Bridge Phase 6: fMS box c57 chap 17Frankenstein Variorum Project2023—Distributed under a Creative Commons
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Chap. 17 It was eight o'clock
Chap. 17 It was eight o'clock
when we landed;
we walked ^for a short time on the shore enjoying the transitory twilight & then retired to the Inn
we walked ^^^for a short time ^for a short time on the shore enjoying the transitory twilight & then retired to the Inn
and contemplated the lovely scene of waters,
mountains
mountains
&
woods
woods
obscured in
darkness
darkness
yet still
✗—allowing—✗displaying the ir their✗—allowing—✗displaying ^displaying the ir ^ir theirtheirdarkdarkdarkblack
^black
outlines–
outlines–
The
wind
wind
which had fallen in the
south
south
now rose with great violence in the
west—the
west—the
moon had reached her summit in the
heavens
heavens
& was beginning to
descend
descend
the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the
vulture
vulture
and dimmed her
rays
rays
while the lake reflected the scene ^scene of the ^of the busy
heavens ^m made
heavens ^^^m made ^mm made
still busier by the
^^^^restless
^restless
restless
waves that were beginning to
rise— sS uddenly a heavy storm of rain descended.
rise— ssS ^S uddenly a heavy storm of rain descended.
I
t had been calm during the
tt had been calm during the
day
day
but
nownownowso soon
^so soon
so soon
as night
ha obscured the shapes of
haha obscured the shapes of
objects
objects
a thousand fears arose in my
mind –
mind –
I was anxious and
watchful
watchful
while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my
bosom —
bosom —
Every sound terrified
me, me, ^me,
but I
resoldved
resoldved
that I would sell my
s life
ss life
dearly ¬
dearly ¬ diediedierelax
the conflict that impended ^relax
relax
the conflict that impended
the conflict that impended untill my adversarylayat myshould lie senseless feet. untill my adversarymy adversarylaylayat myat myshould lie senseless should lie senseless ^should lie senseless feefeet.t.my own life, or that of my
adversary
were
extinguished ^my own life, or that of my
adversary
adversary
were
were
extinguished
extinguished ¶ Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid & fearful
silence At length she said — What is it, my dear Victor,
silence At length she said — What is it, my dear Victor,
that agitates
you?
you?
What is it you
fear?
fear?
¶ Oh
Oh
peace, peace, my
love, I replied, this night
love, I replied, this night
and all will be
safe –
safe –
but this night is
dreadful
dreadful
very
dreadful.
dreadful.
¶ I passed an hour in this state of
mind
mind
when suddenly I reflected how
dreadful
dreadful
such asuch asuch athe
^the
the
combat
asasaswhich
^which
which
I
momently momently ^momently
expected
wouldto take place would be wouldwouldto ^to take place would be to
^to
to
my
wife
wife
and I earnestly entreated her to
retire –
retire –
resolving not to join her
untill
untill
I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy. ¶ She left
me
me
and I continued some time walking up and down the passages of the
house
house
& inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to my
adversary –
adversary –
But I
sa saw
sasa saw
no trace of
him ^of
him
him &was beg aninning &was ^was beg ananinning ^inning
to
consider what was my best
consider what was my bestwhat was my bestthat some fortunate chance
^that some fortunate chance
mode of proceedingmode of proceedingmode of proceedinghad intervened to prevent the execution of his
menace, ^had intervened to prevent the execution of his
had intervened to prevent the execution of his
menace,
menace, –
–
When suddenly I heard a shrill & dreadful scream.– It came from the room into which Elizabeth had
retired
retired . with a servant. ^. with a servantwith a servantAs I heard
it
it
the whole truth rushed
to
to
my
mind
mind
my arms
dropped –
dropped –
the motion of every muscle & fibre was
suspended
suspended
I could feel the
b rl ood
b rrl ^l ood
tricklingfrom in my
fromfrom in my
veins –
veins – The screamThe screamThe scream& tingling in
my
feet ^& tingling in
& tingling in
my
feet
feet This state lasted but
This state lasted but
an
instant
instant
the scream was
repeated & I rushed into the room.
repeated & I rushed into the room.
Great
God
God
why did I not then
expire –
expire –
Why
I am I here to relate the
I am I here to relate the
d ie struction
d iie ^e struction
of the best
hope
hope
&dddthe
^the
the
purest creature of
earth –
earth –
She was
there –
there –
lifeless &
inanimate –
inanimate –
thrown across the
bed
bed
her head hanging
down
down
her ^her pale & distorted features half covered by
he r hair –
he r ^r hair –
Every where I turn I see the same
figure —Her
figure —Her
bloodless arms & relaxed
figure
figure
flung by the murderer on its
^^^^bridal
^bridal
bridal
bier —
bier —
Could I behold
this &
this &
and
live– Alas
live– Alas
life is
obstinate
obstinate & clinging& clinging& clingingit
clings closest ^it
it
clings closest where it is most
hated–
hated–
for a moment only did I lose
recollection –
recollection –
I
fainted.
fainted.
¶ When I
recovered
recovered
I found myself
in the midst of the people of inn –
in the midst of the people of inn –
Their countenances expressed a breathless
terror
terror
but the horror of others appeared
butbutbutonly as
^only as
only as
a
mockery mockery ^^^^a shadow ^a shadow of the feelings that
oppre dss ed
oppre ddss ^ss ed
me. ^me. I escaped from them
^^^^to the room
^to the room
to the room
where lay the body of
Elizabeth –
Elizabeth –
my
love —
love —
my
wife –
wife –
so lately
living –
living –
so
dear –so worthy –
dear –so worthy –
She had been moved from the posture in which I had first beheld
her
her
&
now
now
as she
lay
lay
her head upon her
arm
arm
and
h a
hh a
hankerchief
hankerchief
thrown across her face &
neck
neck
I might have supposed her
asleep –
asleep –
I rushed
toward s her &embraced
toward s ^s her &embraced
her with
ardour
ardour
but the
deathly
deathly
coldness of the
body
body
told
me
me
that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved &
cherished,
cherished,
the murderous
grasp
grasp
of the
fiend
fiend
was on her
neck
neck
& the breath had ceased to issue from her
sweet lips. While I still
sweetsweet lips. ¶ While I still
held
held
her
in my arms in the agony of
in my arms in the agony of
despair
despair
I happened to look up.
The room which
The room whichwhich
had before been
quite dark
quite dark
and I felt a kind of panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the
chamber
chamber
the shutters had been thrown
back and
back and
with a sensation of horror not to be
described
described
I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous &
abhorred –
abhorred –
A grin was on the face of the
monster.
monster. thatthatthathe ^he seemed to
jeer
jeer
as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my
wife—I
wife—I
rushed towards the
window
window
and drawing a pistol from my
bosom –shot–
bosom –shot–
but he ^he eluded
me – he leapt
me – hehe leapt
from his
station and run
station and runrun
running with
^^^^the
^the
the
swiftness of
lightning
lightning
plunged
in to the lake.
in to the lake.
The report of
my
my
pistol brought a
crow e d
crow ee d
into the
room I pointed to
room I pointed to
where he had
disappeared &we
disappeared &we
followed
him
him
with
boats & cast nets
boats & cast nets
but in
vain and
vain and
passing several
hours re in the search
hours rere in the search
returned
hopeless – mM ost
hopeless – mmM ^M ost
of my companions
believeing
believeing
it to have been a form conjured
it to have been a form conjured
by my fancy.
However after having
However after having
quitte landed
quittequitte landed
they proceeded to search the
country goin parties going in different directions among the woods & vines.
country goingoin parties going in different directions among the woods & vines.
I
did not
did not
accompany
them ✗—for the exhaustion that now seized on me —✗
them ✗—for the exhaustion that now seized on me —✗
I
was exhausted;
was exhausted;
a film covered my
eyes
eyes
and my
s kin s ^s kin burnedburnedburnedwas parched ^was parched with
t the heat of fever. In this state I
tt the heat of fever. In this state I
lay
lay
on a
bed
bed
hardly conscious of what had
happened &
happened &
my eyes wandered round the
room
room
as if to seek
somthing that I had lost.
somthing that I had lost.
At length
At length
I
remembered that my father would anxiously expect
remembered that my father would anxiously expect
the
return
return
of
Elizabeth & myself and that I must return alone. This reflection brought
Elizabeth & myself and that I must return alone. This reflection brought
tears
into my eyes & I wept for a long time. I reflected o n
into my eyes & I wept for a long time. I reflected o n ^n
my
misfortunes
misfortunes
& their
cause and
cause and
was bewildered in a cloud of wonder and horror. The death of William, the execution of
Justine
Justine
the murder of
Cl aie rval
Cl aiaie ^e rval
&
now
now
of my
wife –
wife –
even at ^at that moment I knew not that my
my only remaining friends were safe from the malignity of the
mymy only remaining friends were safe from the malignity of the
fiend –
fiend –
my father even now might be writhing under his
grasp
grasp
& Ernest might be dead at his
feet –
feet –
This
reflection
reflection
made me
shudder
shudder
and recalled me to action.
I sta I started
I staI sta I started
up
up
& resolved to return to Geneva with
everyeveryeveryall
^all
all
possible speed.
possible speed.
There were no horses to be
procured
procured
and I must return by the
lake
lake
but the wind was
nowagainst menownowagainst meagainst meunfavourable
^unfavourable
unfavourable
and the rain fell in torrents.
It was however
It was however
hardly
yet morning
yet morning
and I
^^^^might reasonably
^might reasonably
might reasonably
hope
d to arrive
dd to arrive
that ni by
that nithat ni by
night –I
night –I
hired
a number of men to
a number of men to
row
row
and took an oar
myself
myself
for I had always
felt^feltfelt^^^experienced
^experienced
experienced
relief
^^^^from mental
strain torment
^from mental
from mental
strainstrainstrain torment
^ torment
torment
in bodily exercise. But the overflowing misery I now
felt
felt
& the excess of agitation that I
endured
endured
rendered me incapable of any
exertion–I
exertion–I
threw down the
oar
oar
&
&
leaning my head upon my
hands
hands
gave way to every gloomy idea that
arose—If
arose—If
I looked
up
up
I saw the scenes which were familiar to me in my happier
daystime daysdaystime ^time
and which I had contemplated but the day
^^^^before
^before
before
in the company of her who was
^^^^now
^now
now
but a shadow & a
recollection –
recollection –
tears streamed from my
eyes – I looked on the waters^lake & saeyes – I looked on the waterswaters^^^lake ^lake & sa& sa
the rain had ceased for a
moment
moment
& I
sawsaw the fish play in the waters as
sawsawsaw the fish play in the waters as
I
I
had done
the day bef but four a few hours
the day befthe day bef but fourfour a few hours
before –
before –
they had then been observed by Elizabeth. Nothing is so painful to the human mind as
great & sudden change –
great & sudden change –
The sun might
shine
shine
or the clouds might
lower –
lower –
but nothing could appear to me as it had done the day
before – Eve
before – EveEve
A fiend had snatched from me every hope of future
happiness.
happiness.
No creature had ever been so miserable as I
was
was
so frightful an event
was
was
single
upon earth.
upon earth.
¶ But why should I dwell upon the incidents that followed this last overwhelming
event –
event –
Mine has been a tale
horrors–
horrors–
I have
now reached their
nownow reached their
ac h me
ac hh me
and what I must now relate can but be
t edious
t ^t edious
to
you now that
you now that
one by
one
one
my friends were snatched
away &
away &
I was left desolate. My own strength is
exhausted
exhausted
& I must
tell
tell
in
few words
few words
What remains of my hideous narration. ¶ I arrived at Geneva. My
fathe &Ernest
fathe &Ernest
yet
lived
lived
but the former
was unable to bear
was unable to bear
the
miserable tidings that I
miserable tidings that I
bore —
bore —
I see him
now
now
excellent & venerable old
man –
man –
his eyes wandered in
vacancy
vacancy
for they had lost their charm &
delight – his neice
delight – his neice
his more than
daughter
daughter
whom he doated on with all
the
the
affection
of a man
of a man
who
who
in the decline of
life
life
having few
affectionsaffections
clings
^^^^more earnestly
^more earnestly
more earnestly
to those that remain.
Cursed
Cursed
Cursed be the fiend that brought misery on his grey
hairs
hairs
& doomed him to
diewaste in
diediewaste ^waste in
misery w h retchedness.
miserymisery w hh retchedness.
He could not live under the horrors that were accumulated
round him – An applapetic fit was brought on
round him – An applapetic fit was brought on
& in a few
hours^hourshours^^^days
^days
days
he died in my
arms
arms
¶ What then became of me? I know
not—I
not—I
lost
sensation
sensation
& chains & darkness were the ^the only objects that pressed upon
me – some times indeed
me – some times indeed
I
dreamed
dreamed
that I wandered in flowery meadows & pleasant vales with the friends of my
youth –
youth –
But I
But I
awoke &found
awoke &found
myself in a dungeon. Melancholy
followed
followed
but by degrees I
regained
regained
a clear conception of my miseries &
situation &was
situation &was
then released from my prison. For they had called me
mad
mad
&forforforDuring
^During
During
many
months
months
as I
understood
understood
a solitary cell had been my habitation.
– ✗—But I might now wander freely —✗
– ✗—But I might now wander freely —✗
But liberty
But liberty
was awas awas ahad been
^had been
had been
a
^a
a
useless gift to
me
me
had
^^^^I
^I
I
not
not
as I awakened to
reason
reason ^^^^at the same time
been^at the same time
beenbeenbeen awakened to
awakened to
vengeance.
vengeance.
As
pa the memory of past misfortunes
papa the memory of past misfortunes
prest
prest
upon
me
me
I began to
f reflect
ff reflect
ofofofon
^on
on
their
cause – The
cause – The
monster whom I had
created—the
created—the
miserable
dæmo mn
dæmo mmn ^n
whom I had sent
abroard in
abroard in
the world for my
destruction —
destruction —
I was possessed by a
madening
madening
rage when I thought of
him
him
and desired & ardently prayed that I might have him
with in with in ^in
my grasp to wreak a ^a great
&signal
&signalvengeancevengeancevengeancerevenge ^revenge on
hi
hi ms mms ^s
cursed head. ^
cursed head. ¶ Nor did my hate long confine itself to useless wishes; I began to reflect on the best means of securing
him
him
& for this
purpose
purpose
about a month after my
release
release
I repaired to a criminal judge in the
town
town
& told him that I had an accusation to
make,
make,
that I knew the destroyer of my
family
family
and that I required him to exert his whole authority for
histhe apprehension of the murderer. The magistrate listened
hishisthe ^the apprehension of the murderer. ¶ The magistrate listened
to to me with
toto to me with
atten tion& kindness – Be
atten ^ten tion& kindness – Be
assured,
sir,
sir,
said
he no
he no
pains or exertions on my part
sha have been or shall be spared to discover the
shasha have been or shall be spared to discover the
wretchvillain wretchwretchvillain ^villain ¶ I
I
thank
you, I replied, listen therefore
you, I ^I replied, listen therefore
to
aaathe
^the
the
taletaletaledeposition
^deposition
deposition
I have to
relatemake . whichrelaterelatemake ^make . whichwhich
It is
a indeed a tale so
a indeed a tale so
wonderf strange that I
wonderfwonderf strange that I
fear you would not credit
it
it
were there not
somthing
somthing
in truth
which
which
however
wonderful
wonderful
forces conviction. The story is too ^too connected to be mistaken for a
dream
dream
& I have no motive for
falsehood.
falsehood.
My
manner
manner
as I
said this wals
said this walswals
was
impressive
impressive
but calm; I had formed in my own heart
the
the
resolution to pursue my destroyer to
death
death
& this purpose quieted
my agony & ^provisionally my agony & ^^^provisionally ^provisionally
reconciled me to life. I now related my
history
history
briefly
briefly
but with firmness &
precision – marking
precision – marking
dates with
accuracy and never deviating into invective or exclamation.
accuracy and never deviating into invective or exclamation.
The magistrate appeared at first perfectly
incredulous
incredulous
but as I continued he became
be more
bebe more
atte mnt ive &interrested –I
atte mmnt ^nt ive &interrested –I
saw him sometimes shudder with horror, at others a lively
surprise unmi xedngled
surprise unmi xedxedngled ^ngled
with
disbelief was painted on his countenance.
disbelief was painted on his countenance.
When I had concluded my
relation I narration
relation Irelation I narration
I
said. This
said. ¶ This
is the being whom I
accuse
accuse
and for whose
detection
detection
& punishment I call upon you to ^to exert your whole
power
power ThThThIt
^It
isis is your duty as a
is your duty as a
magist ^r ate and I believe & hope
magist ^^^r ^r ate and I believe & hope
your feelings as a man
do
do
not
revol dt
revol ddt ^t
from the execution of
youryouryourthose
^those
those
functions on this
occasion.—
occasion.—
¶ This address caused a considerable change in the
phisiognomy of my auditor
phisiognomy of my auditor
He had heard my
taletaletalestory
^story
story
with
th eat
th eeat ^at
half kind of belief that is given to a tale of spirits and
ghosts
ghosts
but when he was called upon to act officially in
consequence of it hisconsequence of it hishis
the whole tide of his incredulity
returned – He however
returned – He however
answered
mildly. I
mildly. ¶ I
would willingly afford you every aid in your pursuit; but the creature of whom you speak appears to have powers which would put all my exertions to
defiance for
defiance forfor
Who can follow an animal
whowhowhowhich
^which
which
can traverse
se the sea of
sese the sea of
ice
ice
and inhabit caves &
dens
dens
where no man would venture to
intrude✗—But such a wretch, I replied, may be hunted like the Chamois & be destroyed like a beast of prey. Certainly; but some months have elapsed since the commission —✗besides
intrude✗—¶ But such a wretch, I replied, may be hunted like the Chamois & be destroyed like a beast of prey. ¶ Certainly; but some months have elapsed since the commission —✗besides
some months have elapsed since the commission of his
crimes
crimes
&
wh no one
whwh no one
may
may
conjecture to what place he has
wandered wandered &&&or ^or what
countrycountrycountryregion
^region
region
he may now
inhabit.
inhabit.
¶ I
I
do not
doubt, I replied,
doubt, I replied,
that he hovers near the
place where^place whereplace where^^^spot which
^spot which
spot which
I
live^inhabit –
livelive^^^inhabit ^inhabit –
And if he has indeed taken refuge in the
alps
alps
he may be hunted like the
chamois &destroyed
chamois &destroyed
as a beast of prey. But I perceive your
thoughts —
thoughts —
you do not credit my
narrative
narrative
and do not intend to
inflictpursue my enemy with inflictinflictpursue my enemy with the
^the
the
punishment
that hthat hh
is his
desert.
desert.
¶ As I
spoke
spoke
rage sparkled in my
eyes –
eyes –
The magistrate was
intimidated You
intimidated You
are
mistaken,
mistaken,
said
he an I
he anan I
will exert
myself
myself
and if it is
^^^^in
^in
in
my power to seize the
monster
monster
be assured that he shall suffer punishment proportionate to his
crimes –
crimes –
But I
fear
fear
from what you
^have yourself described to
^^^have ^have yourself described to
^^^^be
^be
be
hi ns properties
hi nns ^s properties
that this will prove
impracticable
impracticable
and
that —
that —
while every proper measure is
pursued
pursued
you should
you should
endeavour to make up your mind to
endeavour to make up your mind to
a di sss appointment
a di sssss ^s appointment
¶ That
That
cannot
be– said I wildly—But
be– said I wildly—But
all
^all
wwt ^t hat
hat
I can say
^^^^will
^will
will
be of little
avail; vengeance
avail; vengeancevengeanceMy revenge ^My revenge is of no moment to
you yet
you yet
while I allow it to
^^^^be
^be
be
a
vice
vice
I confess that it is the devouring & only passion of my
soul;
soul;
my rage is
unspeakable
unspeakable
when I reflect that the
murderer
murderer
whom I have turned
lo o se
lo o ^o se
upon
society
society
still
exists – ✗—I trembled as I spoke this —✗
exists – ✗—I trembled as I spoke this —✗
You refuse my just
demand –
demand –
I have but one
resource
resource
and I devote
myself
myself
either in my life or
death
death
to his
destruction – I will pursue himdestruction – I will pursue himI will pursue him
I trembled with excess of agitation as I said
this
this
there was
aaa
frenzy
frenzy
in my
manner
manner
&
something
something
I doubt
not
not
of that
haught y haught y ^y
fierceness
fierceness
thatthatthatwhich
^which
which
the martyrs of old
were
were
said to have
^have
possessed —
possessed —
But
a^aa^^^to
^to
to
a
Genev esean Genev eseesean ^an
magistrate, whose mind was occupied by far other ideas than
tho those of
thotho those of
devo te tion
devo tete tion
&
heh heroism &hehheh heroism &&this elevation of mind had much the appearance of madness. He endeavoured to
calm soothe me as a nurse does a
calmcalm soothe me as a nurse does a
child
child
& reverted to my tale as the effects of
delirium — Man –
delirium — Man –
I cried,
how
how
ignorant art thou in thy pride of
wisdom.– cease
wisdom.– cease
you know not what
you speak about it is you
you speak aboutyou speak about it is you
say.
say.
¶ I broke from the house
& angry & disturbed
& angry & disturbed
retired to meditate
some other mode of action.
some other mode of action.
