Frankenstein · To Mrs. Saville, England

十一月一个凄冷的夜晚，我终于看见自己的辛劳有了结果。我怀着近乎痛苦的焦虑，把赋予生命所需的器具聚在身边，想为脚下那具无生命的躯体注入一点生命的火花。

那时已是凌晨一点；雨点阴郁地敲打着窗格，蜡烛也几乎燃尽。借着将熄的微光，我看见那生物暗黄的眼睛睁开；它沉重地呼吸，四肢在一阵痉挛中颤动。

It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.

It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God!