Pagina 151 di 483

At these moments I wept bitterly and wished that peace would

revisit my mind only that I might afford them consolation and

happiness. But that could not be. Remorse extinguished every

hope. I had been the author of unalterable evils, and I lived in

daily fear lest the monster whom I had created should perpetrate

some new wickedness. I had an obscure feeling that all was not

over and that he would still commit some signal crime, which by

its enormity should almost efface the recollection of the past.

There was always scope for fear so long as anything I loved

remained behind. My abhorrence of this fiend cannot be conceived.

When I thought of him I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became

inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I

had so thoughtlessly bestowed. When I reflected on his crimes and

malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation.