Франкенштейн

           WillyousmileattheenthusiasmIexpressconcerningthisdivinewanderer?Youwouldnotifyousawhim.Youhavebeentutoredandrefinedbybooksandretirementfromtheworld,andyouarethereforesomewhatfastidious;butthisonlyrendersyouthemorefittoappreciatetheextraordinarymeritsofthiswonderfulman.SometimesIhaveendeavouredtodiscoverwhatqualityitiswhichhepossessesthatelevateshimsoimmeasurablyaboveanyotherpersonIeverknew.Ibelieveittobeanintuitivediscernment,aquickbutnever-failingpowerofjudgment,apenetrationintothecausesofthings,unequalledforclearnessandprecision;addtothisafacilityofexpressionandavoicewhosevariedintonationsaresoul-subduingmusic.

           August19,17—

           Yesterdaythestrangersaidtome,‘Youmayeasilyperceive,CaptainWalton,thatIhavesufferedgreatandunparalleledmisfortunes.Ihaddeterminedatonetimethatthememoryoftheseevilsshoulddiewithme,butyouhavewonmetoaltermydetermination.Youseekforknowledgeandwisdom,asIoncedid;andIardentlyhopethatthegratificationofyourwishesmaynotbeaserpenttostingyou,asminehasbeen.Idonotknowthattherelationofmydisasterswillbeusefultoyou;yet,whenIreflectthatyouarepursuingthesamecourse,exposingyourselftothesamedangerswhichhaverenderedmewhatIam,Iimaginethatyoumaydeduceanaptmoralfrommytale,onethatmaydirectyouifyousucceedinyourundertakingandconsoleyouincaseoffailure.Preparetohearofoccurrenceswhichareusuallydeemedmarvellous.WereweamongthetamerscenesofnatureImightfeartoencounteryourunbelief,perhapsyourridicule;butmanythingswillappearpossibleinthesewildandmysteriousregionswhichwouldprovokethelaughterofthoseunacquaintedwiththeever-variedpowersofnature;