Retagged in TEI P5
First performed at the Royal Coburg Theatre (under the management of Mr. Glossop) on Monday July 23 1826, a new and peculiar Melodrama, called Frankenstein Or The Man And The Monster.
The Music entirely New by Mr T. Hughes. The Scenery by Mr Danson. The Dresses by Mrs Saunders, Mrs Follett, etc. The Properties by Mr Eallett. The Machinery by Mr Burroughs.
And you think yourself a vastly great man, Mr. Strutt, I suppose.
Philosophers are not content with thinking, I know it. My master's a great man, and I'm like the moon to the sun, I shine with a reflected brightness.
Great man, indeed! I should like to know what there is great about either of you. A couple of adventurers, whom my poor silly dupe of a master (Heaven help him!) has brought from that beggarly place, Germany; and I suppose you'll never leave him whilst he has got a ducat.
Pooh! for his ducats! we want his ducats, indeed! when we could make gold out of any rubbish — your worthless head, for instance, Signor Quadro. My master is the most profound philosopher, and consequently the greatest man that ever lived; to tell you what he can do is impossible; but what he cannot do, it would be still more difficult to mention.
Yes, his way of making gold, I fancy, is by conveying it out of other people's pockets. He may make gold, but he'd much rather have it made to his hand, I've a notion.
Signor Quadro it is fortunate for you that my master does not hear you, and that
(considering the choice bottles of Catanian wine that you have from time to time
When I've got three quarts of good Rhenish in my skin I'll give him leave, if he can. Your master is a water-drinker, sir, he keeps no butler; I never knew any good of a man that drank water and kept no butler.
At all events, Master Quadro, that's an offence which you cannot lay to my charge; I have the most philosophical principles upon the subject; — I drink water, Signor Quadro, only when I can't get anything better.
And that's generally the case, I fancy, when you can't find some good-natured simpleton, like the Prince del Piombino, to keep you and your master together. Instead of board-wages, he billets you upon the kitchen of anybody that's fool enough to take you into it.
Be assured of this, Signor Quadro, I am not ungrateful; when any kind friend has the goodness to take me in, I do the best in my power to return the compliment.
The devil doubt you.
But for my master, Signor Quadro, don't think that all the wine in Sicily is any object to him; he could turn that river into wine if he thought proper, — I've seen him do it, sir, and convert a quart of simple water into a bottle of prime Burgundy.
Can he? can he do that? Then he has an easy way of making me his sworn friend for life. Only let him turn — I won't be unreasonable; I won't say a word about the river — only let him turn the pump in our stableyard into a fountain of claret, and I'll never help myself to another bottle of my master's so long as I'm a butler.
And pray, Mr. Strutt, has all this philosophy and learning quite driven the thoughts of love out of your head? I suppose you fancy yourself now quite above us poor weak women?
Not at all, my dear creature; for the man who has the impudence to fancy himself above the fairest half of human nature has sunk immeasurably below it.
Egad! philosophy has not made quite a fool of the fellow. But pray now, my good Mr. Strutt, amongst all this transmuting of metal, and converting of water, can you inform us what it is that this wonderful master of yours is doing in that pavilion, where he remains shut up, day and night, and into which no mortal but himself is ever permitted to penetrate?
Yes, I should, very much indeed.
Oh, yes, I'd give the world to know, I should so like to find out the secret.
And so should I.
What then, you can't tell us?
Or perhaps you won't.
Why you see — I'm not exactly certain — but I partly guess —
Pshaw!
A nasty, ill-natured fellow — see how I'll serve you the next time you try to kiss me.
But hark! his highness approaches, with his sister, the lady Rosaura. Back! back! all of you show him proper respect.
Enough, enough, my friends, hasten to the villa, and busy yourselves in preparations for the festival I wish to give in honour of the illustrious genius who honours my house with his presence.
A festival, too! for a man who drinks no wine. Well, there's one consolation; there'll be more for those who do — and I'll do my best to make up for his deficiencies, he may depend on't.
If there's dancing, may I claim the honour?
Will you try to find out your master's secret for me?
It is positively against his orders to pry into his concerns; and do you know, there is but one person in the world whose commands could induce me to disobey those of my master
And who may that be, pray?
My mistress, you jade.
I feel most deeply that rank and opulence can never do themselves greater honour than by protecting genius. The prince who, rewards, assists, and forwards it, not only reaps the fruit of his sublime discoveries, but becomes the sharer of his immortality.
Oh! may virtues and talents such as Frankenstein's
I rejoice that my dear Rosaura's admiration of this illustrious foreigner almost equals the enthusiasm of her brother's. Has her penetration ever hinted to her that last, that best, inestimable reward with which I meditate to crown my favours towards this Frankenstein?
Ah, my brother!
That blush, that downcast look, assure me that should my admiration of his merit induce me to confer on him a gift so precious as my sister's hand, I should not in her heart find an opposer of my generosity. I will not tax your delicacy for a frank avowal, but in your silence read your acquiescence. This night, amidst the joyous mirth that fills our halls, will I hint to our philosopher, the dearer pleasure that I have in store for him.
My dear, dear brother! A heart like yours will ever find the secret of making all around it happy.
It comes — it comes! 'tis nigh — the moment that shall crown my patient labours, that shall gild my toilsome studies with the brightest joy that e'er was yet attained by mortal man. What monarch's power, what general's valour, or what hero's fame, will rank with that of Frankenstein? What can their choicest efforts accomplish, but to destroy? 'Tis mine, mine only, to create, to breathe the breath of life into a mass of putrifying mortality; 'tis mine to call into existence a form conceived in my own notions of perfection! How vain, how worthless is the noblest fame compared to mine? Frankenstein shall be the first of men! And this triumph is at hand; but a few moments and it is accomplished! Burst not, high swelling heart, with his o'erwhelming tide of joy!
Ah, my dear sir, I have not seen you before, today; I am so glad to meet with you.
'Tis well, boy. Good even to you.
Why that is better; 'tis as it should be. Doubt not, I will be with ye. Let the full bowl high sparkle, let the joyous note swell loud; I will be there, exulting in my triumph.
Aye, but moreover than all that I could — but I don't think I shall, because it was told to me as a very great secret — I could tell you of something that would make you so happy.
I shall, I must be happy; the secret is my own. Leave me, boy; leave me.
Nay, now you do not love your poor Julio; I'm sure I know not how I have offended you; but you never spoke to me thus harshly before.
Nay, my pretty pupil, my affectionate Julio, I must love thee ever. I am disturbed by intense study, and for a few moments I would be alone.
If you are sure you love me, I will leave you; but if I had offended you, I would not leave you till you had forgiven me, I would not, indeed; we shall see you anon. I shall know where to find you, by my pretty aunt Rosaura's side. Oh, if you did but know what I could tell you!
The time is come, the glorious moment is arrived. Now, Frankenstein achieve the mighty work, gain that best of victories — a victory over the grave!
Well, now, do you know, Lisetta, I'm going to do a great deal more for you than I dare to do for myself. I'm dying to know what my master is about yonder, but if he should catch me peeping, what a jolly thump of the head I shall get to be sure; and then, Lisetta, you have it in your power to break my heart, and that's a great deal worse.
Well, now, without any more ado, you put the ladder against the window, and hold it fast, whilst I mount up and see what he is about.
Fie, for shame, Lisetta, what are you thinking about? I'll get up the ladder, and I'll report all that I see to you below.
Well, just as you please, only I'd rather peep myself,
Why, I can see a little fire, and a great deal of smoke.
And I suppose all your boasted discoveries will end in smoke.
Oh! now I can see better; and would you believe it, Lisetta, from all I can see, I really do think, at least it seems so to me, that my master is making a man.
Making a man! What is not he alone?
Yes, quite alone.
Nay, then the devil take the hindmost, I say!
Now that the final operation is accomplished, my panting heart dares scarcely gaze upon
the object of its labours, dares scarcely contemplate the grand fulfilment of its wishes.
Courage, Frankenstein! glut thy big soul with exultation! enjoy a triumph never yet attained
by mortal man!
Have all my dreams of greatness ended here? Is this the boasted wonder of my science, is
this the offspring of long years of toilsome study and noisome labour? Is my fairest model of
perfection come to this — a hideous monster, a loathsome mass of animated putrefaction, whom
but to gaze on chills with horror, even me, his maker? How, how shall I secrete him, how
destroy — ? Heaven! to think that in the very moment of fruition, when all my toils were
ended and I should glory in their noble consummation, my first, my dearest, only wish, is to
annihilate what I have made! Horrible object, wretched produce of my ill-directed efforts!
never must thou meet another eye than mine, never must thou gaze upon a human being, whom thy
fell aspect sure would kill with terror!
The thunder's awful voice, and the fierce tumult of the wildly-raging storm have drowned thy plaintive wailings, my poor babe, and thou art hushed to silence. Sleep on, my darling, let thy mother's throbbing bosom shelter thee. We shall find him soon; yes, I am sure we shall. And when he sees thy ruddy smiling cheek, and marks his Emmeline's wan and haggard features, his heart will turn to us, he will again be all our own.
I don't believe a word of it. Talk of his heart, indeed, he has no heart; if ever he had any, it has evaporated in the fumes of his diabolical preparations. He love and protect you! all his affections are in the bottom of a crucible; and in the wild chimeras of his science, and the dreams of his mad ambition, all his human feelings are lost and annihilated.
Oh, no, my father: the enthusiasm of knowledge, the applauses of the powerful, may, for a time, have weaned him from us, but my own kind, gentle Frankenstein, can never be inhuman.
Can't he? Well, I don't know what you may call it, but to deceive and trepan a young, innocent, confiding creature, as you were, and to leave you and your child to poverty and want, whilst he went rambling in the train of a prince, after his own devilish devices; if that is not inhuman, I don't know what is.
Ah, my father, I have heard that the Prince del Piombino has an estate in this beautiful island; that he has attached to his household a wonderful philosopher — I am confident 'tis he, and oh! my heart tells me that he will shortly bless us with his returning love.
Yes, and with this fine tale, and because I could not bear to see you pining away in
hopeless sorrow, have you lured me to quit my quiet, peaceful abode in Germany, and come
wandering over here to Sicily. And to-day you must march out on a pretty wild-goose chase, to
endeavour
Oh, say not so, my father; do not destroy my hope, for in that consists the little strength that now remains to me.
And a pretty night this for a young, delicate creature like you, with your helpless infant, to be out in. Curses, a thousand curses on the villain!
Oh, no, my father, no! Do not curse him. Curse not the husband of your Emmeline, the father of her child!
Well, well, I won't — the good-for-nothing vagabond! I daren't stir a step in this plaguy forest, for the storm keeps such a beautiful hubbub about us, for fear of straying further out of the way; and I am sure you have no strength to waste. But here, I have it. You stay here, exactly where I leave you; give me the child, for you must be tired of carrying it, and I'll endeavour to find the path. When I have traced it, I'll return for you. There, stay here, just under this tree, it will afford a partial shelter. I warrant me, that with the assistance of the lightning, which keeps flashing so merrily, I shall soon discover the path. I think I've got an inkling of it now.
My spirits fail me, and my strength is exhausted. Whilst I bore the child, Nature gave me
powers, and I could not sink beneath the grateful burthen.
Come, Emmeline, I think I have found it at last, and we shall be snug at home before the
thunder can give
I can't conceive what has happened to Mr. Frankenstein; when I spoke to him this evening
he was so cross, and so abstracted, and so mysterious; and now my father, the Prince, has
given a grand festival expressly to do him honour, and he is nowhere to be found. I wish I
could meet with him. I think he loves me, and I would coax him out of his gloomy humour, and
lead him smiling and good-natured to my aunt Rosaura, or I'd know the reason why; I am
determined.
I know not why it is, that he, in whose honour this entertainment was expressly given, should so long absent himself. Surely, for one night he might have relaxed from his deep studies.
I think he scarce will tarry longer, for I have sent Julio in search of him. Ah! he is here.
At length you are arrived. Be assured, my friend, your absence has been both felt and regretted.
Accept my sincere apology. I was engaged, most intently engaged, in the solution of a problem, on the result of which I had much at stake.
A truce to study now, and moody thoughts — partake the joy that smiles around you: — anon, I have a proposal to make to you, that will not damp your mirth, I trust.
Aye, let me seek joy even at the bottom of the maddening bowl; I cannot find it in my own heart. Give me wine; — quick, let me drain a flowing goblet, perchance it may chace — oh! no, no, it can never drive from my remembrance that form of horror.
From my hand will the cup bring less of joy? — Dear Frankenstein — I would say, learned sir, what means the dreadful wildness that gleams on your countenance?
Dear lady, 'tis the intoxication of mirth, of gratitude. Fair lady, permit the humblest of your slaves to pledge you.
Eternal Heaven! — that fiend has perpetrated it.
Julio murdered.
My boy! my pretty, innocent, affectionate boy — say where, how, by whom?
He was found in the pavilion where Mr. Frankenstein pursues his studies, the door had been thrown from its hinges: from the mark on his neck, he appears to have been strangled.
Then my worst fears have proved too true!
Who could have the heart to harm that unoffending, darling child.
Can your highness doubt?
Speak, what mean you? On whom do your suspicions fall?
Who should it be, but this foreign adventurer, this Frankenstein?
Frankenstein!
Oh, Heavens!
Has any one else access to the pavilion, or ever presumes to enter it, or would have done now, except in eager search for the young prince?
I scarcely can believe it possible; but yet his lengthened absence from the festival at the very hour, his palpable agitation when he entered. Frankenstein, what say you to this dreadful accusation?
(R.) I say that I am guilty, guilty a thousand times!
Ha!
Not of the crime of murder. I could not lay a finger in the way of violence on that innocent child. Mine is a guilt a thousand times more black, more horrible. I am the father of a thousand murders. Oh! presumption, and is this thy punishment? has my promised triumph brought me but to this?
Frankenstein, for mercy's sake explain. What horrid mystery lurks beneath thy words?
Hated, detested fiend, now reeking with the blood of innocence — fiend of malice and
destruction — here
Well, my master has done a nice job for himself, it should seem, with all his machinery
and magic; the making of a man has unmade him for life, and I seem destined to share all his
advantages. Because his hopeful bantling chose to amuse itself with strangling a child, much
in the same way, I suppose, that our ordinary brats do kittens, out of pure kindness; they
have seized hold of me and popped me into this underground apartment to keep me out of
mischief; as if they thought I shared my master's propensities, and had a
Oh, yes! the best of all possible comfort, the news of a speedy termination to all your
miseries; you
Don't mention it. I assure you such allusions are altogether unpleasant to my feelings; for though you may consider my master a bit of a mountebank, I assure you that I have never been accustomed to dance on a tight rope: and as to hanging.
Oh, for shame, sir.
Oh! you did, did you? I can tell you that there is a very narrow bed in preparation for you, where you will find it most convenient to lie alone, and where you will be tucked up with the sexton's shovel.
I am surprised at your mentioning such indelicacies before a young lady.
In the confusion occasioned by the appearance of his delectable companion, your pretty master effected his escape; but I took care to grapple you. I considered the nabbing of such a fellow as you to be in my department, and so I popped you into this cellar.
It would have been much more handsome of you to pop me in the cellar where you keep the wine.
And you will be hanged, for having aided, abetted, and assisted your master in the formation of a monster, and as an accessory in the young Prince's murder.
Signor Quadro, you shock me. Me accused of assisting to make a man? Let me tell you I was never before suspected of such an offence; not even by the beadle of our parish, and he was a sharp chap at nosing out such matters, I warrant ye.
But now, sir, you are in my clutches, you won't get off so easy, you may depend on it.
Oh, Mr. Frankenstein, Mr. Frankenstein, this is a pretty mess you have got me into, to stand god-father to your monster.
Now, my dear father, how can you be so harsh to this poor young man? I don't really believe he had any hand in the making of anything half so ugly.
Did not I say it from the beginning; did not I always insist that they were a brace of vagabonds, and that no good would come of harbouring them?
But now my own good, kind, dear father, seeing that what is done cannot be undone, and
that hanging this
Let him go, indeed, what for?
Why just to oblige me, father; for really he is a tolerably well-behaved young man enough, and not so much amiss to look at.
Oh, you think so? And then, I suppose, the next thing is that you must go with him, eh, you minx? Go and see him hanged if you like.
Now my dear, good, kind father, you don't know, though you are rather old, how well you look when you are doing a good-natured action.
(C.) You coaxing Jezebel. But don't think to wheedle me out of my duty.
(R. C.) Now look in my face.
No, I won't.
You are sure you won't?
No, I'll be hanged in his place, if I do.
Then I'd advise him to do as I shall, to be off without asking your leave, and let you enjoy the comforts of this place by yourself.
Why, you jade, you vixen, you undutiful hussy, what do you mean?
Only to let you stay there, father, till the young man is out of your reach; for I could not bear that you should have his death upon your conscience, father; I could not, indeed.
Go, both of you, and people the world with monsters, if you will; you can produce none worse than an unnatural daughter.
Good bye, old gentleman.
Where am I? Let me a moment pause, collect
A stranger here? Ah! can I believe my senses — am I indeed so blest, does he come to seek his Emmeline? My lord, my life, my Frankenstein!
What do I behold? Emmeline Ritzberg! Lost, guilty, cursed wretch, thy cup of crime and misery is full. Hell yawns for thee; and all thy victims now surround thee, calling down Heaven's vengeance on thy head.
And is it thus? Is Emmeline's presence, then, a curse? Farewell, then, hope. But we'll not persecute thee, Frankenstein, for with my child I'll wander where thou shalt never more be punished with remembrance of us, and where death will soon end our sorrow.
Emmeline, Emmeline; tear not my heart with words like those. What to a guilty wretch can be a greater curse than the presence of those he has injured? Now at thy feet behold me, Emmeline, in humble agony of heart, I plead for thy forgiveness. Oh, that I ne'er had quitted thy peaceful, blest abode — ne'er let into my bosom those demons of ambition and fell pride that now, with ceaseless gnawing, prey upon my soul.
Not at my feet, but in my arms, dear Frankenstein, lose all the memory of sorrows past. Oh, if thy heart still owns thy Emmeline, all shall be well, be happy. One fond embrace of thine repays an age of sorrow; in thy smiles and those of this sweet cherub, I shall again awake to joy.
Oh, Emmeline, since we parted, all has been crime; crime of so black a dye, that even to thy gentle forgiving spirit, I dare not confess it. Crime, whose punishment will be unceasing, will be eternal.
Oh, no, my Frankenstein; guilt, to be absolved
I dare not hope it. But in this land I cannot hope a moment's ease. Quick, let us fly — far, far from this accursed spot, the bane of all my peace. There, to that calm retreat, where first thy angel charms awoke my soul to love, there let us quick repair. Oh, that in former and in happier scenes I could forget the guilt, the misery that I have since been slave to.
Ha; Frankenstein here; but 'tis no time to parley; the cottage is on fire? That fierce gigantic figure of terrific aspect, waves aloft his torch, as if in triumph at the deed.
Ha, 'tis that hideous voice. His hellish malice still pursues me; and but with his death or with mine, will this fierce persecution cease. Could I but place you beyond his power — !
Well, Lisetta, and now having, by your assistance, escaped from the clutches of that cantankerous old father of yours. What is next to be done?
Why as I have got out of his clutches at the same time, and so lost my natural protector, what do you think you ought to do next?
Why, I suppose you think I ought to marry you?
Whilst you, perhaps, are of a very different opinion.
Not in the least, my angel; but then my poor master, he perhaps is in trouble, and
requires my assistance; and to desert him in the hour of need — I could not
And if you could I should despise you for it. But suppose, Mr. Strutt, we were both to go and assist him. Two heads, they say, are better than one, and so are two pair of hands, and instead of having one faithful follower he would have a couple, that's all.
What! no, you don't mean it, do you? Will you really take me for better for worse, and go with me in search of my poor dear master? Well, I always thought you were a good creature, but now you're a perfect divinity, and I'll adore you.
Who knows, perhaps Mr. Frankenstein may get married too, and then he'll have better employment than making monsters.
Oh, that monster! don't mention him, Lisetta. If he should be with my master now, do you think you would have the courage to face him? I'm not quite sure that I should.
Oh, never doubt me; if I take him in hand, I'll bring him to his senses, I warrant me, for if a spirited woman can't tame him, he must be a very fierce ungovernable devil indeed.
Ah, what means that shriek? See, yonder, where the demon comes, he bears with him both a
woman and a child.
What ho, sir master! Mr. Frankenstein! 'Tis Strutt, your faithful servant! He hears me not, but madly still pursues the fiend he cannot hope to master.
And will you, too, Strutt, be mad enough to follow him?
Why, not singly, because I think it would be to little purpose; but I'll tell you what
I'll do: I'll first bestow you in a place of safety, and then I'll summon together a few
stout-hearted fellows, and we'll see if we
Demon of cruelty, art thou still insatiate with the blood of innocence? how many victims does it require to content thy rage? I do implore thee; I, thy creator, who gave thee life, who endued thee with that matchless strength I cannot hope to master, I, on my knees, entreat thee but to spare that innocent. If fury and the thirst of blood be in thy hellish nature, on me, on me glut thy fell appetite, but oh, if in thy human frame there dwells one spark of human sympathy or feeling, spare, spare that unoffending child!
There he is! that's him! that's my gentleman! and luckily for us, he seems in a bit a of snooze — now's our time or never. On him, my lads, and bind him fast, and then we shall be all right.
Faithful creature! Eternal Providence, receive my thanks; and if it be thy pleasure to inflict on me an added punishment, oh! on this guilty head alone direct thy wrath; spare those who are most dear to me, those whose innocence may challenge thy compassion!
Now I think the best thing we can do is to fasten my gentleman to this pinnacle of rock;
the cool air of this exalted region may give him an appetite; but he will stand very little
chance of getting it gratified, unless the lava should flow from the volcano, and that may be
a kind of cordial for him.
Faith, my lads, it's cold work this, climbing so near the summit of Ætna, in a chill evening breeze — yes, and fatiguing work, too — catching such game as we've been after is no boy's play. Lord, what a chap my master must be, to be sure; when he was making a man — he thought he might as well have a wopper at once, I suppose. Now I say, a little and good for my money. But, however, we have quieted my gentleman, and I think we have done a much better job than my master did in making him. And now I can tell you a secret. This passage leads to the hermitage of father Antonio; that you all know, so that's no secret; but what you perhaps do not know is, that old Quadro, the prince's butler, whenever he visits the holy father to confess, always brings a bottle or two of prime old wine, which is received by the hermit in lieu of penance; and so he makes his master pay for all his sins, and purchases absolution for one by committing another. Now my proposal is, that we adjourn to his cave and drink to the future prosperity of the heroes who subdued the Monster.
Well, upon my soul, it's a monstrous pleasant retreat. And now for the little store of choice Falernian.
Here it is, Master Strutt; here's his reverence's holy water.
Out with it, then, and in with it. If his reverence should miss it when he comes home, he
knows where to get more. Old Quadro's sins will always keep his cellar well stocked. So now
my lads, charge your cups.
And now I'll give you another. Here's our noble selves, and may all our future enterprizes be crowned with as complete success as that which we have now so gloriously achieved.
Scene. — The Estate of the Prince del Piombino, near the foot of Mount Etna.
Time. — From Sunset on one day, till Midnight the next.