11 Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself my height is superior to thine my joints more supple. 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. “Be calm! I entreat you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. My rage was without bounds I sprang on him, impelled by all the feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another. Related Segment The SciFri Book Club: ‘Frankenstein’ Wretched devil! you reproach me with your creation come on then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed.” “Abhorred monster! fiend that thou art! the tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes. 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.” How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. “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. “I expected this reception,” said the dæmon. “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!” But I scarcely observed this anger and hatred had at first deprived me of utterance, and I recovered only to overwhelm him with words expressive of furious detestation and contempt. He approached his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with disdain and malignity, while its unearthly ugliness rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes. I trembled with rage and horror, resolving to wait his approach, and then close with him in mortal combat. I perceived, as the shape came nearer, (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch whom I had created. 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. 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. 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.” Read the book for free.Īs I said this, I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed. Their icy and glittering peaks shone in the sunlight over the clouds. The sea, or rather the vast river of ice, wound among its dependent mountains, whose aerial summits hung over its recesses. I remained in a recess of the rock, gazing on this wonderful and stupendous scene. 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. The opposite mountain is a bare perpendicular rock. The field of ice is almost a league in width, but I spent nearly two hours in crossing it. The surface is very uneven, rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low, and interspersed by rifts that sink deep. Presently a breeze dissipated the cloud, and I descended upon the glacier. A mist covered both that and the surrounding mountains. For some time I sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of ice. It was nearly noon when I arrived at the top of the ascent. The following is an excerpt from Frankenstein: Annotated for Scientists, Engineers, and Creators of All Kinds by Mary Shelley, edited by David H.
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