Франкенштейн

           Butitwasinvain;Islept,indeed,butIwasdisturbedbythewildestdreams.IthoughtIsawElizabeth,inthebloomofhealth,walkinginthestreetsofIngolstadt.Delightedandsurprised,Iembracedher,butasIimprintedthefirstkissonherlips,theybecamelividwiththehueofdeath;herfeaturesappearedtochange,andIthoughtthatIheldthecorpseofmydeadmotherinmyarms;ashroudenvelopedherform,andIsawthegrave-wormscrawlinginthefoldsoftheflannel.Istartedfrommysleepwithhorror;acolddewcoveredmyforehead,myteethchattered,andeverylimbbecameconvulsed;when,bythedimandyellowlightofthemoon,asitforceditswaythroughthewindowshutters,Ibeheldthewretch—themiserablemonsterwhomIhadcreated.Heheldupthecurtainofthebed;andhiseyes,ifeyestheymaybecalled,werefixedonme.Hisjawsopened,andhemutteredsomeinarticulatesounds,whileagrinwrinkledhischeeks.Hemighthavespoken,butIdidnothear;onehandwasstretchedout,seeminglytodetainme,butIescapedandrusheddownstairs.ItookrefugeinthecourtyardbelongingtothehousewhichIinhabited,whereIremainedduringtherestofthenight,walkingupanddowninthegreatestagitation,listeningattentively,catchingandfearingeachsoundasifitweretoannouncetheapproachofthedemoniacalcorpsetowhichIhadsomiserablygivenlife.

           Oh!Nomortalcouldsupportthehorrorofthatcountenance.Amummyagainenduedwithanimationcouldnotbesohideousasthatwretch.Ihadgazedonhimwhileunfinished;hewasuglythen,butwhenthosemusclesandjointswererenderedcapableofmotion,itbecameathingsuchasevenDantecouldnothaveconceived.

           Ipassedthenightwretchedly.SometimesmypulsebeatsoquicklyandhardlythatIfeltthepalpitationofeveryartery;atothers,Inearlysanktothegroundthroughlanguorandextremeweakness.