Франкенштейн
Letter 2
Ishalldonothingrashly: youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking. Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart. Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to‘thelandofmistandsnow,’butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe‘AncientMariner.’ Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret. Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets. ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand. Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations. ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica? Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture. Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity: ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits. Iloveyouverytenderly. Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Youraffectionatebrother, RobertWalton
