It was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.
How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful!--Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.
His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed down stairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.
Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance.
C'était au cours d'une maussade nuit de novembre, que j'ai vu le fruit de mon travail. Avec une angoisse qui a presque conduit à l'agonie, j'ai rassemblé les instruments de la vie autour de moi, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. C'était déjà le matin; la pluie crépitait lugubrement aux fenêtres, et ma bougie était presque finie, quand, par la lueur de ma oougie à moitié éteinte, j'ai vu le morne oeil jaune de la créature s'ouvrir; il respirait fortement, et un mouvement compulsif agitait ses membres.
Comment pouvais-je décrir mes émitions concernant cette catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? Ses membres étaient proportionnels, et j'ai sélectionné ses traits de caractères pour le rendre beau. Beau, mon dieu ! Sa peau jaunâtre couvrait à peine ses muscules et ses artères en dessous; ses cheveux lisses étaient d'un noir étincelant; ses dents d'une blancheur éclatante, mais ces luxures formaient un horrible contrast avec ses yeux coulants, qui avaient sensiblement les même couleur que the dun white sockets in which they were set, son teint monstrueux, et ses raides lèvres noires.
Ses crocs s'ouvraient, et il marmomma un son inarticulé, pendant qu'un sourire plissa ses joues. Il a sûrement parlé, mais je n'ai rien entendu; une main était étendue, apparemment pour me retenir, mais je me suis évadé, and rushed down stairs. J'ai pris refuge dans la court, appartenant à la maison que j'habitais, où je suis resté durant le reste de la nuit, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, écoutant attentivement, attrapant et flippant à l'écoute de chaque son, comme si c'était l'annonce de l'approche du corps démoniaque que j'ai misérablement donné vie.
Ce serait gentil de compléter et corriger ma traduction. merci !
