Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
You
zult
willrejoicetohearthatgeen
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofeen
anenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedmet
withsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
hier
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremylieve
dearsisterofmywelfareen
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
al
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,en
andasIwalkinde
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Ivoel
feelacoldnorthernbreezespelen
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesen
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
begrijp
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfrom
de
theregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,geeft
givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
deze
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsworden
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
probeer
tryinvaintobepersuadeddat
thatthepoleistheseatoffrosten
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
en
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
net
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingeen
aperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,my
zus
sister,Iwillputsomevertrouwen
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowen
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingover
een
acalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoeen
alandsurpassinginwondersen
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonde
thehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
en
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asde
thephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareindie
thoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedin
een
acountryofeternallight?Imay
daar
therediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsde
theneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequirealleen
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriosity
met
withthesightofadeel
partoftheworldneverbeforevisited,en
andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofmens
man.Thesearemyenticements,
en
andtheyaresufficienttoconqueralle
allfearofdangerordood
deathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagemet
withthejoyachildvoelt
feelswhenheembarksinakleine
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Maar
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonal
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringeen
apassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;of
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallmogelijk
possible,canonlybeeffectedbyeen
anundertakingsuchasmine.Thesereflections
hebben
havedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,en
andIfeelmyheartglowmet
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,forniets
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apunt
pointonwhichthesoulkan
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Deze
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedroom
dreamofmyearlyyears.I
heb
havereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyagesdie
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceandoor
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayrememberthat
een
ahistoryofallthevoyagesgemaakt
madeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedde
thewholeofourgoodOom
UncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
maar
yetIwaspassionatelyfondoflezen
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
dag
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritymet
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhad
hadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhad
hadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkineen
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
toen
whenIperused,fortheeerst
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulen
andliftedittoheaven.I
ook
alsobecameapoetandforonejaar
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyeigen
owncreation;IimaginedthatI
ook
alsomightobtainanicheinde
thetemplewherethenamesofHomeren
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
goed
wellacquaintedwithmyfailureen
andhowheavilyIborede
thedisappointment.Butjustat
dat
thattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,en
andmythoughtswereturnedintohet
thechanneloftheirearlierbent.Zes
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.I
kan
can,evennow,remembertheuur
hourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftodeze
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
lichaam
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
de
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstode
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyendured
kou
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioften
werkte
workedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayen
anddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,en
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhicheen
anavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
en
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
moet
mustownIfeltabeetje
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethetweede
seconddignityinthevesselen
andentreatedmetoremainmet
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.En
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegroot
greatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedinease
en
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytoelke
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,
dat
thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
en
andmyresolutionisfirm;maar
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
een
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichzullen
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
alleen
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,maar
butsometimestosustainmyeigen
own,whentheirsarefailing.Dit
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
over
overthesnowintheirsledges;de
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,veel
farmoreagreeablethanthatofeen
anEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adress
die
whichIhavealreadyadopted,forer
thereisagreatdifferencetussen
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whengeen
noexercisepreventsthebloodfromdaadwerkelijk
actuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
heb
havenoambitiontolosemyleven
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghen
andArchangel.Ishalldepartfor
de
thelattertowninafortnightof
orthreeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
een
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybegedaan
donebypayingtheinsuranceforde
theowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtode
thewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntil
de
themonthofJune;and
wanneer
whenshallIreturn?Ah,
lieve
dearsister,howcanIbeantwoorden
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
vele
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,zullen
willpassbeforeyouandIkunnen
maymeet.IfIfail,youwill
zie
seemeagainsoon,ornooit
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
en
andsaveme,thatIkan
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforal
allyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Hoe
Howslowlythetimepasseshier
here,encompassedasIambyfrosten
andsnow!Yetasecondstepis
genomen
takentowardsmyenterprise.I
heb
havehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;die
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIkan
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButI
heb
haveonewantwhichIheb
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,en
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofdie
whichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Iheb
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwith
het
theenthusiasmofsuccess,therezal
willbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;als
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonezal
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
waar
true;butthatisapoormediumfor
de
thecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
gezelschap
companyofamanwhokunnen
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytode mijne
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
lieve
dearsister,butIbitterlyvoel
feelthewantofavriend
friend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentle
maar
yetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedasgoed
wellasofacapaciousgeest
mind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveof
oramendmyplans.How
zou
wouldsuchafriendrepairde
thefaultsofyourpoorbroer
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
en
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Maar
Butitisastillgreatereviltomedat
thatIamself-educated:for
de
thefirstfourteenyearsofmyleven
lifeIranwildoneen
acommonandreadnothingbutourOom
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.At
die
thatageIbecameacquaintedmet
withthecelebratedpoetsofoureigen
owncountry;butitwasonly
toen
whenithadceasedtobeinmymacht
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedmet
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.Nu
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymeer
moreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
waar
truethatIhavethoughtmeer
moreandthatmydaydreamsaremeer
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywillen
want(asthepainterscallit)keeping;en
andIgreatlyneedavriend
friendwhowouldhavesensegenoeg
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,en
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemygeest
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
vinden
findnofriendonthewideocean,norzelfs
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsen
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossof
menselijke
humannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
een
amanofwonderfulcourageen
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
of
orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.Heis
een
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalen
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsenkele
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
eerst
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardeen
awhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedin
deze
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
persoon
personofanexcellentdispositionen
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessen
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Deze
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityen
anddauntlesscourage,mademeerg
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,my
beste
bestyearsspentunderyourgentleen
andfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterdat
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:I
heb
haveneverbelievedittobenecessary,en
andwhenIheardofeen
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofhart
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ivoelde
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
hoorde
heardofhimfirstinrathereen
aromanticmanner,fromadame
ladywhoowestohimhet
thehappinessofherlife.Dit
This,briefly,ishisstory.Enkele
Someyearsagohelovedeen
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,en
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thevader
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
zag
sawhismistressoncebeforede
thedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
en
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtosparehaar
her,confessingatthesametimedat
thatshelovedanother,butdat
thathewaspoor,anddat
thatherfatherwouldneverconsenttode
theunion.Mygenerousfriendreassured
de
thesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofde
thenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
had
hadalreadyboughtafarmmet
withhismoney,onwhichhehad
haddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisleven
life;buthebestowedthe
geheel
wholeonhisrival,togethermet
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,en
andthenhimselfsolicitedthejonge
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagemet
withherlover.Butthe
oude
oldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyvriend
friend,who,whenhefoundde
thefatherinexorable,quittedhisland
country,norreturneduntilhehoorde
heardthathisformermistresswasgetrouwd
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“What
een
anoblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
maar
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentas
een
aTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshem
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthemeer
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinteresten
andsympathywhichotherwisehezou
wouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,
omdat
becauseIcomplainalittleof
orbecauseIcanconceiveeen
aconsolationformytoilswhichImaynooit
neverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
en
andmyvoyageisonlynu
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,
maar
butthespringpromiseswell,en
anditisconsideredaseen
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothatmisschien
perhapsImaysailsoonerdan
thanIexpected.Ishall
doen
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
en
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
het
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
een
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,half
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
ga
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmisten
andsnow,”butIshalldoden
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
of
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornen
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
zal
willsmileatmyallusion,maar
butIwilldiscloseasecret.I
heb
haveoftenattributedmyattachmentaan
to,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,de
thedangerousmysteriesofoceantodie
thatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Er
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotbegrijp
understand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,
een
aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceen
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereiseen
aloveforthemarvellous,een
abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinal
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmeuit
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,zelfs
eventothewildseaen
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Maar
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
ontmoeten
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,en
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaof
orAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,
maar
yetIcannotbeartokijken
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresentto
schrijven
writetomebyeveryopportunity:I
kan
mayreceiveyourlettersonsommige
someoccasionswhenIneedthemmeest
mosttosupportmyspirits.I
hou
loveyouverytenderly.Rememberme
met
withaffection,shouldyouneverhoort
hearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
lieve
dearSister,.Iwritea
paar
fewlinesinhastetozeggen
saythatIamsafe—andgoed
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Deze
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyeen
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunate
dan
thanI,whomaynotzien
seemynativeland,perhaps,forvele
manyyears.Iam,however,in
goede
goodspirits:mymenarebold
en
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordode
thefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassons
us,indicatingthedangersofde
theregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismayhen
them.Wehavealreadyreached
een
averyhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
en
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheeen
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhad
hadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenus
die
thatwouldmakeafigureineen
aletter.Oneortwostiffgales
en
andthespringingofaleakareaccidentsdie
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,en
andIshallbewellcontentals
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
lieve
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformy
eigen
ownsake,aswellasuwe
yours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.I
zal
willbecool,persevering,andprudent.Maar
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhave
gegaan
gone,tracingasecurewayover
overthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesen
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Waarom
Whynotstillproceedoverhet
theuntamedyetobedientelement?What
kan
canstopthedeterminedhearten
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
hart
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Maar
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
zus
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtous
dat
thatIcannotforbearrecordinghet
it,althoughitisveryprobabledat
thatyouwillseemevoordat
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,
waarin
whichclosedintheshiponalle
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwaarin
whichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
een
averythickfog.Weaccordingly
lagen
layto,hopingthatsomeverandering
changewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereen
andweather.Abouttwoo’clock
de
themistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vasten
andirregularplainsofice,die
whichseemedtohavenoeinde
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
en
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulmet
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionen
anddivertedoursolicitudefromoureigen
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedon
een
asledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardshet
thenorth,atthedistanceofhalve
halfamile;abeingwhich
had
hadtheshapeofaman
man,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,zat
satinthesledgeandguidedde
thedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetraveller
met
withourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Deze
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,
vele
manyhundredmilesfromanyland;maar
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotedat
thatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadden
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
volgen
followhistrack,whichwehadden
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.Ongeveer
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrencewehoorden
heardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrak
brokeandfreedourship.Wij
We,however,laytountiltheochtend
morning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutna
afterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
deze
thistimetorestforeen
afewhours.Inthe
ochtend
morning,however,assoonasitwaslicht
light,Iwentupondecken
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonene
onesideofthevessel,apparentlypraten
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,
een
asledge,likethatwehadden
hadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenacht
nightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyone
hond
dogremainedalive;buttherewas
een
ahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,as
de
theothertravellerseemedtobe,een
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,maar
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemaster
zei
said,“Hereisourcaptain,en
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopen
opensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,although
met
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
zei
saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
hoorde
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromeen
amanonthebrinkofdestructionen
andtowhomIshouldhebben
havesupposedthatmyvesselzou
wouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhezou
wouldnothaveexchangedforde
themostpreciouswealththeaarde
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
dat
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsde
thenorthernpole.Uponhearing
dit
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtokomen
comeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,
als
ifyouhadseentheman
manwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisezou
wouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
en
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueen
andsuffering.Ineversaw
een
amaninsowretchedeen
acondition.Weattemptedtocarryhiminto
de
thecabin,butassoonashehad
hadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordingly
brachten
broughthimbacktothedecken
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimmet
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswalloween
asmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsof
leven
lifewewrappedhimupinblanketsen
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofde
thekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
en
andatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twee
Twodayspassedinthismannervoordat
beforehewasabletospreken
speak,andIoftenfeareddat
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomy
eigen
owncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Inever
gezien
sawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
en
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifiemand
anyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimof
ordoeshimanythemeest
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,met
withabeamofbenevolenceen
andsweetnessthatInevergezien
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
en
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesdie
thatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwas
een
alittlerecoveredIhadgrote
greattroubletokeepoffde
themen,whowishedtovragen
askhimathousandquestions;