Франкенштейн

           Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife. This,briefly,ishisstory. SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch. Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony; butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion. Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit. Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife; buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover. Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations. ‘Whatanoblefellow!’youwillexclaim. Heisso;butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand. 

           Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions. Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation. Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.