Франкенштейн
Chapter 7
Theroadranbythesideofthelake,whichbecamenarrowerasIapproachedmynativetown.IdiscoveredmoredistinctlytheblacksidesofJura,andthebrightsummitofMontBlanc.Iweptlikeachild."Dearmountains!myownbeautifullake!howdoyouwelcomeyourwanderer?Yoursummitsareclear;theskyandlakeareblueandplacid.Isthistoprognosticatepeace,ortomockatmyunhappiness?"
Ifear,myfriend,thatIshallrendermyselftediousbydwellingonthesepreliminarycircumstances;buttheyweredaysofcomparativehappiness,andIthinkofthemwithpleasure.Mycountry,mybelovedcountry!whobutanativecantellthedelightItookinagainbeholdingthystreams,thymountains,and,morethanall,thylovelylake!
Yet,asIdrewnearerhome,griefandfearagainovercameme.Nightalsoclosedaround;andwhenIcouldhardlyseethedarkmountains,Ifeltstillmoregloomily.Thepictureappearedavastanddimsceneofevil,andIforesawobscurelythatIwasdestinedtobecomethemostwretchedofhumanbeings.Alas!Iprophesiedtruly,andfailedonlyinonesinglecircumstance,thatinallthemiseryIimaginedanddreaded,IdidnotconceivethehundredthpartoftheanguishIwasdestinedtoendure.ItwascompletelydarkwhenIarrivedintheenvironsofGeneva;thegatesofthetownwerealreadyshut;andIwasobligedtopassthenightatSecheron,avillageatthedistanceofhalfaleaguefromthecity.Theskywasserene;and,asIwasunabletorest,IresolvedtovisitthespotwheremypoorWilliamhadbeenmurdered.AsIcouldnotpassthroughthetown,IwasobligedtocrossthelakeinaboattoarriveatPlainpalais.DuringthisshortvoyageIsawthelightningplayingonthesummitofMontBlancinthemostbeautifulfigures.
