Франкенштейн
Chapter 4
Ifthestudytowhichyouapplyyourselfhasatendencytoweakenyouraffectionsandtodestroyyourtasteforthosesimplepleasuresinwhichnoalloycanpossiblymix,thenthatstudyiscertainlyunlawful,thatistosay,notbefittingthehumanmind.Ifthisrulewerealwaysobserved;ifnomanallowedanypursuitwhatsoevertointerferewiththetranquillityofhisdomesticaffections,Greecehadnotbeenenslaved,Caesarwouldhavesparedhiscountry,Americawouldhavebeendiscoveredmoregradually,andtheempiresofMexicoandPeruhadnotbeendestroyed.
ButIforgetthatIammoralizinginthemostinterestingpartofmytale,andyourlooksremindmetoproceed.Myfathermadenoreproachinhislettersandonlytooknoticeofmysciencebyinquiringintomyoccupationsmoreparticularlythanbefore.Winter,spring,andsummerpassedawayduringmylabours;butIdidnotwatchtheblossomortheexpandingleaves—sightswhichbeforealwaysyieldedmesupremedelight—sodeeplywasIengrossedinmyoccupation.Theleavesofthatyearhadwitheredbeforemyworkdrewneartoaclose,andnoweverydayshowedmemoreplainlyhowwellIhadsucceeded.Butmyenthusiasmwascheckedbymyanxiety,andIappearedratherlikeonedoomedbyslaverytotoilinthemines,oranyotherunwholesometradethananartistoccupiedbyhisfavouriteemployment.EverynightIwasoppressedbyaslowfever,andIbecamenervoustoamostpainfuldegree;thefallofaleafstartledme,andIshunnedmyfellowcreaturesasifIhadbeenguiltyofacrime.SometimesIgrewalarmedatthewreckIperceivedthatIhadbecome;theenergyofmypurposealonesustainedme:mylabourswouldsoonend,andIbelievedthatexerciseandamusementwouldthendriveawayincipientdisease;andIpromisedmyselfbothofthesewhenmycreationshouldbecomplete.
