Франкенштейн

           Werest;adreamhaspowertopoisonsleep.

           Werise;onewand’ringthoughtpollutestheday.

           Wefeel,conceive,orreason;laughorweep,

           Embracefondwoe,orcastourcaresaway;

           Itisthesame:for,beitjoyorsorrow,

           Thepathofitsdeparturestillisfree.

           Man’syesterdaymayne’erbelikehismorrow;

           Noughtmayendurebutmutability!

           ItwasnearlynoonwhenIarrivedatthetopoftheascent.ForsometimeIsatupontherockthatoverlookstheseaofice.Amistcoveredboththatandthesurroundingmountains.Presentlyabreezedissipatedthecloud,andIdescendedupontheglacier.Thesurfaceisveryuneven,risinglikethewavesofatroubledsea,descendinglow,andinterspersedbyriftsthatsinkdeep.Thefieldoficeisalmostaleagueinwidth,butIspentnearlytwohoursincrossingit.Theoppositemountainisabareperpendicularrock.FromthesidewhereInowstoodMontanvertwasexactlyopposite,atthedistanceofaleague;andaboveitroseMontBlanc,inawfulmajesty.Iremainedinarecessoftherock,gazingonthiswonderfulandstupendousscene.Thesea,orratherthevastriverofice,woundamongitsdependentmountains,whoseaerialsummitshungoveritsrecesses.Theiricyandglitteringpeaksshoneinthesunlightovertheclouds.