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           ThecottageofmyprotectorshadbeentheonlyschoolinwhichIhadstudiedhumannature,butthisbookdevelopednewandmightierscenesofaction.Ireadofmenconcernedinpublicaffairs,governingormassacringtheirspecies.Ifeltthegreatestardourforvirtuerisewithinme,andabhorrenceforvice,asfarasIunderstoodthesignificationofthoseterms,relativeastheywere,asIappliedthem,topleasureandpainalone.Inducedbythesefeelings,Iwasofcourseledtoadmirepeaceablelawgivers,Numa,Solon,andLycurgus,inpreferencetoRomulusandTheseus.Thepatriarchallivesofmyprotectorscausedtheseimpressionstotakeafirmholdonmymind;perhaps,ifmyfirstintroductiontohumanityhadbeenmadebyayoungsoldier,burningforgloryandslaughter,Ishouldhavebeenimbuedwithdifferentsensations.

           "ButParadiseLostexciteddifferentandfardeeperemotions.Ireadit,asIhadreadtheothervolumeswhichhadfallenintomyhands,asatruehistory.ItmovedeveryfeelingofwonderandawethatthepictureofanomnipotentGodwarringwithhiscreatureswascapableofexciting.Ioftenreferredtheseveralsituations,astheirsimilaritystruckme,tomyown.LikeAdam,Iwasapparentlyunitedbynolinktoanyotherbeinginexistence;buthisstatewasfardifferentfrommineineveryotherrespect.HehadcomeforthfromthehandsofGodaperfectcreature,happyandprosperous,guardedbytheespecialcareofhisCreator;hewasallowedtoconversewithandacquireknowledgefrombeingsofasuperiornature,butIwaswretched,helpless,andalone.ManytimesIconsideredSatanasthefitteremblemofmycondition,foroften,likehim,whenIviewedtheblissofmyprotectors,thebittergallofenvyrosewithinme.

           "Anothercircumstancestrengthenedandconfirmedthesefeelings.SoonaftermyarrivalinthehovelIdiscoveredsomepapersinthepocketofthedresswhichIhadtakenfromyourlaboratory.