Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
radovat
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
vánek
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
vánek
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
marně
vaintobepersuadedthatthepól
poleistheseatofmrazu
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyand
potěšení
delight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
viditelné
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
mráz
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaofthe
nebeských
heavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmay
regulovat
regulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatvyžadují
requireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitieskonzistentní
consistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardent
zvědavost
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyare
dostatečné
sufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisrodné
nativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
prospěch
benefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepólu
poletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasa
stálý
steadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintelektuální
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthe
různých
variousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepól
pole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwas
vášnivě
passionatelyfondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmeto
nastoupit
embarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomight
získat
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhow
těžce
heavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
dobrovolně
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhicha
námořní
navaladventurermightderivethegreatestpraktické
practicaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
důstojnost
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,socenné
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
dosáhnout
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthat
bohatství
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthe
palubě
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendto
plavit
sailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfI
podaří
succeed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Sbohem
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdown
požehnání
blessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagainsvědčit
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandlaskavost
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
mrazem
frostandsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
loď
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcan
spolehnout
dependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
uspokojit
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedby
zklamání
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtoudržet
sustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
médium
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butI
hořce
bitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,
jemný
gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toschválit
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentin
provedení
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
přesvědčení
convictionthatIperceivedthenutnost
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmyrodné
nativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andI
velmi
greatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulovat
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heis
šíleně
madlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyfrázi
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhale
lodi
vessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
This
okolnost
circumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
překonat
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamariner
stejně
equallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandposlušnost
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyšťastný
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
způsobem
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
My
velkorysý
generousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,okamžitě
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
zbytek
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
milenka
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheis
zcela
whollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorant
nedbalost
carelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershischování
conductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympatie
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcan
představit
conceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
pozoruhodně
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImayplavit
sailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowme
dostatečně
sufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannot
popsat
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearvyhlídky
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
mlhy
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,my
vášnivý
passionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
prakticky
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisalovefortheúžasné
marvellous,abeliefintheúžasné
marvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoprozkoumat
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
obrovské
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
neustále
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregionu
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhigh
šířky
latitude;butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,the
jižní
southerngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretodosáhnout
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingteplo
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
úniku
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorssotva
scarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourplavby
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashly
setkat
encounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,and
opatrný
prudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
vítězství
triumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyet
poslušný
obedientelement?Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
pravděpodobné
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourvlastnictví
possession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,
sotva
scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
We
proto
accordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthe
mlha
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,rozsáhlé
vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalow
kočár
carriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
postavy
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
This
vzhled
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthis
zjevení
apparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthe
lodi
vessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthe
lodi
vessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedon
palubě
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmay
představit
conceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousbohatství
wealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthe
severního
northernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
kabiny
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.We
proto
accordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtospolknout
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
nádherně
wonderfully.Twodayspassedinthis
způsobem
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
kabiny
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
obecně
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenšílenství
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholetvář
countenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheis
obecně
generallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifnetrpělivý
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;