Франкенштейн
Chapter 17
Itriedtostiflethesesensations;IthoughtthatasIcouldnotsympathizewithhim,Ihadnorighttowithholdfromhimthesmallportionofhappinesswhichwasyetinmypowertobestow.
"Youswear,"Isaid,"tobeharmless;buthaveyounotalreadyshownadegreeofmalicethatshouldreasonablymakemedistrustyou?Maynoteventhisbeafeintthatwillincreaseyourtriumphbyaffordingawiderscopeforyourrevenge?"
"Howisthis?Imustnotbetrifledwith,andIdemandananswer.IfIhavenotiesandnoaffections,hatredandvicemustbemyportion;theloveofanotherwilldestroythecauseofmycrimes,andIshallbecomeathingofwhoseexistenceeveryonewillbeignorant.MyvicesarethechildrenofaforcedsolitudethatIabhor,andmyvirtueswillnecessarilyarisewhenIliveincommunionwithanequal.IshallfeeltheaffectionsofasensitivebeingandbecamelinkedtothechainofexistenceandeventsfromwhichIamnowexcluded."
Ipausedsometimetoreflectonallhehadrelatedandthevariousargumentswhichhehademployed.Ithoughtofthepromiseofvirtueswhichhehaddisplayedontheopeningofhisexistenceandthesubsequentblightofallkindlyfeelingbytheloathingandscornwhichhisprotectorshadmanifestedtowardshim.Hispowerandthreatswerenotomittedinmycalculations;acreaturewhocouldexistintheicecavesoftheglaciersandhidehimselffrompursuitamongtheridgesofinaccessibleprecipiceswasabeingpossessingfacultiesitwouldbevaintocopewith.AfteralongpauseofreflectionIconcludedthatthejusticeduebothtohimandmyfellowcreaturesdemandedofmethatIshouldcomplywithhisrequest.Turningtohim,therefore,Isaid,