Fritz. Nay, don't "Pshaw!" till you've heard me out. Oh,
Mr. Clerval! I'll tell you. One night Mr. Frankenstein did
indulge himself by going to bed. He was worn with fatigue and
study. I had occasion to go into his chamber. He was asleep, but
frightfully troubled; he groaned and ground his teeth setting
mine on edge. "It is accomplished!" said he. Accomplished!
I knew that had nothing to do with me, but I listened. He started
up in his sleep, though his eves were opened and dead as
oysters, he cried, "It is animated -- it rises -- walks!" Now my
shrewd guess, sir, is that, like Dr. Faustus, my master is
raising the Devil.
Cler. Fritz, you are simple; drive such impressions from
your mind. You must not mis-construe your master's words in a
dream. Do you never dream?
Fritz. (Mournfully.) I dream about my cow
sometimes.
Cler. Your master is a studious chemist -- nay, as I
sometimes suspect, an alchemist.
Fritz. Eh! Ah, I think he is. What is an alchemist, Mr.
Clerval?
Cler. Does he not sometimes speak of the art of making
gold?
Fritz. Lauk, sir! do you take Mr. Frankenstein for a
coiner?
Cler. Did you never hear him make mention of the grand
elixir which can prolong life to immortality?
Fritz. Never in all my life.
Cler. Well, go -- find out if it is possible I can see
him. I will not detain him.
(Clerval crosses to L.H.)
Fritz. Yes, sir. Oh, that laboratory! I've got two loose
teeth, and I am afraid I shall lose them, for whenever I go up
towards that infernal place my head shakes like a dice-box!
(Goes to R. H.) Oh, mercy! what's that? Two shining eyes
-- how they glisten! Dear, dear, why I declare it's only the cat
on the stairs. Puss, puss, pussy! How you frightened me, you
young dog, when you know I am so very nervous!
[Exit Fritz, R.H.
Cler. Frankenstein, friend of my youth, how extraordinary
and secret are thy pursuits! -- how art thou altered by study!
Strange, what a hold has philosophy taken of thy mind -- but thou
wert always enthusiastic and of boundless ambition. But Elizabeth
-- the fair Elizabeth, his sister -- what a difference in
disposition! Everyone adores her. Happy Clerval, to be now the
possessor of Elizabeth, who, unconscious of her beauty, stole thy
heart away!
Song -- Clerval
Ere witching love my heart possest,
And bade my sighs the nymph pursue,
Calm as the infant's smiling rest,
No anxious hope nor fear it knew.
But doom'd -- ah! doom'd at last to mourn,
What tumults in that heart arose!
An ocean tumbling, wild, and torn
By tempests from its deep repose.
Yet let me not the virgin blame,
As tho' she wish'd my heart despair,
How could the maid suspect a flame,
Who never knew that she was fair.
-- But Frankenstein approaches.
Enter Frankenstein, thoughtfully, R.H., shown in by Fritz, who
exits, L.H.
My dear friend!
Frank. Clerval!
Cler. Frankenstein, how ill you appear -- so pale! You
look as if your night-watchings had been long and
uninterrupted.
Frank. I have lately been so deeply engaged in one
occupation that I have not allowed myself sufficient rest. But
how left you my sister, Elizabeth?
Cler. Well, and very happy, only a little uneasy that she
sees you so seldom.
Frank. Aye; I am engaged heart and soul in the pursuit of
a discovery -- a grand, unheard-of wonder! None but those who
have experienced can conceive the enticements of science; he who
looks into the book of nature, finds an inexhaustible source of
novelty, of wonder, and delight. What hidden treasures are
contained in her mighty volume -- what strange, un-dreamed-of
mysteries!
Cler. But some little respite -- your health should be
considered.
Frank. (Abstracted.) After so much time spent in
painful labour, to arrive at last at the summit of my desires,
would be indeed a glorious consummation of my toils!
(Frankenstein crosses to L.H.)
Cler. How wild and mysterious his abstractions -- he heeds
me not!
Frank. This discovery will be so vast, so overwhelming,
that all the steps by which I have been progressively led will be
obliterated, and I shall behold only the astounding result.
Cler. Frankenstein!
Frank. Ha! (To Clerval.) I see by your eagerness
that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am
acquainted. That cannot be.
Cler. I do not wish to pry into your secrets,
Frankenstein. I am no natural philosopher; my imagination is too
vivid for the details of science. If I contemplate, let it be the
charms of your fair sister, Elizabeth. My message hither now -- I
wish to fix the day for our nuptials. But we must be certain, on
so important and happy an event, that we shall enjoy the society
of our Frankenstein.
Frank. Pardon me, Clerval! My first thoughts should recur
to those dear friends whom I most love, and who are so deserving
of my love -- name the day?
Cler. On the morn after to-morrow, may I Lead the charming
Elizabeth to the altar?
Frank. E'en as you will -- e'en as you will!
(Aside.) The morn after to-morrow -- ere that -- my
wonderful task will be completed. It will be animated! It will
live -- will think!
(Crosses in deep reflection -- afterwards turns up the
stage.)
Cler. (Apart.) Again in reverie! this becomes
alarming -- surely his head is affected. I am bound in duty to
counteract this madness, and discover the secret of his deep
reflections.
(Frankenstein sits down -- musing.)
Farewell, Frankenstein! He heeds me not -- 'tis in vain to claim
his notice -- but I will seek the cause, and, if possible, effect
his cure. No time must be lost. Fritz must assist me, and this
way he went.
[Exit Clerval.
Frank. Every moment lost, fevers me. What time have I
devoted? (Rises.) Had I not been heated by an almost
supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have
been irksome, disgusting, and almost intolerable. To examine the
causes of life -- I have had re-course to death -- I have seen
how the fine form of man has been wasted and degraded -- have
beheld the corruption of death succeed to the blooming cheek of
life! I have seen how the worm inherited the wonders of the eye
and brain -- I paused -- analysing all the minutiae of causation
as exemplified in the change of life from death -- until from the
midst of this darkness, the sudden light broke in upon me! A
light, so brilliant and dazzling, some miracle must have produced
the flash! The vital principle! The cause of life! -- Like
Prometheus of old, have I daringly attempted the formation -- the
animation of a Being! To my task -- away with reflection, to my
task -- to my task!
[Exit Frankenstein.
Enter Fritz and Clerval.
Fritz. Yes, there he goes again, amongst otamies, and
phials, and crucibles, and retorts, and charcoal, and fire, and
the Devil -- for I'm sure he's at the bottom of it, and that
makes me so nervous.
Cler. Fritz, you love your master, and are, I know, a
discreet servant -- but his friends and relations are all unhappy
on his account. His health is rapidly sinking under the fatigue
of his present labours -- will you not assist to call him back to
life and to his family?
Fritz. La! I'd call out all day long, if that would do any
good.
Cler. I know his mind has been devoted to abstruse and
occult sciences -- that his brain has been bewildered with the
wild fancies of Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Albertus Magnus,
and--
Fritz. Oh! Mr. Clerval! how can you mention such crazy
tooth-breaking names? There sounds something wicked in them.
Cler. Wicked! Psha, man! they are the renowned names of
the earliest experimental philosophers. The sages who promised to
the hopes of the laborious alchymist the transmutation of metals
and the elixir of life.
Fritz. O! Ah! indeed! Lack a daisy me!
Cler. (Aside.) I suspect this fellow is more knave
than fool -- he wants a bribe. Now, sirrah! answer me with
candour. What is it you like best in the world?
Fritz. Milk!
Cler. Simpleton! I mean what station of life would you
covet?
Fritz. Station?
Cler. Yes. Would you like to be master of a cottage?
Fritz. What, and keep a cow? -- the very thing. Why, Mr.
Clerval, you're a conjuror, and know my thoughts by heart.
Cler. Fritz, I want to discover -- but you must be
prudent. ( Takes out purse and gives a florin to Fritz.)
Here's an earnest of my future intentions touching the cow and
cottage.
Fritz. Bodikins ! a florin ! (Examining money.)
Cler. Friend Fritz, you must some time, when Mr.
Frankenstein is absent from home, admit me into his study.
Fritz. Oh, dear, I can't! -- don't take your florin back
again -- (puts up money) -- for he always locks the door.
To be sure, there's a little window a-top of the staircase, where
I can see when he puffs up his fire.
Cler. Well, they say the end justifies the means; and in
this case I admit the maxim. You can peep through that window,
and inform me minutely of what you see.
Fritz. But what is to become of my nerves?
Cler. Remember your cottage--
Fritz. And the cow!
Cler. Put me in possession of the secret, and both shall
be secured to you. Some one approaches.
Fritz. Mr. Clerval, I'm your man. I'm nervous, and the
devil sticks in my gizzard; but the cow will drive it out again.
(Starts.) What's that? Oh, nothing -- oh, dear, I'm so
nervous.
[Exeunt Fritz and Clerval.
