Bridge Phase 6: fMS box c56 chap 14Frankenstein Variorum Project2023—Distributed under a Creative Commons
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Chap. 14
Chap. 14
The
The
next day, contrary to the
next day, contrary to the
prognostics
prognostics
of our guides, was
of our guides, was
fine
fine
although clouded.
although clouded.
^^^^We
^We
We
visited the source of the
visited the source of the
Aveiron
Aveiron
and rode about the valley
and rode about the valley
the whole daythe whole dathe whole dayyuntil
evening ^until
until
evening
evening .
.
These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of
receiving
receiving
They elevated me from all ^all littleness of
feeling
feeling
and although they
d did not remove my
dd did not remove my
grief
grief
they
t subdued and
tt subdued and
tranquilized
tranquilized
it. In some degree,
also
also
they diverted my mind from the thoughts
^^^^over which
^over which
over which
it had brooded
overfor the last
overoverfor the last
month s .
month ss .
I returned in the evening,
I returned in the evening,
fatigued
fatigued
but less
but less
unhappy
unhappy
and
and
convered
convered
with
with
the
the
family
family
t with more cheerfulness than
tt with more cheerfulness than
I had been
II had been
accustomedtoaccustomedaccustomedtotomy custom
^my custom
my custom
for some time.
for some time.
My father was pleased and Elizabeth overjoyed;
My father was pleased and Elizabeth overjoyed;
"My dear Cousin," said she, "You see what happiness you diffuse when you are
"My dear Cousin," said she, "You see what happiness you diffuse when you are
cheerfulhappy ;
cheerfulcheerfulhappy ^happy ;
do not relapse
do not relapse
again!—
again!—
The following morning
¶ The following morning
the rain
poured down
poured down
in
torrents
torrents
and thick mists hid the summits of
the mountains. I rose
the mountains. I rose
early
early
but felt unusually melancholy. The rain depressed
but felt unusually melancholy. The rain depressed
my^me ,
mymy^^^me ^me ,
my old feelings
my old feelings
recurred
recurred
and I was miserable. I knew how
and I was miserable. I knew how
my father would be
my father would be
dissapointed at this sudden
dissapointed at this sudden
change
change
and I wished to avoid him
and I wished to avoid him
untill
untill
I had
I had
rev recovered myself so far as
revrev recovered myself so far as
to conceal
to conceal
the
the
feelings that overpowered
feelings that overpowered
me —
me —
I knew that they would remain that day at the
I knew that they would remain that day at the
inn
inn
and as I had
and as I had
n ever inured myself to
nn ever inured myself to
rain
rain
and
and
cold
cold
I resolved
t to
tt to
go
go
to the summit of
Montanvert by myselfalone .
Montanvert by myselfby myselfalone ^alone .
I remembered the effect the view of the tremendous and
ever moving
ever moving
glacier had
hadproduced upon my mind when I first saw
hadhadproduced ^produced upon my mind when I first saw
it
howiI t had then filled me with a sublime
howhowiiI ^I t had then filled me with a sublime
extacy
extacy
that gave wings to the
soul
soul
and allowed
^^^^it
^it
it
to soar from the
lowerlowerlowerobscure
^obscure
obscure
world to light & joy. The sight of the awful & majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of
tranquillizing the^solemnizing tranquillizing thetranquillizing the^^^solemnizing ^solemnizing ^^^^my
^my
mind
mind
& causing me to forget the
the passing cares of life. I determined to go
thethe passing cares of life. I determined to go
fby myselfffby myselfby myselfalone
^alone
alone
for I was well acquainted with the
path
path
and the presence of another
had the effect ofhad the effect ofhad the effect ofwould
^would
would
destroy
ing the
inging the
solitarysolitary grandeur of the scene. The ascent
solitarysolitarysolitary grandeur of the scene. ¶ The ascent
to the mountain^to the mountainto the mountain^^^is
^is
is
precipitousww^^^withwith^^^^but the path is cut into ^but the path is ^the path is cut into continual and short
windings
windings
which enable
sto you
sstoto you
surmount the
perpedicularity
perpedicularity
of the
mountains–
mountains–
It is a scene
terrifically
terrifically
desolate. In a thousand
places
places
the traces of the winter
avelanche
avelanche
may be
perceived
perceived
where trees lie broken and strewed on the ground; some entirely
destroyed
destroyed
others
bent
bent
leaning upon
juts in the jutting
juts injuts in the jutting
cornerscornerscornersrocks
^rocks
rocks
of the mountain, or
^^^^transversely
^transversely
transversely
upon other trees. The
path
path
as you
ascen ascend
ascenascen ascend
higher
higher
is
intersinterspersedectedwithpersedpersedected^ectedwiwiththby ^by ravines of ^of snow, down which stones continually roll from above; one of
the them is particularly
the them is particularly
dangerousdangerous
as the slightest
sound
sound
such as even ^even speaking in a loud
voice
voice isisisproduces ^produces a
✗—sufficien dt—✗ concussion of air sufficient to draw destruction
✗—sufficien ddt^t—✗ concussion of air sufficient to draw destruction
the head of the speaker. The
pine s here
pine s ^s here
are not tall or
luxuriant
luxuriant
but they are
sombre
sombre
and add an air of
gravitygravitgravityyseverity
^severity
severity
to the scene. I looked on the valley
beneath. ;
beneath. ; ^;
Vast
mist
mist
were rising from the
river
river
which ran through
t^it tt^^^it ^it
and curling in thick wreaths around the opposite
mountains
mountains
whose summits were hid in the uniform ^uniform clouds, while rain poured from the dark
sky
sky
and added to the melancholy impression I received from the objects around
me —
me —
Alas!
who can boast why does man boast of sensibilities
who can boastwho can boast why does man boast of sensibilities
above
above
those apparent in the
brute
brute
it only renders them more necessary beings.
✗—Hunger & desire and —✗ If our impulses were confined to
✗—Hunger & desire and —✗ If our impulses were confined to
hunger thirst
hunger thirst
and
desire
desire
we might be
moremoremorenearly
^nearly
nearly
free
free
but now we are moved by every wind that
blows
blows
&
by every sc
by every scsc
chance
work word or scene that that
workwork word or scene that that
wind
wind
may convey to
us us We
rest,
rest,
A dream has power to poison
L sleep
L sleep
We
rise
rise
one
wandering
wandering
thought pollutes the
day
day
We
feel
feel
conceive, or
reason –
reason –
laugh
laugh
or
weep
weep
Embrace fond
woe
woe
or cast our cares
away away It is the
same –for
same –for
be it joy or
sorrow
sorrow
The path of its departure still is
free Mans
free Mans
yesterday may
ne'er
ne'er
be like
h is morrow
h ^h is morrow
Nought may endure but
mutability.
mutability. ¶ I t I t ^t
was noon when I arrived at the top of the
mountainascent .
mountainmountainascent ^ascent .
For some time I sat upon the
the rock that overlooks the sea of ice. A mist covered both that and the surrounding
thethe rock that overlooks the sea of ice. A mist covered both that and the surrounding
untains
untains
Presently a breeze dissipated the
mist
mist
and I descended
on
on
the
iceglacier . ✗—It is in s tersper sed with rifts —✗ –
iceiceglacier ^glacier . ✗—It is in ss tersper sed with rifts —✗ –
The surface is very
uneven
uneven
rising like the waves of a troubled sea,
decending towdecending towtow
low, &
in st erspered
in sst ^t erspered
by rifts that sink
deep—
deep—
The
width of thefield of ice is
width of thewidth of thefield of ^field of ice is
nearlynearlynearly
a
lege league, legelege league, ^^^^in width, ^in width, but I
was
was
nearly two hours in ^in crossing
it –
it –
The oppositet mountain is a bare perpendiculartt mountain is a bare perpendicular
rock.–From that
rock.–From that
side where I now stood Montanvert was exactly
opposite
opposite
at the distance of a
league
league
and above
✗— I should listen to the dæmon – my feelings were against it but the misery he expressed had allready moved my compassion and I thought the least justice I could shew would be to listen to to his tale. We entered the hut – the monster lighted a fire and sitting by it
✗— I should listen to the dæmon – my feelings were against it but the misery he expressed had alllready moved my compassion and I thought the least justice I could shew would be to listen to to his tale. ¶ We entered the hut – the monster lighted a fire and sitting by it
he began thus. —✗it rose Mont
he began thus. —✗it rose Mont
Blanc
Blanc
in awful majesty. I remained in a recess of the
rock
rock
gazing on this wonderful &
stupedous scene –
stupedous scene –
the
sea
sea
or rather the vast ^the vast river of ice, wound among
the its
thethe its
dependant mountains
dependant mountains
whose
aerial
aerial
summits hung over its recesses.
Thier
Thier
icy & glittering peaks shone in sunlight over the clouds. My
heart before
heart before sad^sadsadwhich was
sorrowful ly ,
now ^which was
sorrowful ly ,
sorrowful lyly ,
now swelled with
somthing
somthing
like
joy I clasjoy I clasI clas
I
exclaimed – Wandering
exclaimed – Wandering
spirits, if indeed ye
wander
wander
and do not rest in your narrow beds, allow me this faint
happiness
happiness
or take
me
me
as your
companioncompanion
away from the joys of life." As I said
this
this
I suddenly beheld
ahumanthe figure aahumanhumanthe ^the figure of a
man ^of a
of a
man
man
at some
distance
distance
advancing towards me with superhuman
speed—
speed—
He bounded over the crevices in the
ice ice bybybyamong ^among which I had walked with
caution,
caution,
his
stature
stature
also
also
as he
approached seemed
approached seemed
to exceed that of
man –I
man –I
was
troubled —
troubled —
a mist
covered
covered
my
eyes
eyes
and I felt
ready to pa faintready to pa faintready to pa faintfaintness seize
me. ^faintness seize
me.
me. –
–
The cold
breeze
breeze
of the
mountains quickly restored me. But
mountains quickly restored me. ButBut
I
perceived
perceived
as
hehehethe shape
^the shape
the shape
came
nearer
nearer
(oh sight tremendous and abhorred)
(ohoh sight tremendous and abhorred)
that it was the wretch whom I
had cr created ✗—and who had
had crcr created ✗—and who had
caused me such deep misery —✗.
caused me such deep misery —✗.
I trembled with rage
an and
anan and
horror determinI ingresolv ined g
horror determindeterminI ^I ingingresolv ined g^resolv inined ^ed gg
to wait his
approach
approach
& then close with him in mortal combat. He approached;
I saw again that form from whichI His countenance bespoke bitter
I saw again that form from whichsaw again that form from whichII His countenance bespoke bitter
anguish
anguish
combined with
d ei sdain and malignancy. But I
d eei ^i sdain and malignancy. But I hardlyhardlyhardly^^^^scarcely ^scarcely observed
this–
this–
anger
anger
and hatred
at f had at first deprived me of
at fat f had at first deprived me of
utterance
utterance
and I recovered only to overwhelm him with
express words expressive of
expressexpress words expressive of
utter
utter
detestation
andre and contempt – "Devil"
andandrere and contempt – "Devil"
I
exclaimed –
exclaimed –
"do you dare approach
me
me
and do not
^^^^you
^you
you
dread
dread
the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on
you r
you r ^r
miserable
head – Begone
head – Begone
vile
insect
insect
or
^ rather Stay
^^^ rather ^ rather Stay
that I may trample you to
dust and oh
dust and oh
that I
could
could
with
^^^^the
end^the
the
endendendextinction of
^extinction of
extinction of
your miserable
existence
existence
restore those
creatures
creatures
whom you have
diabollicaly murdered"
diabollicaly murdered"
¶ "I
expect ed
expect ed ^ed
this
reception"
reception"
said the
dæmon all
dæmon all
men hate
^^^^the
^the
the
wretched –
wretched –
how then
how then
must
OOOI
^I
I
be
hated
hated
who am miserable beyond
conception orideaconception orconception orideaideaall living
things. ^all living
all living
things.
things. –
–
Yet
you my
you mymy
my
creator hate me
creator hate me
and spurn
me me
me meme
thy
creature
creature
to whom thou art bound
with
with
ties only dissoluble by the
death
death
of one of us.
AndyY ou AndAndyyY ^Y ou wishwishwishpurpose ^purpose to kill me.
AndhH ow
AndAndhhH ^H ow
dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards
me
me
and I will do mine towards you & the rest of mankind.
^^^^If you
comply with my
conditions ^If you
If you
comply with my
conditions
conditions –I
–I
will leave them and you at
peace – ✗—but as I am if you do not comply with my conti condi tions —✗
peace – ✗—but as I am if you do not comply with my conti condi tions —✗but
if you
refuse ^but
but
if you
refuse
refuse
I
^^^^will
^will
will
glut the
t maw of
tt maw of
death untill
death untill heheheit ^it be
satiate satiated
satiatesatiate satiated
even with
even with
your
dearest
dearest
friends." ¶ " Miserablewretch Abhorred monster, cried I furiously,
" MiserableMiserablewretchwretch Abhorred monster, cried I furiously,
fiend that thou
art
art
the tortures of Hell are too
soft for theemild a vengeance for thy crimes. wretched devil! you reproach me with your creation;
soft for theesoft for theemild a vengeance for thy crimes. ^mild a vengeance for thy crimes. wretched devil! you reproach me with your creation;
come,
come,
that I may extinguish the spark
that
that
I so negligently bestowed." My rage was without
bounds
bounds
I
sprung
sprung
on
him that Iand might destroy so hateful a monster–
him that Ithat Iand and ^and might destroy so hateful a monster–might destroy so hateful a monster–and
impelled by all the feelings which can arm one ^andandand
impelled by all the feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another. He eluded
me easily, and said – Be calm!
me easily, ^me easily, and said – Be calm!
I entreat
h you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred
hh you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred
up on my devoted
up ^up on my devoted
head– .
head– . ^.
Have I not
suffer r ed enough
suffer rr ed enough
that you
should wish
shouldshould wish
to
encrease
encrease
my
misery–Life
misery–Life
although it
be
be
only an accumulation of
anguish
anguish
is dear to
me
me
and I will defend
it remember
it remember
thou hast made me more
powe ^r ful
powe ^^^r ^r ful
than
thyself
thyself
my height is superior to
yours
yours
my joints more supple. But I
do not wish to traveyoudo not wish to travedo not wish to traveyouyouwill not be tempted to set myself in opposition to
thee, ^will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to
will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to
thee,
thee,
I am thy
creature
creature
and
I wi thll II wi ththll ^ll
be even ^even mild and docile
to youto youto youto
thee ^to
to
thee thee ^thee , my gentle mastermy gentle mastermy gentle mastermy natural
master
&
king ^my natural
my natural
master
master
&
king
king , –
, –
if
youyouyouthou
^thou
thou
will
will
perform
youryouryourthy
part also,
the which thou owest
me ^thy
thy
part also,
part also,
the which thou owest
me
me dut yies towards^ me.
dut yyies ^ies towardstowards^^^ me.
Oh
Oh
Frankenstein,
do not
do not be
^be
be
equitable to every
other
other
and trample upon me
alone alone ^alone
to whom thy
justice
justice
& even
merecharitythey clemency, thy affection meremerecharitycharitythey clemency, thy affection ^they clemency, thy affection
is most due.
Remb Remember
RembRemb Remember
that I am thy
creature –
creature –
I ought to be ^I ought to be Thy
Adam –
Adam – ororor^^^^but I am ^but I am rather the fallen
angel
angel forforforwhom thou
driven
from joy for no
misdeed; ^whom thou
driven
driven
from joy for no
misdeed;
misdeed;
every where I see
bliss
bliss
from
^from
whi ilech whi ileilech ^ch
I
alome
alome
am
irrecoverably wretchedexcluded .
irrecoverably wretchedwretchedexcluded ^excluded .
I was benevolent and
good:
good:
misery made me a fiend. Make me
happy
happy
and I shall again be
virtuous
virtuous
¶ Begone replied I –
Begone replied I –
I
cannot andwill not hear you. there can be no community between you and
cannot andcannot andwill not hear you. there can be no community between you and
I–
I–
We are
enemies — Begone
enemies — Begone
or
allhow let us try our
allhowallhow let us try our
streng h th
streng hh th
in a
fight
fight
in which one must
fall."
fall."
¶ > How How
> HowHow How
can I move
you? said the fiend—
you? said the fiend—
Will no entreaties cause
you
you
to turn a favourable eye upon thy
creature
creature
who implores thy goodness and
compassion –
compassion –
Believe me,
Frankenstien
Frankenstien
I was
benevolent —my
benevolent —my
soul glowed with love and
humanity
humanity
but am I not
alone
alone
miserably
alone – ✗—None to love me but all fly —✗and
alone – ✗—None to love me but all fly —✗andand
You, my
creator
creator
abhor
me
me
What hope
have I then fromhave I then fromhave I then fromcan I gather from
^can I gather from
can I gather from
your
fellow creatures fellow creatures ^^^^who owe me
nothing. ^who owe me
nothing.
nothing. —They
—They
spurn and
abhor^hate me. The
abhorabhor^^^hate ^hate me. The
desart
desart
mountains and
mourful
mourful
glaciers are my
refuge—I
refuge—I
have wandered here many
days–
days–
The caves of
ice
ice are myare myare mywhich ^which I only do not
fear
fear
are a dwelling to
me
me
and the only one which man does not
grudge to me — And food –
grudge to meto me — And foodAnd food –
These bleak skies I
hail
hail
for they are kinder to me ^to me than
manmanmanyour
fellow creatures^beings ^your
your
fellow creatures^beings
fellow creaturescreatures^^^beings ^beings andBut I no^TheyMan hate s me and ifandandBut I noBut I no^^^TheyTheyMan Man ^Man hate s me and ihate s ^s me and ifftheytheytheyIf the multitude of mankind knew of my
existence
existence ^^^^they ^they would as you
^^^^do
^do
do
arm themselves for my
destruction – AndsS hall
destruction – AndAndssS ^S hall
I not then ^then hate them who abhor
me
me
I
^^^^will
^will
will
keep no
temm terms with
temmtemm terms with
^^^^my
^my
my
enemies and enemies andandI am
miserable
miserable
&^& they shall share my
wretchedness–
wretchedness–
Yet it is in your
pow
pow rerereer
^er
er
to recompense
me
me
and deliver them from an evil which
^^^^it
^it
it
only remains for you to make so great, that not only you & your
family
family
but thousands of
others
others
shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage.
you have bestowed on them . Let your compassion
you you ^you have bestowed on themhave bestowed on them . Let your compassion
and justice be
and justice be
moved
moved
and do not disdain me. Listen to my
tale !
tale !
when you have heard
that deny
that deny
or
comiserate d me
comiserate dd me
as you shall judge that ^that I
deserve– .
deserve– . ^.
But
here^herehere^^^hear
^hear
hear
me –The
me –The
guilty
may are
maymay are
allowed
allowed
by human laws, bloody as they
arearearemay
be ^may
may
be
be ,
,
to speak in their own ^own defence before they are
condemned ^before they are
condemned
condemned
Listen to
me Frankenstein for you are
me Frankenstein for you arefor you areyou accuse me of
muder
muder
and yet
whyou
whwhyou
would
would
with a
s satisfi c ed conscience
ss satisfi cc ed conscience
destroy
thythythythine
own
^thine
thine
own
creature –Oh
creature –Oh
praise the eternal justice of
man ! —Yet
man ! ^! —Yet
I ask you not to spare
me,
me,
listen and then, if you
^^^^can
and if you ^can
can
and if you will, destroy the work of your hands." ¶ "Why" cried I–"do
"Why" cried I–"do
you
ever call to my
everever call to my
remembrance those circumstances
remembrance thosethose circumstances
of ^of which I shudder to
reflect
reflect ever re occuredever re occuredever re occuredthat I have been the ^that I have been the miserable origin &
author
author –
–
Cursed be the
night o during which youday
night o during which younight o during which youday
in which you first saw
light,
light,
cursed (although I curse myself) be the hands that formed
you!—
you!—
You have made me wretched beyond
expression
expression ^^^^You have left me no power to consider ^You have left me no power to consider whether I am just to
you
or
no. ^whether I am just to
you
you
or
no.
no. begone,
begone,
relieve me from
theytheytheyyour
^your
sight
sight
¶ Thus
I relieve
you, Creator
^Thus
Thus
I relieve
you, Creator
you, Creator
he
replied
&^he
replied
replied
&He placed his
HeHe placed his
abhorred hand s
abhorred hand ss
before my
eyes –
eyes – Thus will I relieve youThus will I relieve yoThus will I relieve youuwhich I flung from me with
violence ^which I flung from me with
violence
violence – ✗—Creator he replied —✗ –fro nm the
– ✗—Creator he replied —✗ –fro nnm ^m the
sight
of one whom
of one whom
you
abhor.–still you can
abhor.–still you can
listen to
me
me
and grant me
your compassion –By the
your compassion –By the
the virtues I
c once
cc once
possessed
possessed
I demand this
of you – Lisof you – LisLis
Hear my
tale tale –It
taletale tale –It
is long and
strange but
strange butbut
and the temperature of this place is not fitting
y to your fine sensations; come to yy to your fine sensations; come to the
^the
the
hut
on Motan
on MotanMotanthe
mountain ^the
mountain
mountain vert –
vertvert –
The sun is yet high in the
heavens –
heavens –
before it descends to
its lowesthide itself behind
its lowestits lowesthide itself behind
thesethestheseeyon
^yon
yon
mountains
mountains
and
illumin a t es illumin a ^a t es ^es
another
world
world
you will have heard my
story
story
and can decide.
Andon you it
AndAndon you it
rests
rests
whether I quit for ever the
habitations
habitations
of
man
man
& lead a harmless
life
life
or become the scourge of your
fellow creatures, –
fellow creatures, ––& the author ^& the author of your own speedy
ruin. ^of your own speedy
ruin.
ruin. ¶ As he said
this
this
he led the way across the
ice –I followed –
ice –I followed –
my heart was
full
full
and I ^I did not answer
him but
him but whenwhenwhenas I
proceeded ^as I
proceeded
proceeded
I weighed the various arguments
which
which
he had used,
^Ifelt enclined^^^IIfelt enclinedfelt enclined&
I determined at ^&
&
I determined at
I determined at least to listen to his
least ^least to listen to his
tale—I
tale—I
was partly urged by curiosity, and compassion confirmed
me.– AsI was notme.– AsAsI was notI was not
I had hitherto supposed him to be the
murder er
murder er ^er
of my
brother
brother
and
I ✗—wished to find this either confirmed or denied —✗.I eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of this opinion.
I ✗—wished to find this either confirmed or denied —✗..I eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of this opinion.
For the first
time also
time also
I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature
were
were
and that I ought to render him happy before I complained of his wickedness. these motives urged me to comply with his
requestdemand –
requestrequestdemand ^demand –
We crossed the
ice
ice
therefore, and ascended the opposite rock.– The air was
cold
cold
and the rain
began again
began again
to
descend–We
descend–We
entered the
hut –
hut –
the fiend with an air of
exultation
exultation
I with a heavy
heart
heart
and depressed
spirits –
spirits –
But I consented to
listen and
listen and sittingsittingsittingseating myself ^seating myself by the fire which
he lighted
he lighted
he thus
began began his tale.
beganbegan began his tale.
