Pagina 67 de 483

The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the

feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years,

for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For

this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it

with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had

finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror

and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the

being I had created, I rushed out of the room and continued a

long time traversing my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind to

sleep. At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I had before

endured, and I threw myself on the bed in my clothes,

endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness. But it was

in vain; I slept, indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest

dreams. I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health,

walking in the streets of Ingolstadt.