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