Франкенштейн
Letter 4
Havingconqueredtheviolenceofhisfeelings,heappearedtodespisehimselfforbeingtheslaveofpassion;andquellingthedarktyrannyofdespair,heledmeagaintoconverseconcerningmyselfpersonally.Heaskedmethehistoryofmyearlieryears.Thetalewasquicklytold,butitawakenedvarioustrainsofreflection.Ispokeofmydesireoffindingafriend,ofmythirstforamoreintimatesympathywithafellowmindthanhadeverfallentomylot,andexpressedmyconvictionthatamancouldboastoflittlehappinesswhodidnotenjoythisblessing.
‘Iagreewithyou,’repliedthestranger;‘weareunfashionedcreatures,buthalfmadeup,ifonewiser,better,dearerthanourselves—suchafriendoughttobe—donotlendhisaidtoperfectionateourweakandfaultynatures.Ioncehadafriend,themostnobleofhumancreatures,andamentitled,therefore,tojudgerespectingfriendship.Youhavehope,andtheworldbeforeyou,andhavenocausefordespair.ButI—Ihavelosteverythingandcannotbeginlifeanew.’
Ashesaidthishiscountenancebecameexpressiveofacalm,settledgriefthattouchedmetotheheart.Buthewassilentandpresentlyretiredtohiscabin.
Evenbrokeninspiritasheis,noonecanfeelmoredeeplythanhedoesthebeautiesofnature.Thestarrysky,thesea,andeverysightaffordedbythesewonderfulregionsseemstilltohavethepowerofelevatinghissoulfromearth.Suchamanhasadoubleexistence:hemaysuffermiseryandbeoverwhelmedbydisappointments,yetwhenhehasretiredintohimself,hewillbelikeacelestialspiritthathasahaloaroundhim,withinwhosecirclenogrieforfollyventures.
