Франкенштейн
Chapter 4
TheastonishmentwhichIhadatfirstexperiencedonthisdiscoverysoongaveplacetodelightandrapture.Aftersomuchtimespentinpainfullabour,toarriveatonceatthesummitofmydesireswasthemostgratifyingconsummationofmytoils.ButthisdiscoverywassogreatandoverwhelmingthatallthestepsbywhichIhadbeenprogressivelyledtoitwereobliterated,andIbeheldonlytheresult.Whathadbeenthestudyanddesireofthewisestmensincethecreationoftheworldwasnowwithinmygrasp.Notthat,likeamagicscene,itallopeneduponmeatonce:theinformationIhadobtainedwasofanaturerathertodirectmyendeavourssosoonasIshouldpointthemtowardstheobjectofmysearchthantoexhibitthatobjectalreadyaccomplished.IwasliketheArabianwhohadbeenburiedwiththedeadandfoundapassagetolife,aidedonlybyoneglimmeringandseeminglyineffectuallight.
Iseebyyoureagernessandthewonderandhopewhichyoureyesexpress,myfriend,thatyouexpecttobeinformedofthesecretwithwhichIamacquainted;thatcannotbe;listenpatientlyuntiltheendofmystory,andyouwilleasilyperceivewhyIamreserveduponthatsubject.Iwillnotleadyouon,unguardedandardentasIthenwas,toyourdestructionandinfalliblemisery.Learnfromme,ifnotbymyprecepts,atleastbymyexample,howdangerousistheacquirementofknowledgeandhowmuchhappierthatmaniswhobelieveshisnativetowntobetheworld,thanhewhoaspirestobecomegreaterthanhisnaturewillallow.
WhenIfoundsoastonishingapowerplacedwithinmyhands,IhesitatedalongtimeconcerningthemannerinwhichIshouldemployit.AlthoughIpossessedthecapacityofbestowinganimation,yettoprepareaframeforthereceptionofit,withallitsintricaciesoffibres,muscles,andveins,stillremainedaworkofinconceivabledifficultyandlabour.
