Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthat
žádná
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
sem
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfarea
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
už
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,a
andasIwalkinna
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,který
whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Tento
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardskterý
whichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteoftěchto
thoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreams
stávají
becomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuaded
že
thatthepoleistheseatoffrosta
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
a
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
jen
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—for
s
withyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsomedůvěřovat
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowa
andfrostarebanished;and,sailing
přes
overacalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersa
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
a
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareintěchto
thoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedina
zemi
countryofeternallight?I
může
maytherediscoverthewondroussílu
powerwhichattractstheneedlea
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequirepouze
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywith
na
thesightofapartofna
theworldneverbeforevisited,a
andmaytreadalandnikdy
neverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
a
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangernebo
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencetuto
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyadítě
childfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,s
withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Ale
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitkterý
whichIshallconferonvšechny
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletotěch
thosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;nebo
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,což
which,ifatallpossible,může
canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.Tyto
Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitations
withwhichIbeganmyletter,a
andIfeelmyheartglows
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornic
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemysli
mindasasteadypurpose—abod
pointonwhichthesoulmůže
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Tato
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritesnem
dreamofmyearlyyears.Ihave
četl
readwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageskteré
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanpřes
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayremember
že
thatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthecelou
wholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
přesto
yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.Tyto
Thesevolumesweremystudydne
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritys
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asadítě
child,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.Tyto
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthepoprvé
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoula
andliftedittoheaven.I
také
alsobecameapoetandforonerok
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;Iimagined
že
thatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplekde
wherethenamesofHomera
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
dobře
wellacquaintedwithmyfailurea
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.Ale
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,a
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Šest
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,even
teď
now,rememberthehourfromkteré
whichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
tělo
bodytohardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,
a
andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharder
než
thanthecommonsailorsduringthedne
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,a
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceI
vlastně
actuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,a
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittleproud
když
whenmycaptainofferedmethedruhou
seconddignityinthevessela
andentreatedmetoremains
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.A
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?My
život
lifemighthavebeenpassedineasea
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementkteré
thatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourage
a
andmyresolutionisfirm;ale
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalong
a
anddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichbudou
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,
ale
butsometimestosustainmyvlastní
own,whentheirsarefailing.Toto
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
přes
overthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,
a
and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablenež
thanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,
pokud
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresskteré
whichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencemezi
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,když
whennoexercisepreventsthekrev
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitionto
ztratit
losemylifeonthepost-roadmezi
betweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
města
towninafortnightortři
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohireaship
tam
there,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,a
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongtěmi
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosail
až
untilthemonthofJune;a
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
drahá
dearsister,howcanIodpovědět
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
mnoho
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassnež
beforeyouandImaysetkat
meet.IfIfail,youwillseeme
znovu
againsoon,ornever.Farewell,my
drahá
dear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
a
andsaveme,thatImayznovu
againandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourlovea
andkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythe
čas
timepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrosta
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavessel
a
andamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhave
již
alreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependa
andarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Ale
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneverdosud
yetbeenabletosatisfy,a
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInyní
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:když
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
pravda
true;butthatisa
špatné
poormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofa
muže
manwhocouldsympathisewithmnou
me,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
drahá
dearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofapřítel
friend.Ihavenoonenear
mě
me,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmysli
mind,whosetastesarelikemyvlastní
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Jak
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iam
příliš
tooardentinexecutionandpříliš
tooimpatientofdifficulties.Butitisa
ještě
stillgreatereviltomeže
thatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommon
a
andreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofour
vlastní
owncountry;butitwasonly
když
whenithadceasedtobeinmymoci
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquainteds
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativezemě
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
a
andaminrealitymoreilliteratenež
thanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
pravda
truethatIhavethoughtvíce
moreandthatmydaydreamsarevíce
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheychtějí
want(asthepainterscallto
it)keeping;andIgreatlyneedafriend
který
whowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,a
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.No
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,noreven
tady
hereinArchangel,amongmerchantsa
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossof
lidské
humannature,beatevenintěchto
theseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isa
muž
manofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
nebo
orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,
a
andinthemidstofnationala
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsněkteré
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
poprvé
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;finding
že
thathewasunemployedinthisměstě
city,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Na
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositiona
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessa
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Tato
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegritya
anddauntlesscourage,mademevelmi
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,my
nejlepší
bestyearsspentunderyourgentlea
andfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihave
nikdy
neverbelievedittobenecessary,a
andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofsrdce
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishis
příběh
story.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,
a
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,theotec
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistress
jednou
oncebeforethedestinedceremony;ale
butshewasbathedintears,a
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimeže
thatshelovedanother,butže
thathewaspoor,andže
thatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
přítel
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehad
už
alreadyboughtafarmwithhispeníze
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;ale
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togethers
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,a
andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sotce
fathertoconsenttohermarriages
withherlover.Butthe
starý
oldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,když
whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiszemi
country,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
ale
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
a
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,zatímco
whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinteresta
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Přesto
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittlenebo
orbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImaynikdy
neverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Ty
Thoseareasfixedasfate,a
andmyvoyageisonlynyní
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,
ale
butthespringpromiseswell,a
anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatmožná
perhapsImaysailsoonernež
thanIexpected.Ishalldo
nic
nothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
a
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomypéči
care.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,
napůl
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmist
a
andsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
nebo
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworna
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,
ale
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasm
pro
for,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereis
něco
somethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecute
s
withperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaláska
loveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,dokonce
eventothewildseaa
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Ale
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
setkat
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,a
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricanebo
orAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomeby
každé
everyopportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthem
nejvíce
mosttosupportmyspirits.Iloveyou
velmi
verytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,shouldyou
nikdy
neverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
drahá
dearSister,.Iwritea
několik
fewlinesinhastetosayže
thatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.Tento
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunate
než
thanI,whomaynotvidět
seemynativeland,perhaps,formnoho
manyyears.Iam,however,in
dobré
goodspirits:mymenarebold
a
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassnás
us,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismayje
them.Wehavealreadyreacheda
velmi
veryhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
a
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,které
whichblowusspeedilytowardstěm
thoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthkteré
whichIhadnotexpected.Žádné
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenuskteré
thatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.One
nebo
ortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentskteré
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,a
andIshallbewellcontentpokud
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
drahá
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformy
vlastní
ownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,
a
andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
Thus
daleko
farIhavegone,tracingasecurecestu
wayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesa
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Proč
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?What
může
canstopthedeterminedhearta
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
srdce
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Ale
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtous
že
thatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvelmi
veryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforetyto
thesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Minulý
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbya
velmi
verythickfog.Weaccordinglylay
k
to,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmospherea
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,
a
andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vasta
andirregularplainsofice,které
whichseemedtohavenokonec
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
a
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfuls
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentiona
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourvlastní
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
a
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofpůl
halfamile;abeing
která
whichhadtheshapeofaman,ale
butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgea
andguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetraveller
s
withourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Tento
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,
mnoho
manyhundredmilesfromanyland;ale
butthisapparitionseemedtodenoteže
thatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobserved
s
withthegreatestattention.About
dvě
twohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,a
andbeforenighttheicebrokea
andfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedark
ty
thoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutpo
afterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
této
thistimetorestforapár
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwas
světlo
light,Iwentupondecka
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonjedné
onesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtoněkým
someoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,
jako
likethatwehadseenpředtím
before,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenoci
nightonalargefragmentofice.Jen
Onlyonedogremainedalive;ale
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,
ale
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,
a
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceiving
mě
me,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughs
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestruction
a
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththezem
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
že
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfied
a
andconsentedtocomeonboard.Dobrý
GoodGod!Margaret,ifyouhadseenthe
muže
manwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
a
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatiguea
andsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
ale
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthim
zpět
backtothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandya
andforcinghimtoswallowamalé
smallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblankets
a
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
a
andatealittlesoup,která
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismanner
než
beforehewasabletomluvit
speak,andIoftenfearedže
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Když
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabina
andattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.I
nikdy
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyes
mají
havegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,a
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentskdy
when,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimnebo
ordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiscelá
wholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,s
withabeamofbenevolencea
andsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Ale
Butheisgenerallymelancholya
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoeskteré
thatoppresseshim.WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,
kteří
whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;