Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
glæde
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanvirksomhed
enterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
forsikre
assuremydearsisterofmyvelfærd
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brise
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithglæde
delight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brise
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventand
levende
vivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatof
frost
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
region
regionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
synlig
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorisonten
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
frost
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhitherto
opdaget
discoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaofthe
himmelske
heavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaythere
opdage
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichtiltrækker
attractstheneedleandmayregulere
regulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatkræver
requireonlythisvoyagetogøre
rendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardent
nysgerrighed
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytræde
treadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemeto
påbegynde
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanekspedition
expeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
fordel
benefitwhichIshallconferonallmenneskeheden
mankind,tothelastgeneration,byopdage
discoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithan
begejstring
enthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingbidrager
contributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellektuelle
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthe
forskellige
variousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheudsigten
prospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichomgiver
surroundthepole.Youmayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesof
opdagelse
discoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwas
forsømt
neglected,yetIwaspassionatelyglad
fondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththem
øgede
increasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
digter
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomight
få
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhow
tungt
heavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeI
arvede
inheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbøjet
bent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichI
dedikerede
dedicatedmyselftothisgreatvirksomhed
enterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
I
ledsagede
accompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;I
frivilligt
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayand
viet
devotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichaflåde
navaladventurermightderivethegreatestpraktiske
practicaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
værdighed
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
opnå
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseand
luksus
luxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
deprimeret
depressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
rejse
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwillkræve
demandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimesto
opretholde
sustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnot
overdreven
excessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedækket
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexerciseforhindrer
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthe
sidstnævnte
lattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;andmy
hensigt
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonot
hensigt
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfI
lykkes
succeed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farvel
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagain
vidne
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandvenlighed
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
frost
frostandsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmy
virksomhed
enterprise.Ihavehireda
skib
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcan
stole
dependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
tilfredsstille
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostalvorlig
severeevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIam
gløder
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedby
skuffelse
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
medium
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswould
svare
replytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,
har
possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,togodkende
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriend
reparere
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentinexecutionandtoo
utålmodig
impatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithad
ophørt
ceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaoverbevisning
convictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedand
storslåede
magnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnotto
foragte
despisemeasromantic,andhengivenhed
affectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulere
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
eksempel
instance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandvirksomhed
enterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmy
sætning
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhiserhverv
profession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,
bevarer
retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofmenneskeheden
humanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboarda
hval
whalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimto
hjælpe
assistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
bemærkelsesværdig
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdisciplin
discipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integritet
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagere
engagehim.Ayouthpassedin
ensomhed
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovervinde
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamariner
lige
equallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandlydighed
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyheldig
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
måde
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,
kort
briefly,ishisstory.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyof
moderat
moderatefortune,andhavingamassedabetydelig
considerablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhis
elskerinde
mistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;butshewas
bad
bathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,indrømmede
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneversamtykke
consenttotheunion.My
generøse
generousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,øjeblikkeligt
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
resten
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneyto
købe
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertosamtykke
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
elskerinde
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whata
ædel
noblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheis
helt
whollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindof
uvidende
ignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreforbløffende
astonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympati
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
klager
complainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveatrøst
consolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
rejse
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershalltillade
permitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
bemærkelsesværdigt
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysejle
sailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannot
beskrive
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearudsigt
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibleto
formidle
communicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingfornemmelse
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
tåge
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwill
afsløre
discloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmy
tilknytning
attachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praktisk
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoudføre
executewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthevidunderlige
marvellous,abeliefinthevidunderlige
marvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoudforske
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
enorme
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
hengivenhed
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Juli
July7th,17—.MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
avanceret
advancedonmyvoyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
more
heldig
fortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenare
dristige
boldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethathele tiden
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregion
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,the
sydlige
southerngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoopnå
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
lækage
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsnæppe
scarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourrejse
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashly
møde
encounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,and
forsigtig
prudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
triumf
triumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
element
element?Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarily
hælder
poursitselfoutthus.ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
sandsynligt
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourbesiddelse
possession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearly
omgivet
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,knap nok
scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichsheflød
floated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
tåge
fog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthe
tågen
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,store
vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomrades
stønnede
groaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlytiltrak
attractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalow
vogn
carriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
statur
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthe
rejsende
travellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.This
optræden
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthis
begivenhed
occurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingto
møde
encounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichflyder
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
dækket
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
overtalte
persuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheother
rejsende
travellerseemedtobe,avild
savageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedon
dækket
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoomkomme
perishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
accent
accent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthe
randen
brinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyskib
vesselwouldhavebeenaressource
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousrigdom
wealththeearthcanafford.I
svarede
replied,however,thatwewereonaopdagelsesrejse
voyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
træthed
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhe
besvimede
fainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
dækket
deckandrestoredhimtoanimation
animationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtosluge
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
vidunderligt
wonderfully.Twodayspassedinthis
måde
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
kabine
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldtillade
permit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
generelt
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenvanvid
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofvenlighed
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withastråle
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheis
generelt
generallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifutålmodig
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;