Франкенштейн
Chapter 13
thesunbecamewarmer,thenightsclearandbalmy;andmynocturnalrambleswereanextremepleasuretome,althoughtheywereconsiderablyshortenedbythelatesettingandearlyrisingofthesun,forIneverventuredabroadduringdaylight,fearfulofmeetingwiththesametreatmentIhadformerlyenduredinthefirstvillagewhichIentered.
"Mydayswerespentincloseattention,thatImightmorespeedilymasterthelanguage;andImayboastthatIimprovedmorerapidlythantheArabian,whounderstoodverylittleandconversedinbrokenaccents,whilstIcomprehendedandcouldimitatealmosteverywordthatwasspoken.
"WhileIimprovedinspeech,Ialsolearnedthescienceoflettersasitwastaughttothestranger,andthisopenedbeforemeawidefieldforwonderanddelight.
"ThebookfromwhichFelixinstructedSafiewasVolney’sRuinsofEmpires.IshouldnothaveunderstoodthepurportofthisbookhadnotFelix,inreadingit,givenveryminuteexplanations.Hehadchosenthiswork,hesaid,becausethedeclamatorystylewasframedinimitationoftheEasternauthors.ThroughthisworkIobtainedacursoryknowledgeofhistoryandaviewoftheseveralempiresatpresentexistingintheworld;itgavemeaninsightintothemanners,governments,andreligionsofthedifferentnationsoftheearth.IheardoftheslothfulAsiatics,ofthestupendousgeniusandmentalactivityoftheGrecians,ofthewarsandwonderfulvirtueoftheearlyRomans—oftheirsubsequentdegenerating—ofthedeclineofthatmightyempire,ofchivalry,Christianity,andkings.IheardofthediscoveryoftheAmericanhemisphereandweptwithSafieoverthehaplessfateofitsoriginalinhabitants.
"Thesewonderfulnarrationsinspiredmewithstrangefeelings.Wasman,indeed,atoncesopowerful,sovirtuousandmagnificent,yetsoviciousandbase?
