Франкенштейн

           Before,IlookedupontheaccountsofviceandinjusticethatIreadinbooksorheardfromothersastalesofancientdaysorimaginaryevils;atleasttheywereremoteandmorefamiliartoreasonthantotheimagination;butnowmiseryhascomehome,andmenappeartomeasmonstersthirstingforeachother’sblood.YetIamcertainlyunjust.Everybodybelievedthatpoorgirltobeguilty;andifshecouldhavecommittedthecrimeforwhichshesuffered,assuredlyshewouldhavebeenthemostdepravedofhumancreatures.Forthesakeofafewjewels,tohavemurderedthesonofherbenefactorandfriend,achildwhomshehadnursedfromitsbirth,andappearedtoloveasifithadbeenherown!Icouldnotconsenttothedeathofanyhumanbeing,butcertainlyIshouldhavethoughtsuchacreatureunfittoremaininthesocietyofmen.Butshewasinnocent.Iknow,Ifeelshewasinnocent;youareofthesameopinion,andthatconfirmsme.Alas!Victor,whenfalsehoodcanlooksolikethetruth,whocanassurethemselvesofcertainhappiness?IfeelasifIwerewalkingontheedgeofaprecipice,towardswhichthousandsarecrowdingandendeavouringtoplungemeintotheabyss.WilliamandJustinewereassassinated,andthemurdererescapes;hewalksabouttheworldfree,andperhapsrespected.ButevenifIwerecondemnedtosufferonthescaffoldforthesamecrimes,Iwouldnotchangeplaceswithsuchawretch."

           Ilistenedtothisdiscoursewiththeextremestagony.I,notindeed,butineffect,wasthetruemurderer.Elizabethreadmyanguishinmycountenance,andkindlytakingmyhand,said,"Mydearestfriend,youmustcalmyourself.Theseeventshaveaffectedme,Godknowshowdeeply;butIamnotsowretchedasyouare.Thereisanexpressionofdespair,andsometimesofrevenge,inyourcountenancethatmakesmetremble.DearVictor,banishthesedarkpassions.Rememberthefriendsaroundyou,whocentrealltheirhopesinyou.