Франкенштейн
Chapter 17
Iwillrevengemyinjuries;ifIcannotinspirelove,Iwillcausefear,andchieflytowardsyoumyarchenemy,becausemycreator,doIswearinextinguishablehatred.Haveacare;Iwillworkatyourdestruction,norfinishuntilIdesolateyourheart,sothatyoushallcursethehourofyourbirth."
Afiendishrageanimatedhimashesaidthis;hisfacewaswrinkledintocontortionstoohorribleforhumaneyestobehold;butpresentlyhecalmedhimselfandproceeded—
"Iintendedtoreason.Thispassionisdetrimentaltome,foryoudonotreflectthatYOUarethecauseofitsexcess.Ifanybeingfeltemotionsofbenevolencetowardsme,Ishouldreturnthemahundredandahundredfold;forthatonecreature’ssakeIwouldmakepeacewiththewholekind!ButInowindulgeindreamsofblissthatcannotberealized.WhatIaskofyouisreasonableandmoderate;Idemandacreatureofanothersex,butashideousasmyself;thegratificationissmall,butitisallthatIcanreceive,anditshallcontentme.Itistrue,weshallbemonsters,cutofffromalltheworld;butonthataccountweshallbemoreattachedtooneanother.Ourliveswillnotbehappy,buttheywillbeharmlessandfreefromthemiseryInowfeel.Oh!Mycreator,makemehappy;letmefeelgratitudetowardsyouforonebenefit!LetmeseethatIexcitethesympathyofsomeexistingthing;donotdenymemyrequest!"
Iwasmoved.IshudderedwhenIthoughtofthepossibleconsequencesofmyconsent,butIfeltthattherewassomejusticeinhisargument.Histaleandthefeelingshenowexpressedprovedhimtobeacreatureoffinesensations,anddidInotashismakerowehimalltheportionofhappinessthatitwasinmypowertobestow?Hesawmychangeoffeelingandcontinued,