82

MARy

v/.

SHELLEy

It

_ The path of its departure itill is free.M?+"

__W-e 1se; one wand,ring thought pollutes'the day. We feel, conceive, or reaion; la'ugh'or [rs6p, Embrace fond woe, or cast oir cares away; rs- the s_ame: for, be it joy or sorrow,
y.esterday may ne,er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but mutability!

We rest; a dream has--power to poison sleep.

83

Frankenstein

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 wlth superhuman sqe3{. Ile bounded over tle crevices in the i"L, u*ool which I had walked wjth.caution; his stature, -also, aE he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. f was. troubled; a mist came over my eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me; but I was quickly restoieA by the ;rG of the mountains. I peiceivei, as the shipe came ";it nearer (s-ight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was t}re wretch whom I had created. I trembled with ,age hoil; resolving to wait his approach and then close "nd with him i;
qapprness,

stupendous scene. The sea,-or rither the vast river of icg w9u1d among its dependent mountains, whose aerial sumryrts nfng over its recesses. Their icy and glittering peaks shone in the sunlight over the clorids. Ui treartl ivnicn was before sorrowful, now swelled with iomething fiki joy; I exclaimed,-"Wandering spirits, if indeed y" *inO"r, and do not rest ln your nariori beds, allow m6 this faini

exactly opposite, at the distance of a league; and las above it rose Mont Blanc, in awful majesty. I iemained in a recess of the rock, gazing o, thi. -riooderful and

ll ular rock. From the side where I now

ascent. For some time I sat upon the rock that o'veiiooG the sea of ice. A mist covered both that and tne surroun& ing mountains. Presently abreeze dissipaied ttre ctoua, and I.descended_upon the gl-acier. The suriace is very uneveo, rising like the waves.of a troubled .sea, Oesceniting and- interspersed by rifts that sink deep. The field -of icJ p ahost a.league in width, but I spent nearly two hours crossgSll. The.oppg-site mountain is a bar6 perpendio-

It

was nearly noon when

anived at the top of the

mortal combat, He approached; his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with disdain and malignity, while its uncarthly ugliness rendered it elmost too horrible for human eyes. But I scarcely observed this; rage and hatred had at frst deprived me of utterance, and I recovered only to overwhelm him with words expressive of furious detestation and contempt. "Devit," I excleimed, "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 extinctlon of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!"

d;:

stood Moirianvert

I i

"I expected this reception," said the demon. "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 towar,ds you and the rest of mankind. If you will comply with my.conditiops, 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 yoqr remaining friends." "Abhorred monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devill 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
devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? r ife, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend iL 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

to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my

existence of anottrer. He easily eluded me and said, "Be calm!

entreat you

84
and docile

MARy

w.

sTIELLEy

if you can, and if yor will, destroy the work of your hands." and. affection, is mo-st- age. ninemb; thii - *Why do you call to my remembra-nce," I reioined, "cirI-ffi""rhi creature; I ought to. be Adam, but I am rather thl cumstances 6t which I shudder to reflect, that I have been fallen angel,_wlom tlou lhV arivisifr"h-joy fo, no misdeed. the miserable origin and author? Cursed be the duy, 4Everywhere I see bliss, from which f-ai;i" ,. #;;;iy horred devil, in wtrich you first saw light! Cursed (alexcluded. f was benevolent_ and gooa; mis"ry made me a I though I cune myself) be the hands that. formed fiend. Make -yout happy, and I shiti ;i"i"L virtuous.,, _me You-have made me wretched beyond expression. You have $ "Begonet I will not hear you. ThIre can be notmleft me no power to consider whether I am just to y9u you. and mq; we ur" B{;ne,; _Ty:g-!ery9e_n or not. Begbne! Relieve me from the sight of your detet..y: try our_strength in a figh! in which "rimi"r. one mrist fa[.; T tested,form.' "How can I move thee? Will no entreatie, { "Ihus I relieve thee, my creatorr" he said, and placed to turn a favourable eye upoley_o*"toii, nn"-r-pf"r,i, "aor"-th* hated hands before rpy eyes, which I flung from me his lhf eopdness and compassion? fAieue-mi, which y9u I with violence; 'othus I take from thee a sight gtgy"a with love'and ll^^I"T"Igt:rl; mr sirut canst listen to me and grant me tE thou Still abhor. miserabty alo_ne? ?Il^T"f -rgl,4oTr, -you, my creatoi, 5 compassion. By the virtues that I once possessed, I de' aDnor me; what hope can gather from your felloni i mand this froni you. Hear my tale; it is long and strange, -l creatur-es, who owe me nothing? They spui and hate and the temperiture of this place is not fitting to your m9. The desert mountains and dreari eiaciers *";; fine sensatiois; come to the hut upon the mountain. The refuge.-I-Bor wandered here many d"y?; th;-;;? yet high in the heavens; before-it descends to hide sun is y_T:n I onry.{o not tea4 are ia*iilii,g to me, and i:t itself bihind lour snowy precipicas and illuminate another q9 ogy one which man does not grudge.-These 6leak world, you wilt have h-eaid m^y story and can decide' On forl!"y-*-kinder to fr"tta" your fellow lE:r__IlaiJ, you ii iests, whether I quit forever the neighbourhood D-emgs. lt the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, man and lead a harmless life, or become the scourge of d9, and ar. A"mr"ri", 9:l_L9{9 {9 gs,you of your fellow sreatures and the author of your own destructiron. Shail I not then hate them who abhor mc-? ruin." speedy I rydl keeq !9 lerms with my-enemi; i .Gr"ble, As he said this he led the way across the ice; I followed. and they shall share my rnned.:hedness. yei"e t fu i" t;; was full, and I did not answer hi4, but qs ! My heart F)wer 10 reompense me, and deliver them from an erit proceeded, I weighed t}re various arguments that he had whrch It onl4 remaqq f91 you to mate so greaL that not at least to listen to his tale. I was deterrnined irsed and yg:, and your family,, but thousands ol others, shall prly and compassion confirmed- my partly curiosity, urged by be swa[owed up in qe whirlwinds of its rage. Le[ your him 1s be the murderer supposed I hitherto had iesotirtion. compassion be moved, and do not disdain d". fiste,ii to of my brother, and I eagerly sought a confirmation or my tale; when you have heard that, abandon o, denial of this opinion. For the first time, also, I felt miserate me,- as you shall judge that I deserve. But "o.hear what the duties of a creator towards his creature werq me. 't.he guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloodv as to render him happy before I comand that I ought tley are, lo_speak in their own defence before they are -wickedness. These motives urged m9 to plained his of condemned. Listen to me, Frankenstein. you accuse me of -comply with his demand. We crossed ttre ice, thelefore, murder, and yet you would, with a sati*nea cins"ien"e, -aicended the opposite rock. Tte air was cold, and and
then,
9'

to mv natula! Iord and king if thou wilt also thy parl tn" wnicr-iroil"i;il. oil F;";f;: ry$"ry stein.be not eq-uitable to.every t iltir-"ffii me- alo_ne, to whom thy justic6, "th;i;e anO even thv clemencw

85

Frankenstein

your creature. Oh, praise the-eternal iustice of destroy 'YLt own you not to spare me; listen to me,-and I ask man!

F;i;;;ir, hd;;fr

li,

1l

{l

for;i

86

MARY W. SEELLEY

f&*d,# H,f tg[ H*,;;#ixT[,:t,J[t H,

#J*t$6f

ffi:

ft,,

:*i;riffi:.f#
lr
G

tl IDGd

t*da
hy,

lr{ fnv

qtc&

a tlcd

qryk - 'asi

al

wil

lEdve to -tori fqha t fuest n r Look rer

&srant
L1 hnnger
St:

re by sle at was dr tihtend ar ril-re. f,gfs1g C cold, I hr the were ir right I was

bging on ry &int at

Froircnstein

Chapter p0
oo* T,,rh*!"ffirrf :Jn ffsillff T* :g"i::j lrt", for .my gpproftA;, "fr- l"i3_i#:",ffi i. ,n"rrrq rri"" fr labour *-oi#Hi for ,"1"":?:lq":,t?l^:l*,ptu* the ;A;i,I H l;rl;"ilH;"Hfif$"?f remit{ng attentioi
ct4E^i^-e t:-Lr t

rc:t senseless.Uy tp fiendiih threats; U"iho*, for thi ct time, the wickedness. of my promise bu*t upon me; &- uddered 16 rhink that futuie ages might-"orr" m" a,

everlasting ggnerations? ttre sophlsms of the being

I had before been moved I had created I had beo

n-ot nesiltatea

,it poq whose selfishness,had

gaged

wio in-"ir pili"*uili.y was to bF 19t;. 3od .t ", reasoning-rfi;;; ht a thinkins and refuse to co.n1ilV with a Eompact maae "be'tore tl"Tr"atior. Thev

{1 come

ffiul"oo* about to *t"r"'iiri"iiffJi.' r wrs fgi_ 31.ft:r being "i arike become_ t"o ifo"ruro times EorE Hi,:Tjj.1l"^_qqhr marignaal than hEr ilIi T!: *a_g;,lsh!l;1t, in murder and wretchednss-s.ffc "fr f,ad' ,io.o to quit thc neighbourhood of man gd.hite hilr;lfj; deserrs, but naa

unparalleled barbaritv nad it forever with the biiterest OesotaGi^riy

yl* I-:n r was en1oyg ttre same manler- ana nia cre;til;
;;;; iJ*
fend whosc
and fi1ed

curred

ooto me which led "ire,flestion ti-'Joirit"ia. efiecrs of T" doing. mdr;aff'tioi",

to it.

AJi;ft;;t

and claim the tuifilnent oily prdir". -*As gy I looked e11 him, his countenaoce expresied tne utGt extent of malice and treachery. I tirought with-; progress

!,1pqace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of Oi tre human race. and my leaq lailed within me, when, on Ltremble{ up, I saw by the lighl of the moon the demon ttng casement.'A ghastly-grh wdnkt;d hi, tip.;h; on me, where I ssf futfilting the task which he had EEd =_thf fttted -tg me. Yes, he hag foll6wed me in my travels; h had loitered in forests, hid himself in-caves,-or taker 6ge in wide and desert heaths; and he now came to

t" bry it

F tniog lq him, and trembling ,foth tar.io;, L* i" pi.o; on which I was-engagei. The'wretcn saw me F &*r-oy creature on wUoie"tuture
I left the room, and locking the door, made a solemn lrlp rn my own heart never to resume my labours; and 6spUing steps, I so"ght my-oom apartmeNrt. sq1 r was "tF none wgre +e-ar me to dissipate tire goom -arone; ld-_relieve me from the sickening oppiirT* of the-most
and with a howtoi o""ilLi &p.i, -1d:|j:r lupqilT., x revenge, withdrew.

rnsation of madness

o-1.

my promisj of creatlif

a";4";
he
de-

-tle

i"irtrr""

Htglr,^.^r.?r-,nateeach.rth"ri,:i;;;;;""';,il*#"ffi
]vr, (ussrutr disgust flfiT,*",:"H1"",::3:-sl,: s" qtsil ffi with fiom him to the ,up"rioi6"ffi""Tff;,*# alone. ;";.;;;;d6trJ?1$ exasperar;d i"rff"o'tffi ;m d;;, 111...^=.r_F li^T:, 3-13"^"b: "ti lg:il ,'g*:,i?",fj.,h:,^*_d::,T:gby:&;#-f"o*sp"ci",l E :o ,I they weie to rea;;'E;;pe ffi"ti"ilil',ffJ serts of th9 new world, yet oae oi th;# .ffi rcnrrt*e ar ?f;"Ti *":::::tl^Lt*:X*"1,liv"i*""*o?-tnffi r:l wniffi""d;_;;;T;*iJ.i p#,:,"y1ry:r:s ffifrE # *S *""rot a"rl, ;"iE"Hlinff
150 celve a greater abhorrence.for it'wtren itTam"

U"tti" H,

#*""_ " -woii?E #iiffin,ffi th;T# *^,:T* :^h: a :,e{_p;i; species of man dnation ::rT; ir*"IfirJ;fdfiTf Had r righ! for .y o*r'bei"d;;;fu inflict this crrrse CurSe

tor ihe winds rere hushed, and all trature reposed under'the eye oi-Au quiet moon. A few fishing rrgssgts aor-rllt.a ;;G; od now and then the g6ntle btann, ili6d tnet[; sounO oi ritm as the fshermen-called to o"e a""tn"r. I felt thJ delce,..although I was hardly cos"io*-of its exiemi my eq wry suddenly arrested by the *T,11ry:,until Padrrlrng of oars near the shore, and a persotr 6nded &se to my house. few minutes after, I heard the creaking of my - In a door, as if sone oo" eod"arJroed t"-rp";it'*ft1y. i

irible reveries. hours passed, and f remained near my window _I1.4 ol qe seal it was almost motionless, ruq

752

MARY W. SIIELLEY

impending danger, and was rooted to the ipot. Pres-ently I heard the sound of footstepjabng the sage; th9 d!,or opened, and tle wretch iinom I are appeared. Shuttlng the door, he approached me and rn a smothered voice, ..you have destroyed the r y!1h.^v*_ !,eSan; what is. it^ B"! yo"'ioi"oAf5o"i; oare to your of .the Rhh"; among its willow id#ds ffi".H :I"* summits of its hills.-I hive dwelt many

felt a presentiment of it was and wished to rouse 6ne of tte peasants wno , in a cottage not far tom mine;-U"il';;overcome g1_rynsati,on of helplessness, so often felt in frigh gms,: when you in vain endeavour to fly froil

trembled from head to foot;

Fru*enstein You can blast my other passions, but revenge rc. t--- revenge, hencefsrth dearer than light or foodl I die, but frst you, my tyrant and tbrmentor, shall th9 sun that gazes otr your misery. Beware, for I iearless and therefore powerfirl. I will watch with wiliness of a snake, that I may $ing with its venom. g fo-u shall repent of the injuries you inflict., Tevil, cease; and do not poisoa the air with these rds of malice. I have declared my resolution to yorl i I am no coward to bend beneatir words. Leave-mei

mrsery;

promise? I have toil id fle+ I left Switzerland with y9u; Iendured crept along tio
months

inexorable."

lgaths of-England and'among the desefts of Scoflaod. I have endured incalculable fati!1-9, and cold,;.d h*gr; do you dare destroy my hopei?,, ^promise; "Bego_!_e! I do bieak-my never will I create anoller IiEe_ yourself, equalin defonnity and wickednissf "slave,
yotrself unworthy o! my condesiensibn. Remembir thd r h?ve power; you- believe yourself miserable, but I satr mat(e you so wretched that the light of day wili be hateful tg you. You are my creator, but I afr your master; obey!" hour of my irre_solution is plst, and the period of -':Th" your power is arrived. Your threats cannot move me to do an act of wickedness; but tley confirm me in a de_ termination of not creating you a cbmpanion in vice. StaU I, ll.cool.blogd, set loosJripon ttre eirtn a a"mon *h;; delight is in death and vnetihedness? Begone! i arl ffln, and your words will only exasperate my'iige.,, The monster saw my ddermination- in -my face and gnashed tris teeth ;o 6j impotence of ,ng"r. i.Sha[ erch pu"i'. cried.he, ..find a wife for his bo"som, and each jis mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of af::^1ll-nu* recuon-_and they were requited by detestation anE scorn. may hate, but beware!'yo* no*, *ill-p;;iri Yl"-i drryg I_"y q3d misery, and soon the bolt will fall whicfr must yg" your happiness forever. Are you to be lT:t tr?T trappy while I grovel in the intensity of my -wretcheG

lhe

irthc
I would have seized him, but ho eluded ne and quitted ; hanse with precipitation. Ia a few moments I safo t im
-!b borq which shot across the waters with an arrowy
AII
and was soon lost amidst the wave,s.

betore reasoned with you, but ygu have proved

sE me. llliur-ed-up fty had I not followed hlm and closed s,ith hfu in mtal strife? But I had suftEred him to depart, and he H directd his course towards the mainland. f sfuaaered -tE !o tT"k who might be the next victim sac{ificed t

but his words rang in my ears. f luq pg"io sileng pu{sue tg the murderei of my peace y$.raff precipitate-$im inlo rhe ocean. I walked up aia down il T"d -imagination rr.roop hastif and -perturbed, while my -and
a thousand rln$es to torment

tg

The night passed away, and the sun rose Eom the my.feelings became calmer, if it may be called 11.e111; cJrnnesg when the violence of rage sinks into the depths

E man-y months, str.eamed from my eyes, and I resolved - t{!o t {l before mI enemy without:a 6iuir struggte.

res the period fixed for the fumlmeoi of mv destinv. tsthut hour I should die an{ at once satisfy arrdLxtinffi .lti::. T_he pr-ospect did not ilv ;re to t"ur? Vei * lien l--thought of my beloved Elizabeth, of hei iei.r endtess sorro% when she should nnd ner lover so ;dtshrously saatched from her, team, the first I had shed

again of his words_ a nil ygu be with on^your we&hglniehtIAa{ theo, =ratfle-revelge.

And then

thought

t. My

dutiec ;sxte1 slaims

will enable you to understand the depth of All that I should express of disappointnnent. But I I 'I may there find consola

sorrow?

greater pro-

this view, I rcompanim

d malignity rtls; he de pisife sennow where

imself that c die. The led. When sked you r this road virtue.

am intemrpted. What do these sounds portend? It is midnight; the breeze blows fairln and the watch on deck scarcely stir. fuain there is a sound as of a human voice, but hoarser; it comes from the cabin where 1[e 3s6ains of Frankenstein still lie. I must arise and examine. Good

rntry and

p return' meeting hts, and

duties,
ask

ady dis-

not

misled

nlschief ,I mo; uihich leloved

rcwelln amIt one

il

s. Yet
these :ngth"

I half
I was
tosed

ssed

nely

night, my sister. -Gieat boat what a scene has iust taken place! I am yet dizy 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 wi1trsu1 ihis final and wonderful catastrophe. I entered the cabin where lay the remains of my ill-futed and admirable ftiend. 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 oler the coffin, his face was concealed by long locks of ragged haii; 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 loattrsome yet appalling hideousness. I shut my eyes iwoluntarily 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. 'ofhat is also my victim!" he exclaimed. 'Tn his murder my crimes are consu[tmated; the miserable serias 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 col{ he cannot
answef me."

that

2V2

MARY

w.

sIrBLLsr

203
gubdued

Frunkenstein

His voice seemed suffocated, and my first impulses, *H"U nua sussested to me the duty of obeying the dying reouest of mi-ftiend in destroying his enemy' were now sus'oended bi a mixttue of curiosity and compassion' I apriroacneA iiis tremendous being; I dared not again raise to his face, there was sbmething so scaring and ,i'i "vo in his ugliness. I attempted to speak, bol tE uri"urttty worOs tii"A away on my lips. fhe monlter continued to utter wild and incoh6rent self-reproaches. At length I eathered resolution to address him iu a pause of the iefipot of his passion. "Your tepentance," I sa!d' "iq no# superfluoui lt you had listeged to the voice of conscieice and heeded the stings of remorse before you had urged your diabolical vengeance to this extremity, would yet have lived." Frankensteii do you dreattt?" said the demon. "Do y-ou thint
that

';Aod I was then dead to agony and remorse? He," he continuea, pointing to the corpse, "he suffered not in the consumiation-of the deed.-Oh! Not the ten-thousandth oortion of the anzuish that was mine during the lingering fetail of its exec[tion. A frightful selfishness hurried me my heart was poisoned with remorse. Think o", "rm" tnat the $oans of Clerval were music to my ears? ""ir irfi n"art wai fashioned to be susceptible of love and syinpatry and when wrenched by- misery to vice and the- chaoge titriE ii aia not endure the violence of witlorit torture urch as you cannot even imagine. *After the murder of Clerval I returned to Switzerlan4 heart-broken and o-r,ercome. I pitied Frankenstein; my piw amounted to horror; I abforred myself. But when existence i discovered that he, &e author at once of myfor a"a of its unspeakabie totments, dare{ tg hope F"ppi rress, that white he accumulated wretchedness -and despair uDon me he sought his own enjoyment in feelings and o'assions from tf,e indulgence of which I was forever il 6"rr"a, then impotent envy and bitter indignation--filled t ni wiln an insatiable thirit for vengeance. I recollected I my threat and resolved that it should be accomplished' I hiew that I was preparing for myself a deadly torture, but I was the slav-e, iot thi master, of an impulse which I detested yet could not disobey. Yet when she died! Nan then i was not miserable. I had cast off all feeling
I

my good' Urged thus far' r ffi f["t*t"-fu became m-y naturg to an ele'me'at adapt de;-;i;it" but tochoseh. The completion of m-v de h;d;flirgtv ffi"fi And now ;;;i"A-e;tieo b5;,." an insatiab.le.passior' victim!" last my is is enAea; ihere it " i",ut?ht t touched by the expressions of his oisery; had said *n I catled to ;i;d what'Frankensteinand-wten ""t " 'J"hi;;;;-"f neryuasion' 11{ "ioqo*g" bn the lifeleis form of--my Fi*.$ I asain cast my "y". me' "Wretch!" I said''rt irliffitriti*"t"ft"o.a within over the desolation whine to h"te you *rt" that il w-en into a pile of torch a throw il;;;Lie made.'You are consumed, you sit ago$ they when 6'JioG,-*a fall' Hypogritical fiend! If h th";ift' and lament th; still frbua he be the qbittr' ffioilyd;;* ttiu lived, accursed venprey, the he become asain #outd -of -your you lament ontv .ii ;Eil"* Ift;"i pitv that vori-feeli withdrawn from
-exge-ss

dl

anguish,

to riot in the

o.f

4y aryp*:

ilffi;;

in"-tiJi-'oi' vo* tiutie*tv powet." your ' - "ol, it is not tbus-not thus," intemrpted the being' q d; the impression conveyed to ygy 'Y;?uctil*t I Yet of to be the pi"port 4y-actioos' may, *iri sym.pathy miserv'-No m! in "pp"*t rlerng #i:n;i;f"ltow i!, t! wP the love or i ere, find. When I first sought affection with which aqd ili;; fr-Ji""ritgt ot n"fpin"si to be partici r wished that iir *h"r. beine"overfl;i;id, become to me a shador' ;"'t.d. ffi;*ithat virtue itas biter into tumed are affection and ile th;itilpiness I seek fo-r sympa$t{ ili r*tti"*'d"tpuit, in what should while my sufferin-gs shall ffi;;;t""J ti t.in"t alone I die, I am well satisfied that abhorrw ""a*",-*i* *a-oioiotrium sirould load my memory'- fame, 9"o u '{ irncv was soothed with dreerns of virtue, of -dl-Iii":v..tt. b'-r oo." I falsely h-oped to met with h would love c ;h;;A;;rt g -y oottrutdI fo:rm, of u@; wa,s'cap1b]e qialities which ih" Lf*ui"t i;;;;"tttfJ *itn high thougnts ot r'^-:- +l C-

;;A-t

itEs44 r d ioiifr."E"t ;;* ;rin;'h* m ilJ. No eult, u" rounJ comPec ' ,i..ty, -B "* *gII*r, tne Over "*'t'g'- - - ---IIII -rll

li1f -1!IE
-T

more.

MARY W. SIIBLLEIY that I am the same creature whose thouehta wef,e @co filled with sublime and transcendent visionl of the beauty and the majesty of goodness. But it is even so; the fallei angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in hii desolation; I am aloae. "You, who call Frankenstein your friend, seem to havo 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 sxsting in impotent passions. For while I destroved destroyed his I did nq satisfy my own desires. They were !op"r, forever ardent and craviig; 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 humanlrind humankind sinned against me? me? Why do you not hate Feli6 Felir; who drove his friend from his door with contumely? contumelv? Why do-you ngt-eleqate the rustic who sought to destr6y ttre saviour of his child? Nay, these are -virtuous aaf, immasufu1s beings! I, the miserable and the abandond tm 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 tme that I nm a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless; I have strangled the innocent as they slept and grasped to death his ihroat who never iniurd me or any other living thing. I have devoted cre?to_L the selest specimen of all that is worthy of -my love and admiration among me& to misery; I have puriued him even to that irremediable ruin. There he liei, white and cold in death. You hate me, but your abhorrence cannot equal that nith s'hich I regard myself. I look on the hands which executed the deed; I thint on the heart in which the imagination of it was cgnceived and long for the moment when these hands will meet mv eyes, when that imagination will haunt my thoughts n6

2A

Frmkenstein

I shall quit your vessel on tho icelaft which brought me thither and shall sek the most northern extremity of the globe; I shall collect my funeral Oile and consume to ashes rhis miserable frame, that its
to perform this sacdfice.
iemains 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

ooffume me or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet unquenched. He is dead who called me into being; aad wh6n I shall be no more, the very remembrance of us both will speedily vanish. I shall no longer see the sm or stars oi feel the winds play on my cheels. ligfit' feeling, and sense will pass away; and in this conditioo -I find my happiness. Some- yeals ago, rsten tfo musJ imases which this world aftords first ope,ned upon rcr whe-n I felt the cheering warmth of summer and herd the rusfling of the leaves. and thrc 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?

"FarewelM leave you, and in you the last of human' kind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wet yet alive and yet cherished a desire me, it would be better satiated in of revenge against -in mv destruction. But it was not so; thou mv life tlan diist 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 vengean@ greater than that which I feel. Blasted as thou wert, my agony wilti still superior to thine, for the bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankie in my wounds until death shall close them
forever.

mischief. My wgrk is nearly complete. Neither yours nor any man's death is needed to consunmate 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

"Fear not that

shall be the instmment

of fuhre

"But soon," he cded with sad and solemn e,nthusiasm, "I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these Uurning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile tiumphantly and exult in -the agony oj flames. fne Ugnt of that conflagratio-n will AL torttuing -my ashes will &, swept into the seq Uy tE fade away; winds. lvfi spirit will sleep in peace, or if it thints' it will not surely think thus. Fatewell."

The Prot

08r
196!9

are

Nebr,

Univr
Tales

kins t
Freder The Jc

Univer
moderr, ( l 830),

drarnas:

Bigland,
Church,

t92t
Gerson, .l Mar)
1973

Grylls,

R,

Unive

trighton,
Shelle.

Marshall,

Wollstt Nitchie, Eliz

wick, I
: