Франкенштейн
Chapter 22
ElizabethLavenza
Geneva,May18th,17-
ThisletterrevivedinmymemorywhatIhadbeforeforgotten,thethreatofthefiend—"IWILLBEWITHYOUONYOURWEDDING-NIGHT!"Suchwasmysentence,andonthatnightwouldthedaemonemployeveryarttodestroymeandtearmefromtheglimpseofhappinesswhichpromisedpartlytoconsolemysufferings.Onthatnighthehaddeterminedtoconsummatehiscrimesbymydeath.Well,beitso;adeadlystrugglewouldthenassuredlytakeplace,inwhichifhewerevictoriousIshouldbeatpeaceandhispowerovermebeatanend.Ifhewerevanquished,Ishouldbeafreeman.Alas!Whatfreedom?Suchasthepeasantenjoyswhenhisfamilyhavebeenmassacredbeforehiseyes,hiscottageburnt,hislandslaidwaste,andheisturnedadrift,homeless,penniless,andalone,butfree.SuchwouldbemylibertyexceptthatinmyElizabethIpossessedatreasure,alas,balancedbythosehorrorsofremorseandguiltwhichwouldpursuemeuntildeath.
SweetandbelovedElizabeth!Ireadandrereadherletter,andsomesoftenedfeelingsstoleintomyheartanddaredtowhisperparadisiacaldreamsofloveandjoy;buttheapplewasalreadyeaten,andtheangel’sarmbaredtodrivemefromallhope.YetIwoulddietomakeherhappy.Ifthemonsterexecutedhisthreat,deathwasinevitable;yet,again,Iconsideredwhethermymarriagewouldhastenmyfate.Mydestructionmightindeedarriveafewmonthssooner,butifmytorturershouldsuspectthatIpostponedit,influencedbyhismenaces,hewouldsurelyfindotherandperhapsmoredreadfulmeansofrevenge.
HehadvowedTOBEWITHMEONMYWEDDING-NIGHT,yethedidnotconsiderthatthreatasbindinghimtopeaceinthemeantime,forasiftoshowmethathewasnotyetsatiatedwithblood,hehadmurderedClervalimmediatelyaftertheenunciationofhisthreats.
