Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrived
ovdje
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
već
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,i
andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,što
whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstand
ovaj
thisfeeling?Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowards
koji
whichIamadvancing,givesmeje
aforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemorefervent
i
andvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrost
i
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
i
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
samo
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—for
uz
withyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowi
andfrostarebanished;and,sailing
preko
overacalmsea,wemožda
maybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersi
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
i
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.What
može
maynotbeexpectedinazemlji
countryofeternallight?Imay
tamo
therediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedlei
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequiresamo
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywith
na
thesightofapartofna
theworldneverbeforevisited,i
andmaytreadalandneverprije
beforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
i
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerili
ordeathandtoinducemetocommenceovo
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyadijete
childfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Ali
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonsve
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringje
apassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;ili
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,što
which,ifatallpossible,može
canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.Thesereflections
su
havedispelledtheagitationwithkoje
whichIbeganmyletter,i
andIfeelmyheartglows
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,forništa
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisetheuma
mindasasteadypurpose—atočka
pointonwhichthesoulmože
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Ova
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritesan
dreamofmyearlyyears.I
su
havereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageskoja
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceankroz
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.You
možda
mayrememberthatahistoryofsvih
allthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUjaka
UncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
ali
yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.Ove
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritys
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asje
achild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinje
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
kad
whenIperused,fortheprvi
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouli
andliftedittoheaven.I
također
alsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;Iimagined
da
thatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplegdje
wherethenamesofHomeri
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
dobro
wellacquaintedwithmyfailurei
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.Ali
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,a
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Šest
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,
čak
evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftoovom
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
tijelo
bodytohardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,
i
andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthe
dana
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andonih
thosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
i
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfelt
je
alittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmena
theseconddignityinthevesseli
andentreatedmetoremains
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.A
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?My
život
lifemighthavebeenpassedineasei
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytosvake
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,
da
thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
i
andmyresolutionisfirm;ali
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedona
dugo
longanddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichće
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
samo
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butponekad
sometimestosustainmyown,kada
whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquickly
preko
overthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,
i
and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Na
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ako
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhaveveć
alreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferenceizmeđu
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,kada
whennoexercisepreventsthekrv
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemy
život
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghi
andArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
grad
towninafortnightortri
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohireaship
tamo
there,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingna
theinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongonima
thosewhoareaccustomedtona
thewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
a
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
draga
dearsister,howcanIanswerovo
thisquestion?IfIsucceed,
mnogo
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,će
willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.Ako
IfIfail,youwillvidjeti
seemeagainsoon,ornever.Farewell,my
draga
dear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
i
andsaveme,thatImayopet
againandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourljubav
loveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Kako
Howslowlythetimepassesovdje
here,encompassedasIambyfrosti
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavessel
i
andamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;oni
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomImogu
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButI
imam
haveonewantwhichIimam
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,a
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIsada
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Iimam
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,there
će
willbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ako
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
istina
true;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesire
na
thecompanyofamankoji
whocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomoje
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
draga
dearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentle
ali
yetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousum
mind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveili
oramendmyplans.Howwould
takav
suchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrata
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
i
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Ali
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommon
i
andreadnothingbutourUjaka
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
ali
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmymoći
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchje
aconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquainteds
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativezemlji
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
i
andaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
istina
truethatIhavethoughtviše
moreandthatmydaydreamsareviše
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyžele
want(asthepainterscallit)keeping;i
andIgreatlyneedaprijatelj
friendwhowouldhavesensedovoljno
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,i
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemyum
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
naći
findnofriendonthewideocean,norčak
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsi
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beat
čak
evenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isa
čovjek
manofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
ili
orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,
i
andinthemidstofnationali
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsneke
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
prvi
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedin
ovom
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Na
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositioni
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessi
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Ova
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityi
anddauntlesscourage,mademevrlo
verydesiroustoengagehim.Je
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mynajbolje
bestyearsspentunderyourgentlei
andfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,and
kad
whenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofsrca
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingmogao
abletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhim
prvi
firstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimna
thehappinessofherlife.Ovo
This,briefly,ishisstory.Someyears
prije
agohelovedayoungRussiandamu
ladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedje
aconsiderablesuminprize-money,na
thefatherofthegirlconsentedtona
thematch.Hesawhismistress
jednom
oncebeforethedestinedceremony;ali
butshewasbathedintears,i
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtosparenjen
her,confessingatthesamevrijeme
timethatshelovedanother,ali
butthathewaspoor,i
andthatherfatherwouldnikada
neverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
prijatelj
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehad
već
alreadyboughtafarmwithhisnovcem
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;ali
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,zajedno
togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,a
andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’soca
fathertoconsenttohermarriages
withherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,
kad
whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneddok
untilheheardthathisformermistresswasudala
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
ali
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
i
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,dok
whileitrendershisconductthejoš
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinteresti
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Ipak
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainamalo
littleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImožda
mayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
a
andmyvoyageisonlysada
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,
ali
butthespringpromiseswell,i
anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,soda
thatperhapsImaysailsoonernego
thanIexpected.Ishall
učiniti
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
i
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,
napola
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,s
withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmist
i
andsnow,”butIshallubiti
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
ili
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworni
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,
ali
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
Thereis
nešto
somethingatworkinmysoulšto
whichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecute
s
withperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthispostoji
thereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinsvim
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,čak
eventothewildseai
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Ali
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallImeetyou
opet
again,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,i
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaili
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
takav
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresentto
pisati
writetomebyeveryopportunity:I
možda
mayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionskada
whenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.I
volim
loveyouverytenderly.Rememberme
s
withaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
draga
dearSister,.Iwritea
nekoliko
fewlinesinhastetokažem
saythatIamsafe—anddobro
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Ovo
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunate
od
thanI,whomaynotvidjeti
seemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
i
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassnas
us,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismayih
them.Wehavealreadyreacheda
vrlo
veryhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
i
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Nijedan
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenuskoji
thatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.Jedan
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentskoje
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentako
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
draga
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,
i
andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarI
su
havegone,tracingasecureput
wayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Zašto
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedali
yetobedientelement?Whatcan
zaustaviti
stopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
srce
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Ali
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitis
vrlo
veryprobablethatyouwillvidjeti
seemebeforethesepapersmogu
cancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshipon
svih
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
je
averythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsome
promjena
changewouldtakeplaceintheatmospherei
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,
i
andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vasti
andirregularplainsofice,koje
whichseemedtohavenokraja
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmy
vlastiti
ownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,kada
whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourvlastiti
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedon
je
asledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofpola
halfamile;abeing
koje
whichhadtheshapeofje
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinna
thesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopes
dok
untilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Ovaj
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,
mnogo
manyhundredmilesfromanyland;ali
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,
koji
whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.About
dva
twohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andprije
beforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthe
jutra
morning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseskoje
whichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
ovo
thistimetorestforanekoliko
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeck
i
andfoundallthesailorsbusyononestrani
sideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtonekim
someoneinthesea.Itwas,in
stvari
fact,asledge,likethatwehadseenprije
before,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenoći
nightonalargefragmentofice.Samo
Onlyonedogremainedalive;ali
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,
je
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butje
aEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,
i
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,although
s
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearing
takvo
suchaquestionaddressedtomefromje
amanonthebrinkofdestructioni
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenje
aresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththezemlji
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
da
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfied
i
andconsentedtocomeonboard.Good
Bože
God!Margaret,ifyouhadseentheman
koji
whothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhis
tijelo
bodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
ali
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshzrak
airhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbackto
na
thedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyi
andforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblankets
i
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
i
andatealittlesoup,koja
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismanner
prije
beforehewasabletogovoriti
speak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Kad
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabini
andattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyes
imaju
havegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,i
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentskada
when,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimili
ordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolencei
andsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Ali
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andponekad
sometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppressesga
him.Whenmyguestwasa
malo
littlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,koji
whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;