Франкенштейн
Walton, in continuation
FrankensteindiscoveredthatImadenotesconcerninghishistory;heaskedtoseethemandthenhimselfcorrectedandaugmentedtheminmanyplaces,butprincipallyingivingthelifeandspirittotheconversationsheheldwithhisenemy."Sinceyouhavepreservedmynarration,"saidhe,"Iwouldnotthatamutilatedoneshouldgodowntoposterity."
Thushasaweekpassedaway,whileIhavelistenedtothestrangesttalethateverimaginationformed.Mythoughtsandeveryfeelingofmysoulhavebeendrunkupbytheinterestformyguestwhichthistaleandhisownelevatedandgentlemannershavecreated.Iwishtosoothehim,yetcanIcounselonesoinfinitelymiserable,sodestituteofeveryhopeofconsolation,tolive?Oh,no!Theonlyjoythathecannowknowwillbewhenhecomposeshisshatteredspirittopeaceanddeath.Yetheenjoysonecomfort,theoffspringofsolitudeanddelirium;hebelievesthatwhenindreamsheholdsconversewithhisfriendsandderivesfromthatcommunionconsolationforhismiseriesorexcitementstohisvengeance,thattheyarenotthecreationsofhisfancy,butthebeingsthemselveswhovisithimfromtheregionsofaremoteworld.Thisfaithgivesasolemnitytohisreveriesthatrenderthemtomealmostasimposingandinterestingastruth.
Ourconversationsarenotalwaysconfinedtohisownhistoryandmisfortunes.Oneverypointofgeneralliteraturehedisplaysunboundedknowledgeandaquickandpiercingapprehension.