Франкенштейн
Walton, in continuation
Whenactuatedbyselfishandviciousmotives,Iaskedyoutoundertakemyunfinishedwork,andIrenewthisrequestnow,whenIamonlyinducedbyreasonandvirtue.
"YetIcannotaskyoutorenounceyourcountryandfriendstofulfilthistask;andnowthatyouarereturningtoEngland,youwillhavelittlechanceofmeetingwithhim.Buttheconsiderationofthesepoints,andthewellbalancingofwhatyoumayesteemyourduties,Ileavetoyou;myjudgmentandideasarealreadydisturbedbythenearapproachofdeath.IdarenotaskyoutodowhatIthinkright,forImaystillbemisledbypassion.
"Thatheshouldlivetobeaninstrumentofmischiefdisturbsme;inotherrespects,thishour,whenImomentarilyexpectmyrelease,istheonlyhappyonewhichIhaveenjoyedforseveralyears.Theformsofthebeloveddeadflitbeforeme,andIhastentotheirarms.Farewell,Walton!Seekhappinessintranquillityandavoidambition,evenifitbeonlytheapparentlyinnocentoneofdistinguishingyourselfinscienceanddiscoveries.YetwhydoIsaythis?Ihavemyselfbeenblastedinthesehopes,yetanothermaysucceed."
Hisvoicebecamefainterashespoke,andatlength,exhaustedbyhiseffort,hesankintosilence.Abouthalfanhourafterwardsheattemptedagaintospeakbutwasunable;hepressedmyhandfeebly,andhiseyesclosedforever,whiletheirradiationofagentlesmilepassedawayfromhislips.