Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
كارثة
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthe
نجاح
successofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
الثلج
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
مثال
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
الخطر
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
الجيل
generation,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacific
المحيط
Oceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
مكتبة
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
جنة
paradiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
المعبد
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
ثروة
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintotheقناة
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryof
الطب
medicine,andthosebranchesofالفيزيائية
physicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivetheأكبر
greatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferred
المجد
glorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
الفترة
periodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
الثلج
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
استئجار
hireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheالتأمين
insurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryبين
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
يونيو
June;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecondstepistaken
نحو
towardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
يبدو
appeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlessشجاعة
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
النجاح
success,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
رومانسية
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandamin
الواقع
realitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
المحيط
ocean,norevenhereinArchangel,بين
amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
الشجاعة
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
المجد
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstof
الوطنية
nationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingableto
تأمين
securehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
رومانسية
romanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
ثروة
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
الحفل
ceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttothe
الاتحاد
union.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
مزرعة
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchase
الأسهم
stock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathis
السابقة
formermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
صامت
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
الطقس
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.The
الشتاء
winterhasbeendreadfullysevere,buttheالربيع
springpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
سلامة
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
إنتاج
productionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthe
الشائعة
commonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
النجاح
success,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
فرصة
opportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
الرغم
althoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilyنحو
towardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheaدرجة
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
الخطر
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
النجاح
successshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
يبارك
blessmybelovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
أغسطس
August5th,17—.SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
الرغم
althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthe
مسافة
distanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadthe
شكل
shapeofaman,butيبدو
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapid
التقدم
progressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostبين
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,in
الواقع
reality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
يبدو
apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
الغريب
strangeraddressedmeinEnglish,الرغم
althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
نحو
towardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappeared
راضيا
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;