The Modern Prometheus modern design twist on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Page 38
The Modern Prometheus
For some time I sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea
of ice. A mist covered both that and the surrounding
mountains. Presently a breeze dissipated the cloud, and
I descended upon the glacier. The surface is very uneven,
rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low,
and interspersed by rifts that sink deep. The field of
ice is almost a league in width, but I spent nearly two
hours in crossing it. The opposite mountain is a bare
perpendicular rock. From the side where I now stood
Montanvert was exactly opposite, at the distance of a
league; and above it rose Mont Blanc, in awful majesty. I
remained in a recess of the rock, gazing on this wonderful
and stupendous scene. The sea, or rather the vast river
of ice, wound among its dependent mountains, whose
aerial summits hung over its recesses. Their icy and
glittering peaks shone in the sunlight over the clouds.
My heart, which was before sorrowful, now swelled with
something like joy; I exclaimed, “Wandering spirits,
if indeed ye wander, and do not rest in your narrow
beds, allow me this faint happiness, or take me, as your
companion, away from the joys of life.”
As I said this I suddenly beheld the figure of a
man, at some distance, advancing towards me with
superhuman speed. He bounded over the crevices in
the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his
stature, also, as he approached, seemed to exceed that
of man. I was troubled; a mist came over my eyes, and
I felt a faintness seize me, but I was quickly restored by
the cold gale of the mountains. I perceived, as the shape
came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it
was the wretch whom I had created. I trembled with
rage and horror, resolving to wait his approach and
then close with him in mortal combat. He approached;
his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with
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