Frankenstein, Volume III

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satisfied that nothing on earth will have the power

to interrupt my tranquility.

Do not let this letter disturb you; do not

answer it tomorrow or the next day or even untill

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 happ exertion of mine I

shall need no other happiness;

Elizabeth Lavenza

Geneva

April May 18th 17——

This letter revived in my memory what I had

before forgotten, the tr threat of the fiend.– I will be

with you on your wedding night! Such was my

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sentence, and on that night would the dæmon employ

every art to destroy me and tear me from the

p ^ glimse of happiness which promised to partly to so console

my sufferings. On that night he had determined

to consummate his crimes by my death. Well be it so;

a deadly strugle would then assuredly take place

where if he wer should be ^ was 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 pennyless and alone, but

free. Such would be my liberty except that in

my libert Elizabeth I possessed a treasure, alas!

balanced by the horrors of remorse and guilt

which would pursue me untill death.

Sweet and beloved Elizabeth! I read and re-

read her letter and some softened feelings stole

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T.K

Soon after my arrival my father spoke

of my immediate marriage with my cousin. I

remained silent.

"Have you then some other attachment?"

"None on earth; I love Elizabeth and look

foward to our union with delight. Let the

day therefore be fixed and on it I will consecrate

my ^ s ^ self 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 wh to those who yet

live. Our circle will be small but bound close

by the ties of affection and mutual misfortune-

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and when time shall have softened your despair

new and dear cares will be to 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 will 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 conten d t ed 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

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adversary I would rather have banished myself for

ever from my native country and wandered ^ a friend-

less 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 prepared only

my own death I hastened that of a far dearer victim.

As the th period fixed for our marriage drew

nearer wh wh whether from cowardice or a prophetic

feeling, I felt my heart sink within me. But I concealed

my feelings by b an appearance of hilarity that

brought smiles and joy to the countenance of my fa-

ther but hardly deceived the ever watchful and

nicer eye of Elizabeth. She looked forward to our u-

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nion with placid contentment not unmingled

with a little fear, which past misfortune 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; congratu-

latory were received, and all wore a smiling appear

ance. I shut up as well as I could in my own heart

the anxiety that preyed there and entered with sen

seeming earnestness into the plans of my father

altho although they might only serve as the decora-

tions of my tragedy. A house was purchased for us

near Cologny by which we should enjoy the plea-

sures of the country and yet be so near Geneva

as to see my father every day; who would still

reside within the walls for the benefit of Ernest that

he might follow his studies at the schools.

In the mean time I took every precaution

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to defend my person in case the fiend should openly

attack me. I carried pistols and dagger constantly

about me and was ever on the watch to prevent

artifice and by these means gained a greter degree of

tanquillity. Indeed as the the period approached the

threat appeared more as a delusion not bo to be re-

garded 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 solemnization drew nearer and I heard it

continully spoken of as an occurrence which no ac

cident could possibly prevent.

Elizabeth seemed happy and this change

from mirth to content which she saw come over

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me. But on the day that was to fulfil my wi 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 the following day. My father was in the

mean time overjoyed, and, ^ in the bustle of pe preparation,

only observed in the melancholy of his niece the

a 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 pass the afternoon

and night at Evian and return to Cologny the

next morning. As The day was fair and the the

wind was favourable we resolved to go by water.

Those were the last moments of my life du

ring which I enjoyed the felling of happiness. We

passed rapidly along; the sun was hot but we were

sheltered by from its rays by a kind of canopy while

we enjoyed the beauty of the scene; sometimes on

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one side of the lake where we saw Mont Salêve,

the pleasant banks of Montalêgre and at a dis

tance surmounting all the beeautiful Mont

Blânc and the assemblage of snowy mountains

that ^ in vain endeavour in va 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 insurmount

able barrier to the invader who should wish to

enslave it.

I took the hand of Elizabeth s : "You are sorrow

ful, 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

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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 lis 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 Mônt Blânc, under this scene of

beauty still more interesting. Look also at the

innumerable fish that are smi 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 fluc

tuating; joy for a few instants shone in her

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ey 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 Ap Alps here come closer

to the lake and we approached the amphi-

thre theatre of mountains which forms the

eastern boundary of the lake. The spire of Evian

shone un t d e 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 a-

long with amazing rapidity sunk at sunset to a

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light breeze; the light air just ruffled the water

and caused a pleasant motion among the trees as

we approached the shore it wafted the most de-

lightful scent of flowers and hay. The sun sunk be-

neath 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 forever.

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Chapter VI

It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walk

ed for a short time on the shore enjoying the

transitory light and then retired to the inn and con

templated the lovely scene of waters, woods and mountains

obscured in darkness yet still displaying the y ir black

lovely ^ black 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 dim

me r d her rays while the lake reflected the scene of the

busy heavens se rendered still busier made 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 thousands

fears arose in my mind. I was anxious at watchful

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while my right hand grasped a pistol which

was hidden in my bosom; every sound terrified

me but I s resolved that I would sell my life

as dearly as possible and not relax the impending

conflict untill my own life, or that of my adversa

ry were extinguished.

Elizabeth observed my agitation for some

time in timid and fearful silence; at length she

said, What is it that agitates your, 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

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suddenly I reflected how dreadful the combat which I

momentarily expected would be to my wife and earnest

ly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her

untill I had obtained some knowledge as to the

situation of my enemy.

She left me, and I continued sometime walking

up and down the passages of the house and

inspecting every corner that might afford a re

treat to my adversary. But I discovered no trace

of him and was beginning to cons ider jecture that some

fortunate chance had intervened to prevent

the execution of his menaces; when suddenly I heard

a shrill and dreadful scream i — I i t came from the

room into which Elizabeth had retired . , a A s 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 o i nstant; the scream was repeated,

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and I rushed into the room. [Gread God! Why did I not

then expire! Why am I here to relate the dustruction

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 lo o s e recollection;

I fainted.

When I recovered, I found myself surrounded by

the people of the inn; their countenances expressed

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a breathless terror but the horror of others appear

ed only as a mockery, a shadow of the feelings that op-

pressed 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 dealthy

dealthy languour of the limbs told me that what

I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Eliza

beth whom I had loved and cherished; the [Vol. III-G 121] [murder

rous 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

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the chamber, the shutters had been thrown back; and,

with a sensation of horror not be described, ^ I saw that

the open window a figure the most hidious and

abhorred. A grin was was on the face of the monster;

he seemed to jeer as with his fiendish finger he pointed

towards the window corpse of my wife. I rushed towards

the window, and, drawing a pistol from the window and

my bosom, shot; but he eluded me, leapt from his

station, and running with the swiftness of lightning

plunged into the lake. [XThe report of the pistol brought

a crowd into the room; I pointed to where he had

disappeared and we followed the tract with boats; nets

were cast but in vain. After passing in the several

hours we returned hopeless, most of my companions

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believing it ^ to have been a form conjured my by my

fancy. After having landed they proceeded to search the

country, parties going in different directions among

the woods and vines.

I did not accompany them; I was exhausted,

a film covered my eyes and my skin was parched with

the heat of fever. In this state I lay on a bed

hardly conscious of what had happened; my eyes

wandered round the room as if to seek somthing

that I had lost. [At length I remembered that my father

would anxiously expect the return of Elizabeth and

myself, and that I must return alone. This reflec

-tion brought tears into my eyes and I wept for a long

time; but my thoughts rambled to various subjects,

reflecting 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 mo-

ment I knew not that my only remaining friends were

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safe from the malignity of the friend fiend; my father

even now might ^ be writhing under his grasp and Er-

nest might be dead at his feet. This p 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

amd 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 tor

ment in bodily exercise. But the overflowing misery

I now felt and the excess of agitation that I endured

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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 lour, 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 crea-

ture had ever been so miserable as I was. So fright

ful an event was single in the history of man.

But why should I dewe dwell upon the inci

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dents that followed this last overwhelming event.

Mine has been a tale of horrors, I have now reached

their acme me and what I must now relate can

but be de tedious to you . no Know that, one by one, my friends

were snatched away; I was left desolate. ow My own

strength is exhausted; and I must tell in 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 delight. His neice, his more than daugh

-ter whom he doated ^ on with all the affection that a

man in the dec t l ine of life having few affections clings

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more earnestly to those that remain. Cursed, Cursed

be the fiend that brought wretchedn misery of on his

grey hairs and domed him to waste in wretchedness.

He could not live under the horrors that were

accumulated around him; an approplectic fit was

brought on 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 solita

-ry cell had been my habitation. [But liberty had

been a useless gift to me had I not at the same

time that as I awakened to reason at the same

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time awakened to revenge. As the memory of past

misfortunes prest upon me, I began to f reflect

on their cause; T t he monster whom I had created, the

miserable dæmon whom I had sent ^ abroard into the world

for my destruction. I was possessed by a madening

rage when I thought of him and desired and ardently

prazed 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 use

less wishes; I began to reflect on the best means of se

-curing 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

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I knew the destroyer of my family and that I required

him to exert his whole authority for the apprehension

of the murderer.

KT 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 how

ever wonderful forces conviction. The story is too con

nected 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 th e is purpose quieted my agony and provisonably

reconciled me to life. I now related my history briefly but

with firmness and precision, marking the dates

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with accu s r acy, and never deviating into invective or

exclamation. [The magistrate appeared at first per-

fectly incredulous but as I continued he became more

attentive and interrested; I saw him sometimes shud

der with horror, at others a lively surprise unmin

gled 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

detection 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 revold revolt from the execution of

those functions on this occasion."

This address caused a considerable change in the

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phisiognomy of my auditor. He had heard my story with

that half kind of belief that is given to a tale of spi-

rits 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

in your persuit; but the creature of whom you

speak appears to have powers which would put all

my exertions to defiance: Who can follow and 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 commis

-sion of his crimes and k 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 des-

troyed as a beast of prey. But I perceive your thoughts

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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 ma-

gistrate was intimidated; Y y ou 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 impracti

cable and that, while every proper measure is

pursued, you should endeavour to make up your mind

to a disappointment.

That cannot be; but all that I can say will be

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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 devour

-ing and only passion of my soul. My rage is unspeaka

ble 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 de-

vote myself either in ^ my life or death to his destruc-

tion.

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 martys 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 deli

rium[. "Man, I cried, how ignorant ar e t thou in thy pride of

wisdom. Cease, you know not what it is you say.

I broke from the house ang ^ ^ angry and disturbed and retired to

meditate on some other mode of action.

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Chapter 7VII

My present situation was one in which all vo-

luntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hur-

ried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with

strength and composure, it modelled my feelings and

allowed me to be call 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 hurf hurtful 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

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but with life. I have traversed a vast portion of the

earth and have endured all the hardships which

travellers in desarts and barbarous countries are wont

to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; Many times have

I stretched my wear failing limbs and on 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 I my first labour was

to gain some clue but by which I might trace the

steps of my fiendish enemy. But my plan was unset-

tled and I wandered many hours around the confines

of the tw town uncertain what path I should pursue.

As night approached I found myself and at the entrance

of the cemetarycemetery 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

breeze; the night was nearly dark and the scene

would have been solemn and in terresting affecting

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even to an uninterested observer; the spirits of the

departed seemed to flit around and to cast a shadow

which was felt but seen not 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 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, ohO Night, and

by the spirits that preside over thee, I swear to

pursue the dæmon who caused this misery untill

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he or I shall perish in mortal conflict. For this

purpose I will preserve my life: to exce t c ute 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 that almost assured me that the shades

of my murdered friends heard and approved my devotion.

But rage ^ the furies possessed me as I concluded, and rage choaked

my utterance. [I was answered through the stillness

of night by a lon 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 mock

ery and laughter. Surely in that moment I should

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have been possessed by frenzy and have destroyed my

miserable existence, but that my vow was heard

and I was reserved for vengeance. The laughter died

away when a well known and abhorred voice ap-

parently close to my ear, addressed me in an audible

whisper; "I am satisfied; yo 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; sud-

denly the broard disk of the moon arose and shone

fully 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 follow

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ed 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 and 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 e have ever followed in his

tract. Sometimes the peasants scared by this horrid

apparition informed me of his path; sometimes

he himself, who feared that if I lost all trace I should

despair and die, often 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 who

are first enterring on life an to whom care is new new to you

and agony unknown; how can you de 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 ^ carried about with me my eternal

hell; yet still a spirit of good followed and directed

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my steps and when I most murmured would sud-

denly extricate me from my seemingly insurmounta

ble difficulties; sometimes when nature over s c ome by

hunger sunk under the exhaustion a repast was

prepared for me in the desart that restored and

insprited me. The fare was indeed coarse, such as

the peasants of the country ate, but I may not doubt

that it was e set there by the sprits th spirits that

I invoked to aid me. Often when all was dry, the hea-

vens 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

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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 bringing

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 My life as it passed thus

F.W/My life as it passed thus was indeed hateful to

me and it was during sleep alone that I could

taste joy. Oh , ! blessed sleep! often when most mise

rable I sank to repose and my dreams lulled me even

to rapture. The spirit that guarded me had provided

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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. Du

ring the day I was sustained and inspirited by the hope

of night; for in sleep I saw ^ saw my friends, my wife and

my beloved country; again I saw the benevolent coun-

tenance 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 untill night

should come and that I should then enjoy reality in

the arms of my dearest friends. What agonizing 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 enjo

enjoined by heaven, as the mechanical impulse

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words. Prepare! Your toils only begin; wrap yourself up

in furs and provide food for we shall soon enter

on a journey where your sufferings will satisfy

my everlasting hatred.

F.W/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 im-

mense desarts untill 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

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mediterranean from the hills of Asia; and hailed

with rapture the boundary of their toils. I did not weep,

but I knelt down and thanked my guiding spirit with

a full heart thanked my guiding spirit for counduct-

ing me in safete safety to the place where I hoped not-

withstanding my adversary's gibe, to meet and grap

ple with him.

Some weeks before this period I had procured a

sledge and go 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 days joury journey in

advance and I hoped to intercept him before

he should reach the beach. With new courage there

fore I pressed on and in two days arrived at a

wretched hamlet on the sea shore. I enquired

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Walton, in continuation

August 2 5 6 – 17—

You have read this strange and terrific story, Mar

geret, and do you not feel your blood congealed with

horror like that which even now curdles mine. Some

times seized with sudden agony he could not continue

his tale, at others his b v oice broken yet piercing uttered

with difficulty the words so replete with agony. His fine

and lovely eyes were now lighted up with indignation,

now subdued to downcast sorrow and infinite wretch

edness. 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

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suddenly change to an expression of the wildest

rage as he shrieked out his imprecations on his per

-secutor.

His tale is connected and told with an appearance

of truth the simplest truth, yet I own to you that

the letters of Felix and Safie which he shewed me,

and the appar t i tion of the monster seen from our ship

brought to me a greater conviction of the truth of

his narrative than his asservations 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 Fran-

kenstein the particulars of his creature's formation, but

on this point he was impenetrable. Are you mad, my

friend , ? said he,? O o r whither does your senseless curiosity

lead you? Would you also create for yourself and the

world a dæmoni le a cl enemy? o O r to what do your questions

lend? Peace, peace! learn my miseries and do not seek

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to encrease your own.

Frankenstein discovered or ^ that I made notes concern

-ing his history; he asked to see them and then

himself as 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 y have preserved my narration, said he, I

would not that a mutilated one should go down

to posterity.

Thus as 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 interrest for my guest which

this tale and his own elevated and gentle manners

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have created. I wish to soothe him yet cannot o 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 h shattered feelings to peace and death; Yet he

enjoys one comfort the offspring of solitude and de-

lirium; he believes that when in dreams he holds

converse with his friends and derives from that

communion consolation for his miseries or ex-

citements to his vengeance that they are not the

creations of his fancy but the real beings 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 interresting

as truth.

Our conversations are not always confined

to his own history and misfortunes. On every

point of general literature he displays unbound-

ed knowledge and a quick and piercing appre-

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You were hereafter to be hailed as the benefactors

of your species; your names adored as belonging

to brave men who encountered death for honor,

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 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

firesides. Y Why that requires not this preparation;

Ye need not have come thus far and dragged your

captain to the shame of a defeat t merely to

prove yourselves cowards. Oh! be men, or be more

than men. Be steady to your purposes, and firm

as rock; this ice is not made of such stuff as your

hearts might be; it is mutable, cannot with

stand you if you say that it shall not. Do

not return to your families with the stigma

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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 thus 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. t T hat I would

not lead them further 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

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sideration of these points and the well balanc-

ing of what you may esteem your duties I leave

to you. My judgement 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 & 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; &

at length exhausted by his effort he sunk

into silence. About half an hour afterwards

he attempted again to speak, but was unable

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— he pressed my hand feebly and his eyes

closed forever while the irradiation of a gentle

smile past away from his lips.

Margaret, what comment can I make on the

untimely extinction of this glorious sprit? What

can I say that will make you understand

the depth of my sorrow? All that I should ex

-press would be inadequate & feeble. My tears

flow- My life is overshadowed with a cloud

of dissappointment. But I journey towards

England, & I may there find consolation.

I am interrupted what do these sounds

portend? It is midnight. The breeze blows

fairly; & 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

arises & examine— Good night my sister- –

Great God! What a scene has just taken

place- I am yet dizzy with the remem-

-brance of it. I hardly know whether I

shall have the power to detail it; yet the

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tale which I have recorded would be incomplete

without this final & wonderful catastrophe.

I entered the cabin where lay the remains of my

of my ill-fated, & admirable friend. Over him

hung a form which I cannot find words to

describe gigantic in stature, yet uncouth & distor

ted in its proportions. As he hung over the

coffin his face was hid by long locks of ragged

hair– but but one vast hand was extended,

in colour & apparent texture like that of a

mummy. When he heard the sound of my

approach; he ceased to utter exclamations of

grief & horror, & sprung towards the window.

Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his

face, of h such loathsome yet apalling hideous

-ness. I shut my eyes involuntarily, as

recollecting what were my duties with respect

to this destroyer, I called on him to stay.

He paused – Looking on me with wonder, &

again turning towards the lifeless form of his

creator he seemed to forget to my presence;

whi and every feature & gesture seemed instigated

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by the wildest rage of some uncontrolable passion

— That is also my victim , ! he exclaimed In

his murdere my crimes are consummated — the

miserable series of my being is wound to its close!

O Frankenstein – generous & self devoted being

what does it avail that I ask thee now to

pardon me. Wherefore do I seek to perish

in thy stead after I have irretrievably des-

-troyed thee, by destroying those thou lovedst

Alas he is cold.. he cannot may not answer me.

His voice seemed suffocated, & my first im

-pulses which had suggested to me the duty

of obeying the dying request of my friend,

in destroying his enemy, now were suspended

by a mixture of curiosity & pity compassion.

I approached this tremendous being– I dared

no w t again to raise my looks upon his face—

there was something so scaring & unearth-

-ly in his ugliness. I attempted to speak,

but his presence was as a burthen which

held me dumb, & the words died on my

lips—. The monster continued to utter

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wild & incoherent reproaches.. At length I gathered

resolution to speak, in a pause as it were in

the tempest of his passion — Your repentance is

now superflous: I said, If you had listened to

the voice of conscience, & 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 &

remorse. – He– he ex p continued, pointing to

the corpse, he suffered not more in consum

-mation of the deed; oh not the ten thousandth

portion of the anguish that was mine during

the lingering detail of its execution. A frigh-

-tful selfishness hurried me on, while my heart

was poisoned with remorse. Think ye that

the groans of Clerval were music to my ear.

My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of

love & sympathy, & when wrenched by misery

to vice & hatred it did not endure the

violence of the change without torture

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such as you cannot even ing im agine— After the

murder of Clerval I returned to Switzerland

heart- broken & overcome - I pitied Frankenstein

My pity ammounted to horror – I abhorred myself.

But when I discovered that he– the author of

at once of my existence and of all its unspea

kable torments dared to hope for happiness —

that whilst he accumulated upon me wretchedness

& despair, he sought his own enjoyment in

feelings & passions from the indulgence of

which I was barred— then impotent envy &

bitter indignation filled me with an insatiable

thirst for vengeance. I recollected my threat

& resolved that it should be accomplished. I

knew that I was preparing for myselft a deadly

torture.. but I was the slave not the master

of an impulse which I detested but 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

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nature to an element which I had chosen willingly.

The completion of my demoniacal design thencefor-

ward became an insatiable pasion— And now

t is ended— there is my last victim!"

I was ^ at first touched by the expression of his misery,

yet when I called to mind what Frankenstein

had said of his powers of eloquence & persua

-sion, & when I again cast my eyes on the

lifeless form of my friend, indignation was

re- kindled within me. — Wretch, I said,

it is well that you come here to whine over

the desolation which you have made – you

throw a torch into a pile of buildings, &

when they are consumed you sit among the

ruins & lament the fall. Hypocritical

fiend! If he whom you lament still lived,

still would he be the object, again would he

become the prey of your accursed vengeamce.

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

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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. I desired that the feelings

of happiness & affection with the hope of which

my whole "being" once overflowed, should be par

-ticipated – But now, that virtue has become

to me a shadow, & happiness & affection are

turned into bitter & loath some ing despair, in what

should I seek for sympathy? I am contented

to suffer alone whilst my sufferings shall

endure. When I die, I am well satisfied

that abhorrence & opprobrium should load

my memory. Once my fancy was soothed with

dreams of virtue of fame & of enjoyment.

Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings

who pardoning my outward form would love me

for the eminent excellent qualities which I was so

eminently capable of bringing forth. I was

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nourished with high thoughts of honour &

lf devotion. But now vice has degraded me

neath the meanest animal. No crimes no

mischief, no malignity no misery can be

found parallell with mine. When I call over

the frightful catalogue of my deeds I cannot

believe that I am he, whose thoughts were once

filled with sublime & transcendent visions of

the beauty & the majesty of goodness – But

it is even so – The fallen Angel becomes a

malignant devil – Yet even that enemy of

God & man had friends & associates in his

desolation. I am quite alone.

You, who call Frankenstein your friend, seem

to have a knowledge of my crimes & his

misfortunes. But in the detail which he

gave you of them he could not sum up the

hours & months of misery which I endured

wasting in impotent passions. For whilst I

destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my

own desires. They were forever ardent & craving.

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Still I desired love & fellowship, & I was stil

spurned — Was there no injustice in this?

Am I to be thought the only criminal whi

all human kind sinned against me? — Why d

you not hate Felix Felix who drove his friend f

his door with contumely? Why do you not

execrate the rustic who sought to destroy th

saviour of his child? Nay, these are virtuo

& immaculate beings. I the miserable & the

abandoned am an abortion to be spurned at,

& kicked & trampled upon— Even now my bloo

boils at the recollection t o f this injustice.

But it is true that I am a wretch. I

have murdered the lovely & the helpless. I have

strangled strangled the innocent as they slept, & grasped

to death the his throat who never injured me

an or any other living thing. I have devoted

my creator, a spec the select specimen of all

that is worthy of love & admiration among men,

to misery: I have pursued him even to that

irremdiable ruin. There he lies, white & cold

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death. You hate me but your abhorrence cannot

al that with which I regard myself. I look

the hands which executed that deed, I think

the heart in which the imagination of it was

ncieved, & long for the moment when they will

eet my eyes, when it will haunt my thoughts

o more.

Fear not that I shall be the instrument of

uture mischief. My work is nearly complete. Neither

ours nor any mans death is needed to consum-

mate the series of my being, & accomplish that

which must be done; but it requires my own.

Do not fear that I shall be slow to perform

this sacrifize. I shall quit your vessel on the

ice-raft which brought me hither; & shall

seek with rapid steps, the most northern ex-

-tremity of the globe. I shall collect my funeral

pile, & consume to ashes this miserable frame,

that its remains may afford no light to any

curious & unhallowed ^ wretch who would create such

another as I have been. I shall die. I shall

no longer feel the agonies which now consume

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me, or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied yet

unquenched. He is h d ead who called me into

being w a nd when I shall be no more, the ^ very rem

-brance of us both will speedily perish. I s

no longer see the sun or stars, or feel the wind

play on my cheeks. Light, feeling & sense wi

pass away. And in this condition must I find

happiness.– Some years ago when the images whi

this world affords first opened upon me, when I

felt the cheering warmth of summer, & hea

the rustling of leaves & the music chirping of

birds, & these were all to me, I should have wep

to die, & now it is my only consolation. Pollut

by crimes & torn by the bitterest remorse where ca

I find rest but in death.

Farewell. I leave you, & in you the last of

human kind whom these eyes will ever behold.

Farewell, Frankenstein. If thou wert yet alive

& yet cherished a desire of revenge against me,

it would be better satiated in my life than my

destruction. But it was not so. You sought

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my extinction because that I might not cause

greater wretchedness; & if yet by in some mode

unknown to me, you thou haste not ceased to think

& feel, you thou desirest not my life for my own

misery. Blasted as thou wert, my agony

was still superior to thine: for the bitter sting

of remorse may not cease to Rankle in my wounds,

until death shall close them forever.

But soon, he cried with sad & solemn enthusi

asm, I shall die, & what I now feel be no

longer felt. . . Soon these burning miseries will

be extinct. I shall ^ moun ascend my funeral pile triumphantly;

& exult in the agony of the torturing flames.

The light of that conflagration will fade away.

I know not My ashes will be swept into the sea

by the winds. My spirit will sleep in peace;

or if it thinks will surely not think thus.

Adieu.

He sprung from the cabin-window, as he said this,

upon an ice raft which lay close to the vessel;

he was soon borne away by the waves, & lost

in the darkness of distance.

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(Wm.)

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A11

whilst I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own

desires. They were forever ardent and craving; still

Still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still

spurned. W h a s 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 Fe

-lix 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 immalculate 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 i s t is true that I am a wrecth 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

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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 they will meet my eyes, when it

will haunt my thoughts no longe more.

Fear not that I shall be the instrument

of future mischief. My work is nearly finished com-

plete. Neither yours nor any mans 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