The Modern Prometheus modern design twist on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Page 15

R. Walton

even here in Archangel, among merchants and seamen. Yet some
feelings, unallied to the dross of human nature, beat even in these
rugged bosoms. My lieutenant, for instance, is a man of wonderful
courage and enterprise; he is madly desirous of glory, or rather, to
word my phrase more characteristically, of advancement in his
profession. He is an Englishman, and in the midst of national and
professional prejudices, unsoftened by cultivation, retains some
of the noblest endowments of humanity. I first became acquainted
with him on board a whale vessel; finding that he was unemployed
in this city, I easily engaged him to assist in my enterprise. The
master is a person of an excellent disposition and is remarkable in
the ship for his gentleness and the mildness of his discipline. This
circumstance, added to his well-known integrity and dauntless
courage, made me very desirous to engage him. A youth passed
in solitude, my best years spent under your gentle and feminine
fosterage, has so refined the groundwork of my character that I
cannot overcome an intense distaste to the usual brutality exercised
on board ship: I have never believed it to be necessary, and when
I heard of a mariner equally noted for his kindliness of heart and
the respect and obedience paid to him by his crew, I felt myself
peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure his services. I heard
of him first in rather a romantic manner, from a lady who owes
to him the happiness of her life. This, briefly, is his story. Some
years ago he loved a young Russian lady of moderate fortune, and
having amassed a considerable sum in prize-money, the father of
the girl consented to the match. He saw his mistress once before
the destined ceremony; but she was bathed in tears, and throwing
herself at his feet, entreated him to spare her, confessing at the
same time that she loved another, but that he was poor, and that
her father would never consent to the union. My generous friend
reassured the suppliant, and on being informed of the name
of her lover, instantly abandoned his pursuit. He had already
bought a farm with his money, on which he had designed to pass
the remainder of his life; but he bestowed the whole on his rival,