Франкенштейн

           Thesoilwasbarren,scarcelyaffordingpastureforafewmiserablecows,andoatmealforitsinhabitants,whichconsistedoffivepersons,whosegauntandscraggylimbsgavetokensoftheirmiserablefare.Vegetablesandbread,whentheyindulgedinsuchluxuries,andevenfreshwater,wastobeprocuredfromthemainland,whichwasaboutfivemilesdistant.

           Onthewholeislandtherewerebutthreemiserablehuts,andoneofthesewasvacantwhenIarrived.ThisIhired.Itcontainedbuttworooms,andtheseexhibitedallthesqualidnessofthemostmiserablepenury.Thethatchhadfallenin,thewallswereunplastered,andthedoorwasoffitshinges.Iorderedittoberepaired,boughtsomefurniture,andtookpossession,anincidentwhichwoulddoubtlesshaveoccasionedsomesurprisehadnotallthesensesofthecottagersbeenbenumbedbywantandsqualidpoverty.Asitwas,Ilivedungazedatandunmolested,hardlythankedforthepittanceoffoodandclotheswhichIgave,somuchdoessufferingblunteventhecoarsestsensationsofmen.

           InthisretreatIdevotedthemorningtolabour;butintheevening,whentheweatherpermitted,Iwalkedonthestonybeachoftheseatolistentothewavesastheyroaredanddashedatmyfeet.Itwasamonotonousyetever-changingscene.IthoughtofSwitzerland;itwasfardifferentfromthisdesolateandappallinglandscape.Itshillsarecoveredwithvines,anditscottagesarescatteredthicklyintheplains.Itsfairlakesreflectablueandgentlesky,andwhentroubledbythewinds,theirtumultisbutastheplayofalivelyinfantwhencomparedtotheroaringsofthegiantocean.

           InthismannerIdistributedmyoccupationswhenIfirstarrived,butasIproceededinmylabour,itbecameeverydaymorehorribleandirksometome.SometimesIcouldnotprevailonmyselftoentermylaboratoryforseveraldays,andatothertimesItoileddayandnightinordertocompletemywork.