Chapter 07 (Frankenstein (Full Cast))

01section nine of Frankenstein.

02This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

03Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.

04Section nine.

05Chapter seven.

06On my return, I found the following letter from my father.

07My dear Victor, you have probably waited impatiently for a letter to fix the date of your return to us, and I was at first tempted to write only a few lines, merely mentioning the day on which I should expect you.

08But that would be a cruel kindness, and I dare not do it.

09What would be your surprise, my son, when you expected a happy and glad welcome to behold, on the contrary, tears and wretchedness?

10And how, Victor, can I relate our misfortune?

11Absence cannot have rendered you callous to our joys and greets, and how shall I inflict pain on my long-absent son?

12I wish to prepare you for the woeful news, but I know it is impossible.

13Even now your eye skims over the page to seek the words which are to convey to you the horrible tidings.

14William is dead.

15That sweet child, who smiles delighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay.

16Victor, he is murdered.

17I will not attempt to console you, but will simply relate the circumstances of the transaction.

18Last Thursday, May 7th, I, my niece, and your two brothers went to walk in Plain Palas.

19The evening was warm and serene, and we prolonged our walk further than usual.

20It was already dusk before we thought of returning, and then we discovered that William and Ernst, who had gone on before, were not to be found.

21We accordingly rested on a seat till they should return.

22Presently Ernst came, and inquired if we had seen his brother.

23He said that he had been playing with him, that William had run away to hide himself, and that he had vainly sought for him, and afterwards waited for a long time, but that he did not return.

24This account rather alarmed us, and we continued to search for him until night fell, when Elizabeth conjectured that he might have returned to the house.

25He was not there.

26We returned again with torches, for I could not rest, when I thought that my sweet boy had lost himself and was exposed to all the damps and dews of night.

27Elizabeth also suffered extreme anguish.

28About five in the morning I discovered my lovely boy, whom the night before I had seen blooming and active in health, stretched on the grass, livid and motionless.

29The print of the murderer's finger was on his neck.

30He was conveyed home, and the anguish that was visible in my countenance betrayed the secret to Elizabeth.

31She was very earnest to see the corpse.

32At first I attempted to prevent her, but she persisted, and entering the room where it lay, hastily examined the neck of the victim, and clasping her hands, exclaimed, Oh, God!

33I have murdered my darling child!

34She fainted, and was restored with extreme difficulty.

35When she again lived, it was only to weep and sigh.

36She told me that that same evening William had teased her to let him wear a very valuable miniature that she possessed of your mother.

37This picture is gone, and was doubtless the temptation which urged the murderer to the deed.

38We have no trace of him at present, though our exertions to discover him are unremitted.

39But they will not restore my beloved William.

40Come, dearest Victor, you alone can console Elizabeth.

41She weaves continually, and accuses herself unjustly as the cause of his death.

42Her words pierce my heart.

43We are all unhappy, but will not be that an admissible motor for you, my son, to return and be our comforter?

44Your dear mother, alas, Victor, I now say, thank God she did not live to witness the cruel, miserable death of her youngest darling.

45Come, 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.

46Enter the house of mourning, my friend, but with kindness and affection for those who love you, and not with hatred for your enemies.

47Your affectionate and afflicted father, Alphonse Frankenstein.

48Geneva, May 12, 17- Clerval, who had watched my countenance as I read this letter, was surprised to observe the despair that succeeded the joy I had first expressed on receiving news from my friends.

49I threw the letter on the table, and covered my face with my hands.

50My dear Frankenstein, exclaimed Henry, when he perceived me weep with bitterness, Are you always to be unhappy?

51My dear friend, what has happened?

52I motioned him to take up the letter, while I walked up and down the room in the extremest agitation.

53Tears also gushed from the eyes of Clerval, as he read the account of my misfortune.

54I can offer you no consolation, my friend, said he.

55Your disaster is irreparable.

56What do you intend to do?

57To go instantly to Geneva.

58Come with me, Henry, to order the horses.

59During our walk, Clerval endeavoured to say a few words of consolation.

60He could only express his heartfelt sympathy.

61Poor William, said he.

62Dear lovely child, he now sleeps with his angel mother.

63Who that had seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty, but must weep over his untimely loss?

64To die so miserably?

65To feel the murderer's grasp?

66How much more were murdered that could destroy radiant innocence?

67Poor young fellow.

68One only consolation have we.

69His friends mourn and weep, but he is at rest.

70The pang is over.

71His sufferings are at an end for ever.

72A sod covers his gentle form, and he knows no pain.

73He can no longer be a subject for pity.

74We must reserve that for his miserable survivors.

75Clerval spoke thus as we hurried through the streets.

76The words impressed themselves on my mind, and I remembered them afterwards in solitude.

77But now, as soon as the horses arrived, I hurried into the cabriolet and bade farewell to my friend.

78My journey was very melancholy.

79At first I wished to hurry on, for I longed to console and sympathize with my loved and sorrowing friends.

80But when I drew near my native town, I slackened my progress.

81I could hardly sustain the multitude of feelings that crowded into my mind.

82I passed through scenes familiar to my youth, but which I had not seen for nearly six years.

83How altered everything might be during that time!

84One sudden and desolating change had taken place.

85But a thousand little circumstances might have by degrees worked other alterations, which, although they were done more tranquilly, might not be the less decisive.

86Fear overcame me.

87I dared no advance dreading a thousand nameless evils that made me tremble, although I was unable to define them.

88I remained two days at Lausanne in this painful state of mind.

89I contemplated the lake.

90The waters were placid, all around was calm, and the snowy mountains, the palaces of nature, were not changed.

91By degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my journey towards Geneva.

92The road ran by the side of the lake, which became narrower as I approached my native town.

93I discovered more distinctly the black sides of Jura, and the bright summit of Mont Blanc.

94I wept like a child.

95Dear mountains, my own beautiful lake, how do you welcome your wanderer?

96Your summits are clear, the sky and lake are blue and placid.

97Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock at my unhappiness?

98I fear, my friend, that I shall render myself tedious by dwelling on these preliminary circumstances.

99But they are days of comparative happiness, and I think of them with pleasure.

100My country, my beloved country, who but a native can tell the delight I took in again beholding thy streams, thy mountains, and more than all, thy lovely lake?

101Yet as I drew nearer home, grief and fear again overcame me.

102Night also closed around, and when I could hardly see the dark mountains, I felt still more gloomily.

103The picture appeared a vast and dim scene of evil, and I foresaw obscurely that I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings.

104Alas!

105I prophesied truly, and failed only in one single circumstance, that in all the misery I imagined and dreaded, I did not conceive the hundredth part of the anguish I was destined to endure.

106It was completely dark when I arrived in the environs of Geneva.

107The gates of the town were already shut, and I was obliged to pass the night at Secheron, a village at the distance of half a league from the city.

108The sky was serene, and, as I was unable to rest, I resolved to visit the spot where my poor William had been murdered.

109As I could not pass through the town, I was obliged to cross the lake in a boat to arrive at Plain Palais.

110During this short voyage, I saw the lightning playing on the summit of Mont Blanc in the most beautiful figures.

111The storm appeared to approach rapidly, and on landing I ascended a low hill that I might observe its progress.

112It advanced.

113The heavens were clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large drops, but its violence quickly increased.

114I 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.

115It was echoed from Salève, the Juras, and the Alps of Savoy.

116Vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes, illuminating the lake, making it appear like a vast sheet of fire.

117Then, for an instant, everything seemed of a pitchy darkness, until the eye recovered itself from the preceding flash.

118The storm, as is often the case in Switzerland, appeared at once in various parts of the heavens.

119The most violent storm hung exactly north of the town, over the part of the lake which lies between the promontory of Belle-Rive and the village of Coppet.

120Another storm enlightened Jura with faint flashes, and another darkened and sometimes disclosed the Mole, a peaked mountain to the east of the lake.

121While I watched the tempest, so beautiful yet terrific, I wandered on with a hasty step.

122This noble war in the sky elevated my spirits.

123I clasped my hands and exclaimed aloud, William, dear angel, this is thy funeral, this thy dirge.

124As I said these words, I perceived in the gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me.

125I stood fixed, gazing intently.

126I could not be mistaken.

127A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me.

128Its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspects more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon, to whom I had given life.

129What did he there?

130Could he be, I shuddered at the conception, the murderer of my brother?

131No sooner did that idea cross my imagination than I became convinced of its truth.

132My teeth chattered, and I was forced to lean against a tree for support.

133The figure passed me quickly, and I lost it in the gloom.

134Nothing in human shape could have destroyed the fair child.

135He was the murderer.

136I could not doubt it.

137The mere presence of the idea was an irresistible proof of the fact.

138I thought of pursuing the devil, but it would have been in vain, for another flash discovered him to me hanging among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of Mont Salève, a hill that bounced plein palais on the south.

139He soon reached the summit and disappeared.

140I remained motionless.

141The thunder ceased, but the rain still continued, and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness.

142I revolved in my mind the events which I had until now sought to forget.

143The whole train of my progress toward the creation, the appearance of the works of my own hands at my bedside, its departure.

144Two years had now nearly elapsed since the night on which he first received life, and was this his first crime.

145Alas!

146I had turned loose into the world a depraved wretch whose delight was in carnage and misery.

147Had he not murdered my brother?

148No one can conceive the anguish I suffered during the remainder of the night, which I spent cold and wet in the open air.

149But I did not feel the inconvenience of the weather.

150My imagination was busy in scenes of evil and despair.

151I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind 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 forced to destroy all that was dear to me.

152Day dawned and I directed my steps toward the town.

153The gates were open and I hastened to my father's house.

154My first thought was to discover what I knew of the murderer and cause instant pursuit to be made.

155But I paused when I reflected on the story that I had to tell.

156A being whom I myself had formed and endued with life had met me at midnight among the precipices of an inaccessible mountain.

157I remembered also the nervous fever with which I had been seized just at the time I dated my creation and which would give an air of delirium to a tale otherwise so utterly improbable.

158I well knew that if any other had communicated such a relation to me I should have looked upon it as the ravings of insanity.

159Besides, the strange nature of the animal would elude all pursuit even if I were so far credited as to persuade my relatives to commence it.

160And then of what use would be pursuit?

161Who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Montsalève?

162These reflections determined me and I resolved to remain silent.

163It was about five in the morning when I entered my father's house.

164I told the servants not to disturb the family and went into the library to attend their usual hour of rising.

165Six years had elapsed, passed in a dream but for one inedible trace, and I stood in the same place where I had last embraced my father before my departure for Ingolstadt.

166Beloved and venerable parent he still remained to me.

167I gazed on the picture of my mother which stood over the mantelpiece.

168It 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.

169Her garb was rustic and her cheek pale but there was an air of dignity and beauty that hardly permitted the sentiments of pity.

170Below this picture was a miniature of William and my tears flowed when I looked upon it.

171While I was thus engaged Ernest answered he had heard me arrive and hastened to welcome me.

172Welcome my dearest Victor said he.

173Oh I wish you had come three months ago and then you would have found us all joyous and delighted.

174You come to us now to share a misery which nothing can alleviate yet your presence will I hope revive our father who seems sinking under his misfortune and your persuasions will induce poor Elizabeth to seize her vain and tormenting self-accusations.

175Poor William he was our darling and our pride.

176Tears unrestrained fell from my brother's eyes a sense of mortal agony crept over my frame.

177Before I had only imagined the wretchedness of my desolated home the reality came on me as a new and a not less terrible disaster.

178I tried to calm Ernest I inquired more minutely concerning my father and here I named my cousin.

179She most of all said Ernest requires consolation.

180She accused herself of having caused the death of my brother and that made her very wretched.

181But since the murder has been discovered The murderer had discovered good God how can that be who could attempt to pursue him it is impossible one might as well try to overtake the winds or confine a mountain stream with a straw.

182I saw him too he was free last night.

183I do not know what you mean replied my brother in accents of wonder but to us the discovery we have made completes our misery no one would believe it at first and even now Elizabeth will not be convinced 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 or so frightful so appalling a crime.

184Justine Moritz poor poor girl is she the accused but it is wrongfully everyone knows that no one believes it surely 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 way that I fear leaves no hope for doubt but she will be tried to-day 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 hoping to examine the apparel she had worn on the night of the murder had discovered in her pocket the picture of my mother which had been judged to be the temptation of the murderer the servant instantly showed it to one of the others who without saying a word to any of the family went to a magistrate and upon their disposition Justine was apprehended on being charged with the fact the poor girl confirmed the suspicion in a great measure by her extreme confusion of manner this was a strange tale but it did not shake my faith and i replied earnestly you are all mistaken i know the murderer Justine poor good Justine is innocent at that instant my father entered i saw unhappiness deeply impressed on his countenance 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 earnest exclaimed good god papa victor says that he knows who was the murderer of poor william we do also unfortunately replied my father for indeed i had rather have been for ever ignorant than have discovered so much depravity and ungratitude in one i valued so highly my dear 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 i sincerely hope that she will be acquitted this speech calmed me i was firmly convinced in my own mind that justine and indeed every human being was guiltless of this murder i had no fear therefore that any circumstantial evidence could be brought forward strong enough to convict her my tale was not one to announce publicly its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar did any one indeed exist except i the creator who would believe unless his senses convinced him in the existence of the living monuments of presumption and rash ignorance which i had let loose upon the world we were soon joined by elizabeth time time had altered her since i last beheld her it had endowed her with loveliness surpassing the beauty of her childish years there was the same candour the same vivacity but it was allied to an expression more full of sensibility and intellect she welcomed me with the greatest affection your arrival my dear cousin said she fills me with hope you perhaps will find some means to justify my poor guiltless justine alas who is safe if she be convicted of crime i rely on her innocence as certainly as i do upon my own our misfortune is doubly hard to us we have not only lost that lovely darling boy 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 but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance of her acquittal how kind and generous you are everyone else believes in her guilt and that made me wretched for i knew that it was impossible and to see everyone else prejudiced in so deadly a manner rendered me hopeless and despairing she wept dearest niece said my father dry your tears if she is as you believe innocent rely on the justice of our laws and the activity with which i shall prevent the slightest shadow of partiality end of section nine