Act II, Scene II
SCENE TWO.
-- The inside of Ritzberg's cottage, as before.
FRANKENSTEIN rushes in in great agitation, door in
F.
Frank.
Where am I? Let me a moment pause, collect {19} my distracted
thoughts -- compose, if possible, this tumult of the brain. I
have fled; and wherefore fled? Had not death been welcome? But
then to perish on a scaffold -- loaded with infamy -- branded
with a crime my very soul abhors -- the murder of an innocent I
would have died to save. No, no, it must not be -- not yet. My
life has been devoted to the fulfilment of one object; another
now claims the exertion of its short remainder, to destroy the
wretch that I have formed -- to purge the world of that
infuriated monster -- to free mankind from the fell persecution
of that demon. This, this, is now my bounden duty, and to this
awful task I solemnly devote myself.
Enter EMMELINE and CHILD, R.
Emme.
A stranger here? Ah! can I believe my senses -- am I indeed so
blest, does he come to seek his Emmeline? My lord, my life, my
Frankenstein!
Frank.
What do I behold? Emmeline Ritzberg! Lost, guilty, cursed wretch,
thy cup of crime and misery is full. Hell yawns for thee; and all
thy victims now surround thee, calling down Heaven's vengeance on
thy head.
Emme.
And is it thus? Is Emmeline's presence, then, a curse? Farewell,
then, hope. But we'll not persecute thee, Frankenstein, for with
my child I'll wander where thou shalt never more be punished with
remembrance of us, and where death will soon end our sorrow.
Frank.
Emmeline, Emmeline; tear not my heart with words like those. What
to a guilty wretch can be a greater curse than the presence of
those he has injured? Now at thy feet behold me, Emmeline, in
humble agony of heart, I plead for thy forgiveness. Oh, that I
ne'er had quitted thy peaceful, blest abode -- ne'er let into my
bosom those demons of ambition and fell pride that now, with
ceaseless gnawing, prey upon my soul.
Emme.
Not at my feet, but in my arms, dear Frankenstein, lose all the
memory of sorrows past. Oh, if thy heart still owns thy Emmeline,
all shall be well, be happy. One fond embrace of thine repays an
age of sorrow; in thy smiles and those of this sweet cherub, I
shall again awake to joy.
Frank.
Oh, Emmeline, since we parted, all has been crime; crime of so
black a dye, that even to thy gentle forgiving spirit, I dare not
confess it. Crime, whose punishment will be unceasing, will be
eternal.
Emme.
Oh, no, my Frankenstein; guilt, to be absolved {20} needs but to
be abjured. Returned to domestic peace, thy Emmeline shall soothe
thy every woe, and on her bosom thou'lt forget thy griefs.
Frank.
I dare not hope it. But in this land I cannot hope a moment's
ease. Quick, let us fly -- far, far from this accursed spot, the
bane of all my peace. There, to that calm retreat, where first
thy angel charms awoke my soul to love, there let us quick
repair. Oh, that in former and in happier scenes I could forget
the guilt, the misery that I have since been slave to.
Enter RITZBERG, hastily, R.
Ritz.
Ha; Frankenstein here; but 'tis no time to parley; the cottage is
on fire? That fierce gigantic figure of terrific aspect, waves
aloft his torch, as if in triumph at the deed. (a coarse
yelling laugh is heard.)
Frank.
Ha, 'tis that hideous voice. His hellish malice still pursues me;
and but with his death or with mine, will this fierce persecution
cease. Could I but place you beyond his power -- ! (with
RITZBERG he attempts to open the door, they find it barricaded
from without; the laugh is repeated -- the conflagration has
enveloped the whole building -- FRANKENSTEIN rushes off as if in
search of some other outlet -- part of the building breaks -- the
MONSTER enters at the chasm, seizes on EMMELINE and the CHILD,
and bears them through the burning ruins, followed by RITZBERG.
-- FRANKENSTEIN returns, perceives that EMMELINE and her CHILD
are gone, and in despair rushes after them.)
Act
Scene
