Reading Help Frankenstein Ch.10-24

Chapter 10 `
` `
` I spent the following day roaming through the valley. I stood beside `
` the sources of the Arveiron, which take their rise in a glacier, that `
` with slow pace is advancing down from the summit of the hills to `
` barricade the valley. The abrupt sides of vast mountains were before `
` me; the icy wall of the glacier overhung me; a few shattered pines were `
` scattered around; and the solemn silence of this glorious `
` presence-chamber of imperial nature was broken only by the brawling `
` waves or the fall of some vast fragment, the thunder sound of the `
` avalanche or the cracking, reverberated along the mountains, of the `
` accumulated ice, which, through the silent working of immutable laws, `
` was ever and anon rent and torn, as if it had been but a plaything in `
` their hands. These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the `
` greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me `
` from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my `
` grief, they subdued and tranquillized it. In some degree, also, they `
` diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had brooded for the `
` last month. I retired to rest at night; my slumbers, as it were, `
` waited on and ministered to by the assemblance of grand shapes which I `
` had contemplated during the day. They congregated round me; the `
` unstained snowy mountain-top, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, `
` and ragged bare ravine, the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds--they all `
` gathered round me and bade me be at peace. `
` `
` Where had they fled when the next morning I awoke? All of soul- `
` inspiriting fled with sleep, and dark melancholy clouded every thought. `
` The rain was pouring in torrents, and thick mists hid the summits of `
` the mountains, so that I even saw not the faces of those mighty `
` friends. Still I would penetrate their misty veil and seek them in `
` their cloudy retreats. What were rain and storm to me? My mule was `
` brought to the door, and I resolved to ascend to the summit of `
` Montanvert. I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous `
` and ever-moving glacier had produced upon my mind when I first saw it. `
` It had then filled me with a sublime ecstasy that gave wings to the `
` soul and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy. `
` The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the `
` effect of solemnizing my mind and causing me to forget the passing `
` cares of life. I determined to go without a guide, for I was well `
` acquainted with the path, and the presence of another would destroy the `
` solitary grandeur of the scene. `
` `
` The ascent is precipitous, but the path is cut into continual and short `
` windings, which enable you to surmount the perpendicularity of the `
` mountain. It is a scene terrifically desolate. In a thousand spots `
` the traces of the winter avalanche may be perceived, where trees lie `
` broken and strewed on the ground, some entirely destroyed, others bent, `
` leaning upon the jutting rocks of the mountain or transversely upon `
` other trees. The path, as you ascend higher, is intersected by ravines `
` of snow, down which stones continually roll from above; one of them is `
` particularly dangerous, as the slightest sound, such as even speaking `
` in a loud voice, produces a concussion of air sufficient to draw `
` destruction upon the head of the speaker. The pines are not tall or `
` luxuriant, but they are sombre and add an air of severity to the `
` scene. I looked on the valley beneath; vast mists were rising from the `
` rivers which ran through it and curling in thick wreaths around the `
` opposite mountains, whose summits were hid in the uniform clouds, while `
` rain poured from the dark sky and added to the melancholy impression I `
` received from the objects around me. Alas! Why does man boast of `
` sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders `
` them more necessary beings. If our impulses were confined to hunger, `
` thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by `
` every wind that blows and a chance word or scene that that word may `
` convey to us. `
` `
` `
` We rest; a dream has power to poison sleep. `
` We rise; one wand'ring thought pollutes the day. `
` We feel, conceive, or reason; laugh or weep, `
` Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away; `
` It is the same: for, be it joy or sorrow, `
` The path of its departure still is free. `
` Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; `
` Nought may endure but mutability! `
` `
` `
` It was nearly noon when I arrived at the top of the ascent. For some `
` time I sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of ice. A mist covered `
` both that and the surrounding mountains. Presently a breeze dissipated `
` the cloud, and I descended upon the glacier. The surface is very `
` uneven, rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low, and `
` interspersed by rifts that sink deep. The field of ice is almost a `
` league in width, but I spent nearly two hours in crossing it. The `
` opposite mountain is a bare perpendicular rock. From the side where I `
` now stood Montanvert was exactly opposite, at the distance of a league; `
` and above it rose Mont Blanc, in awful majesty. I remained in a recess `
` of the rock, gazing on this wonderful and stupendous scene. The sea, `
` or rather the vast river of ice, wound among its dependent mountains, `
` whose aerial summits hung over its recesses. Their icy and glittering `
` peaks shone in the sunlight over the clouds. My heart, which was `
` before sorrowful, now swelled with something like joy; I exclaimed, `
` "Wandering spirits, if indeed ye wander, and do not rest in your narrow `
` beds, allow me this faint happiness, or take me, as your companion, `
` away from the joys of life." `
` `
` As I said this I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, `
` advancing towards me with superhuman speed. He bounded over the `
` crevices in the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his `
` stature, also, as he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. I was `
` troubled; a mist came over my eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me, `
` but I was quickly restored by the cold gale of the mountains. I `
` perceived, as the shape came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) `
` that it was the wretch whom I had created. I trembled with rage and `
` horror, resolving to wait his approach and then close with him in `
` mortal combat. He approached; his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, `
` combined with disdain and malignity, while its unearthly ugliness `
` rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes. But I scarcely `
` observed this; rage and hatred had at first deprived me of utterance, `
` and I recovered only to overwhelm him with words expressive of furious `
` detestation and contempt. `
` `
` "Devil," I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me? And do not you fear `
` the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, `
` vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, `
` oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, `
` restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!" `
` `
` "I expected this reception," said the daemon. "All men hate the `
` wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all `
` living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, `
` to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of `
` one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with `
` life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the `
` rest of mankind. If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave `
` them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, `
` until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends." `
` `
` "Abhorred monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too `
` mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devil! You reproach me with `
` your creation, come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I `
` so negligently bestowed." `
` `
` My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him, impelled by all the `
` feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another. `
` `
` He easily eluded me and said, `
` `
` "Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred `
` on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to `
` increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of `
` anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made `
` me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my `
` joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in `
` opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and `
` docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, `
` the which thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every `
` other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy `
` clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; `
` I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou `
` drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I `
` alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made `
` me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." `
` `
` "Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you `
` and me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, `
` in which one must fall." `
` `
` "How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a `
` favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and `
` compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed `
` with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my `
` creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, `
` who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and `
` dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the `
` caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the `
` only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they `
` are kinder to me than your fellow beings. If the multitude of mankind `
` knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for `
` my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep `
` no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my `
` wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver `
` them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great, that `
` not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be `
` swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be `
` moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale; when you have heard `
` that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. `
` But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they `
` are, to speak in their own defence before they are condemned. Listen `
` to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder, and yet you would, with `
` a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the `
` eternal justice of man! Yet I ask you not to spare me; listen to me, `
` and then, if you can, and if you will, destroy the work of your hands." `
` `
` "Why do you call to my remembrance," I rejoined, "circumstances of `
` which I shudder to reflect, that I have been the miserable origin and `
` author? Cursed be the day, abhorred devil, in which you first saw `
` light! Cursed (although I curse myself) be the hands that formed you! `
` You have made me wretched beyond expression. You have left me no power `
` to consider whether I am just to you or not. Begone! Relieve me from `
` the sight of your detested form." `
` `
` "Thus I relieve thee, my creator," he said, and placed his hated hands `
` before my eyes, which I flung from me with violence; "thus I take from `
` thee a sight which you abhor. Still thou canst listen to me and grant `
` me thy compassion. By the virtues that I once possessed, I demand this `
` from you. Hear my tale; it is long and strange, and the temperature of `
` this place is not fitting to your fine sensations; come to the hut upon `
` the mountain. The sun is yet high in the heavens; before it descends `
` to hide itself behind your snowy precipices and illuminate another `
` world, you will have heard my story and can decide. On you it rests, `
` whether I quit forever the neighbourhood of man and lead a harmless `
`