate and murdered friend was an agitation too +great to be endured in my weak state; I shed tears. + +"Alas! yes, my father," replied I; "some destiny of the most horrible +kind hangs over me, and I must live to fulfil it, or surely I should +have died on the coffin of Henry." + +We were not allowed to converse for any length of time, for the +precarious state of my health rendered every precaution necessary that +could ensure tranquillity. Mr. Kirwin came in, and insisted that my +strength should not be exhausted by too much exertion. But the +appearance of my father was to me like that of my good angel, and I +gradually recovered my health. + +As my sickness quitted me, I was absorbed by a gloomy and black +melancholy, that nothing could dissipate. The image of Clerval was for +ever before me, ghastly and murdered. More than once the agitation into +which these reflections threw me made my friends dread a dangerous +relapse. Alas! why did they preserve so miserable and detested a life? +It was surely that I might fulfil my destiny, which is now drawing to a +close. Soon, oh! very soon, will death extinguish these throbbings, and +relieve me from the mighty weight of anguish that bears me to the dust; +and, in executing the award of justice, I shall also sink to rest. Then +the appearance of death was distant, although the wish was ever present +to my thoughts; and I often sat for hours motionless and speechless, +wishing for some mighty revolution that might bury me and my destroyer +in its ruins. + +The season of the assizes approached. I had already been three months in +prison; and although I was still weak, and in continual danger of a +relapse, I was obliged to travel nearly a hundred miles to the +county-town, where the court was held. Mr. Kirwin charged himself with +every care of collecting witnesses, and arranging my defence. I was +spared the disgrace of appearing publicly as a criminal, as the case was +not brought before the court that decides on life and death. The grand +jury rejected the bill, on its being proved that I was on the Orkney +Islands at the hour the body of my friend was found; and a fortnight +after my removal I was liberated from prison. + +My father was enraptured on finding me freed from the vexations of a +criminal charge, that I was again allowed to breathe the fresh +atmosphere, and permitted to return to my native country. I did not +participate in these feelings; for to me the walls of a dungeon or a +palace were alike hateful. The cup of life was poisoned for ever; and +although the sun shone upon me, as upon the happy and gay of heart, I +saw around me nothing but a dense and frightful darkness, penetrated by +no light but the glimmer of two eyes that glared upon me. Sometimes they +were the expressive eyes of Henry, languishing in death, the dark orbs +nearly covered by the lids, and the long black lashes that fringed them; +sometimes it was the watery, clouded eyes of the monster, as I first saw +them in my chamber at Ingolstadt. + +My father tried to awaken in me the feelings of affection. He talked of +Geneva, which I should soon visit--of Elizabeth and Ernest; but these +words only drew deep groans from me. Sometimes, indeed, I felt a wish +for happiness; and thought, with melancholy delight, of my beloved +cousin; or longed, with a devouring _maladie du pays_, to see once more +the blue lake and rapid Rhone, that had been so dear to me in early +childhood: but my general state of feeling was a torpor, in which a +prison was as welcome a residence as the divinest scene in nature; and +these fits were seldom interrupted but by paroxysms of anguish and +despair. At these moments I often endeavoured to put an end to the +existence I loathed; and it required unceasing attendance and vigilance +to restrain me from committing some dreadful act of violence. + +Yet one duty remained to me, the recollection of which finally triumphed +over my selfish despair. It was necessary that I should return without +delay to Geneva, there to watch over the lives of those I so fondly +loved; and to lie in wait for the murderer, that if any chance led me to +the place of his concealment, or if he dared again to blast me by his +presence, I might, with unfailing aim, put an end to the existence of +the monstrous Image which I had endued with the mockery of a soul still +more monstrous. My father still desired to delay our departure, fearful +that I could not sustain the fatigues of a journey: for I was a +shattered wreck,--the shadow of a human being. My strength was gone. I +was a mere skeleton; and fever night and day preyed upon my wasted +frame. + +Still, as I urged our leaving Ireland with such inquietude and +impatience, my father thought it best to yield. We took our passage on +board a vessel bound for Havre-de-Grace, and sailed with a fair wind +from the Irish shores. It was midnight. I lay on the deck, looking at +the stars, and listening to the dashing of the waves. I hailed the +darkness that shut Ireland from my sight; and my pulse beat with a +feverish joy when I reflected that I should soon see Geneva. The past +appeared to me in the light of a frightful dream; yet the vessel in +which I was, the wind that blew me from the detested shore of Ireland, +and the sea which surrounded me, told me too forcibly that I was +deceived by no vision, and that Clerval, my friend and dearest +companion, had fallen a victim to me and the monster of my creation. I +repassed, in my memory, my whole life; my quiet happiness while residing +with my family in Geneva, the death of my mother, and my departure for +Ingolstadt. I remembered, shuddering, the mad enthusiasm that hurried me +on to the creation of my hideous enemy, and I called to mind the night +in which he first lived. I was unable to pursue the train of thought; a +thousand feelings pressed upon me, and I wept bitterly. + +Ever since my recovery from the fever, I had been in the custom of +taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of +this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the +preservation of life. Oppressed by the recollection of my various +misfortunes, I now swallowed double my usual quantity, and soon slept +profoundly. But sleep did not afford me respite from thought and misery; +my dreams presented a thousand objects that scared me. Towards morning I +was possessed by a kind of night-mare; I felt the fiend's grasp in my +neck, and could not free myself from it; groans and cries rung in my +ears. My father, who was watching over me, perceiving my restlessness, +awoke me; the dashing waves were around: the cloudy sky above; the fiend +was not here: a sense of security, a feeling that a truce was +established between the present hour and the irresistible, disastrous +future, imparted to me a kind of calm forgetfulness, of which the human +mind is by its structure peculiarly susceptible. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +The voyage came to an end. We landed, and proceeded to Paris. I soon +found that I had overtaxed my strength, and that I must repose before I +could continue my journey. My father's care and attentions were +indefatigable; but he did not know the origin of my sufferings, and +sought erroneous methods to remedy the incurable ill. He wished me to +seek amusement in society. I abhorred the face of man. Oh, not abhorred! +they were my brethren, my fellow beings, and I felt attracted even to +the most repulsive among them, as to creatures of an angelic nature and +celestial mechanism. But I felt that I had no right to share their +intercourse. I had unchained an enemy among them, whose joy it was to +shed their blood, and to revel in their groans. How they would, each and +all, abhor me, and hunt me from the world, did they know my unhallowed +acts, and the crimes which had their source in me! + +My father yielded at length to my desire to avoid society, and strove by +various arguments to banish my despair. Sometimes he thought that I felt +deeply the degradation of being obliged to answer a charge of murder, +and he endeavoured to prove to me the futility of pride. + +"Alas! my father," said I, "how little do you know me. Human beings, +their feelings and passions, would indeed be degraded if such a wretch +as I felt pride. Justine, poor unhappy Justine, was as innocent as I, +and she suffered the same charge; she died for it; and I am the cause of +this--I murdered her. William, Justine, and Henry--they all died by my +hands." + +My father had often, during my imprisonment, heard me make the same +assertion; when I thus accused myself, he sometimes seemed to desire an +explanation, and at others he appeared to consider it as the offspring +of delirium, and that, during my illness, some idea of this kind had +presented itself to my imagination, the remembrance of which I preserved +in my convalescence. I avoided explanation, and maintained a continual +silence concerning the wretch I had created. I had a persuasion that I +should be supposed mad; and this in itself would for ever have chained +my tongue. But, besides, I could not bring myself to disclose a secret +which would fill my hearer with consternation, and make fear and +unnatural horror the inmates of his breast. I checked, therefore, my +impatient thirst for sympathy, and was silent when I would have given +the world to have confided the fatal secret. Yet still words like those +I have recorded, would burst uncontrollably from me. I could offer no +explanation of them; but their truth in part relieved the burden of my +mysterious woe. + +Upon this occasion my father said, with an expression of unbounded +wonder, "My dearest Victor, what infatuation is this? My dear son, I +entreat you never to make such an assertion again." + +"I am not mad," I cried energetically; "the sun and the heavens, who +have viewed my operations, can bear witness of my truth. I am the +assassin of those most innocent victims; they died by my machinations. A +thousand times would I have shed my own blood, drop by drop, to have +saved their lives; but I could not, my father, indeed I could not +sacrifice the whole human race." + +The conclusion of this speech convinced my father that my ideas were +deranged, and he instantly changed the subject of our conversation, and +endeavoured to alter the course of my thoughts. He wished as much as +possible to obliterate the memory of the scenes that had taken place in +Ireland, and never alluded to them, or suffered me to speak of my +misfortunes. + +As time passed away I became more calm: misery had her dwelling in my +heart, but I no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own +crimes; sufficient for me was the consciousness of them. By the utmost +self-violence, I curbed the imperious voice of wretchedness, which +sometimes desired to declare itself to the whole world; and my manners +were calmer and more composed than they had ever been since my journey +to the sea of ice. + +A few days before we left Paris on our way to Switzerland, I received +the following letter from Elizabeth:-- + +"My dear Friend, + +"It gave me the greatest pleasure to receive a letter from my uncle +dated at Paris; you are no longer at a formidable distance, and I may +hope to see you in less than a fortnight. My poor cousin, how much you +must have suffered! I expect to see you looking even more ill than when +you quitted Geneva. This winter has been passed most miserably, tortured +as I have been by anxious suspense; yet I hope to see peace in your +countenance, and to find that your heart is not totally void of comfort +and tranquillity. + +"Yet I fear that the same feelings now exist that made you so miserable +a year ago, even perhaps augmented by time. I would not disturb you at +this period, when so many misfortunes weigh upon you; but a conversation +that I had with my uncle previous to his departure renders some +explanation necessary before we meet. + +"Explanation! you may possibly say; what can Elizabeth have to explain? +If you really say this, my questions are answered, and all my doubts +satisfied. But you are distant from me, and it is possible that you may +dread, and yet be pleased with this explanation; and, in a probability +of this being the case, I dare not any longer postpone writing what, +during your absence, I have often wished to express to you, but have +never had the courage to begin. + +"You well know, Victor, that our union had been the favourite plan of +your parents ever since our infancy. We were told this when young, and +taught to look forward to it as an event that would certainly take +place. We were affectionate playfellows during childhood, and, I +believe, dear and valued friends to one another as we grew older. But as +brother and sister often entertain a lively affection towards each +other, without desiring a more intimate union, may not such also be our +case? Tell me, dearest Victor. Answer me, I conjure you, by our mutual +happiness, with simple truth--Do you not love another? + +"You have travelled; you have spent several years of your life at +Ingolstadt; and I confess to you, my friend, that when I saw you last +autumn so unhappy, flying to solitude, from the society of every +creature, I could not help supposing that you might regret our +connection, and believe yourself bound in honour to fulfil the wishes of +your parents, although they opposed themselves to your inclinations. But +this is false reasoning. I confess to you, my friend, that I love you, +and that in my airy dreams of futurity you have been my constant friend +and companion. But it is your happiness I desire as well as my own, when +I declare to you, that our marriage would render me eternally miserable, +unless it were the dictate of your own free choice. Even now I weep to +think, that, borne down as you are by the cruellest misfortunes, you may +stifle, by the word _honour_, all hope of that love and happiness which +would alone restore you to yourself. I, who have so disinterested an +affection for you, may increase your miseries tenfold, by being an +obstacle to your wishes. Ah! Victor, be assured that your cousin and +playmate has too sincere a love for you not to be made miserable by this +supposition. Be happy, my friend; and if you obey me in this one +request, remain satisfied that nothing on earth will have the power to +interrupt my tranquillity. + +"Do not let this letter disturb you; do not answer to-morrow, or the +next day, or even until you come, if it will give you pain. My uncle +will send me news of your health; and if I see but one smile on your +lips when we meet, occasioned by this or any other exertion of mine, I +shall need no other happiness. + +"ELIZABETH LAVENZA. + +"Geneva, May 18th, 17--." + + * * * * * + +This letter revived in my memory what I had before forgotten, the threat +of the fiend--"_I will be with you on your wedding night!_" Such was my +sentence, and on that night would the dæmon employ every art to destroy +me, and tear me from the glimpse of happiness which promised partly to +console my sufferings. On that night he had determined to consummate his +crimes by my death. Well, be it so; a deadly struggle would then +assuredly take place, in which if he were victorious I should be at +peace, and his power over me be at an end. If he were vanquished, I +should be a free man. Alas! what freedom? such as the peasant enjoys +when his family have been massacred before his eyes, his cottage burnt, +his lands laid waste, and he is turned adrift, homeless, penniless, and +alone, but free. Such would be my liberty, except that in my Elizabeth I +possessed a treasure; alas! balanced by those horrors of remorse and +guilt, which would pursue me until death. + +Sweet and beloved Elizabeth! I read and re-read her letter, and some +softened feelings stole into my heart, and dared to whisper paradisiacal +dreams of love and joy; but the apple was already eaten, and the angel's +arm bared to drive me from all hope. Yet I would die to make her happy. +If the monster executed his threat, death was inevitable; yet, again, I +considered whether my marriage would hasten my fate. My destruction +might indeed arrive a few months sooner; but if my torturer should +suspect that I postponed it, influenced by his menaces, he would surely +find other, and perhaps more dreadful means of revenge. He had vowed _to +be with me on my wedding-night_, yet he did not consider that threat as +binding him to peace in the mean time; for, as if to show me that he was +not yet satiated with blood, he had murdered Clerval immediately after +the enunciation of his threats. I resolved, therefore, that if my +immediate union with my cousin would conduce either to hers or my +father's happiness, my adversary's designs against my life should not +retard it a single hour. + +In this state of mind I wrote to Elizabeth. My letter was calm and +affectionate. "I fear, my beloved girl," I said, "little happiness +remains for us on earth; yet all that I may one day enjoy is centred in +you. Chase away your idle fears; to you alone do I consecrate my life, +and my endeavours for contentment. I have one secret, Elizabeth, a +dreadful one; when revealed to you, it will chill your frame with +horror, and then, far from being surprised at my misery, you will only +wonder that I survive what I have endured. I will confide this tale of +misery and terror to you the day after our marriage shall take place; +for, my sweet cousin, there must be perfect confidence between us. But +until then, I conjure you, do not mention or allude to it. This I most +earnestly entreat, and I know you will comply." + +In about a week after the arrival of Elizabeth's letter, we returned to +Geneva. The sweet girl welcomed me with warm affection; yet tears were +in her eyes, as she beheld my emaciated frame and feverish cheeks. I saw +a change in her also. She was thinner, and had lost much of that +heavenly vivacity that had before charmed me; but her gentleness, and +soft looks of compassion, made her a more fit companion for one blasted +and miserable as I was. + +The tranquillity which I now enjoyed did not endure. Memory brought +madness with it; and when I thought of what had passed, a real insanity +possessed me; sometimes I was furious, and burnt with rage; sometimes +low and despondent. I neither spoke, nor looked at any one, but sat +motionless, bewildered by the multitude of miseries that overcame me. + +Elizabeth alone had the power to draw me from these fits; her gentle +voice would soothe me when transported by passion, and inspire me with +human feelings when sunk in torpor. She wept with me, and for me. When +reason returned, she would remonstrate, and endeavour to inspire me with +resignation. Ah! it is well for the unfortunate to be resigned, but for +the guilty there is no peace. The agonies of remorse poison the luxury +there is otherwise sometimes found in indulging the excess of grief. + +Soon after my arrival, my father spoke of my immediate marriage with +Elizabeth. I remained silent. + +"Have you, then, some other attachment?" + +"None on earth. I love Elizabeth, and look forward to our union with +delight. Let the day therefore be fixed; and on it I will consecrate +myself, in life or death, to the happiness of my cousin." + +"My dear Victor, do not speak thus. Heavy misfortunes have befallen us; +but let us only cling closer to what remains, and transfer our love for +those whom we have lost, to those who yet live. Our circle will be +small, but bound close by the ties of affection and mutual misfortune. +And when time shall have softened your despair, new and dear objects of +care will be born to replace those of whom we have been so cruelly +deprived." + +Such were the lessons of my father. But to me the remembrance of the +threat returned: nor can you wonder, that, omnipotent as the fiend had +yet been in his deeds of blood, I should almost regard him as +invincible; and that when he had pronounced the words, "I shall be with +you on your wedding-night," I should regard the threatened fate as +unavoidable. But death was no evil to me, if the loss of Elizabeth were +balanced with it; and I therefore, with a contented and even cheerful +countenance, agreed with my father, that if my cousin would consent, the +ceremony should take place in ten days, and thus put, as I imagined, the +seal to my fate. + +Great God! if for one instant I had thought what might be the hellish +intention of my fiendish adversary, I would rather have banished myself +for ever from my native country, and wandered a friendless outcast over +the earth, than have consented to this miserable marriage. But, as if +possessed of magic powers, the monster had blinded me to his real +intentions; and when I thought that I had prepared only my own death, I +hastened that of a far dearer victim. + +As the period fixed for our marriage drew nearer, whether from cowardice +or a prophetic feeling, I felt my heart sink within me. But I concealed +my feelings by an appearance of hilarity, that brought smiles and joy to +the countenance of my father, but hardly deceived the ever-watchful and +nicer eye of Elizabeth. She looked forward to our union with placid +contentment, not unmingled with a little fear, which past misfortunes +had impressed, that what now appeared certain and tangible happiness, +might soon dissipate into an airy dream, and leave no trace but deep and +everlasting regret. + +Preparations were made for the event; congratulatory visits were +received; and all wore a smiling appearance. I shut up, as well as I +could, in my own heart the anxiety that preyed there, and entered with +seeming earnestness into the plans of my father, although they might +only serve as the decorations of my tragedy. Through my father's +exertions, a part of the inheritance of Elizabeth had been restored to +her by the Austrian government. A small possession on the shores of Como +belonged to her. It was agreed that, immediately after our union, we +should proceed to Villa Lavenza, and spend our first days of happiness +beside the beautiful lake near which it stood. + +In the mean time I took every precaution to defend my person, in case +the fiend should openly attack me. I carried pistols and a dagger +constantly about me, and was ever on the watch to prevent artifice; and +by these means gained a greater degree of tranquillity. Indeed, as the +period approached, the threat appeared more as a delusion, not to be +regarded as worthy to disturb my peace, while the happiness I hoped for +in my marriage wore a greater appearance of certainty, as the day fixed +for its solemnisation drew nearer, and I heard it continually spoken of +as an occurrence which no accident could possibly prevent. + +Elizabeth seemed happy; my tranquil demeanour contributed greatly to +calm her mind. But on the day that was to fulfil my wishes and my +destiny, she was melancholy, and a presentiment of evil pervaded her; +and perhaps also she thought of the dreadful secret which I had promised +to reveal to her on the following day. My father was in the mean time +overjoyed, and, in the bustle of preparation, only recognised in the +melancholy of his niece the diffidence of a bride. + +After the ceremony was performed, a large party assembled at my +father's; but it was agreed that Elizabeth and I should commence our +journey by water, sleeping that night at Evian, and continuing our +voyage on the following day. The day was fair, the wind favourable, all +smiled on our nuptial embarkation. + +Those were the last moments of my life during which I enjoyed the +feeling of happiness. We passed rapidly along: the sun was hot, but we +were sheltered from its rays by a kind of canopy, while we enjoyed the +beauty of the scene, sometimes on one side of the lake, where we saw +Mont Salêve, the pleasant banks of Montalègre, and at a distance, +surmounting all, the beautiful Mont Blanc, and the assemblage of snowy +mountains that in vain endeavour to emulate her; sometimes coasting the +opposite banks, we saw the mighty Jura opposing its dark side to the +ambition that would quit its native country, and an almost +insurmountable barrier to the invader who should wish to enslave it. + +I took the hand of Elizabeth: "You are sorrowful, my love. Ah! if you +knew what I have suffered, and what I may yet endure, you would +endeavour to let me taste the quiet and freedom from despair, that this +one day at least permits me to enjoy." + +"Be happy, my dear Victor," replied Elizabeth; "there is, I hope, +nothing to distress you; and be assured that if a lively joy is not +painted in my face, my heart is contented. Something whispers to me not +to depend too much on the prospect that is opened before us; but I will +not listen to such a sinister voice. Observe how fast we move along, and +how the clouds, which sometimes obscure and sometimes rise above the +dome of Mont Blanc, render this scene of beauty still more interesting. +Look also at the innumerable fish that are swimming in the clear waters, +where we can distinguish every pebble that lies at the bottom. What a +divine day! how happy and serene all nature appears!" + +Thus Elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts and mine from all +reflection upon melancholy subjects. But her temper was fluctuating; joy +for a few instants shone in her eyes, but it continually gave place to +distraction and reverie. + +The sun sunk lower in the heavens; we passed the river Drance, and +observed its path through the chasms of the higher, and the glens of the +lower hills. The Alps here come closer to the lake, and we approached +the amphitheatre of mountains which forms its eastern boundary. The +spire of Evian shone under the woods that surrounded it, and the range +of mountain above mountain by which it was overhung. + +The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity, +sunk at sunset to a light breeze; the soft air just ruffled the water, +and caused a pleasant motion among the trees as we approached the shore, +from which it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers and hay. The +sun sunk beneath the horizon as we landed; and as I touched the shore, I +felt those cares and fears revive, which soon were to clasp me, and +cling to me for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the +shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn, and +contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured +in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. + +The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose with great violence in +the west. The moon had reached her summit in the heavens, and was +beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight +of the vulture, and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene +of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that +were beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended. + +I had been calm during the day; but so soon as night obscured the shapes +of objects, a thousand fears arose in my mind. I was anxious and +watchful, while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my +bosom; every sound terrified me; but I resolved that I would sell my +life dearly, and not shrink from the conflict until my own life, or that +of my adversary, was extinguished. + +Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful +silence; but there was something in my glance which communicated terror +to her, and trembling she asked, "What is it that agitates you, my dear +Victor? What is it you fear?" + +"Oh! peace, peace, my love," replied I; "this night, and all will be +safe: but this night is dreadful, very dreadful." + +I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how +fearful the combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife, and +I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her until I +had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy. + +She left me, and I continued some time walking up and down the passages +of the house, and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat +to my adversary. But I discovered no trace of him, and was beginning to +conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the +execution of his menaces; when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful +scream. It came from the room into which Elizabeth had retired. As I +heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the +motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended; I could feel the blood +trickling in my veins, and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This +state lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed +into the room. + +Great God! why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the +destruction of the best hope, and the purest creature of earth? She was +there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging +down, and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair. +Every where I turn I see the same figure--her bloodless arms and relaxed +form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier. Could I behold this, and +live? Alas! life is obstinate, and clings closest where it is most +hated. For a moment only did I lose recollection; I fell senseless on +the ground. + +When I recovered, I found myself surrounded by the people of the inn; +their countenances expressed a breathless terror: but the horror of +others appeared only as a mockery, a shadow of the feelings that +oppressed me. I escaped from them to the room where lay the body of +Elizabeth, my love, my wife, so lately living, so dear, so worthy. She +had been moved from the posture in which I had first beheld her; and +now, as she lay, her head upon her arm, and a handkerchief thrown across +her face and neck, I might have supposed her asleep. I rushed towards +her, and embraced her with ardour; but the deadly languor and coldness +of the limbs told me, that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be +the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished. The murderous mark of the +fiend's grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from +her lips. + +While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I happened to look +up. The windows of the room had before been darkened, and I felt a kind +of panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the +chamber. The shutters had been thrown back; and, with a sensation of +horror not to be described, I saw at the open window a figure the most +hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed +to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my +wife. I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, +fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and, running with the +swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake. + +The report of the pistol brought a crowd into the room. I pointed to the +spot where he had disappeared, and we followed the track with boats; +nets were cast, but in vain. After passing several hours, we returned +hopeless, most of my companions believing it to have been a form +conjured up by my fancy. After having landed, they proceeded to search +the country, parties going in different directions among the woods and +vines. + +I attempted to accompany them, and proceeded a short distance from the +house; but my head whirled round, my steps were like those of a drunken +man, I fell at last in a state of utter exhaustion; a film covered my +eyes, and my skin was parched with the heat of fever. In this state I +was carried back, and placed on a bed, hardly conscious of what had +happened; my eyes wandered round the room, as if to seek something that +I had lost. + +After an interval, I arose, and, as if by instinct, crawled into the +room where the corpse of my beloved lay. There were women weeping +around--I hung over it, and joined my sad tears to theirs--all this time +no distinct idea presented itself to my mind; but my thoughts rambled to +various subjects, reflecting confusedly on my misfortunes, and their +cause. I was bewildered in a cloud of wonder and horror. The death of +William, the execution of Justine, the murder of Clerval, and lastly of +my wife; even at that moment I knew not that my only remaining friends +were safe from the malignity of the fiend; my father even now might be +writhing under his grasp, and Ernest might be dead at his feet. This +idea made me shudder, and recalled me to action. I started up, and +resolved to return to Geneva with all possible speed. + +There were no horses to be procured, and I must return by the lake; but +the wind was unfavourable, and the rain fell in torrents. However, it +was hardly morning, and I might reasonably hope to arrive by night. I +hired men to row, and took an oar myself; for I had always experienced +relief from mental torment in bodily exercise. But the overflowing +misery I now felt, and the excess of agitation that I endured, rendered +me incapable of any exertion. I threw down the oar; and leaning my head +upon my hands, gave way to every gloomy idea that arose. If I looked up, +I saw the scenes which were familiar to me in my happier time, and which +I had contemplated but the day before in the company of her who was now +but a shadow and a recollection. Tears streamed from my eyes. The rain +had ceased for a moment, and I saw the fish play in the waters as they +had done a few hours before; they had then been observed by Elizabeth. +Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change. +The sun might shine, or the clouds might lower: but nothing could appear +to me as it had done the day before. A fiend had snatched from me every +hope of future happiness: no creature had ever been so miserable as I +was; so frightful an event is single in the history of man. + +But why should I dwell upon the incidents that followed this last +overwhelming event? Mine has been a tale of horrors; I have reached +their _acme_, and what I must now relate can but be tedious to you. Know +that, one by one, my friends were snatched away; I was left desolate. My +own strength is exhausted; and I must tell, in a few words, what remains +of my hideous narration. + +I arrived at Geneva. My father and Ernest yet lived; but the former sunk +under the tidings that I bore. I see him now, excellent and venerable +old man! his eyes wandered in vacancy, for they had lost their charm and +their delight--his Elizabeth, his more than daughter, whom he doated on +with all that affection which a man feels, who in the decline of life, +having few affections, clings more earnestly to those that remain. +Cursed, cursed be the fiend that brought misery on his grey hairs, and +doomed him to waste in wretchedness! He could not live under the horrors +that were accumulated around him; the springs of existence suddenly gave +way: he was unable to rise from his bed, and in a few days he died in my +arms. + +What then became of me? I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and +darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me. Sometimes, indeed, +I dreamt that I wandered in flowery meadows and pleasant vales with the +friends of my youth; but I awoke, and found myself in a dungeon. +Melancholy followed, but by degrees I gained a clear conception of my +miseries and situation, and was then released from my prison. For they +had called me mad; and during many months, as I understood, a solitary +cell had been my habitation. + +Liberty, however, had been an useless gift to me, had I not, as I +awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge. As the memory +of past misfortunes pressed upon me, I began to reflect on their +cause--the monster whom I had created, the miserable dæmon whom I had +sent abroad into the world for my destruction. I was possessed by a +maddening rage when I thought of him, and desired and ardently prayed +that I might have him within my grasp to wreak a great and signal +revenge on his cursed head. + +Nor did my hate long confine itself to useless wishes; I began to +reflect on the best means of securing him; and for this purpose, about a +month after my release, I repaired to a criminal judge in the town, and +told him that I had an accusation to make; that I knew the destroyer of +my family; and that I required him to exert his whole authority for the +apprehension of the murderer. + +The magistrate listened to me with attention and kindness:--"Be assured, +sir," said he, "no pains or exertions on my part shall be spared to +discover the villain." + +"I thank you," replied I; "listen, therefore, to the deposition that I +have to make. It is indeed a tale so strange, that I should fear you +would not credit it, were there not something in truth which, however +wonderful, forces conviction. The story is too connected to be mistaken +for a dream, and I have no motive for falsehood." My manner, as I thus +addressed him, was impressive, but calm; I had formed in my own heart a +resolution to pursue my destroyer to death; and this purpose quieted my +agony, and for an interval reconciled me to life. I now related my +history, briefly, but with firmness and precision, marking the dates +with accuracy, and never deviating into invective or exclamation. + +The magistrate appeared at first perfectly incredulous, but as I +continued he became more attentive and interested; I saw him sometimes +shudder with horror, at others a lively surprise, unmingled with +disbelief, was painted on his countenance. + +When I had concluded my narration, I said, "This is the being whom I +accuse, and for whose seizure and punishment I call upon you to exert +your whole power. It is your duty as a magistrate, and I believe and +hope that your feelings as a man will not revolt from the execution of +those functions on this occasion." + +This address caused a considerable change in the physiognomy of my own +auditor. He had heard my story with that half kind of belief that is +given to a tale of spirits and supernatural events; but when he was +called upon to act officially in consequence, the whole tide of his +incredulity returned. He, however, answered mildly, "I would willingly +afford you every aid in your pursuit; but the creature of whom you speak +appears to have powers which would put all my exertions to defiance. Who +can follow an animal which can traverse the sea of ice, and inhabit +caves and dens where no man would venture to intrude? Besides, some +months have elapsed since the commission of his crimes, and no one can +conjecture to what place he has wandered, or what region he may now +inhabit." + +"I do not doubt that he hovers near the spot which I inhabit; and if he +has indeed taken refuge in the Alps, he may be hunted like the chamois, +and destroyed as a beast of prey. But I perceive your thoughts: you do +not credit my narrative, and do not intend to pursue my enemy with the +punishment which is his desert." + +As I spoke, rage sparkled in my eyes; the magistrate was +intimidated:--"You are mistaken," said he, "I will exert myself; and if +it is in my power to seize the monster, be assured that he shall suffer +punishment proportionate to his crimes. But I fear, from what you have +yourself described to be his properties, that this will prove +impracticable; and thus, while every proper measure is pursued, you +should make up your mind to disappointment." + +"That cannot be; but all that I can say will be of little avail. My +revenge is of no moment to you; yet, while I allow it to be a vice, I +confess that it is the devouring and only passion of my soul. My rage is +unspeakable, when I reflect that the murderer, whom I have turned loose +upon society, still exists. You refuse my just demand: I have but one +resource; and I devote myself, either in my life or death, to his +destruction." + +I trembled with excess of agitation as I said this; there was a frenzy +in my manner, and something, I doubt not, of that haughty fierceness +which the martyrs of old are said to have possessed. But to a Genevan +magistrate, whose mind was occupied by far other ideas than those of +devotion and heroism, this elevation of mind had much the appearance of +madness. He endeavoured to soothe me as a nurse does a child, and +reverted to my tale as the effects of delirium. + +"Man," I cried, "how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; +you know not what it is you say." + +I broke from the house angry and disturbed, and retired to meditate on +some other mode of action. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +My present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was +swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed +me with strength and composure; it moulded my feelings, and allowed me +to be calculating and calm, at periods when otherwise delirium or death +would have been my portion. + +My first resolution was to quit Geneva for ever; my country, which, when +I was happy and beloved, was dear to me, now, in my adversity, became +hateful. I provided myself with a sum of money, together with a few +jewels which had belonged to my mother, and departed. + +And now my wanderings began, which are to cease but with life. I have +traversed a vast portion of the earth, and have endured all the +hardships which travellers, in deserts and barbarous countries, are wont +to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; many times have I stretched my +failing limbs upon the sandy plain, and prayed for death. But revenge +kept me alive; I dared not die, and leave my adversary in being. + +When I quitted Geneva, my first labour was to gain some clue by which I +might trace the steps of my fiendish enemy. But my plan was unsettled; +and I wandered many hours round the confines of the town, uncertain what +path I should pursue. As night approached, I found myself at the +entrance of the cemetery where William, Elizabeth, and my father +reposed. I entered it, and approached the tomb which marked their +graves. Every thing was silent, except the leaves of the trees, which +were gently agitated by the wind; the night was nearly dark; and the +scene would have been solemn and affecting even to an uninterested +observer. The spirits of the departed seemed to flit around, and to cast +a shadow, which was felt but not seen, around the head of the mourner. + +The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to +rage and despair. They were dead, and I lived; their murderer also +lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my weary existence. I knelt on +the grass, and kissed the earth, and with quivering lips exclaimed, "By +the sacred earth on which I kneel, by the shades that wander near me, by +the deep and eternal grief that I feel, I swear; and by thee, O Night, +and the spirits that preside over thee, to pursue the dæmon, who caused +this misery, until he or I shall perish in mortal conflict. For this +purpose I will preserve my life: to execute this dear revenge, will I +again behold the sun, and tread the green herbage of earth, which +otherwise should vanish from my eyes for ever. And I call on you, +spirits of the dead; and on you, wandering ministers of vengeance, to +aid and conduct me in my work. Let the cursed and hellish monster drink +deep of agony; let him feel the despair that now torments me." + +I had begun my adjuration with solemnity, and an awe which almost +assured me that the shades of my murdered friends heard and approved my +devotion; but the furies possessed me as I concluded, and rage choked my +utterance. + +I was answered through the stillness of night by a loud and fiendish +laugh. It rung on my ears long and heavily; the mountains re-echoed it, +and I felt as if all hell surrounded me with mockery and laughter. +Surely in that moment I should have been possessed by frenzy, and have +destroyed my miserable existence, but that my vow was heard, and that I +was reserved for vengeance. The laughter died away; when a well-known +and abhorred voice, apparently close to my ear, addressed me in an +audible whisper--"I am satisfied: miserable wretch! you have determined +to live, and I am satisfied." + +I darted towards the spot from which the sound proceeded; but the devil +eluded my grasp. Suddenly the broad disk of the moon arose, and shone +full upon his ghastly and distorted shape, as he fled with more than +mortal speed. + +I pursued him; and for many months this has been my task. Guided by a +slight clue, I followed the windings of the Rhone, but vainly. The blue +Mediterranean appeared; and, by a strange chance, I saw the fiend enter +by night, and hide himself in a vessel bound for the Black Sea. I took +my passage in the same ship; but he escaped, I know not how. + +Amidst the wilds of Tartary and Russia, although he still evaded me, I +have ever followed in his track. Sometimes the peasants, scared by this +horrid apparition, informed me of his path; sometimes he himself, who +feared that if I lost all trace of him, I should despair and die, left +some mark to guide me. The snows descended on my head, and I saw the +print of his huge step on the white plain. To you first entering on +life, to whom care is new, and agony unknown, how can you understand +what I have felt, and still feel? Cold, want, and fatigue, were the +least pains which I was destined to endure; I was cursed by some devil, +and carried about with me my eternal hell; yet still a spirit of good +followed and directed my steps; and, when I most murmured, would +suddenly extricate me from seemingly insurmountable difficulties. +Sometimes, when nature, overcome by hunger, sunk under the exhaustion, a +repast was prepared for me in the desert, that restored and inspirited +me. The fare was, indeed, coarse, such as the peasants of the country +ate; but I will not doubt that it was set there by the spirits that I +had invoked to aid me. Often, when all was dry, the heavens cloudless, +and I was parched by thirst, a slight cloud would bedim the sky, shed +the few drops that revived me, and vanish. + +I followed, when I could, the courses of the rivers; but the dæmon +generally avoided these, as it was here that the population of the +country chiefly collected. In other places human beings were seldom +seen; and I generally subsisted on the wild animals that crossed my +path. I had money with me, and gained the friendship of the villagers by +distributing it; or I brought with me some food that I had killed, +which, after taking a small part, I always presented to those who had +provided me with fire and utensils for cooking. + +My life, as it passed thus, was indeed hateful to me, and it was during +sleep alone that I could taste joy. O blessed sleep! often, when most +miserable, I sank to repose, and my dreams lulled me even to rapture. +The spirits that guarded me had provided these moments, or rather hours, +of happiness, that I might retain strength to fulfil my pilgrimage. +Deprived of this respite, I should have sunk under my hardships. During +the day I was sustained and inspirited by the hope of night: for in +sleep I saw my friends, my wife, and my beloved country; again I saw the +benevolent countenance of my father, heard the silver tones of my +Elizabeth's voice, and beheld Clerval enjoying health and youth. Often, +when wearied by a toilsome march, I persuaded myself that I was dreaming +until night should come, and that I should then enjoy reality in the +arms of my dearest friends. What agonising fondness did I feel for them! +how did I cling to their dear forms, as sometimes they haunted even my +waking hours, and persuade myself that they still lived! At such moments +vengeance, that burned within me, died in my heart, and I pursued my +path towards the destruction of the dæmon, more as a task enjoined by +heaven, as the mechanical impulse of some power of which I was +unconscious, than as the ardent desire of my soul. + +What his feelings were whom I pursued I cannot know. Sometimes, indeed, +he left marks in writing on the barks of the trees, or cut in stone, +that guided me, and instigated my fury. "My reign is not yet over," +(these words were legible in one of these inscriptions;) "you live, and +my power is complete. Follow me; I seek the everlasting ices of the +north, where you will feel the misery of cold and frost, to which I am +impassive. You will find near this place, if you follow not too tardily, +a dead hare; eat, and be refreshed. Come on, my enemy; we have yet to +wrestle for our lives; but many hard and miserable hours must you endure +until that period shall arrive." + +Scoffing devil! Again do I vow vengeance; again do I devote thee, +miserable fiend, to torture and death. Never will I give up my search, +until he or I perish; and then with what ecstasy shall I join my +Elizabeth, and my departed friends, who even now prepare for me the +reward of my tedious toil and horrible pilgrimage! + +As I still pursued my journey to the northward, the snows thickened, and +the cold increased in a degree almost too severe to support. The +peasants were shut up in their hovels, and only a few of the most hardy +ventured forth to seize the animals whom starvation had forced from +their hiding-places to seek for prey. The rivers were covered with ice, +and no fish could be procured; and thus I was cut off from my chief +article of maintenance. + +The triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my labours. One +inscription that he left was in these words:--"Prepare! your toils only +begin: wrap yourself in furs, and provide food; for we shall soon enter +upon a journey where your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting +hatred." + +My courage and perseverance were invigorated by these scoffing words; I +resolved not to fail in my purpose; and, calling on Heaven to support +me, I continued with unabated fervour to traverse immense deserts, until +the ocean appeared at a distance, and formed the utmost boundary of the +horizon. Oh! how unlike it was to the blue seas of the south! Covered +with ice, it was only to be distinguished from land by its superior +wildness and ruggedness. The Greeks wept for joy when they beheld the +Mediterranean from the hills of Asia, and hailed with rapture the +boundary of their toils. I did not weep; but I knelt down, and, with a +full heart, thanked my guiding spirit for conducting me in safety to the +place where I hoped, notwithstanding my adversary's gibe, to meet and +grapple with him. + +Some weeks before this period I had procured a sledge and dogs, and thus +traversed the snows with inconceivable speed. I know not whether the +fiend possessed the same advantages; but I found that, as before I had +daily lost ground in the pursuit, I now gained on him: so much so, that +when I first saw the ocean, he was but one day's journey in advance, and +I hoped to intercept him before he should reach the beach. With new +courage, therefore, I pressed on, and in two days arrived at a wretched +hamlet on the sea-shore. I enquired of the inhabitants concerning the +fiend, and gained accurate information. A gigantic monster, they said, +had arrived the night before, armed with a gun and many pistols; putting +to flight the inhabitants of a solitary cottage, through fear of his +terrific appearance. He had carried off their store of winter food, and, +placing it in a sledge, to draw which he had seized on a numerous drove +of trained dogs, he had harnessed them, and the same night, to the joy +of the horror-struck villagers, had pursued his journey across the sea +in a direction that led to no land; and they conjectured that he must +speedily be destroyed by the breaking of the ice, or frozen by the +eternal frosts. + +On hearing this information, I suffered a temporary access of despair. +He had escaped me; and I must commence a destructive and almost endless +journey across the mountainous ices of the ocean,--amidst cold that few +of the inhabitants could long endure, and which I, the native of a +genial and sunny climate, could not hope to survive. Yet at the idea +that the fiend should live and be triumphant, my rage and vengeance +returned, and, like a mighty tide, overwhelmed every other feeling. +After a slight repose, during which the spirits of the dead hovered +round, and instigated me to toil and revenge, I prepared for my journey. + +I exchanged my land-sledge for one fashioned for the inequalities of the +Frozen Ocean; and purchasing a plentiful stock of provisions, I departed +from land. + +I cannot guess how many days have passed since then; but I have endured +misery, which nothing but the eternal sentiment of a just retribution +burning within my heart could have enabled me to support. Immense and +rugged mountains of ice often barred up my passage, and I often heard +the thunder of the ground sea, which threatened my destruction. But +again the frost came, and made the paths of the sea secure. + +By the quantity of provision which I had consumed, I should guess that I +had passed three weeks in this journey; and the continual protraction of +hope, returning back upon the heart, often wrung bitter drops of +despondency and grief from my eyes. Despair had indeed almost secured +her prey, and I should soon have sunk beneath this misery. Once, after +the poor animals that conveyed me had with incredible toil gained the +summit of a sloping ice-mountain, and one, sinking under his fatigue, +died, I viewed the expanse before me with anguish, when suddenly my eye +caught a dark speck upon the dusky plain. I strained my sight to +discover what it could be, and uttered a wild cry of ecstasy when I +distinguished a sledge, and the distorted proportions of a well-known +form within. Oh! with what a burning gush did hope revisit my heart! +warm tears filled my eyes, which I hastily wiped away, that they might +not intercept the view I had of the dæmon; but still my sight was dimmed +by the burning drops, until, giving way to the emotions that oppressed +me, I wept aloud. + +But this was not the time for delay: I disencumbered the dogs of their +dead companion, gave them a plentiful portion of food; and, after an +hour's rest, which was absolutely necessary, and yet which was bitterly +irksome to me, I continued my route. The sledge was still visible; nor +did I again lose sight of it, except at the moments when for a short +time some ice-rock concealed it with its intervening crags. I indeed +perceptibly gained on it; and when, after nearly two days' journey, I +beheld my enemy at no more than a mile distant, my heart bounded within +me. + +But now, when I appeared almost within grasp of my foe, my hopes were +suddenly extinguished, and I lost all trace of him more utterly than I +had ever done before. A ground sea was heard; the thunder of its +progress, as the waters rolled and swelled beneath me, became every +moment more ominous and terrific. I pressed on, but in vain. The wind +arose; the sea roared; and, as with the mighty shock of an earthquake, +it split, and cracked with a tremendous and overwhelming sound. The work +was soon finished: in a few minutes a tumultuous sea rolled between me +and my enemy, and I was left drifting on a scattered piece of ice, that +was continually lessening, and thus preparing for me a hideous death. + +In this manner many appalling hours passed; several of my dogs died; and +I myself was about to sink under the accumulation of distress, when I +saw your vessel riding at anchor, and holding forth to me hopes of +succour and life. I had no conception that vessels ever came so far +north, and was astounded at the sight. I quickly destroyed part of my +sledge to construct oars; and by these means was enabled, with infinite +fatigue, to move my ice-raft in the direction of your ship. I had +determined, if you were going southward, still to trust myself to the +mercy of the seas rather than abandon my purpose. I hoped to induce you +to grant me a boat with which I could pursue my enemy. But your +direction was northward. You took me on board when my vigour was +exhausted, and I should soon have sunk under my multiplied hardships +into a death which I still dread--for my task is unfulfilled. + +Oh! when will my guiding spirit, in conducting me to the dæmon, allow me +the rest I so much desire; or must I die, and he yet live? If I do, +swear to me, Walton, that he shall not escape; that you will seek him, +and satisfy my vengeance in his death. And do I dare to ask of you to +undertake my pilgrimage, to endure the hardships that I have undergone? +No; I am not so selfish. Yet, when I am dead, if he should appear; if +the ministers of vengeance should conduct him to you, swear that he +shall not live--swear that he shall not triumph over my accumulated +woes, and survive to add to the list of his dark crimes. He is eloquent +and persuasive; and once his words had even power over my heart: but +trust him not. His soul is as hellish as his form, full of treachery and +fiendlike malice. Hear him not; call on the manes of William, Justine, +Clerval, Elizabeth, my father, and of the wretched Victor, and thrust +your sword into his heart. I will hover near, and direct the steel +aright. + + * * * * * + +WALTON, _in continuation_. + +August 26th, 17--. + +You have read this strange and terrific story, Margaret; and do you not +feel your blood congeal with horror, like that which even now curdles +mine? Sometimes, seized with sudden agony, he could not continue his +tale; at others, his voice broken, yet piercing, uttered with difficulty +the words so replete with anguish. His fine and lovely eyes were now +lighted up with indignation, now subdued to downcast sorrow, and +quenched in infinite wretchedness. Sometimes he commanded his +countenance and tones, and related the most horrible incidents with a +tranquil voice, suppressing every mark of agitation; then, like a +volcano bursting forth, his face would suddenly change to an expression +of the wildest rage, as he shrieked out imprecations on his persecutor. + +His tale is connected, and told with an appearance of the simplest +truth; yet I own to you that the letters of Felix and Safie, which he +showed me, and the apparition of the monster seen from our ship, brought +to me a greater conviction of the truth of his narrative than his +asseverations, however earnest and connected. Such a monster has then +really existence! I cannot doubt it; yet I am lost in surprise and +admiration. Sometimes I endeavoured to gain from Frankenstein the +particulars of his creature's formation: but on this point he was +impenetrable. + +"Are you mad, my friend?" said he; "or whither does your senseless +curiosity lead you? Would you also create for yourself and the world a +demoniacal enemy? Peace, peace! learn my miseries, and do not seek to +increase your own." + +Frankenstein discovered that I made notes concerning his history: he +asked to see them, and then himself corrected and augmented them in many +places; but principally in giving the life and spirit to the +conversations he held with his enemy. "Since you have preserved my +narration," said he, "I would not that a mutilated one should go down to +posterity." + +Thus has a week passed away, while I have listened to the strangest tale +that ever imagination formed. My thoughts, and every feeling of my soul, +have been drunk up by the interest for my guest, which this tale, and +his own elevated and gentle manners, have created. I wish to soothe him; +yet can I counsel one so infinitely miserable, so destitute of every +hope of consolation, to live? Oh, no! the only joy that he can now know +will be when he composes his shattered spirit to peace and death. Yet he +enjoys one comfort, the offspring of solitude and delirium: he believes, +that, when in dreams he holds converse with his friends, and derives +from that communion consolation for his miseries, or excitements to his +vengeance, that they are not the creations of his fancy, but the beings +themselves who visit him from the regions of a remote world. This faith +gives a solemnity to his reveries that render them to me almost as +imposing and interesting as truth. + +Our conversations are not always confined to his own history and +misfortunes. On every point of general literature he displays unbounded +knowledge, and a quick and piercing apprehension. His eloquence is +forcible and touching; nor can I hear him, when he relates a pathetic +incident, or endeavours to move the passions of pity or love, without +tears. What a glorious creature must he have been in the days of his +prosperity, when he is thus noble and godlike in ruin! He seems to feel +his own worth, and the greatness of his fall. + +"When younger," said he, "I believed myself destined for some great +enterprise. My feelings are profound; but I possessed a coolness of +judgment that fitted me for illustrious achievements. This sentiment of +the worth of my nature supported me, when others would have been +oppressed; for I deemed it criminal to throw away in useless grief those +talents that might be useful to my fellow-creatures. When I reflected on +the work I had completed, no less a one than the creation of a sensitive +and rational animal, I could not rank myself with the herd of common +projectors. But this thought, which supported me in the commencement of +my career, now serves only to plunge me lower in the dust. All my +speculations and hopes are as nothing; and, like the archangel who +aspired to omnipotence, I am chained in an eternal hell. My imagination +was vivid, yet my powers of analysis and application were intense; by +the union of these qualities I conceived the idea, and executed the +creation of a man. Even now I cannot recollect, without passion, my +reveries while the work was incomplete. I trod heaven in my thoughts, +now exulting in my powers, now burning with the idea of their effects. +From my infancy I was imbued with high hopes and a lofty ambition; but +how am I sunk! Oh! my friend, if you had known me as I once was, you +would not recognise me in this state of degradation. Despondency rarely +visited my heart; a high destiny seemed to bear me on, until I fell, +never, never again to rise." + +Must I then lose this admirable being? I have longed for a friend; I +have sought one who would sympathise with and love me. Behold, on these +desert seas I have found such a one; but, I fear, I have gained him only +to know his value, and lose him. I would reconcile him to life, but he +repulses the idea. + +"I thank you, Walton," he said, "for your kind intentions towards so +miserable a wretch; but when you speak of new ties, and fresh +affections, think you that any can replace those who are gone? Can any +man be to me as Clerval was; or any woman another Elizabeth? Even where +the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the +companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our +minds, which hardly any later friend can obtain. They know our infantine +dispositions, which, however they may be afterwards modified, are never +eradicated; and they can judge of our actions with more certain +conclusions as to the integrity of our motives. A sister or a brother +can never, unless indeed such symptoms have been shown early, suspect +the other of fraud or false dealing, when another friend, however +strongly he may be attached, may, in spite of himself, be contemplated +with suspicion. But I enjoyed friends, dear not only through habit and +association, but from their own merits; and wherever I am, the soothing +voice of my Elizabeth, and the conversation of Clerval, will be ever +whispered in my ear. They are dead; and but one feeling in such a +solitude can persuade me to preserve my life. If I were engaged in any +high undertaking or design, fraught with extensive utility to my +fellow-creatures, then could I live to fulfil it. But such is not my +destiny; I must pursue and destroy the being to whom I gave existence; +then my lot on earth will be fulfilled, and I may die." + + * * * * * + +September 2d. + +My beloved Sister, + +I write to you, encompassed by peril, and ignorant whether I am ever +doomed to see again dear England, and the dearer friends that inhabit +it. I am surrounded by mountains of ice, which admit of no escape, and +threaten every moment to crush my vessel. The brave fellows, whom I have +persuaded to be my companions, look towards me for aid; but I have none +to bestow. There is something terribly appalling in our situation, yet +my courage and hopes do not desert me. Yet it is terrible to reflect +that the lives of all these men are endangered through me. If we are +lost, my mad schemes are the cause. + +And what, Margaret, will be the state of your mind? You will not hear of +my destruction, and you will anxiously await my return. Years will pass, +and you will have visitings of despair, and yet be tortured by hope. Oh! +my beloved sister, the sickening failing of your heart-felt expectations +is, in prospect, more terrible to me than my own death. But you have a +husband, and lovely children; you may be happy: Heaven bless you, and +make you so! + +My unfortunate guest regards me with the tenderest compassion. He +endeavours to fill me with hope; and talks as if life were a possession +which he valued. He reminds me how often the same accidents have +happened to other navigators, who have attempted this sea, and, in spite +of myself, he fills me with cheerful auguries. Even the sailors feel the +power of his eloquence: when he speaks, they no longer despair; he +rouses their energies, and, while they hear his voice, they believe +these vast mountains of ice are mole-hills, which will vanish before the +resolutions of man. These feelings are transitory; each day of +expectation delayed fills them with fear, and I almost dread a mutiny +caused by this despair. + + +September 5th. + +A scene has just passed of such uncommon interest, that although it is +highly probable that these papers may never reach you, yet I cannot +forbear recording it. + +We are still surrounded by mountains of ice, still in imminent danger of +being crushed in their conflict. The cold is excessive, and many of my +unfortunate comrades have already found a grave amidst this scene of +desolation. Frankenstein has daily declined in health: a feverish fire +still glimmers in his eyes; but he is exhausted, and, when suddenly +roused to any exertion, he speedily sinks again into apparent +lifelessness. + +I mentioned in my last letter the fears I entertained of a mutiny. This +morning, as I sat watching the wan countenance of my friend--his eyes +half closed, and his limbs hanging listlessly,--I was roused by half a +dozen of the sailors, who demanded admission into the cabin. They +entered, and their leader addressed me. He told me that he and his +companions had been chosen by the other sailors to come in deputation to +me, to make me a requisition, which, in justice, I could not refuse. We +were immured in ice, and should probably never escape; but they feared +that if, as was possible, the ice should dissipate, and a free passage +be opened, I should be rash enough to continue my voyage, and lead them +into fresh dangers, after they might happily have surmounted this. They +insisted, therefore, that I should engage with a solemn promise, that if +the vessel should be freed I would instantly direct my course southward. + +This speech troubled me. I had not despaired; nor had I yet conceived +the idea of returning, if set free. Yet could I, in justice, or even in +possibility, refuse this demand? I hesitated before I answered; when +Frankenstein, who had at first been silent, and, indeed, appeared hardly +to have force enough to attend, now roused himself; his eyes sparkled, +and his cheeks flushed with momentary vigour. Turning towards the men, +he said-- + +"What do you mean? What do you demand of your captain? Are you then so +easily turned from your design? Did you not call this a glorious +expedition? And wherefore was it glorious? Not because the way was +smooth and placid as a southern sea, but because it was full of dangers +and terror; because, at every new incident, your fortitude was to be +called forth, and your courage exhibited; because danger and death +surrounded it, and these you were to brave and overcome. For this was it +a glorious, for this was it an honourable undertaking. You were +hereafter to be hailed as the benefactors of your species; your names +adored, as belonging to brave men who encountered death for honour, and +the benefit of mankind. And now, behold, with the first imagination of +danger, or, if you will, the first mighty and terrific trial of your +courage, you shrink away, and are content to be handed down as men who +had not strength enough to endure cold and peril; and so, poor souls, +they were chilly, and returned to their warm fire-sides. Why, that +requires not this preparation; ye need not have come thus far, and +dragged your captain to the shame of a defeat, merely to prove +yourselves cowards. Oh! be men, or be more than men. Be steady to your +purposes, and firm as a rock. This ice is not made of such stuff as your +hearts may be; it is mutable, and cannot withstand you, if you say that +it shall not. Do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace +marked on your brows. Return, as heroes who have fought and conquered, +and who know not what it is to turn their backs on the foe." + +He spoke this with a voice so modulated to the different feelings +expressed in his speech, with an eye so full of lofty design and +heroism, that can you wonder that these men were moved? They looked at +one another, and were unable to reply. I spoke; I told them to retire, +and consider of what had been said: that I would not lead them farther +north, if they strenuously desired the contrary; but that I hoped that, +with reflection, their courage would return. + +They retired, and I turned towards my friend; but he was sunk in +languor, and almost deprived of life. + +How all this will terminate, I know not; but I had rather die than +return shamefully,--my purpose unfulfilled. Yet I fear such will be my +fate; the men, unsupported by ideas of glory and honour, can never +willingly continue to endure their present hardships. + + +September 7th. + +The die is cast; I have consented to return, if we are not destroyed. +Thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; I come back +ignorant and disappointed. It requires more philosophy than I possess, +to bear this injustice with patience. + + +September 12th. + +It is past; I am returning to England. I have lost my hopes of utility +and glory;--I have lost my friend. But I will endeavour to detail these +bitter circumstances to you, my dear sister; and, while I am wafted +towards England, and towards you, I will not despond. + +September 9th, the ice began to move, and roarings like thunder were +heard at a distance, as the islands split and cracked in every +direction. We were in the most imminent peril; but, as we could only +remain passive, my chief attention was occupied by my unfortunate +guest, whose illness increased in such a degree, that he was entirely +confined to his bed. The ice cracked behind us, and was driven with +force towards the north; a breeze sprung from the west, and on the 11th +the passage towards the south became perfectly free. When the sailors +saw this, and that their return to their native country was apparently +assured, a shout of tumultuous joy broke from them, loud and +long-continued. Frankenstein, who was dozing, awoke, and asked the cause +of the tumult. "They shout," I said, "because they will soon return to +England." + +"Do you then really return?" + +"Alas! yes; I cannot withstand their demands. I cannot lead them +unwillingly to danger, and I must return." + +"Do so, if you will; but I will not. You may give up your purpose, but +mine is assigned to me by Heaven, and I dare not. I am weak; but surely +the spirits who assist my vengeance will endow me with sufficient +strength." Saying this, he endeavoured to spring from the bed, but the +exertion was too great for him; he fell back, and fainted. + +It was long before he was restored; and I often thought that life was +entirely extinct. At length he opened his eyes; he breathed with +difficulty, and was unable to speak. The surgeon gave him a composing +draught, and ordered us to leave him undisturbed. In the mean time he +told me, that my friend had certainly not many hours to live. + +His sentence was pronounced; and I could only grieve, and be patient. I +sat by his bed, watching him; his eyes were closed, and I thought he +slept; but presently he called to me in a feeble voice, and, bidding me +come near, said--"Alas! the strength I relied on is gone; I feel that I +shall soon die, and he, my enemy and persecutor, may still be in being. +Think not, Walton, that in the last moments of my existence I feel that +burning hatred, and ardent desire of revenge, I once expressed; but I +feel myself justified in desiring the death of my adversary. During +these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor +do I find it blamable. In a fit of enthusiastic madness I created a +rational creature, and was bound towards him, to assure, as far as was +in my power, his happiness and well-being. This was my duty; but there +was another still paramount to that. My duties towards the beings of my +own species had greater claims to my attention, because they included a +greater proportion of happiness or misery. Urged by this view, I +refused, and I did right in refusing, to create a companion for the +first creature. He showed unparalleled malignity and selfishness, in +evil: he destroyed my friends; he devoted to destruction beings who +possessed exquisite sensations, happiness, and wisdom; nor do I know +where this thirst for vengeance may end. Miserable himself, that he may +render no other wretched, he ought to die. The task of his destruction +was mine, but I have failed. When actuated by selfish and vicious +motives, I asked you to undertake my unfinished work; and I renew this +request now, when I am only induced by reason and virtue. + +"Yet I cannot ask you to renounce your country and friends, to fulfil +this task; and now, that you are returning to England, you will have +little chance of meeting with him. But the consideration of these +points, and the well balancing of what you may esteem your duties, I +leave to you; my judgment and ideas are already disturbed by the near +approach of death. I dare not ask you to do what I think right, for I +may still be misled by passion. + +"That he should live to be an instrument of mischief disturbs me; in +other respects, this hour, when I momentarily expect my release, is the +only happy one which I have enjoyed for several years. The forms of the +beloved dead flit before me, and I hasten to their arms. Farewell, +Walton! Seek happiness in tranquillity, and avoid ambition, even if it +be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in +science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been +blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed." + +His voice became fainter as he spoke; and at length, exhausted by his +effort, he sunk into silence. About half an hour afterwards he attempted +again to speak, but was unable; he pressed my hand feebly, and his eyes +closed for ever, while the irradiation of a gentle smile passed away +from his lips. + +Margaret, what comment can I make on the untimely extinction of this +glorious spirit? What can I say, that will enable you to understand the +depth of my sorrow? All that I should express would be inadequate and +feeble. My tears flow; my mind is overshadowed by a cloud of +disappointment. But I journey towards England, and I may there find +consolation. + +I am interrupted. What do these sounds portend? It is midnight; the +breeze blows fairly, and the watch on deck scarcely stir. Again; there +is a sound as of a human voice, but hoarser; it comes from the cabin +where the remains of Frankenstein still lie. I must arise, and examine. +Good night, my sister. + +Great God! what a scene has just taken place! I am yet dizzy with the +remembrance of it. I hardly know whether I shall have the power to +detail it; yet the tale which I have recorded would be incomplete +without this final and wonderful catastrophe. + +I entered the cabin, where lay the remains of my ill-fated and admirable +friend. Over him hung a form which I cannot find words to describe; +gigantic in stature, yet uncouth and distorted in its proportions. As he +hung over the coffin, his face was concealed by long locks of ragged +hair; but one vast hand was extended, in colour and apparent texture +like that of a mummy. When he heard the sound of my approach, he ceased +to utter exclamations of grief and horror, and sprung towards the +window. Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such +loathsome, yet appalling hideousness. I shut my eyes involuntarily, and +endeavoured to recollect what were my duties with regard to this +destroyer. I called on him to stay. + +He paused, looking on me with wonder; and, again turning towards the +lifeless form of his creator, he seemed to forget my presence, and every +feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some +uncontrollable passion. + +"That is also my victim!" he exclaimed: "in his murder my crimes are +consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close! Oh, +Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that +I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by +destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer me." + +His voice seemed suffocated; and my first impulses, which had suggested +to me the duty of obeying the dying request of my friend, in destroying +his enemy, were now suspended by a mixture of curiosity and compassion. +I approached this tremendous being; I dared not again raise my eyes to +his face, there was something so scaring and unearthly in his ugliness. +I attempted to speak, but the words died away on my lips. The monster +continued to utter wild and incoherent self-reproaches. At length I +gathered resolution to address him in a pause of the tempest of his +passion: "Your repentance," I said, "is now superfluous. If you had +listened to the voice of conscience, and heeded the stings of remorse, +before you had urged your diabolical vengeance to this extremity, +Frankenstein would yet have lived. + +"And do you dream?" said the dæmon; "do you think that I was then dead +to agony and remorse?--He," he continued, pointing to the corpse, "he +suffered not in the consummation of the deed--oh! not the ten-thousandth +portion of the anguish that was mine during the lingering detail of its +execution. A frightful selfishness hurried me on, while my heart was +poisoned with remorse. Think you that the groans of Clerval were music +to my ears? My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and +sympathy; and, when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not +endure the violence of the change, without torture such as you cannot +even imagine. + +"After the murder of Clerval, I returned to Switzerland, heart-broken +and overcome. I pitied Frankenstein; my pity amounted to horror: I +abhorred myself. But when I discovered that he, the author at once of my +existence and of its unspeakable torments, dared to hope for happiness; +that while he accumulated wretchedness and despair upon me, he sought +his own enjoyment in feelings and passions from the indulgence of which +I was for ever barred, then impotent envy and bitter indignation filled +me with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. I recollected my threat, +and resolved that it should be accomplished. I knew that I was preparing +for myself a deadly torture; but I was the slave, not the master, of an +impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey. Yet when she +died!--nay, then I was not miserable. I had cast off all feeling, +subdued all anguish, to riot in the excess of my despair. Evil +thenceforth became my good. Urged thus far, I had no choice but to adapt +my nature to an element which I had willingly chosen. The completion of +my demoniacal design became an insatiable passion. And now it is ended; +there is my last victim!" + +I was at first touched by the expressions of his misery; yet, when I +called to mind what Frankenstein had said of his powers of eloquence and +persuasion, and when I again cast my eyes on the lifeless form of my +friend, indignation was rekindled within me. "Wretch!" I said, "it is +well that you come here to whine over the desolation that you have made. +You throw a torch into a pile of buildings; and, when they are consumed, +you sit among the ruins, and lament the fall. Hypocritical fiend! if he +whom you mourn still lived, still would he be the object, again would he +become the prey, of your accursed vengeance. It is not pity that you +feel; you lament only because the victim of your malignity is withdrawn +from your power." + +"Oh, it is not thus--not thus," interrupted the being; "yet such must be +the impression conveyed to you by what appears to be the purport of my +actions. Yet I seek not a fellow-feeling in my misery. No sympathy may I +ever find. When I first sought it, it was the love of virtue, the +feelings of happiness and affection with which my whole being +overflowed, that I wished to be participated. But now, that virtue has +become to me a shadow, and that happiness and affection are turned into +bitter and loathing despair, in what should I seek for sympathy? I am +content to suffer alone, while my sufferings shall endure: when I die, I +am well satisfied that abhorrence and opprobrium should load my memory. +Once my fancy was soothed with dreams of virtue, of fame, and of +enjoyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings, who, pardoning my +outward form, would love me for the excellent qualities which I was +capable of unfolding. I was nourished with high thoughts of honour and +devotion. But now crime has degraded me beneath the meanest animal. No +guilt, no mischief, no malignity, no misery, can be found comparable to +mine. When I run over the frightful catalogue of my sins, I cannot +believe that I am the same creature whose thoughts were once filled with +sublime and transcendent visions of the beauty and the majesty of +goodness. But it is even so; the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. +Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his +desolation; I am alone. + +"You, who call Frankenstein your friend, seem to have a knowledge of my +crimes and his misfortunes. But, in the detail which he gave you of +them, he could not sum up the hours and months of misery which I +endured, wasting in impotent passions. For while I destroyed his hopes, +I did not satisfy my own desires. They were for ever ardent and craving; +still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned. Was there +no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all +human kind sinned against me? Why do you not hate Felix, who drove his +friend from his door with contumely? Why do you not execrate the rustic +who sought to destroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these are virtuous +and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an +abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my +blood boils at the recollection of this injustice. + +"But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the +helpless; I have strangled the innocent as they slept, and grasped to +death his throat who never injured me or any other living thing. I have +devoted my creator, the select specimen of all that is worthy of love +and admiration among men, to misery; I have pursued him even to that +irremediable ruin. There he lies, white and cold in death. You hate me; +but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself. I look +on the hands which executed the deed; I think on the heart in which the +imagination of it was conceived, and long for the moment when these +hands will meet my eyes, when that imagination will haunt my thoughts no +more. + +"Fear not that I shall be the instrument of future mischief. My work is +nearly complete. Neither yours nor any man's death is needed to +consummate the series of my being, and accomplish that which must be +done; but it requires my own. Do not think that I shall be slow to +perform this sacrifice. I shall quit your vessel on the ice-raft which +brought me thither, and shall seek the most northern extremity of the +globe; I shall collect my funeral pile, and consume to ashes this +miserable frame, that its remains may afford no light to any curious and +unhallowed wretch, who would create such another as I have been. I shall +die. I shall no longer feel the agonies which now consume me, or be the +prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet unquenched. He is dead who called me +into being; and when I shall be no more, the very remembrance of us both +will speedily vanish. I shall no longer see the sun or stars, or feel +the winds play on my cheeks. Light, feeling, and sense will pass away; +and in this condition must I find my happiness. Some years ago, when the +images which this world affords first opened upon me, when I felt the +cheering warmth of summer, and heard the rustling of the leaves and the +warbling of the birds, and these were all to me, I should have wept to +die; now it is my only consolation. Polluted by crimes, and torn by the +bitterest remorse, where can I find rest but in death? + +"Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of human kind whom these +eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wert yet alive, +and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me, it would be better +satiated in my life than in my destruction. But it was not so; thou +didst seek my extinction, that I might not cause greater wretchedness; +and if yet, in some mode unknown to me, thou hadst not ceased to think +and feel, thou wouldst not desire against me a vengeance greater than +that which I feel. Blasted as thou wert, my agony was still superior to +thine; for the bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankle in my +wounds until death shall close them for ever. + +"But soon," he cried, with sad and solemn enthusiasm, "I shall die, and +what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be +extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in the +agony of the torturing flames. The light of that conflagration will fade +away; my ashes will be swept into the sea by the winds. My spirit will +sleep in peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. +Farewell." + +He sprung from the cabin-window, as he said this, upon the ice-raft +which lay close to the vessel. He was soon borne away by the waves, and +lost in darkness and distance. + + +THE END. + + + LONDON: + Printed by A. & R Spottiswoode, + New-Street-Square. + + [Transcriber's Note: Possible printer errors corrected: + Line 2863: "I do no not fear to die" to "I do now not fear to die" + Line 6375: "fulfil the wishes of you parents" to "your parents"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Frankenstein, by Mary W. Shelley + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42324 *** |