Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
تفرح
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
أؤكد
assuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthose
الجليدية
icyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
دون جدوى
vaintobepersuadedthattheالقطب
poleistheseatofالصقيع
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforever
مرئية
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingtheالأفق
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
منطقة
regionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableالكرة الأرضية
globe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaofthe
السماوية
heavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsthe
الإبرة
needleandmayregulateathousandالسماوية
celestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisالرحلة
voyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesمتسقة
consistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyare
كافية
sufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetoيبدأ
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringa
ممر
passagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthe
المغناطيس
magnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasa
ثابت
steadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsالفكرية
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthe
المختلفة
variousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthالمحيط الهادئ
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichتحيط
surroundthepole.Youmayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesof
الاكتشاف
discoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
خيبة
disappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
طواعية
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatest
عملية
practicaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthe
السفينة
vesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,soقيمة
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedin
سهولة
easeandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatالثروة
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
رحلة
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionis
ممتعة
pleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihaveno
طموح
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelattertownina
أسبوعين
fortnightorthreeweeks;andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonot
أعتزم
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagain
الشهادة
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
سفينة
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamost
شديد
severeevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenoneto
يشارك
participatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentin
التنفيذ
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourto
تنظيم
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beateveninthese
الوعرة
ruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhis
مهنته
profession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboarda
الحيتان
whalevessel;findingthathewas
عاطل عن العمل
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
This
الظرف
circumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedin
العزلة
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyof
معتدلة
moderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhis
عشيقته
mistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
الفور
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
بقية
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfatherto
الموافقة
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
عشيقته
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whata
نبيل
noblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindof
الجاهل
ignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershall
يسمح
permitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
ملحوظ
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowme
فيه الكفاية
sufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannot
أصف
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearاحتمال
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetrembling
الإحساس
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
الضباب
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,a
عامل
workmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
الهائلة
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthe
عكس
reverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
يوليو
July7th,17—.MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
more
حظا
fortunatethanI,whomaynotseemyالأصلية
nativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersofthe
المنطقة
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhigh
العرض
latitude;butitisthe
ذروة
heightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingالدفء
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
تسرب
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstill
المضي قدما
proceedovertheuntamedyetمطيع
obedientelement?Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
المحتمل
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
الغلاف الجوي
atmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthe
الضباب
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,واسعة
vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalow
عربة
carriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
القامة
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedthe
السريع
rapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongtheالبعيدة
distantinequalitiesoftheice.This
المظهر
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthis
الظهور
apparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhich
تطفو
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthe
السفينة
vessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthe
السفينة
vessel.Hewasnot,astheother
المسافر
travellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedon
سطح
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethe
اللطف
kindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthe
حافة
brinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousثروة
wealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereona
رحلة
voyageofdiscoverytowardstheالشمالي
northernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
التعب
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninso
البائسة
wretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
المقصورة
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimto
ابتلاع
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthe
مدخنة
chimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthis
الطريقة
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywould
تسمح
permit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyan
تعبير
expressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofاللطف
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withaشعاع
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;