Chapter 17

           Thebeingfinishedspeakingandfixedhislooksuponmeintheexpectationofareply.ButIwasbewildered,perplexed,andunabletoarrangemyideassufficientlytounderstandthefullextentofhisproposition.Hecontinued,

           "YoumustcreateafemaleformewithwhomIcanliveintheinterchangeofthosesympathiesnecessaryformybeing.Thisyoualonecando,andIdemanditofyouasarightwhichyoumustnotrefusetoconcede."

           Thelatterpartofhistalehadkindledanewinmetheangerthathaddiedawaywhilehenarratedhispeacefullifeamongthecottagers,andashesaidthisIcouldnolongersuppresstheragethatburnedwithinme.

           "Idorefuseit,"Ireplied;"andnotortureshalleverextortaconsentfromme.Youmayrendermethemostmiserableofmen,butyoushallnevermakemebaseinmyowneyes.ShallIcreateanotherlikeyourself,whosejointwickednessmightdesolatetheworld.Begone!Ihaveansweredyou;youmaytortureme,butIwillneverconsent."

           "Youareinthewrong,"repliedthefiend;"andinsteadofthreatening,Iamcontenttoreasonwithyou.IammaliciousbecauseIammiserable.AmInotshunnedandhatedbyallmankind?You,mycreator,wouldtearmetopiecesandtriumph;rememberthat,andtellmewhyIshouldpitymanmorethanhepitiesme?Youwouldnotcallitmurderifyoucouldprecipitatemeintooneofthoseice-riftsanddestroymyframe,theworkofyourownhands.ShallIrespectmanwhenhecondemnsme?Lethimlivewithmeintheinterchangeofkindness,andinsteadofinjuryIwouldbestoweverybenefituponhimwithtearsofgratitudeathisacceptance.Butthatcannotbe;thehumansensesareinsurmountablebarrierstoourunion.Yetmineshallnotbethesubmissionofabjectslavery.