Color Commentary

by TheseusInTheMaze

Yaz isn't sure what to make of Clara, the woman the Doctor picked up. But things are certainly interesting, now that she's here!

Words: 3327, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 28 of Kinkbruary 2021

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Thirteenth Doctor, Yasmin Khan, Clara Oswin Oswald
• Relationships: Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan/Clara Oswin Oswald
• Additional Tags: Double Penetration, Kinkbruary (Doctor Who), Rimming, Vaginal Sex, Anal Sex, Strap-Ons, Multiple Orgasms, Finger Sucking

These Walls Are Home

by Gallifreyan_Heart

When Clara gets ill after one of their adventures, the Doctor comforts her and she recalls how they got to where they are today. A new kind of adventure meets them in the end.

Words: 1696, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Mature
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswin Oswald
• Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/Clara Oswin Oswald
• Additional Tags: Fix-It, Post-Episode: s09e08 The Zygon Inversion, Hurt/Comfort

Years in the Making

by harmony88

COMPLETE

Halfway through her pregnancy, Rose and the Doctor are forced to go back in time and retrace their steps at the Torchwood Estate, risking a paradox and their entire life together to get some answers they are desperately seeking.

 “Of course not,” she said with a wink, and he sighed.

“I’m serious. We can snap the timeline in a second, Rose. I’d lose you. Both of you, before I could even blink,” he reminded her, his hearts breaking at the mere thought, enough so that he was talking himself out of doing this. She held his hand tightly.

“Not if it's all part of it already,” she whispered. “We just have to be careful. And we will be. I mean, it's not like I’m going to go into labor or -”

“That’s not funny,” he said, his nerves impossibly jumbled at the moment. She just took a deep breath.

 “Stop. Breathe. Believe in me, Doctor. In us?” she whispered, and their eyes locked, hazel galaxies swimming in chocolate.

***Part of the Forever With You sequel series***

Words: 11310, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English

Series: Part 17 of Forever With You: The Chronicles

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Mature
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Original Characters, Queen Victoria, Robert MacLeish, Isobel MacLeish, Werewolf Character(s)
• Relationships: Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Episode Related, Episode AU: s02e02 Tooth and Claw, Time Travel, Romance, problem solving, Retracing Footsteps, Sex, Marriage, Light Angst, Action, Adventure

Nutters of the Lost Ark (Or: Why the Doctor Disapproves of Indiana Jones and His Leather Jacket)

by SelenaTerna

The Doctor and Rose discuss sartorial preferences while watching Indiana Jones. Predictably, the discussion becomes very...heated.

Words: 1457, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 20 of Prompt Fics

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who & Related Fandoms
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, Original Characters
• Relationships: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Fluff, Humour, Jealous Nine, Established Relationship, silliness, Adventure (sort of), Romance, This happened because I was watching Indiana Jones and Nine showed up in my head, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Shorts and Such

by TheBendingCosmos471

Words: 114, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Steven Universe (Cartoon), Rock & Rule (1983), Tonari no Totoro | My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Doctor Who, Illbleed (Video Game)
• Rating: Mature
• Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
• Categories: F/F, F/M, Other
• Characters: Lars Barriga, Sadie Miller, Steven Universe, Connie Maheswaran, Blue Diamond (Steven Universe), Gabriel Erasmus Janan Universe (OC Son), omar (mentioned), Angel (mentioned), Totoro (Tonari no Totoro), lars and Steven are bros
• Relationships: Lars Barriga & Sadie Miller, Connie Maheswaran & Steven Universe
• Additional Tags: I will tag other characters later on, Angst, lots of crossovers, and AU introductions, Sex, Brief mention of Zodick the Hellhog, Brief mention of Sexydoll and Toyhunter, Crack

Immortal Ken

by Trivena_Butterfly

What need have angels to understand the universe? The geocentric cosmology is usually more than sufficient for their purposes.

Words: 496, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV), Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: General Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: Gen
• Characters: Crowley (Good Omens), The Doctor (Doctor Who), Aziraphale (Good Omens)

Never Anyone Else

by ArcadeYouthUnknown

The most painful snippets of Doomsday, all played out from The Doctor's POV.

This is going to hurt. Please be ready for pain.

Words: 7342, Chapters: 3/3, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Not Rated
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: The Doctor (Doctor Who), Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith (mentioned), Jackie Tyler (mentioned), Pete Tyler (mentioned)
• Relationships: The Doctor (Doctor Who)/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Introspection, Character Study, The Doctor Loves Rose Tyler, Episode: s02e13 Doomsday, Angst, Heartbreak, Heartache, Heartbreaking, this is going to hurt

Tastes Like You

by StockingSatsuma (fennelseed)

Just another tribute to Ten's lovely habit of licking stuff. (Originally posted on A Teaspoon and an Open Mind in 2007. Finally bringing here.)

Words: 4661, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler
• Relationships: Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Oral Fixation, Oral Sex, Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Sex in a TARDIS, Getting Together, Licking, Banter

One Shots

by gxldenskyes

One shots for the ‘Down to Earth’ series.

Words: 2299, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of Down to Earth

• Fandoms: Sarah Jane Adventures, Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who & Related Fandoms
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
• Categories: Multi
• Characters: Sarah Jane Smith, Metacrisis Tenth Doctor, Luke Smith, Sky Smith, Rani Chandra, Clyde Langer, Sanjay (Sarah Jane Adventures), Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Jo Grant, Liz Shaw (Doctor Who)
• Relationships: Metacrisis Tenth Doctor/Sarah Jane Smith, Sanjay/Luke Smith, Rani Chandra/Clyde Langer

The Dust and The Stars

by Aesthetic_Clouds

A look into what the Doctor Whoniverse would be like if all the characters had daemons, what they would settle at and anyways that the adventures might change with the addition of daemons.

(currently only focusing on the modern Doctor Who era as I do not have the time to watch classic who yet)

Words: 1021, Chapters: 1/4, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Doctor Who but With Daemons

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: General Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: Multi
• Characters: Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, Twelfth Doctor, Thirteenth Doctor, The Master (Simm), The Master (Dhawan), Missy (Doctor Who), Rose Tyler, Jackie Tyler, Mickey Smith, Donna Noble, Martha Jones, Amy Pond (Doctor Who), Rory Williams, River Song, Melody Pond, Clara Oswin Oswald, Bill Potts, Nardole (Doctor Who), Yasmin Khan, Ryan Sinclair, Graham O'Brien
• Relationships: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Amy Pond/Rory Williams, Eleventh Doctor/River Song, Twelfth Doctor/River Song, Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan
• Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Daemons, Daemons

Ride Home

by Eggling

The thing swung its enormous neck down as she spoke, bringing its head around to prod at her with its short, bristly trunk. The tip of it was wet, and she shuddered, wiping her sleeve on her hip. The motion left a long smear of something on the fleecy fabric, like the track left behind by a snail, and she grimaced, scrubbing harder at the spot until it had disappeared.

On a ride back to the TARDIS, Polly finds herself a bit out of her comfort zone.

Words: 2023, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who, Doctor Who (1963)
• Rating: General Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: Gen
• Characters: Second Doctor, Polly Wright, Ben Jackson, Jamie McCrimmon
• Additional Tags: you could technically read this as ben/polly and I had it in mind while writing this, but technically it's a gen fic

Forever Plus One

by HeinousWriter

Rose Tyler and her son, Irvin, receive a TARDIS blue envelope through a crack in a wall. Curious about its contents, the both of them find a sliver they can travel through back to Rose's universe. How will the Doctor react and adapt to having a family again? What about River? And why is Rose hiding something from the Doctor?

Season 6 - rewrite. 11th Doctor/Rose pairing.

Words: 3873, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
• Characters: Rose Tyler, Rose Tyler | Bad Wolf, Eleventh Doctor, The Doctor (Doctor Who), Amy Pond (Doctor Who), Rory Williams, River Song, OC - Character, Canton Everett Delaware III, Metacrisis Tenth Doctor
• Relationships: Eleventh Doctor/Rose Tyler, Amy Pond/Rory Williams
• Additional Tags: OC, Rose's son - Freeform, Child, Doctor's son, Season/Series 06, Canon Rewrite, Rewrite, pregnant Rose, Love, Reunion, Action/Adventure, Heart of the TARDIS, Pete's World (Doctor Who), Past Relationship(s), Relationship(s), Developing Relationship

FebuWhump2021 Day 28: “You have to let me go”

by startrekkingaroundasgard

The reader knows that this is the last time they’ll ever see River and find it difficult to let her leave.

Words: 742, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 28 of FebuWhump2021

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Relationships: River Song/Reader
• Additional Tags: Fear of Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Sad Ending, Goodbyes, Alien Character(s), sentient mushrooms, Established Relationship, Fluff and Angst, Feelings

A Bit More than a Smacked Bottom

by TheseusInTheMaze

Bill is refreshingly straightforward about what she wants. The Doctor is only slightly flustered.

Words: 2183, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 27 of Kinkbruary 2021

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Thirteenth Doctor, Bill Potts
• Relationships: Thirteenth Doctor/Bill Potts
• Additional Tags: Belting, Grinding, Kinkbruary (Doctor Who), Sappy

Contretemps

by Riathel

“You know, Doctor,” the Master began, like they were having a friendly discussion about the merits of non-Euclidean trigonometry. He was turning over a thin, cylindrical rod he held with the precision of the totally mad, a self-satisfied gleam to his eyes. “You really must explain the specifics of this… device.”

The loving curl to that word, and the way he was stroking the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver — which had been new, barely even field-tested, and furthermore belonged to him — did not go unnoticed.

An all-together tiring affair, the Doctor thought darkly.

—

Why the Doctor and the Master don't talk anymore.

Words: 8105, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who & Related Fandoms, Doctor Who (1963)
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: Rape/Non-Con
• Categories: M/M
• Characters: Third Doctor, The Master (Delgado), Jo Grant
• Relationships: Third Doctor/The Master (Delgado), The Doctor/The Master (Doctor Who)
• Additional Tags: Serial: s067 Frontier in Space, Missing Scene, Secret Relationship, Enemies With Benefits, Angst, Romantic Angst, revoked consent, Sonic Screwdriver Used as a Sex Toy (Doctor Who), Doctor Who: Academy Era, Childhood Sweethearts, introspective, Dom/sub

Brimstone and Treacle Won't Work.

by Niceto_Thetya

An extended oneshot from my Femslash February series, following the prompt 'Historical AU'.

Clara isn't at all fond of the Davis children's new governess. She's constantly cross, cruel to the children, and seems to know far more than she should- by all accounts Clara should avoid her. So why can't she seem to resist?

Words: 4547, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Missy (Doctor Who), Echo Clara Oswin Oswald
• Relationships: Missy/Clara Oswin Oswald, Missy/Echo Clara Oswin Oswald
• Additional Tags: Pre-Episode: s07e06 The Snowmen, Missy Episode: s01e01 A Spoonful of Mayhem, Smut, Vaginal Fingering, Spanking, Alternate Universe - Victorian, Alternate Universe - Historical, Light Dom/sub, Submissive Clara Oswin Oswald

In Thirteen Dimensions

by AyeAyeAye

The TARDIS is not alive in the way he is, she is the not fumbling hands and schism of his spiderwebbing across the space time.
But she is alive all the same, feels all at once.

 

OR: The TARDIS sees all of the space-time at once. She explores the possibilities of saving River.

Words: 912, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who & Related Fandoms
• Rating: Not Rated
• Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
• Categories: F/M, Gen
• Characters: Eleventh Doctor, Tenth Doctor, River Song, Melody Pond, The Doctor (Doctor Who)
• Relationships: The Doctor/River Song, The Doctor & The Doctor's TARDIS, River Song & The Doctor's TARDIS
• Additional Tags: Meddling TARDIS, Heart of the TARDIS, POV TARDIS, third person though, The TARDIS Cares, Episode: s04e08 Silence in the Library, Episode Fix-It: s04e08 Silence in the Library, The TARDIS Tries, Timey-Wimey, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Temporary Character Death, the TARDIS is morally-grey, Fix-It of Sorts, Mostly Gen, the TARDIS is sentient

Nuclear Option

by Turn_of_the_Sonic_Screw

A prank war between Yaz and the Doctor reaches its final escalation.

Pairing: Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan
Prompt: War

Words: 530, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 27 of February Ficlet Challenge 2021

• Fandoms: Doctor Who, Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: General Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Thirteenth Doctor, Yasmin Khan
• Relationships: Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan
• Additional Tags: Prank Wars, Painting, Established Relationship

Just a picnic together

by Choup37

Jack and Rose shared an intimate time on an alien planet.

Words: 741, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M, M/M
• Characters: Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler, Ninth Doctor
• Relationships: Jack Harkness/Rose Tyler, Ninth Doctor/Jack Harkness
• Additional Tags: Smut, Sex, Picnics, Food Kink, Idiots in Love, Jack Harkness Flirts

Calling Up At the Sky

by Tagpye

Academy life is tough enough without also maintaining a heated rivalry with your best friend.

In between dodging classes and responsibility, Theta spends a similar chunk of his time avoiding his feelings for Koschei. And vice versa of course.

Words: 3154, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who & Related Fandoms, Doctor Who, doctor - Fandom
• Rating: Mature
• Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
• Categories: M/M
• Characters: The Doctor (Doctor Who), The Master | Koschei (Doctor Who: Academy Era), The Doctor | Theta Sigma (Doctor Who: Academy Era), The Deca (Doctor Who)
• Relationships: The Doctor/The Master (Doctor Who), The Doctor | Theta Sigma/The Master | Koschei (Doctor Who: Academy Era)
• Additional Tags: Academy Era, Later Explicit Content, Mutual Pining, Unhealthy Relationships, neither of them say the L word because I like mutual suffering

Spare Hearts

by androktasia

After seventy years stuck in Bristol University, loneliness sits aching in the Doctor’s chest. Lucky then, that his robot assistant has so many spare heads lying around.

–-

“What do you want?” Nardole snipes.

The Doctor makes an offended noise at the back of his throat. “Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“‘Old friend’? I saw you last week!”

“And what a quiet week it’s been,” the Doctor says, and settles the head back down on his desk. His arms were starting to hurt. “Look, I need your help for something. Will you do me a favour?”

Spare Head One, it turns out, has the exact same suspicious squint as Main Head – or perhaps it should be the other way round. Whatever. “It depends what it is,” Nardole says.

Now that he actually has to say it, the Doctor finds himself strangely recalcitrant. He clears his throat. “I find,” he starts, halting, “that I am – in this regeneration, anyway – somewhat… oh, how to put it…” he trails off, runs a hand through his hair. “I am somewhat unaccustomed to intimacy. How’s that?”

“Blisteringly obtuse, as always, sir,” Nardole tells him.

Words: 11227, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: M/M, Multi
• Characters: Twelfth Doctor, Nardole (Doctor Who), Missy (Doctor Who), Bill Potts
• Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/Nardole, Twelfth Doctor/Missy/Nardole
• Additional Tags: Touch-Starved, Loneliness, Practice Kissing, Nardole is a robot, question: is it twelvedole? is it twissy? answer: the doctor has two hands, with apologies again to the AO3 tag wranglers; I just want to write some weird stuff my dudes, this is part-slapstick part-melancholy

Must It Always End This Way

by ElsaIsThereLifeOnMars

The Doctor and River enjoying married life to the full. Collection of smutty Space Wives one shots, mostly based on prompts. Some with, some without plot, every chapter will be a different prompt.

Words: 2008, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who
• Rating: Explicit
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Thirteenth Doctor, River Song
• Relationships: Thirteenth Doctor/River Song, The Doctor/River Song
• Additional Tags: Smut, collection, prompts, Femslash, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Light Dom/sub, Kneeling, Healthy Relationships

Lost

by DearDiary

The lad stared, surprised, at the figure in the galley doorway. The Doctor’s shoulders tensed and he turned around to confirm his suspicions.
Rose, staring senselessly at the Doctor. Or, rather, through him, as her eyes were glassy and empty and she didn’t seem to notice Jack the Captain at all.
The Doctor heard Jack’s quiet “What the hell?” just as Rose inquired stonily:
“Where’s the child?”
~
Or, Rose goes on a sleepwalking trip after the events of "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances".

Words: 4116, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Nights in the Tardis

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005)
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness
• Relationships: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Sleepwalking, Post-Episode: s01e10 The Doctor Dances, Hurt/Comfort, rows about domestics, Budding Love, Swearing, Flirting

The Warlock of Yog Sothoth

by Greyhound005

When mysterious webs force two TARDIS teams to land, the Doctors and their companions must free the Warlock of Yog Sothoth- or die trying.

Words: 1312, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who (1963), Doctor Who
• Rating: General Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/F
• Characters: Twelfth Doctor, Second Doctor, Bill Potts, Zoe Heriot, Jamie McCrimmon
• Relationships: Bill Potts/Zoe Heriot

Take a chance with me

by silversurfer60

After getting back home, Rose Tyler returns to her new world with The Doctor's clone but he becomes very ill. They try to save him and Rose uses the cannon to contact his twin. She finally gets through but even he can't save his brother. As consolation, he tells her she will meet someone in the coastal town of Broadchurch as he has learned Alec Hardy looks like them both.

Words: 3594, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

• Fandoms: Doctor Who (2005), Broadchurch
• Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
• Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
• Categories: F/M
• Characters: Tenth Doctor, Metacrisis Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Alec Hardy, Jackie Tyler, Pete Tyler (Pete's World), Ellie Miller (Broadchurch)
• Relationships: Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Alec Hardy/Rose Tyler
• Additional Tags: Pete's World (Doctor Who), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Sad with a Happy Ending

Frankenstein

by tiap420

its frankenstein by mary shelley enjoy

Words: 75077, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

• Fandoms: Supernatural, Supernatural RPF, Supernatural: The Animation, Sherlock (TV), Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms, Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes (Downey films), Sherlock (TV) RPF, Teen Wolf (TV), Teen Wolf (TV) RPF, Teen Wolf (Movies), Teen Wolf (Cartoon), Captain America (Movies), Captain America - All Media Types, Captain America (Comics), Captain Marvel (2019), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel, The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types, Marvel (Comics), Marvel 616, Marvel Cinematic Universe RPF, Marvel Ultimates, Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Thorne & Rowling, Harry Potter RPF, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Video Game), LEGO Harry Potter (Video Games), The Avengers - Ambiguous Fandom, The Hobbit - All Media Types, One Direction (Band), Voltron: Legendary Defender, Voltron: Legendary Defender RPF, Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV), Good Omens (TV) RPF, Good Omens (Radio), Shadowhunters (TV), Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime), 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars Legends - All Media Types, Star Wars Legends: The Old Republic (Video Game), Star Wars: Rebellion Era - All Media Types, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Miraculous Ladybug, Merlin (TV), Merlin (TV) RPF, Phandom/The Fantastic Foursome (YouTube RPF), Hannibal (TV), Hannibal Lecter Series - All Media Types, Hannibal Lecter Tetralogy - Thomas Harris, Hannibal (TV) RPF, Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins Movies), 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia, Glee, Glee RPF, Glee Project RPF, X-Men - All Media Types, X-Men (Movieverse), X-Men (Comicverse), X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies), X-Men Evolution, X-Men (Original Timeline Movies), X-Men RPF, X-Men: The Animated Series, Wolverine and the X-Men - All Media Types, Wolverine and the X-Men (Comics), New X-Men: Academy X, X-Men (Ultimateverse), X-Men: First Class (Comics), All New X-Men (Comics), Wolverine And The X-Men (Cartoon), X-Treme X-Men, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan, 進撃の巨人 | Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan (Movies), 進撃！巨人中学校 | Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou | Attack on Titan: Junior High, 進撃の巨人 反撃の狼煙 | Shingeki no Kyojin: Hangeki no Noroshi | Attack on Titan: Counterattack's Beacon (TV), House M.D., 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, Supergirl (TV 2015), Supergirl (Comics), Supergirl (TV 2015) RPF, Supergirl (1984), Once Upon a Time (TV), IT - Stephen King, IT (Movies - Muschietti), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, IT (1990), Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Universe, Stargate - All Media Types, Stargate Atlantis RPF, Stargate (1994), Stargate SG-1 RPF, Stargate Atlantis: Legacy Series - Various Authors, Steven Universe (Cartoon), S.C.I.谜案集 | S.C.I. Mystery (TV), Captive Prince - C. S. Pacat, Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis, A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms, InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale, A Court of Thorns and Roses Series - Sarah J. Maas, Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Animorphs - Katherine A. 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• Rating: Not Rated
• Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
• Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi, Other
• Characters: Castiel, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski, James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Tony Stark, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Aziraphale, Crowley, Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Rey, Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Katsuki Yuuri, Victor Nikiforov, Jeon Jungkook, Kim Taehyung | V, Min Yoongi, Min Yoongi | Suga, Park Jimin, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Pepper Potts, Peter Parker, Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter, Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Kim Namjoon | RM, Kim Seokjin | Jin, Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel, Kirishima Eijirou, Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier, Eren Yeager, Todoroki Shouto, Shiro (Voltron), Armitage Hux, Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Bellamy Blake, Clarke Griffin, Jung Hoseok | J-Hope, Evil Queen | Regina Mills, Emma Swan, Eddie Kaspbrak, Richie Tozier, James T. Kirk, Spock, Rodney McKay, John Sheppard, Steve McGarrett, Danny "Danno" Williams, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Lexa, Severus Snape, Ian Gallagher, Mickey Milkovich, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Iwaizumi Hajime, Oikawa Tooru, Oliver Queen, Felicity Smoak, Phil Coulson, Enjolras, Grantaire, Hinata Shouyou, Kageyama Tobio, Mycroft Holmes, Lestrade, Captain Hook | Killian Jones, James Potter, Lily Evans Potter, Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Frank Iero, Gerard Way, Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Monster, Dazai Osamu, Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Molly Hooper, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Reader, You, Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, Otabek Altin, Byun Baekhyun, Park Chanyeol
• Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, Keith/Lance (Voltron), Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester, Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung, Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Sherlock Holmes & John Watson, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Dan Howell/Phil Lester, Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter, Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Kim Namjoon | RM/Kim Seokjin | Jin, Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel, Bakugou Katsuki/Kirishima Eijirou, Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier, Levi/Eren Yeager, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto, Keith/Shiro (Voltron), Armitage Hux/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Gabriel/Sam Winchester, Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Loki/Thor (Marvel), Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Bellamy Blake/Clarke Griffin, Jung Hoseok | J-Hope/Min Yoongi | Suga, Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan, Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier, James T. Kirk/Spock, Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, Steve McGarrett/Danny "Danno" Williams, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Clarke Griffin/Lexa, Harry Potter/Severus Snape, Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru, Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson, Enjolras/Grantaire (Les Misérables), Hinata Shouyou/Kageyama Tobio, Mycroft Holmes/Lestrade, Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Emma Swan, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, James Potter/Lily Evans Potter, Kim Taehyung | V/Park Jimin, Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield, Loki/Tony Stark, Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Jeon Jungkook/Min Yoongi | Suga, James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers, Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Castiel & Dean Winchester, Zayn Malik/Liam Payne, Fox Mulder/Dana Scully, Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, Inquisitor/Cullen Rutherford, Aziraphale & Crowley (Good Omens), Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, James T. Kirk/Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader, Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto, Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou, Allison Argent/Scott McCall, Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion, Dean Winchester/You, James "Bucky" Barnes/Tony Stark, Arthur/Eames (Inception), Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Poe Dameron/Finn, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson, Kim Taehyung | V/Min Yoongi | Suga, Josh Dun/Tyler Joseph, Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth, Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski, Jon Snow/Sansa Stark, James Bond/Q, Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, Leo Fitz/Jemma Simmons, Byun Baekhyun/Park Chanyeol, Rey & Ben Solo | Kylo Ren
• Additional Tags: Letter 1 To Mrs. Saville, England. St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 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, MARGARET - Freeform, the sun is for ever visible, my sister - Freeform, I will put some trust in preceding navigators—there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, 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, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, 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, For the first time, EVEN NOW, Famine - Freeform, thirst, the theory of medicine, 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, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, but sometimes to sustain my own, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stagecoach. 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, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, Dear Sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, Many - Freeform, 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, R. Walton Letter 2 To Mrs. Saville, England. Archangel, 28th March, 17—. How slowly the time passes here, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, thinking himself bound in honour to my friend, Who, when he found the father inexorable, quitted his country, and a kind of ignorant carelessness attends him, while it renders his conduct the more astonishing, detracts from the interest and sympathy which otherwise he would command. Yet do not suppose, that I am wavering in my resolutions. Those are as fixed as fate, but the spring promises well, and it is considered as a remarkably early season, 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 will disclose a secret. I have often attributed my attachment to, my passionate enthusiasm for, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, after having traversed immense seas, and returned by the most southern cape of Africa or America? I dare not expect such success, should you never hear from me again. Your affectionate brother, Robert Walton Letter 3 To Mrs. Saville, England. July 7th, 17—. My dear Sister, 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, 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, England. August 5th, 17—. So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording it, 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, 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, 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, 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, by ice, it was impossible to follow his track, and before night the ice broke and freed our ship. We, lay to until the morning, 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 someone in the sea. It was, in fact, a sledge, like that we had seen before, as the other traveller seemed to be, a savage inhabitant of some undiscovered island, but a 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, if you had seen the man who thus capitulated for his safety, your surprise would have been boundless. His limbs were nearly frozen, which restored him wonderfully. Two days passed in this manner before he was able to speak, and even madness, but there are moments when, if anyone performs an act of kindness towards him or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, and sometimes he gnashes his teeth, in a state of body and mind whose restoration evidently depended upon entire repose. Once, and he replied, 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, for the ice had not broken until near midnight, although they have had very little communication with him. For my own part, I begin to love him as a brother, 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, should I have any fresh incidents to record. August 13th, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated, and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, apparently watching for the sledge that preceded his own. Yet, although unhappy, 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, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race. As I spoke, and you will dash the cup from your lips!” Such words, you may imagine, 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, ” replied the stranger; “we are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, the most noble of human creatures, and am entitled, Therefore, to judge respecting friendship. You have hope, and the world before you, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, yet when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit that has a halo around him, a quick but never-failing power of judgment, a penetration into the causes of things, 17—. Yesterday the stranger said to me, “You may easily perceive, Captain Walton, but you have won me to alter my determination. You seek for knowledge and wisdom, 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, ” 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, 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, who know him, as I commence my task, I cannot refrain from relating them. One of his most intimate friends was a merchant who, from a flourishing state, fell - Freeform, through numerous mischances, into poverty. This man, whose name was Beaufort, in the most honourable manner, he retreated with his daughter to the town of Lucerne, 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, but it was sufficient to provide him with sustenance for some months, consequently, spent in inaction; his grief only became more deep and rankling when he had leisure for reflection, incapable of any exertion. His daughter attended him with the greatest tenderness, 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, differing wholly from the doting 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, as a fair exotic is sheltered by the gardener, and even the tranquillity of her hitherto constant spirit, 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 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, 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, but I continued their single offspring. When I was about five years old, while making an excursion beyond the frontiers of Italy, to my mother, was more than a duty; it was a necessity, a passion—remembering what she had suffered, when my father had gone by himself to Milan, my mother - Freeform, accompanied by me, visited this abode. She found a peasant and his wife, hard working, bent down by care and labour, 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, 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, fairer than a garden rose among dark-leaved brambles. When my father returned from Milan, 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—tomorrow 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, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me—my more than sister, with all my ardour, the changes of the seasons, tempest and calm, the silence of winter, 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, 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, hardship, in which the characters were drawn from the heroes of Roncesvalles, of the Round Table of King Arthur, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love. My temper was sometimes violent, and not to learn all things indiscriminately. I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor the code of governments, still my inquiries 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, her soft voice, the sweet glance of her celestial eyes, rough through the ardour of my nature, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion for adventurous exploit, in drawing the picture of my early days, I also record those events which led, by insensible steps, to my after tale of misery, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but, swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, in this narration, and bounding with joy, “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.” If, instead of this remark, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, warmed as it was, 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, and rashly and ignorantly I had repined. But here were books, 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, the fulfilment of which I most eagerly sought; and if my incantations were always unsuccessful, Mingling, like an unadept, guided by an ardent imagination and childish reasoning, while the storm lasted, watching its progress with curiosity and delight. As I stood at the door, 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, and excited by this catastrophe, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation, 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, happiness with their disregard. It was a strong effort of the spirit of good, but it was ineffectual. Destiny was too potent, but before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred—an omen, of my future misery. Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, but when she heard that the life of her favourite was menaced, ” she said, 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, the void that presents itself to the soul, although it may be deemed a sacrilege, is not banished. My mother was dead, which had been deferred by these events, 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, and we retired under the pretence of seeking repose, they were all there—my father again to bless me, Clerval to press my hand once more, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions, and this had given me invincible repugnance to new countenances. I loved my brothers, Elizabeth - Freeform, and Clerval; these were “old familiar faces, my spirits and hopes rose. I ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge. I had often, when at home, and it would, indeed, the Angel of Destruction, professor of natural philosophy. He was an uncouth man, and partly in contempt, ” he said, “really spent your time in studying such nonsense?” I replied in the affirmative. “Every minute, ” continued M. Krempe with warmth, 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, and that M. Waldman, a fellow professor, would lecture upon chemistry the alternate days that he omitted. I returned home not disappointed, although futile, 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, but with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence; a few grey hairs covered his temples, he concluded with a panegyric upon modern chemistry, the terms of which I shall never forget: “The ancient teachers of this science, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, mimic the earthquake, 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, but I had no power to produce it. By degrees, after the morning’s dawn, sleep came. I awoke, as an easier task, however erroneously directed, which was delivered without any presumption or affectation, with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his instructor, ” said M. Waldman, “to have gained a disciple; and if your application equals your ability, I should advise you to apply to every branch of 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, 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, and my proficiency that of the masters. Professor Krempe often asked me, with a sly smile, how Cornelius Agrippa went on, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, Heart and Soul, who continually sought the attainment of one object of pursuit and was solely wrapped up in this, my residence there being no longer conducive to my improvements, I thought of returning to my friends and my native town, any animal endued with life. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? It was a bold question, we must first have recourse to death. I became acquainted with the science of anatomy, and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, from being the seat of beauty and strength, examining and analysing all the minutiae of causation, as exemplified in the change from life to death, and death to life, yet so simple, that while I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect which it illustrated, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret. Remember, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, More - Freeform, like a magic scene, 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, yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it, with all its intricacies of fibres, Muscles, and veins, and at last my work be imperfect, yet when I considered the improvement which every day takes place in science and mechanics, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature, that is to say, about eight feet in height, 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, I thought that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, 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, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, 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, 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, and whom I had not seen for so long a time. I knew my silence disquieted them, 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, to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, then that study is certainly unlawful, Greece had not been enslaved, Cæsar would have spared his country, America would have been discovered more gradually, Spring, and I appeared rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, and I became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, I collected the instruments of life around me, 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. How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, the beauty of the dream vanished, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bed-chamber, 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, 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, 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, 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, where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Mingled with this horror, 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, but felt impelled to hurry on, 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, having once turned round, walks on, and on the door being opened, I perceived Henry Clerval, on seeing me, instantly sprung out. “My dear Frankenstein, ” exclaimed he, 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, in the most cordial manner, I believe I left him incredulous to the last, I eat heartily without Greek.’ But his affection for me at length overcame his dislike of learning, 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, stopping short and gazing full in my face, as you see; but I hope, I sincerely hope, 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, to remain a few minutes at the bottom of the stairs, and a cold shivering came over me. I threw the door forcibly open, 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, 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, ” cried I, putting my hands before my eyes, for I thought I saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room; “he can tell. Oh, 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, knowing my father’s advanced age and unfitness for so long a journey, and how wretched my sickness would make Elizabeth, 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 with frequent relapses that alarmed and grieved my friend, ” exclaimed I, “how kind, how very good you are to me. This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised yourself, 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, ” said Clerval, who observed my change of colour, 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, “You have been ill, very ill, dear Victor, cheerful home and friends who love you dearly. Your father’s health is vigorous, and he asks but to see you, but we cannot part with him, except the growth of our dear children, and I am rewarded for any exertions by seeing none but happy, kind faces around me. Since you left us, therefore in a few words. Madame Moritz, her mother - Freeform, 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, being neither so poor nor so despised, 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, her brothers and sister died; and her mother, with the exception of her neglected daughter, a few months after your departure for Ingolstadt, which at first increased her irritability, but she is now at peace for ever. She died on the first approach of cold weather, and extremely pretty; as I mentioned before, 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, John Melbourne, Esq. Her ugly sister, manon - Freeform, married M. Duvillard, the rich banker, last autumn. Your favourite schoolfellow, Louis Manoir, and is reported to be on the point of marrying a 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, and this exertion greatly fatigued me; but my convalescence had commenced, 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, the sight of a chemical instrument would renew all the agony of my nervous symptoms. Henry saw this, with kindness and warmth, 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, 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, but I did not speak. I saw plainly that he was surprised, of almost insupportable sensitiveness, 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, observing my face expressive of suffering, you know, he turned his eyes toward the East, as affording scope for his spirit of enterprise. The Persian, arabic, and Sanskrit 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, and they well repaid my labours. Their melancholy is soothing, and their joy elevating, life appears to consist in a warm sun and a garden of roses, —in the smiles and frowns of a fair enemy, winter and snow arrived, the roads were deemed impassable, from an unwillingness to leave Clerval in a strange place, before he had become acquainted with any of its inhabitants. The winter, 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, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed, the natural incidents of our progress, and the cheerful faces of children. Excellent friend! how sincerely you did love me, a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care. When happy, 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, 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, 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 7 On my return, I found the following letter from my father:— “My dear Victor, 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 - Freeform, when you expected a happy and glad welcome, to behold, On the contrary, tears and wretchedness? And how, Victor - Freeform, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, my niece, and your two brothers, went to walk in Plainpalais. The evening was warm and serene, who had gone on before, 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 a long time, but that he did not return. “This account rather alarmed us, and we continued to search for him until night fell, with torches; for I could not rest, when I thought that my sweet boy had lost himself, whom the night before I had seen blooming and active in health, 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, dearest Victor; you alone can console Elizabeth. She weeps continually, 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, 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, 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 him to take up the letter, as he read the account of my misfortune. “I can offer you no consolation, Henry - Freeform, to order the horses.” During our walk, “dear lovely child, he now sleeps with his angel mother! Who that had seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty, but he is at rest. The pang is over, his sufferings are at an end for ever. A sod covers his gentle form, 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, although they were done more tranquilly, might not be the less decisive. Fear overcame me; I dared no advance, dreading a thousand nameless evils that made me tremble, although I was unable to define them. I remained two days at Lausanne, “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, or to mock at my unhappiness?” I fear, 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, more than all, thy lovely lake! Yet, as I drew nearer home, I felt still more gloomily. The picture appeared a vast and dim scene of evil, and failed only in one single circumstance, that in all the misery I imagined and dreaded, a village at the distance of half a league from the city. The sky was serene; and, as I was unable to rest, 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, until the eye recovered itself from the preceding flash. The storm, as is often the case in Switzerland, 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, 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, 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, which I spent, cold and wet, 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 I hastened to my father’s house. My first thought was to discover what I knew of the murderer, and endued with life, I should have looked upon it as the ravings of insanity. Besides, the strange nature of the animal would elude all pursuit, and went into the library to attend their usual hour of rising. Six years had elapsed, passed in a dream but for one indelible trace, 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, Ernest entered: he had heard me arrive, and hastened to welcome me: “Welcome, my dearest Victor, ” said he. “Ah! I wish you had come three months ago, I hope, revive our father, 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 here I named my cousin. “She most of all, ” said Ernest, “requires consolation; she accused herself of having caused the death of my brother, ” replied my brother, in accents of wonder, notwithstanding all the evidence. Indeed, who would credit that Justine Moritz, who was so amiable, and fond of all the family, could suddenly become so 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 - Freeform, 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 today, and you will then hear all.” He then 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, 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, but it did not shake my faith; and I replied earnestly, “You are all mistaken; I know the murderer. Justine, Poor, good Justine, 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, you are mistaken; Justine is innocent.” “If she is, God forbid that she should suffer as guilty. She is to be tried today, and I hope, and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder. I had no fear, except I, the creator - Freeform, who would believe, unless his senses convinced him, the same vivacity, ” said she, 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, and that made me wretched, ” said my father, “dry your tears. If she is, as you believe, Innocent, rely on the justice of our laws, the other far more dreadfully murdered, but I was absent when it was committed, 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, 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, and when one inquired where she had passed the night, 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, 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, by the permission of Elizabeth, a village situated at about a league from Geneva. On her return, at about nine o’clock, 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, 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, ” 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, 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, and if their testimony shall not overweigh my supposed guilt, I must be condemned, her excellent dispositions and irreproachable conduct, about to fail the accused, although violently agitated, she desired permission to address the court. “I am, “the cousin of the unhappy child who was murdered, or rather his sister, but when I see a fellow creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended friends, I wish to be allowed to speak, 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, I do not hesitate to say that, notwithstanding all the evidence produced against her, if she had earnestly desired it, I should have willingly given it to her, 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 I was known, and the officer guessed the cause of my visit. The ballots had been thrown; they were all black, and I have endeavoured to bestow upon them adequate expressions, ” he observed, “was hardly required in so glaring a case, but I am glad of it, none of our judges like to condemn a criminal upon circumstantial evidence, and Elizabeth eagerly demanded the result. “My cousin, ” replied I, whom I loved and esteemed as my sister, ” said Elizabeth, “I will go, although she is guilty; and you, shall accompany me; I cannot go alone.” The idea of this visit was torture to me, 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, my confessor has besieged me; he threatened and menaced, 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, 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, my playfellow, my companion, I am resigned to the fate awaiting me. Learn from me, dear lady, 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, do not believe that I am guilty?” I could not answer. “No, Justine - Freeform, ” said Elizabeth; “he is more convinced of your innocence than I was, for even when he heard that you had confessed, and I feel as if I could die in peace now that my innocence is acknowledged by you, 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 hers also was the misery of innocence, like a cloud that passes over the fair moon, and it was with great difficulty that Elizabeth could tear herself away. “I wish, ” cried she, “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, unfeeling reasoning of these men, my purposed avowal died away on my lips. Thus I might proclaim myself a madman, 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, as, torn by remorse, and despair, I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, she rested, and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, for I had committed deeds of mischief beyond description horrible, and more - Freeform, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, Dark, 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, and terror its alarm, 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, when all was at peace around me, 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, my eyes became inflamed, could I, when there, have precipitated him to their base. I wished to see him again, and its dimming influence quenched her dearest smiles. “When I reflect, “on the miserable death of Justine Moritz, I no longer see the world and its works as they before appeared to me. Before, 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, 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, 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, not in deed, but in effect, was the true murderer. Elizabeth read my anguish in my countenance, and kindly taking my hand, said - Freeform, “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, as if in terror, nor the beauty of earth, nor of heaven, 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, 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, nearly two months after the death of Justine, the sound of the river raging among the rocks, here displayed in their most terrific guise. Still, as I ascended higher, the impetuous Arve, 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, the supreme and magnificent Mont Blanc, raised itself from the surrounding aiguilles, some new object suddenly perceived and recognised, reminded me of days gone by, 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, which take their rise in a glacier, the thunder sound of the avalanche or the cracking, reverberated along the mountains, of the accumulated ice, through the silent working of immutable laws, was ever and anon rent and torn, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillised it. In some degree, also, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine, the eagle - Freeform, and dark melancholy clouded every thought. The rain was pouring in torrents, and thick mists hid the summits of the mountains, for I was well acquainted with the path, but the path is cut into continual and short windings, 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, whose summits were hid in the uniform clouds, and desire, conceive, or reason; laugh or weep, Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away; It is the same: for, be it joy or sorrow, 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, 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, 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, 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, combined with disdain and malignity, ” I exclaimed, 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, 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, Come on, 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, 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 - Freeform, 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. Everywhere I see bliss, or let us try our strength in a fight, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, 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 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, and placed his hated hands before my eyes, I demand this from you. Hear my tale; it is long and strange, 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, and I did not answer him, but as I proceeded, 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, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, 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, and I saw, Felt, Heard, and smelt at the same time; and it was, 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, and the heat wearying me as I walked, until I felt tormented by hunger and thirst. This roused me from my nearly dormant state, and then lying down, was overcome by sleep. “It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half frightened, 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, but it enlightened my path, 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 rang in my ears, and I fixed my eyes on that with pleasure. “Several changes of day and night passed, and the orb of night had greatly lessened, which often saluted my ears, with greater accuracy, and again, with a lessened form, showed itself, while I still remained in the forest. My sensations had by this time become distinct, 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, 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, and by touching the various branches, I discovered the cause and busied myself in collecting a great quantity of wood, spreading my cloak, I lay on the ground and sank into sleep. “It was morning when I awoke, and my first care was to visit the fire. I uncovered it, which roused the embers when they were nearly extinguished. When night came again I found, With Pleasure, 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, 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, became scarce, I resolved to quit the place that I had hitherto inhabited, but I was obliged to relinquish all attempt to supply it, and wrapping myself up in my cloak, and the fields were of one uniform white; the appearance was disconsolate, 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, different from any I had ever before seen, which consisted of bread, Cheese, Milk, and wine; the latter, 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, 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, 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, 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, provided for my sustenance for that day by a loaf of coarse bread, which I purloined, so that it was kept perfectly dry, and by its vicinity to the chimney of the cottage it was tolerably warm. “Being thus provided, my former residence, the rain-dropping branches, 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 farmhouse servants to be. Yet she was meanly dressed, 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, whitewashed and clean but very bare of furniture. In one corner, near a small fire, sat an old man, which employed her hands, and she sat down beside the old man, taking up an instrument, even to me, 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, 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, which she placed in water, and then upon the fire. She afterwards continued her work, the young woman joined him and they entered the cottage together. “The old man had, In the meantime, been pensive, but on the appearance of his companions he assumed a more cheerful air, the old man walked before the cottage in the sun for a few minutes, and his features were moulded with the finest symmetry, 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, the youth began, not to play, but to utter sounds that were monotonous, 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 12 “I lay on my straw, and I longed to join them, 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, and the girl in various laborious occupations within. The old man, whom I soon perceived to be blind, but I was deeply affected by it. If such lovely creatures were miserable, it was less strange that I, an imperfect and solitary being, still more, they enjoyed one another’s company and speech, which gave very little during the winter, when its masters could scarcely procure food to support it. They often, suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially the two younger cottagers, 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 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 - Freeform, when she opened the door in the morning, and the youth joined her, who also expressed surprise. I observed, that he did not go to the forest that day, smiles or sadness, in the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed a godlike science, and the words they uttered, not having any apparent connection with visible objects, and after having remained during the space of several revolutions of the moon in my hovel, Fire, Bread, but the old man had only one, which was father. The girl was called sister or Agatha, and the youth Felix, Brother, such as GOOD, Dearest, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathised in their joys. I saw few human beings besides them, and if any other happened to enter the cottage, 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, 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, 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 outhouse, where, to his perpetual astonishment, he found his store always replenished by an invisible hand. In the day, 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, that he found on the paper signs for speech which he understood, 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, Beauty - Freeform, 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, 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 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, performed by an invisible hand, greatly astonished them; and once or twice I heard them, on these occasions, utter the words good spirit, the forms of the venerable blind father, the gentle Agatha, and their reception of me. I imagined that they would be disgusted, by my gentle demeanour and conciliating words, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their tones, although his manners were rude, and the leaves began to bud forth on the trees. Happy, happy earth! Fit habitation for gods, so short a time before, was bleak, Damp, the present was tranquil, from what I had been, when my cottagers periodically rested from labour—the old man played on his guitar, and once his father paused in his music, to which the stranger only replied by pronouncing, in a sweet accent, Felix came up hastily to the lady, 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, 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 I saw that her presence diffused gladness through the cottage, the ever-gentle Agatha, kissed the hands of the lovely stranger, and pointing to her brother, 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, were those which I had before understood, but I profited by the others. “As night came on, ‘Good night sweet Safie.’ He sat up much longer, conversing with his father, 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, 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, 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, who understood very little and conversed in broken accents, I also learned the science of letters as it was taught to the stranger, in reading it, given very minute explanations. He had chosen this work, 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 chivalry, Christianity, at once so powerful, so virtuous and magnificent, as many on record have been, appeared the lowest degradation, or even why there were laws and governments; but when I heard details of vice and bloodshed, 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, but without either he was considered, except in very rare instances, as a vagabond and a slave, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. I was, besides - Freeform, a monster - Freeform, a blot upon the earth, 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, but I learned that there was but one means to overcome the sensation of pain, but I was shut out from intercourse with them, except through means which I obtained by stealth, when I was unseen and unknown, and the birth and growth of children, how the father doted 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 - Freeform, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses; or if they had, all my past life was now a blot, 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 - Freeform, 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, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, 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, surrounded by friends and possessed of every enjoyment which virtue, refinement of intellect, or taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune, for some reason which I could not learn, at that moment, he found a strongly grated window in an unguarded part of the building, which lighted the dungeon of the unfortunate Muhammadan, loaded with chains, amazed and delighted, yet when he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father and who by her gestures expressed her lively gratitude, 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, 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, as the sun is already far declined, 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, born in freedom, but her lessons were indelibly impressed on the mind of Safie, allowed only to occupy herself with infantile amusements, ill-suited to the temper of her soul, 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, but he feared the resentment of Felix if he should appear lukewarm, 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, 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, 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, the merchant commanded his daughter to think no more of her lover, but he left her angrily, reiterating his tyrannical mandate. “A few days after, to follow at her leisure with the greater part of his property, which had not yet arrived at Leghorn. “When alone, she quitted Italy with an attendant, a native of Leghorn, but who understood the common language of Turkey, 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, into good hands. The Italian had mentioned the name of the spot for which they were bound, from the views of social life which it developed, benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s Lives, that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection. In the Sorrows of Werter, besides the interest of its simple and affecting story, combined with lofty sentiments and feelings, which had for their object something out of self, yet I inclined towards the opinions of the hero, whose extinction I wept, without precisely understanding it. “As I read, but Plutarch taught me high thoughts; he elevated me above the wretched sphere of my own reflections, wide extents of country, mighty rivers, 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 - Freeform, Solon - Freeform, and Lycurgus, if my first introduction to humanity had been made by a young soldier, burning for glory and slaughter, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as their similarity struck me, to my own. Like Adam, happy and prosperous, but I was wretched, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, 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, their amiable and benevolent dispositions, however monstrous, who solicited their compassion and friendship? I resolved, at least, not to despair, for the importance attached to its success inspired me with a dread lest I should fail. Besides, took place in the cottage. The presence of Safie diffused happiness among its inhabitants, 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, but it vanished when I beheld my person reflected in water or my shadow in the moonshine, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him. “Autumn passed thus. I saw, with surprise and grief, the leaves decay and fall, THE BIRDS, and all the gay apparel of summer; when those deserted me, depending on each other, were not interrupted by the casualties that took place around them. The more I saw of them, although harsh, had nothing terrible in it; I thought, 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 - Freeform, Agatha - Freeform, 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, 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, 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, ’ said De Lacey, ‘and I will try in what manner I can to relieve your wants; but, 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 - Freeform, 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, for if I fail there, but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest, are full of brotherly love and charity. Rely, 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, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, unknown to them, ‘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, by your aid, 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, if I do not feel for your misfortunes.’ “‘How can I thank you, was the moment of decision, but seizing the hand of the old man, i cried, and Felix, 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, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel.” Chapter 16 “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, 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, 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 by degrees to have discovered myself to the rest of his family, 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 finding that it was already night, I crept forth from my hiding-place, and went in search of food. “When my hunger was appeased, 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, 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, Felix approached with another man; I was surprised, as I knew that he had not quitted the cottage that morning, ’ said his companion to him, in which they remained for a few minutes, 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, anger returned, a rage of anger, and unable to injure anything 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, 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 sank, 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, 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, but the sun was my only guide. I did not know the names of the towns that I was to pass through, although towards you I felt no sentiment but that of hatred. Unfeeling, fearful of encountering the visage of a human being. Nature decayed around me, 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, when the sun had recovered its warmth and the earth again began to look green, 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, 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, laughing, when suddenly her foot slipped, 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 sank to the ground, and my injurer, with increased swiftness, 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 in two months from this time I reached the environs of Geneva. “It was evening when I arrived, 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, 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, ‘Child, or I will tell my papa.’ “‘Boy, 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, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, in regarding me, instead of venting my sensations in exclamations and agony, I left the spot where I had committed the murder, and seeking a more secluded hiding-place, 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, ‘Awake, fairest, awake!’ “The sleeper stirred; a thrill of terror ran through me. Should she indeed awake, and see me, and curse me, but she, shall suffer; the murder I have committed because I am for ever robbed of all that she could give me, and I fled. “For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place, sometimes wishing to see you, and have ranged through their immense recesses, perplexed, and as he said this I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within me. “I do refuse it, 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, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, 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, 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, but they will be harmless and free from the misery I now feel. Oh! My creator, “If you consent, “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 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, but when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, ” I said, 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, 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, he suddenly quitted me, Fearful, and quickly lost among the undulations of the sea of ice. His tale had occupied the whole day, as I should soon be encompassed in darkness; but my heart was heavy, and clasping my hands in agony, “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, Départ - Freeform, and leave me in darkness.” These were wild and miserable thoughts, and entering the house, presented myself to the family. My haggard and wild appearance awoke intense alarm, but I answered no question, and that thought only had to me the reality of life. Chapter 18 Day after day, week after week, the knowledge of which was material to my success, 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, watching the clouds and listening to the rippling of the waves, calling me aside, thus addressed me, “I am happy to remark, my dear son, 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, and appeared, in dispositions and tastes, regard her as your sister, without any wish that she might become your wife. Nay, 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 dear Victor, gives me more pleasure than I have for some time experienced. If you feel thus, we shall assuredly be happy, whether you object to an immediate solemnisation of the marriage. We have been unfortunate, possessed as you are of a competent fortune, I conjure you, or if I did, it would quickly be achieved, and I might be restored to my family in peace and happiness. My promise fulfilled, but concealing the true reasons of this request, I clothed my desires under a guise which excited no suspicion, 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, or at most a year, he had, in concert with Elizabeth, 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, I was bound, enfranchised from my miserable slavery, 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, and Elizabeth therefore acquiesced, but she was filled with disquiet at the idea of my suffering, away from her - Freeform, 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, I passed through many beautiful and majestic scenes, 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, ” he cried; “now I enjoy existence! But you, wherefore are you desponding and sorrowful!” In truth, 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, and on the fifth from our departure from Strasburgh, 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, 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, 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, “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, and the Pays de Vaud; but this country, pleases me more than all those wonders. The mountains of Switzerland are more majestic and strange, 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, so replete with ideas, imaginations fanciful and magnificent, which formed a world, it is not thus; your form so divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty, has decayed, but they soothe my heart, 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, Gravesend, Woolwich, St. Paul’s towering above all, it would have afforded me inexpressible pleasure. But a blight had come over my existence, 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, in the belief that he had in his knowledge of its various languages, and in the views he had taken of its society, 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 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, where he resided. Clerval eagerly desired to accept this invitation, and i - Freeform, although I abhorred society, but to visit Windsor, Oxford, Matlock - Freeform, and the Cumberland lakes, rambling in its beautiful forest. This was a new scene to us mountaineers; the majestic oaks, the quantity of game, the amiable Falkland, the insolent Goring, his queen, and son, and we delighted to trace its footsteps. If these feelings had not found an imaginary gratification, 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 if I was ever overcome by ennui, pitiable to others and intolerable to myself. We passed a considerable period at Oxford, 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 everything is on a lower scale, and I hastened to quit Matlock, with which that terrible scene was thus associated. From Derby, still journeying northwards, The Lakes, he finds himself obliged to quit that on which he rests in pleasure for something new, which again engages his attention, 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, its romantic castle and its environs, the most delightful in the world, Arthur’s Seat, St. Bernard’s Well, and the Pentland Hills, passing through Coupar, St. Andrew’s, and along the banks of the Tay, to Perth, “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, “in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people, whom I do not know; hasten, 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, 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 mainland, 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, I lived ungazed at and unmolested, hardly thanked for the pittance of food and clothes which I gave, when the weather permitted, and its cottages are scattered thickly in the plains. Its fair lakes reflect a blue and gentle sky, and when troubled by the winds, but as I proceeded in my labour, and at other times I toiled day and night in order to complete my work. It was, a filthy process in which I was engaged. During my first experiment, 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, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I had not sufficient light for my employment, and I remained idle, for its own sake, but she had not; and she, who in all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, and he be again alone, yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the dæmon thirsted would be children, for my own benefit, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, of the existence of the whole human race. I trembled and my heart failed within me, on looking up, 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, and trembling with passion, 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, and I remained near my window gazing on the sea; it was almost motionless, for the winds were hushed, 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, so often felt in frightful dreams, when you in vain endeavour to fly from an impending danger, and the wretch whom I dreaded appeared. Shutting the door, he approached me and said in a smothered voice, and cold, equal in deformity and wickedness.” “Slave, I before reasoned with you, 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, in cool blood, set loose upon the earth a dæmon whose delight is in death and wretchedness? Begone! I am firm, “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, 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, 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, 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, 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, wearily, but uninterrupted by any sudden shock of misery. If I returned, separated from all it loved and miserable in the separation. When it became noon, and the sun rose higher, my nerves were agitated, I again felt as if I belonged to a race of human beings like myself, 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, 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, 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, whom I had destroyed, lay scattered on the floor, with a great quantity of stones, and laying them up, determined to throw them into the sea that very night; and in the meantime I sat upon the beach, with whatever consequences, putting my basket aboard a little skiff, which had before been clear, was suddenly overspread by a thick cloud, but the air was pure, and fixing the rudder in a direct position, stretched myself at the bottom of the boat. Clouds hid the moon, everything 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, 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, “your task is already fulfilled!” I thought of Elizabeth, of my father, and of Clerval—all left behind, 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, 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, I resolved to sail directly towards the town, which I entered, several people crowded towards the spot. They seemed much surprised at my appearance, but instead of offering me any assistance, I merely remarked that they spoke English, and I therefore addressed them in that language. “My good friends, 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, ” said the man, “what the custom of the English may be, but it 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 inquired 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, free enough for honest folks. Mr. Kirwin is a magistrate, but being surrounded by a crowd, I thought it politic to rouse all my strength, in proper detail, to my recollection. Chapter 21 I was soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man with calm and mild manners. He looked upon me, with some degree of severity, 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, 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 - Freeform, 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, and by the light of their lantern they found that he had fallen on the body of a man, 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, and a mist came over my eyes, 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, waiting for the return of the fishermen, about an hour before she heard of the discovery of the body, 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, 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, on hearing this evidence, desired that I should be taken into the room where the body lay for interment, by the magistrate and several other persons, nor can I reflect on that terrible moment without shuddering and agony. The examination, the presence of the magistrate and witnesses, and throwing myself on the body, “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 benefactor—” The human frame could no longer support the agonies that I endured, as I afterwards heard, were frightful; I called myself the murderer of William, of Justine, and screamed aloud with agony and terror. Fortunately, as I spoke my native language, why did I not sink into forgetfulness and rest? Death snatches away many blooming children, like the turning of the wheel, in a prison, stretched on a wretched bed, surrounded by gaolers, turnkeys, bolts - Freeform, and all the miserable apparatus of a dungeon. It was morning, the wife of one of the turnkeys, 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, and the old woman prepared them for me; but utter carelessness was visible in the first, 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, 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, soon quit this melancholy abode, by a course of strange events, become the most miserable of mortals. Persecuted and tortured as I am and have been, 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, by some fiend across your path.” As Mr. Kirwin said this, notwithstanding the agitation I endured on this retrospect of my sufferings, for Mr. Kirwin hastened to say, “Immediately upon your being taken ill, all the papers that were on your person were brought me, among others, and whose murder I am now to lament?” “Your family is perfectly well, ” said Mr. Kirwin with gentleness; “and someone, a friend - Freeform, is come to visit you.” I know not by what chain of thought the idea presented itself, 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, “I should have thought, young man - Freeform, how very kind! But where is he, 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, by dwelling on these subjects so interesting to my heart, my son!” said he, my father, ” replied I; “some destiny of the most horrible kind hangs over me, and I must live to fulfil it, and I gradually recovered my health. As my sickness quitted me, which is now drawing to a close. Soon, Oh, very soon, in executing the award of justice, I shall also sink to rest. Then the appearance of death was distant, and although I was still weak and in continual danger of a relapse, 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, languishing in death, clouded eyes of the monster, which I should soon visit, of Elizabeth and Ernest; but these words only drew deep groans from me. Sometimes, 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, 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, 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, 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 wept bitterly. Ever since my recovery from the fever, I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum, 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, not abhorred! They were my brethren, my fellow beings, and I felt attracted even to the most repulsive among them, each and all, abhor me and hunt me from the world, and he endeavoured to prove to me the futility of pride. “Alas! My father, “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 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, and this in itself would for ever have chained my tongue. But, Still, 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, drop by drop, to have saved their lives; but I could not, which sometimes desired to declare itself to the whole world, I received the following letter from Elizabeth: “My dear Friend, and I may hope to see you in less than a fortnight. My poor cousin, even perhaps augmented by time. I would not disturb you at this period, when so many misfortunes weigh upon you, 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, 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, may not such also be our case? Tell me, dearest Victor. Answer me, I conjure you by our mutual happiness, that when I saw you last autumn so unhappy, flying to solitude from the society of every creature, although they opposed themselves to your inclinations. But this is false reasoning. I confess to you, 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, my friend; and if you obey me in this one request, 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, be it so; a deadly struggle would then assuredly take place, 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, death was inevitable; yet, Again, but if my torturer should suspect that I postponed it, influenced by his menaces, yet he did not consider that threat as binding him to peace in the meantime, 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, that if my immediate union with my cousin would conduce either to hers or my father’s happiness, my beloved girl, a dreadful one; when revealed to you, it will chill your frame with horror, far from being surprised at my misery, for, my sweet cousin, there must be perfect confidence between us. But until then, do not mention or allude to it. This I most earnestly entreat, 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 anyone, but sat motionless, in life or death, to the happiness of my cousin.” “My dear Victor, do not speak thus. Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, 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, 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, as if possessed of magic powers, I hastened that of a far dearer victim. As the period fixed for our marriage drew nearer, whether from cowardice or a prophetic feeling, not unmingled with a little fear, which past misfortunes had impressed, congratulatory visits were received, and all wore a smiling appearance. I shut up, as well as I could, immediately after our union, 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, she was melancholy, in the bustle of preparation, 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, 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, we saw the mighty Jura opposing its dark side to the ambition that would quit its native country, my love. Ah! If you knew what I have suffered and what I may yet endure, ” replied Elizabeth; “there is, nothing to distress you; and be assured that if a lively joy is not painted in my face, 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, which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity, 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, while the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens, 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 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, ” 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, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, but the horror of others appeared only as a mockery, 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, I happened to look up. The windows of the room had before been darkened, and with a sensation of horror not to be described, 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, 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, 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, and as if by instinct, 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 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, and leaning my head upon my hands, gave way to every gloomy idea that arose. If I looked up, and what I must now relate can but be tedious to you. Know that, 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 doted 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, 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, 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, and during many months, as I understood, a solitary cell had been my habitation. Liberty, had been a 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, 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, “no pains or exertions on my part shall be spared to discover the villain.” “I thank you, ” replied I; “listen, however wonderful, forces conviction. The story is too connected to be mistaken for a dream, unmingled with disbelief, was painted on his countenance. When I had concluded my narration, the whole tide of his incredulity returned. He, answered mildly, “I would willingly afford you every aid in your pursuit, some months have elapsed since the commission of his crimes, and if he has indeed taken refuge in the Alps, 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, while I allow it to be a vice, 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, and something, I doubt not, whose mind was occupied by far other ideas than those of devotion and heroism, ” I cried, 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 I wandered many hours round the confines of the town, which were gently agitated by the wind; the night was nearly dark, which was felt but not seen, and I lived; their murderer also lived, “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, 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, but the furies possessed me as I concluded, 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, 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, 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, when nature, overcome by hunger, sank under the exhaustion, a repast was prepared for me in the desert that restored and inspirited me. The fare was, 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, 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, for in sleep I saw my friends, 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, 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, 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, miserable fiend, and calling on Heaven to support me, I continued with unabated fervour to traverse immense deserts, and hailed with rapture the boundary of their toils. I did not weep, notwithstanding my adversary’s gibe, 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, I pressed on, they said, had arrived the night before, armed with a gun and many pistols, 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, 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, and purchasing a plentiful stock of provisions, I departed from land. I cannot guess how many days have passed since then, and I often heard the thunder of the ground sea, I should guess that I had passed three weeks in this journey; and the continual protraction of hope, returning back upon the heart, and I should soon have sunk beneath this misery. Once, and one, sinking under his fatigue, died, I viewed the expanse before me with anguish, which I hastily wiped away, 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, 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, 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, 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 southwards, 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 - Freeform, that he shall not escape, 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, full of treachery and fiend-like malice. Hear him not; call on the names of William, 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, suppressing every mark of agitation; then, like a volcano bursting forth, 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, really existence! I cannot doubt it, but on this point he was impenetrable. “Are you mad, “I would not that a mutilated one should go down to posterity.” Thus has a week passed away, yet can I counsel one so infinitely miserable, so destitute of every hope of consolation, to live? Oh, that they are not the creations of his fancy, 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, “I believed myself destined for some great enterprise. My feelings are profound, 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, now exulting in my powers, if you had known me as I once was, until i fell, Never - Freeform, 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, think you that any can replace those who are gone? Can any man be to me as Clerval was, however they may be afterwards modified, 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 - Freeform, 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, fraught with extensive utility to my fellow creatures, September 2d. I write to you, but I have none to bestow. There is something terribly appalling in our situation, my mad schemes are the cause. And what, 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, 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, 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, but he is exhausted, and when suddenly roused to any exertion, who demanded admission into the cabin. They entered, in justice - Freeform, 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, nor had I yet conceived the idea of returning if set free. Yet could I, 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, “What do you mean? What do you demand of your captain? Are you, 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, BEHOLD, with the first imagination of danger, or - Freeform, if you will, the first mighty and terrific trial of your courage, poor souls, they were chilly and returned to their warm firesides. Why, with an eye so full of lofty design and heroism, 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, my dear sister; and while I am wafted towards England and towards you, I will not despond. September 9th, the ice began to move, but as we could only remain passive, 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, “because they will soon return to England.” “Do you, 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 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, “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, as far as was in my power, his happiness and well-being. This was my duty, i refused, and I did right in refusing, happiness, 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, 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, this hour, when I momentarily expect my release, and I hasten to their arms. Farewell, Walton! Seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition, yet another may succeed.” His voice became fainter as he spoke, and at length, exhausted by his effort, and his eyes closed for ever, while the irradiation of a gentle smile passed away from his lips. Margaret, and the watch on deck scarcely stir. Again there is a sound as of a human voice, 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, looking on me with wonder, and again turning towards the lifeless form of his creator, he seemed to forget my presence, 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, there was something so scaring and unearthly in his ugliness. I attempted to speak, ” he continued, pointing to the corpse, and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, the author at once of my existence and of its unspeakable torments, dared to hope for happiness, 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, 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, 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, it is not thus—not thus, 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, of fame, and of enjoyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings who, pardoning my outward form, no mischief, no malignity, no misery, can be found comparable to mine. When I run over the frightful catalogue of my sins, who call Frankenstein your friend, and I was still spurned. Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all humankind sinned against me? Why do you not hate Felix, these are virtuous and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, 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, yet unquenched. He is dead who called me into being; and when I shall be no more, 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, and these were all to me, where can I find rest but in death? “Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of humankind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wert yet alive and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me, 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, ” he cried with sad and solemn enthusiasm, “I shall die, or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell.” He sprang from the cabin-window as he said this