0:00

Hey Prime members, you can listen to The Strange

0:03

and Unusual podcast early and

0:05

ad-free on Amazon Music. Download

0:07

the app today.

0:09

You're listening to a Morbid Network

0:11

podcast.

0:16

There are so many amazing days on the way to your

0:18

wedding day. And Zola's here for

0:20

all of them. Like the day you find your

0:22

perfect venue, the day you almost

0:25

skip to the mailbox to send your invites, and

0:28

the day you realize making a budget isn't

0:30

so scary. Zola has everything you need

0:32

to plan the wedding you want, like a free

0:34

website for your guests to RSVP

0:36

and shop your registry. And those not-so-amazing

0:39

days? Zola's here for those too. Talk

0:42

to Team Z, Zola's expert wedding

0:44

advisors. Or join the Zola community,

0:47

full of other engaged couples who know exactly

0:49

what you're going through. From getting engaged

0:51

to getting married, Zola is here for

0:54

all the days along the way. Get your

0:56

wedding planning at Zola.com. That's

0:58

Z-O-L-A dot com. Hi,

1:01

it's me, the OG Green Grump, the

1:04

Grinch. Listen as I launch a campaign

1:06

against Christmas cheer, grilling celebrity

1:09

guests like chestnuts on an open fire.

1:11

I'll try to get my heart to grow a few sizes, but

1:14

it's not going to work, honey. Follow Tiz,

1:16

the Grinch holiday talk show on the Wondry

1:18

app or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:21

This is the Strange and

1:23

Unusual Podcast with Alison Horrocks.

1:27

And welcome to Frankenstein or

1:30

the Modern Prometheus by Mary

1:32

Shelley, Part 6.

2:09

In this episode we cover chapters 10

2:12

and 11 when Victor

2:14

Frankenstein is finally forced

2:16

to face his creation and

2:19

in turn his creation tells

2:21

him the story of the first days of his

2:23

life. I

2:32

spent the following day roaming through

2:35

the valley. I

2:38

stood beside the sources of the Arvayon

2:41

which take their rise in a glacier. That

2:44

with slow pace is advancing

2:47

down from the summit of the hills to

2:49

barricade the valley. The

2:53

abrupt sides of vast mountains were

2:55

before me. The

2:57

icy wall of the glacier

2:58

overhung me.

3:01

A few shattered pines were scattered

3:03

around. Of

3:05

this glorious presence chamber

3:07

of imperial nature was broken only

3:10

by the brawling waves or

3:13

the fall of some vast fragment. The

3:17

thunder sound of the avalanche, the

3:20

cracking, reverberated along

3:22

the mountains of the accumulated ice

3:25

which, through the silent workings of

3:27

immutable laws, was ever

3:29

and anon rent and torn as

3:33

if it had been but a plaything

3:35

in their hands. These

3:38

sublime and magnificent

3:41

scenes afforded me the greatest

3:43

consolation that I was capable

3:45

of receiving. They

3:49

elevated me from all littleness

3:51

of feeling and although

3:53

they did not remove my grief, they

3:56

subdued and tranquilized it.

4:00

In some degree also, they diverted

4:02

my mind from the thoughts over which

4:05

it had brooded for the last month. I

4:09

retired to rest at night. My

4:12

slumbers, as it were, waited on

4:15

and ministered to by the assemblance

4:17

of grand shapes which

4:20

I had contemplated during the day. They

4:24

congregated round me, the unstained

4:28

snowy mountaintop, the

4:30

glittering pinnacle, the pine

4:32

woods, and ragged bear

4:35

ravine. The

4:37

eagle, soaring amidst the clouds,

4:41

they all gathered round me and made me

4:43

be at peace. Where

4:55

had they fled when the next morning I

4:57

awoke? All

5:00

of soul-inspiring flood was sleep, and

5:03

dark melancholy clouded every

5:05

thought. The

5:08

rain was pouring in torrents, and

5:10

thick mists hid the summits of

5:12

the mountains, so that

5:15

I even saw not the faces of those

5:17

mighty friends. Still,

5:20

I would penetrate their misty veil

5:23

and seek them in their cloudy retreats.

5:28

What were rain and storm to me?

5:31

My

5:31

mule was brought to the door, and

5:34

I resolved to ascend to the summit

5:36

of Mount Invert. I

5:39

remembered the effect that the view

5:41

of the tremendous and ever-moving

5:44

glacier had produced upon my mind

5:46

when I first saw it. They

5:49

had then filled me with a sublime

5:51

ecstasy that gave wings to

5:54

the soul and allowed it to soar

5:56

from the obscure world to

5:58

light and joy. The

6:02

sight of the awful and majestic in nature

6:04

had indeed always the effect

6:07

of solemnizing my mind, in

6:10

causing me to forget the passing cares

6:12

of life. I

6:15

determined to go without a guide, for

6:17

I was well acquainted with the path, and

6:20

the presence of another would destroy

6:23

the solitary grandeur of the scene.

6:27

The ascent was precipitous, but

6:29

the path is cut into continual

6:32

and short windings, which enable

6:35

you to surmount the perpendicularity

6:37

of the mountain. It

6:41

is a scene terrifically desolate.

6:46

In a thousand spots the traces of

6:48

the winter avalanche may be perceived,

6:52

for trees lie broken and strewed

6:55

on the ground, some entirely

6:57

destroyed, others

7:00

bent, leading upon the jutting

7:02

rocks of the mountain, or

7:04

traversing upon other trees. The

7:08

path, as you ascend higher, is

7:11

intersected by ravines of snow,

7:14

down which stones continually roll

7:16

from above. One

7:19

of them is particularly dangerous, as

7:22

the slightest sound, such as even

7:24

speaking in a loud voice, produces

7:27

a concussion of air sufficient to

7:29

draw destruction upon the

7:31

head of the speaker. The

7:34

pines are not tall or luxuriant,

7:38

but they are somber and add an air

7:40

of severity to the scene. I

7:44

looked on the valley beneath. Fast

7:46

mists were rising from the rivers which

7:48

ran through it, and curling

7:50

in thick wreaths around the opposite

7:53

mountains, whose summits

7:55

were hid in the uniform clouds, while

7:57

rain poured from the dark sky.

8:00

and added to the melancholy impression

8:02

I received from the objects around me. Alas,

8:07

why does man boast of sensibilities

8:10

superior to those apparent

8:13

in the brute? It only

8:15

renders them more necessary beings.

8:19

If our impulses were confined to

8:21

hunger, thirst, and desire,

8:24

we might be nearly free. But

8:27

now we are moved by every wind that blows,

8:31

in a chance word or scene that

8:33

the word may convey to us.

8:36

We rest. A dream has

8:39

power to poison sleep. We

8:41

rise. When wandering

8:43

thought pollutes today, we

8:46

feel, conceive, or reason,

8:49

laugh, or weep. Embrace

8:51

fond woe, or cast

8:54

our cares away. It

8:56

is the same. For

8:58

be it joy or sorrow, the path

9:01

of its departure still is free. Man's

9:04

yesterday may near be

9:06

like his morrow. Not

9:10

may endure but mutability.

9:19

It was nearly noon when I arrived at

9:21

the top of the ascent. For

9:25

some time I sat upon the rock that overlooks

9:27

the sea of ice. A mist

9:30

covered both that and the

9:32

surrounding mountains. Presently

9:35

a breeze dissipated the cloud,

9:39

and I descended upon the glacier. The

9:42

surface is very uneven, rising

9:45

like the waves of a troubled sea, descending

9:49

low, and interspersed by

9:51

rifts that sink deep. The

9:54

field of ice is almost a league

9:57

in width, but I spent

9:59

nearly two hours.

11:59

This so happens that the alleged ghost haunting

12:02

my childhood room might just be my

12:04

wife's great-grandmother, who was murdered

12:06

in the house next door by two gunshots

12:09

to the face. Ghost Story, a

12:11

podcast about family secrets, overwhelming

12:13

coincidence and the things that come back

12:16

to haunt us. Follow Ghost Story on the Wandery

12:18

app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge

12:20

all episodes ad-free right now by joining

12:23

Wandery Plus. I'm at some

12:25

distance, advancing

12:27

towards me with superhuman speed.

12:32

He bounded over the crevices and the ice,

12:35

among which I had walked with caution. His

12:39

stature, also, as he approached,

12:42

seemed to exceed that of man. I

12:47

was troubled, a mist came

12:50

over my eyes, and I felt

12:52

a faintness seize me. But

12:56

I was quickly restored by the cold gale

12:59

of the mountains. I

13:02

perceived, as the shape

13:05

came nearer,

13:05

sight tremendous

13:08

and abhorred, that

13:10

it was the wretch whom I had created.

13:16

I trembled with rage and horror,

13:20

resolving to wait his approach and then close

13:22

with him in mortal combat. He

13:26

approached. His countenance

13:29

bespoke bitter anguish, combined

13:32

with disdain and malignity.

13:36

While its unearthly ugliness rendered

13:39

it almost too horrible for human

13:41

eyes, but I scarcely observed this.

13:46

Rage and hatred had at first deprived

13:49

me of utterance, and

13:51

I recovered only to overwhelm him with

13:54

words expressive of furious

13:56

detestation and contempt. Devil,

14:02

I exclaimed, dare you approach me?

14:06

And do not you fear the fierce vengeance

14:09

of my arm wreaked on your miserable

14:11

head? Be

14:14

gone, vile insect, or rather

14:17

stay, that

14:19

I may trample you to dust. And

14:24

oh, that I could, with the extinction

14:26

of your miserable existence, restore

14:29

those victims whom you have

14:31

so diabolically murdered. I

14:36

expected this reception, said

14:38

the Daemon. All men

14:41

hate the wretched. How

14:43

then must I be hated, who

14:46

am miserable beyond all living things?

14:48

That you,

14:51

my creator, detest

14:53

and spurn me, thy

14:56

creature, to

14:58

whom thou art bound by ties, only

15:00

dissolvable by the annihilation of

15:03

one of us. You

15:05

purposed to kill me. How

15:08

dare you thus sport with life? Do

15:11

your duty towards me, and I

15:14

will do mine towards you and the rest

15:16

of mankind. If

15:18

you will comply with my conditions, I will

15:21

leave them and you at peace. But

15:24

if you refuse, I will

15:26

gut the maw of death until it

15:29

be satiated with the blood of your

15:31

remaining friends. The

15:35

poured monster feigned at thou

15:37

art. The tortures

15:40

of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes,

15:43

wretched devil. You

15:45

reproach me with your creation. Come

15:49

on then, that I may extinguish

15:51

the spark which I so nevigently

15:54

bestowed. My

15:57

rage was without bounds. They

16:00

sprang on him, impelled by all

16:03

the feelings which can arm one, being

16:05

against the existence of another. He

16:09

easily eluded me and said, Be

16:12

calm. I entreat you

16:14

to hear me before you give vent

16:16

to your hatred on my devoted head.

16:21

Have I not suffered enough that you seek

16:23

to increase my misery? If

16:28

all that may only be an accumulation

16:31

of English is dear to me, then

16:34

I will defend it. Remember,

16:38

thou hast made me more powerful

16:40

than thyself. My height

16:43

is superior to thine, my joints

16:45

more supple. But

16:47

I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition

16:50

to thee. I am thy creature,

16:53

and I will be even mild and docile

16:55

to my natural lord and king. If

16:58

thou wilt also perform thy part, the

17:01

witch thou oweest me. O

17:04

Frankenstein, be not equitable

17:07

to every other, and trample upon

17:09

me alone, to whom thy justice

17:12

and even thy clemency and affection is

17:15

most due. Remember

17:18

that I am thy creature. I

17:20

ought to be thy Adam. But

17:22

I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou

17:25

driveest from joy for no misdeed.

17:29

Everywhere I see bliss from which I alone

17:32

am irrevocably excluded. I

17:36

was benevolent and good. Misery

17:39

made me a fiend. Make

17:41

me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.

17:46

Be gone, I will not hear you. There

17:48

is no community between you and me. We are

17:51

enemies. Be gone,

17:54

or let us try our strength in a fight in

17:56

which one must fall. How

18:00

can I move thee? Will no

18:02

intredies cause thee to turn a favorable

18:05

eye upon thy creature, who implores

18:07

thy goodness and compassion? Believe

18:12

me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent.

18:15

My soul glowed with love and humanity,

18:17

but am I not alone,

18:19

miserably alone? You,

18:23

my creator, abhor me. What

18:26

help can I gather from your fellow creatures,

18:29

who owe me nothing? These

18:31

spurnin' hate me. The

18:34

desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my

18:36

refuge. I have wandered

18:38

here many days. The caves of ice,

18:41

which I only do not fear, are

18:43

a dwelling to me, and the

18:45

only one which man does not grudge. These

18:49

bleak skies I hail, for

18:52

they are kinder to me than your fellow beings.

18:56

If the multitude of mankind knew

18:58

of my insistence, they would do as you

19:00

do, and arm themselves

19:03

for my destruction. Shall

19:05

I not then hate them who abhor me? I

19:09

will keep no terms of my enemies. I

19:12

am miserable, and they shall share

19:15

my wretchedness. Yet

19:17

it is in your power to recompense me and

19:20

deliver them from an evil which it only

19:22

remains for you to make so great,

19:24

that not only you and your

19:26

family, but thousands of others, shall

19:29

be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage.

19:34

Let your compassion be moved, and do not

19:36

disdain me.

19:38

Listen to my tale. When

19:40

you have heard that, abandon or commiserate

19:43

me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But

19:46

hear me. The guilty

19:49

are allowed by human law as bloody as

19:51

they are to speak in their

19:53

own defense before they are condemned. Listen

19:57

to me, Frankenstein. me

20:00

a murder, and yet you would, with

20:02

a satisfied conscience, destroy

20:04

your own creature. Oh,

20:07

praise the eternal justice of man! Yet

20:11

I will ask you not to spare me. Listen

20:16

to me, and then, if you

20:18

can, and if you will, destroy

20:21

the work of your hands. Why

20:24

do you call to my remembrance, I

20:27

rejoined, circumstances of

20:29

which I shudder to reflect, that

20:31

I have been of miserable origin and author?

20:35

Cursed be the day of poor devil in which you first saw

20:38

light. Cursed, although

20:40

I curse myself, be the hands that formed

20:42

you. You

20:44

have made me wretched beyond expression.

20:47

You have left me no power to consider whether I

20:49

am just to you or not. Be

20:52

gone. Leave me at the

20:54

sight of your detested form. Thus

21:00

I relieve thee, my Creator, he

21:02

said, and placed his hated

21:04

hands before my eyes, which I flung

21:07

from me with valence. Thus

21:10

I take from thee a sight which you abhor.

21:13

Still, thou canst listen

21:15

to me and grant me thy compassion. They

21:19

are the virtues that I once possessed. I

21:22

demand this from you. My heart

21:24

and my tail, it is long and strange,

21:27

and the temperature of this place is not fitting to your fine

21:30

sensations. Come

21:32

to the hut upon the mountain. The

21:35

sun is yet high in the heavens before

21:37

it descends to hide itself behind your snowy

21:40

Creator, he said, and

21:42

placed his hated hands before my eyes,

21:45

which I flung from me with valence. Thus

21:48

I take from thee a sight which you abhor.

21:52

Still, thou canst listen

21:54

to me and grant me thy compassion. By

21:58

the virtues that I once possessed. I

22:00

demand this from you. Here my

22:02

tale, it is long and strange,

22:06

and the temperature of this place is not fitting to your fine

22:08

sensations. Come

22:11

to the hut upon the mountain. The

22:14

sun is yet high in the heavens. Before

22:16

it descends to hide itself behind your snowy

22:19

precipices and illuminate another

22:21

world. You

22:23

will have heard my story and can decide. When

22:26

you it rests, whether I quit

22:28

forever the neighborhood of man and

22:31

lead a harmless life or

22:33

become the scourge of your fellow creatures

22:36

and the author of your own speedy ruin,

22:38

my heart was full

22:40

and I did not answer him. He

22:43

led the way across the ice. I

22:45

followed, but as I proceeded,

22:48

I weighed the various arguments that

22:50

he

22:50

had used and determined

22:52

at least to listen to

22:55

his tale. I

22:57

was partly urged by curiosity and

23:00

compassion confirmed my resolution.

23:03

I had hitherto supposed him to be the murderer

23:06

of my brother and it eagerly

23:08

sought a confirmation or denial of this

23:10

opinion. For

23:12

the first time also, I felt

23:14

what the duties of a creator towards

23:16

his creature were and that I ought

23:19

to render him happy before I complained

23:21

of his wickedness. These

23:23

motives urged me to comply with

23:25

his demand. We crossed

23:28

the ice, therefore, and descended the

23:30

opposite rock. The

23:32

air was cold and the rain again began

23:34

to descend.

23:37

We entered the hut. The

23:39

fiend with an air of

23:40

exaltation, high with a heavy

23:42

heart and depressed spirits,

23:45

but I consented to listen and,

23:49

sitting myself by the fire which my

23:51

odious companion had lighted, he thus

23:54

began his tale.

24:02

It

24:07

is with considerable difficulty

24:10

that I remember the original era of my

24:12

being. All

24:15

the events of that period appear confused

24:18

and indistinct.

24:21

The strange multiplicity of sensations

24:23

seized me, and

24:25

I saw, felt, heard,

24:29

and smelt at the same time. And

24:33

it was indeed a long time before

24:36

I learned to distinguish between the operations

24:39

of my various senses. By

24:43

degrees, I remember a stronger

24:45

light pressed upon my nerves so

24:48

that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness

24:52

then came over me and troubled me, but

24:55

hardly had I felt this went by opening my

24:58

eyes as I now suppose. The

25:01

light poured in upon me again. I

25:05

walked and, I believe, descended,

25:08

but I presently found a great alteration

25:10

in my sensations. Before,

25:15

dark and opaque bodies had surrounded

25:17

me, impervious to my

25:19

torture sight. But

25:22

I now found that I could wander on at

25:24

liberty, with no obstacles which I could

25:26

not either surmount or avoid.

25:29

The

25:31

light became more and more oppressive

25:34

to me and the heat wearing me

25:36

as I walked.

25:40

I saw a place where I could receive shade.

25:44

This was the forest near Ingolstadt, and

25:47

here I lay by the side of a brook resting

25:49

from my fatigue until I

25:52

felt tormented by hunger and thirst.

25:57

This roused me from my nearly dormant

25:59

state. and I ate some berries

26:01

which I found hanging on the trees

26:04

or lying on the ground. I

26:07

slacked my thirst at the brook, and

26:10

then lying down was overcome

26:13

by sleep. It

26:15

was dark when I awoke. I

26:18

felt cold also, and half

26:20

frightened, as it were, instinctively,

26:23

finding myself so desolate. Before

26:27

I had quitted your apartment on a sensation

26:30

of cold, I had covered myself with

26:32

some clothes. But

26:35

these were insufficient to secure me from the dews

26:38

of night. It

26:41

was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch. I

26:45

knew and could distinguish nothing.

26:50

But feeling pain invade me on all sides,

26:53

I sat down and wept.

27:07

Soon, a gentle light stole

27:10

over the heavens

27:12

and gave me a sensation of

27:14

pleasure. I

27:17

started up and beheld a

27:19

radiant form rise from among

27:21

the trees. The moon,

27:24

I gazed with a

27:26

kind of wonder. It

27:29

moved slowly, but it enlightened

27:31

my path, and I again

27:34

went out in search of berries. I

27:38

was still cold, when

27:40

under one of the trees I found a

27:42

huge cloak with which I covered myself,

27:45

and sat down upon the ground. No

27:49

distinct ideas occupied my mind.

27:53

All was confused. I

27:56

felt light, and hunger, and

27:59

thirst, and In

28:02

innumerable sounds rang in my ears,

28:05

and on all sides various scents

28:07

saluted me.

28:10

The only object that I could distinguish

28:12

was the bright moon, and

28:15

I fixed my eyes on that with pleasure. Several

28:19

changes of day and night passed, and

28:22

the orb of night had greatly lessened

28:25

when I began to distinguish my sensations

28:28

from each other. I

28:32

gradually saw plainly the clear stream

28:34

that supplied me with drink, and

28:37

the trees that shaded me with their foliage.

28:40

I

28:41

was delighted when I first discovered

28:43

that a pleasant sound which often

28:46

saluted my ears proceeded from

28:48

the throats of the little winged animals

28:51

who had often intercepted the

28:53

light from my eyes. I

28:56

began also to observe, with

28:58

greater accuracy, the forms

29:00

that surrounded me, and to perceive

29:03

the boundaries of the radiant roof of

29:05

light which can appeared me. Sometimes

29:09

I tried to imitate the pleasant songs

29:11

of the birds,

29:11

but was unable.

29:15

Sometimes I wished to

29:17

express my sensations in my

29:19

own mode, but

29:21

the uncouth and inarticulate sounds

29:23

which broke from me frightened me into

29:25

silence again. The

29:28

moon had disappeared from the night, and

29:30

again, with a lessened form, showed

29:33

itself, while I still

29:35

remained in the

29:36

forest.

29:38

My sensations had by this time become

29:41

distinct, and

29:44

my mind received every day additional

29:46

ideas. My

29:48

eyes became accustomed to the light,

29:51

and to perceive objects in their right forms.

29:55

I distinguished the insect from the herb, and

29:59

by degrees, one herb from another.

30:02

I found that the sparrow uttered none

30:05

but harsh notes, whilst those

30:07

of the blackbird and thrush were sweet

30:09

and enticing. One

30:12

day, when I was oppressed by cold,

30:15

I found a fire which had been left by some

30:17

wandering beggars and was overcome

30:20

with the light at the warmth I experienced

30:23

from it. In my

30:25

joy I thrust my hand into

30:27

the live embers, but quickly

30:29

drew it out again with a cry of pain. How

30:32

strange, I thought, that the

30:34

same cause should produce such

30:37

opposite

30:37

effects.

30:39

I examined the materials of the fire,

30:42

and to my joy, found it to be composed

30:44

of wood. I quickly

30:46

collected some branches, but they were wet

30:48

and would not burn.

30:50

I

30:51

was pained at this and sat still

30:53

watching the operation of the fire. The

30:56

wet wood which I had placed near the

30:58

heat dried and itself

31:00

became inflamed.

31:03

I reflected on this, and by touching

31:05

the various branches, I discovered

31:08

the cause and busied myself in

31:10

collecting a great quantity of wood

31:12

that I might dry it and have a plentiful

31:15

supply of fire. When

31:18

night came on and brought sleep with it, I

31:21

was in the greatest fear lest

31:23

my fire should be extinguished. I

31:27

covered it carefully with dry wood and

31:29

leaves and placed wet branches

31:31

upon it, and then, spreading

31:34

my cloak, I lay on the ground and sink

31:36

into sleep. It

31:39

was morning when I awoke, and

31:41

my first care was to visit the fire. I

31:44

uncovered it, and a gentle breeze

31:47

quickly fanned it into a flame. I

31:51

observed this also, and contrived

31:53

a fan of brushes which roused the

31:55

embers when they were nearly extinguished.

31:59

I

32:00

found, with pleasure, that

32:02

the fire gave light as well as heat, and

32:05

that the discovery of this element was

32:08

useful to me in my food. For

32:10

I found some of the offals that the travelers

32:12

had left had been roasted, and

32:15

tasted much more savory than the berries

32:17

I gathered from the trees. I

32:20

tried, therefore, to dress my

32:22

food in the same manner, placing

32:24

it on the live embers.

32:27

I found that the berries were spoiled by this

32:29

operation, and the nuts and roots

32:32

much improved. Food,

32:34

however, became scarce,

32:36

and

32:37

I often spent the whole day searching in vain

32:40

for a few acorns to assuage

32:42

the pangs of hunger. When

32:45

I found this, I resolved to quit

32:47

the place that I had hitherto inhabited,

32:49

to seek for one

32:52

where the few wants I experienced

32:55

would be more easily satisfied. In

32:58

this immigration, I exceedingly

33:01

lamented the loss of the fire

33:03

which I had obtained through accident, and

33:06

knew not how to reproduce it. I

33:09

gave several hours to the serious consideration

33:12

of this difficulty, but I was obliged

33:15

to relinquish all attempts to supply

33:17

it. When wrapping myself

33:19

up in my cloak, I struck across

33:21

the wood towards the setting scene. I

33:27

passed through days in these rambles, and

33:30

at length discovered the open country.

33:34

A great fall of snow had taken place the night before,

33:36

and the fields were of one

33:39

uniform white. The

33:41

appearance was disconsulted, and

33:43

I found my feet chilled by the cold,

33:46

damp substance that covered the ground.

33:49

It was about seven

33:51

in the morning, and I longed

33:54

to obtain food and shelter. At

33:57

length, I perceived a small hut, and I ran

33:59

away.

33:59

rising ground,

34:01

which had doubtless been built for the convenience

34:04

of some shepherd. This

34:06

was a new sight to me, and I examined

34:08

the structure with great curiosity. Finding

34:12

a door open, I entered.

34:15

An old man sat in it, near

34:17

a fire, over which he

34:20

was preparing his breakfast.

34:22

He turned on hearing a noise, and

34:24

perceiving me shrieked loudly, and

34:27

quitting the hut, and across the

34:29

fields with a speed of which his

34:31

dellabilitated form hardly appeared

34:34

capable. His

34:36

appearance, different from any

34:38

I had ever before seen, and

34:40

his flight somewhat surprised me, but

34:43

I was enchanted by the appearance of the hut.

34:47

Here the snow and rain could not penetrate,

34:49

the ground was dry, and it

34:52

presented to me then as exquisite

34:55

and divine a retreat as pandemonium

34:58

appeared to the daemons of hell after

35:00

their sufferings in the lake of fire. I

35:04

greedily devoured the remnants of the

35:06

shepherd's breakfast, which consisted

35:08

of bread, cheese, milk and

35:10

wine. The latter,

35:12

however, I did not like. Then,

35:16

overcome by fatigue, I lay

35:18

down among some straw and fell

35:20

asleep. It

35:22

was noon when I awoke. I

35:24

alured by the warmth of the sun, which

35:26

shone brightly on the white ground.

35:29

I determined to recommence my travels.

35:32

Depositing the remains of the peasant's

35:34

breakfast in a wallet I found, I

35:36

proceeded across the fields for several

35:39

hours, until at sunset

35:41

I arrived at a village. How

35:44

miraculous to disappear! The

35:46

huts, the neater cottages, and

35:49

stately houses engaged my

35:51

admiration by turns. The

35:53

vegetables in the gardens, the milk

35:56

and cheese that I saw placed at the windows of

35:58

some of the cottages.

35:59

I lured my appetite.

36:02

One of the best of these I entered, but

36:04

I had hardly placed my foot within

36:06

the door before the children shrieked

36:09

and one of the women fainted. The

36:12

whole village was roused.

36:13

Some fled.

36:16

Some attacked me. Until

36:18

grievously bruised by stones and

36:21

many other kinds of nissile weapons,

36:23

I escaped to the open country and

36:26

fearfully took refuge in a low hovel,

36:28

quite bare, and making a wretched

36:31

appearance after the palaces I had

36:33

beheld in the village. This

36:39

hovel, however, joined a cottage

36:41

of a neat and pleasant appearance,

36:43

but after my late, dearly

36:46

bought experience I dared not enter

36:48

it. My

36:51

place of refuge was constructed of wood,

36:54

but so though that I could with difficulty

36:57

sit upright in it. No

36:59

wood, however, was placed on the earth, which

37:02

formed a floor, but

37:04

it was dry, and although

37:06

the wind entered it by innumerable

37:08

chinks, I found it an agreeable

37:11

asylum from the snow and rain. Here

37:17

then I retreated and lay

37:19

down happy to have found a shelter,

37:20

however miserable,

37:22

from the inculcency of the season and

37:25

still more from the barbarity

37:27

of man. As

37:30

soon as morning dawned I crept from my

37:32

kennel that I might view the adjacent

37:34

cottage and discover if I could remain

37:36

in the habitation I had found. It

37:39

was situated against the back of the cottage

37:42

and surrounded on the sides which were

37:45

exposed by a pig's die and

37:47

a clear pool of water.

37:50

One part was open, and by that I had

37:52

crept in, but now I

37:55

covered every crevice by which I might

37:57

be perceived with stones and wood.

38:00

Yet, in such a manner that I might move them

38:02

on occasion to pass out. All

38:06

the light I enjoyed came through the stye,

38:08

and that was sufficient for me. Having

38:11

thus arranged my dwelling and

38:14

carpeted it with clean straw, I

38:16

retired. For

38:18

I saw the figure of a man at a distance, and

38:22

I remembered too well my treatment the night before

38:24

to trust myself in his power. I

38:27

had first, however, provided for

38:30

my sustenance for that day by

38:32

a loaf of coarse bread, which I

38:34

purloined, and a cup with which

38:36

I could drink more conveniently than from

38:38

my hand, of the pure water

38:41

which flowed by my retreat. The

38:45

floor was a little raised, so

38:47

that it was kept perfectly dry, and by

38:50

its vicinity to the chimney of the cottage, it

38:53

was tolerably warm. Being

38:56

thus provided, I resolved to

38:58

reside in this hovel until something

39:01

should occur which might alter my

39:03

determination. It

39:05

was indeed a paradise compared to

39:07

the bleak forest, my former residence,

39:10

the rain-dropping branches and dank

39:12

earth. I

39:15

ate my breakfast with pleasure. It

39:17

was about to remove a plank to procure myself

39:19

a little water when I heard a step,

39:23

and looking through a small chink, I

39:25

beheld a young creature with

39:28

a pale on her head, passing

39:30

before my hovel. The

39:33

girl was young and of gentle demeanor,

39:35

unlike what I have since

39:37

found cottagers and farmhouse servants

39:39

to be. Yet, she

39:42

was meanly dressed, a

39:44

coarse blue petticoat and a linen

39:46

jacket being her only garb. Her

39:50

fair hair was platted, but not

39:52

adorned. She looked

39:54

patient, yet sad. I

40:08

lost sight of her, and in about

40:10

a quarter of an hour she returned, bearing

40:13

the pale which was now partly

40:15

filled with milk. As

40:18

she walked along, seemingly

40:20

incommodated by the burden, a young

40:22

man met her, whose countenance

40:24

expressed a deeper despondence.

40:28

Scattering a few sounds with an air of melancholy,

40:31

he took the pale from her head and bore it

40:34

to the cottage himself. She

40:36

followed and they disappeared. Presently

40:40

I saw the young man again, with

40:43

some tools in his hand, crossed the fields

40:45

behind the cottage, and

40:47

the girl was also busied, sometimes

40:49

in the house and sometimes in the

40:51

yard. On examining

40:54

my dwelling, I found that one of the

40:56

windows of the cottage had formerly

40:59

occupied a part of it, but the panes

41:01

had been filled up with wood. In

41:04

one of these was a small, almost

41:06

imperceptible chink through which the eye

41:09

could just penetrate.

41:11

Through this crevice a small room was

41:13

visible, whitewashed and

41:16

clean, but very bare furniture. In

41:19

one corner, near a small fire, sat

41:22

an old man, leaning his head on his

41:24

hands, and a disconciled

41:26

attitude. The young

41:28

girl was occupied and arranging the cottage,

41:31

but presently she took something out of a drawer,

41:34

which employed her hands, and she sat

41:36

down beside the old man, who, taking

41:39

up an instrument, began to play, and

41:42

could produce sounds sweeter than the voice

41:44

of the Thrush or the Nightingale. It

41:47

was a lovely sight, even to me, poor

41:50

wretch who had never beheld

41:53

odd beautiful before. The

41:56

silver hair and benevolent countenance

41:59

of the aged The cottager won my

42:01

reverence, while

42:03

the gentle manners of the girl enticed my

42:05

love. He

42:08

played a sweet mournful air which

42:10

I perceived drew tears from the eyes

42:12

of his amiable companion, of

42:15

which the old man took no notice, until

42:18

she sobbed audibly. He

42:21

then produced a few sounds, and

42:23

the fair creature, leaving her work,

42:26

knelt at his feet. He

42:29

raised her and smiled with such kindness

42:32

and affection that I felt sensations

42:35

of a peculiar and overpowering

42:37

nature. They

42:39

were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such

42:41

as I had never before experienced, either

42:44

from hunger or cold, warmth or

42:46

food, and I withdrew from the

42:49

window unable to bear these emotions.

42:57

Then after this, the young man returned,

43:00

bearing on his shoulders a load of wood.

43:03

The girl met him at the door, helped

43:05

to relieve him of his burden, and

43:07

taking some of the fuel into the cottage, placed

43:10

it on the fire.

43:12

Then she and the youth went apart

43:14

into a nook of the cottage, and

43:16

he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese.

43:21

She soon pleased, and

43:23

went into the garden for some roots and plants,

43:26

which he placed in water, and then

43:28

upon the fire.

43:28

She

43:30

afterwards raised her and smiled

43:32

with such kindness and

43:34

affection that I felt sensations

43:37

of a peculiar and overpowering

43:39

nature. They

43:41

were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such

43:43

as I had never before experienced, either

43:46

from hunger or cold, warmth or

43:48

food, and I withdrew from the

43:51

window unable to bear these emotions.

44:00

the young man returned, bearing on

44:02

his shoulders a load of wood.

44:05

The girl met him at the door, helped

44:07

to relieve him of his burden, and

44:09

taking some of the fuel into the cottage, placed

44:12

it on the fire.

44:14

Then she and the youth went apart

44:16

into a nook of the cottage, and

44:18

he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese.

44:22

She soon pleased, and

44:25

went into the garden for some roots and plants,

44:27

which he placed in water, and then

44:30

upon the fire. She

44:32

afterwards continued her work, whilst

44:34

the young man went into the garden, and appeared

44:38

busily employed in digging and pulling

44:40

up roots. After

44:42

he had been employed thus about an

44:44

hour, the young woman joined him and they

44:46

entered the cottage together. The

44:49

old man had, in the meantime, been

44:52

pensive, but on the appearance of his

44:54

companions, he assumed a more

44:57

cheerful air, and they sent

44:59

them to eat. The

45:01

meal was quickly dispatched. The

45:04

young woman was again occupied in arranging

45:06

the cottage. The old

45:08

man walked before the cottage in the sun

45:11

for a few minutes, leaning on the arm of

45:13

the youth. Nothing

45:15

could exceed in beauty the contrast

45:18

between these two excellent creatures. One

45:21

was old, with silver hairs

45:23

and accountants beaming with benevolence and

45:26

love. The younger was slight and

45:28

graceful in his figure, and his features

45:30

were molded with a finest symmetry.

45:33

Yet his eyes and attitude expressed the utmost

45:36

sadness and despondency. The

45:39

old man returned to the cottage, and

45:41

the youth, with tools different from those

45:43

he had used in the morning, directed

45:45

his steps across the field. They

45:49

quickly shut in, but to my extreme

45:51

wonder, I found that the cottagers

45:53

had a means of prolonging light

45:55

by the use of tapers, and was

45:58

delighted to find that the setting of My

46:00

son did not put an end to the pleasure

46:02

I experienced in watching my

46:04

human neighbors. In

46:07

the evening the young girl and her companion

46:10

were employed in various occupations which

46:12

I did not understand, and

46:14

the old man again took up the instrument

46:17

which produced the divine sounds that

46:20

had me enchanted in the morning.

46:22

So soon

46:23

as he had finished the youth

46:25

began not to play but

46:28

to utter sounds that were monotonous in

46:30

neither resembling the harmony of the old man's

46:32

instrument nor the songs of

46:35

the birds. I

46:37

since found that he read aloud but

46:40

at that time I knew nothing of the scenes

46:42

of words or letters. The

46:45

family, after having been thus occupied

46:48

for a short time, extinguished their

46:50

lights and retired as

46:52

I conjectured to rest.

47:00

Until next time, you can join

47:02

the Strange and Unusual podcast

47:05

on Instagram at the Strange

47:07

and Unusual podcast and

47:09

on Facebook as well. And

47:13

remember, as Poe said, there

47:16

is no exquisite beauty without

47:18

some strangeness in the proportion.

47:22

So

47:23

stay strange.