Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuch
onde
evilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythis
vind
windofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleisthe
sæde
seatoffrostanddesolation;itever
præsenterer
presentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofskønhed
beautyanddelight.There,Margaret,the
solen
sunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
hav
sea,wemaybewaftedtoaland
landsurpassinginwondersandinskønhed
beautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbe
forvente
expectedinacountryofeternallight?Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
tusind
thousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbefore
besøgt
visited,andmaytreadaland
landneverbeforeimprintedbythefod
footofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
frygt
fearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittlebåd
boat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.But
antager
supposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenær
nearthepoletothosecountries,tonå
reachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthe
hemmelighed
secretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichI
indledte
beganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetohimlen
heaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualøje
eye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmy
tidlige
earlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingatthe
Nordlige
NorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayrememberthata
historie
historyofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
studerede
studydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletotillade
allowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoets
hvis
whoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittohimlen
heaven.Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
I
forestillede
imaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyI
bar
borethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmy
fætter
cousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirtidligere
earlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmy
nuværende
presentundertaking.Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fisherson
flere
severalexpeditionstotheNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
I
ofte
oftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudere
studyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.To gange
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittle
stolt
proudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
stemme
voicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
ofte
oftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlyto
hæve
raisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
They
flyver
flyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—a
kjole
dresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatforskel
differencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
skib
shipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknødvendigt
necessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,
fremragende
excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Bogstav
Letter2ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecond
skridt
stepistakentowardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevere
ondskab
evil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtsto
papir
paper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,
hvis
whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,
hvis
whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastillgreater
ondskab
eviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
Atthat
alder
ageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
fornuft
senseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
bestemt
certainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,heller ikke
norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhuman
natur
nature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,or
snarere
rather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimon
bord
boardawhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofan
fremragende
excellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyears
tilbragt
spentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonbord
boardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobe
nødvendigt
necessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespekt
respectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstin
temmelig
ratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoskylder
owestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,and
kastede
throwingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttoher
ægteskab
marriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,
forlod
quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedoverensstemmelse
accordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromthe
interesse
interestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonot
antag
suppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkably
tidlig
earlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIforventede
expected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itis
umuligt
impossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwill
smile
smileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseahemmelighed
secret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,the
farlige
dangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereissomethingatworkinmy
sjæl
soulwhichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothe
vilde
wildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
I
vover
darenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Fortsæt
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmostto
støtte
supportmyspirits.Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Bogstav
Letter3ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
brev
letterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,
men
however,ingoodspirits:mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,
heller ikke
nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypasserer
passus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealready
nået
reachedaveryhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,which
blæser
blowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakea
figur
figureinaletter.Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyrememberto
registrere
record,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingværre
worsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyown
skyld
sake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Bogstav
Letter4ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangean
uheld
accidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
is
ice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Our
situation
situationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsof
is
ice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmind
begyndte
begantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightpludselig
suddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation
situation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,
lav
fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passere
passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
isen
ice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,many
hundrede
hundredmilesfromanyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,
men
however,byice,itwasumuligt
impossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestopmærksomhed
attention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthe
jorden
groundsea,andbeforenighttheisen
icebrokeandfreedourskib
ship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,
bange
fearingtoencounterinthedarkthosestore
largeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheisen
ice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,
men
however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthehavet
sea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightona
stort
largefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscovered
ø
island,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
kaptajn
captain,andhewillnottillade
allowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeon
bord
boardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhave
antaget
supposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,
men
however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeon
bord
board.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,your
overraskelse
surprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedto
bære
carryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyand
tvinge
forcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhim
nær
nearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andI
ofte
oftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmy
pligt
dutywouldpermit.Ineversawamore
interessant
interestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsan
handling
actofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingtjeneste
service,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;