Франкенштейн

           "Ifyouconsent,neitheryounoranyotherhumanbeingshalleverseeusagain;IwillgotothevastwildsofSouthAmerica.Myfoodisnotthatofman;Idonotdestroythelambandthekidtoglutmyappetite;acornsandberriesaffordmesufficientnourishment.Mycompanionwillbeofthesamenatureasmyselfandwillbecontentwiththesamefare.Weshallmakeourbedofdriedleaves;thesunwillshineonusasonmanandwillripenourfood.ThepictureIpresenttoyouispeacefulandhuman,andyoumustfeelthatyoucoulddenyitonlyinthewantonnessofpowerandcruelty.Pitilessasyouhavebeentowardsme,Inowseecompassioninyoureyes;letmeseizethefavourablemomentandpersuadeyoutopromisewhatIsoardentlydesire."

           "Youpropose,"repliedI,"toflyfromthehabitationsofman,todwellinthosewildswherethebeastsofthefieldwillbeyouronlycompanions.Howcanyou,wholongfortheloveandsympathyofman,persevereinthisexile?Youwillreturnandagainseektheirkindness,andyouwillmeetwiththeirdetestation;yourevilpassionswillberenewed,andyouwillthenhaveacompaniontoaidyouinthetaskofdestruction.Thismaynotbe;ceasetoarguethepoint,forIcannotconsent."

           "Howinconstantareyourfeelings!Butamomentagoyouweremovedbymyrepresentations,andwhydoyouagainhardenyourselftomycomplaints?Isweartoyou,bytheearthwhichIinhabit,andbyyouthatmademe,thatwiththecompanionyoubestowIwillquittheneighbourhoodofmananddwell,asitmaychance,inthemostsavageofplaces.Myevilpassionswillhavefled,forIshallmeetwithsympathy!Mylifewillflowquietlyaway,andinmydyingmomentsIshallnotcursemymaker."

           Hiswordshadastrangeeffectuponme.Icompassionatedhimandsometimesfeltawishtoconsolehim,butwhenIlookeduponhim,whenIsawthefilthymassthatmovedandtalked,myheartsickenedandmyfeelingswerealteredtothoseofhorrorandhatred.