Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Dutch B1 Translation Books

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Dutch B1 Translation Books

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
ramp
disaster
hasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
I
aangekomen
arrived
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasing
vertrouwen
confidence
inthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
vult
fills
mewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
gereisd
travelled
fromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
verbeelding
imagination
astheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
sneeuw
snow
andfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
voorbeeld
example
,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththe
vreugde
joy
achildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannot
betwisten
contest
theinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
generatie
generation
,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacific
Oceaan
Ocean
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
bibliotheek
library
.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
spijt
regret
whichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouland
tilden
lifted
ittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
paradijs
paradise
ofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
tempel
temple
wherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
mislukking
failure
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortuin
fortune
ofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
kanaal
channel
oftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
theorie
theory
ofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethe
grootste
greatest
practicaladvantage.
TwiceIactually
huurde
hired
myselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
blijven
remain
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidhe
beschouwde
consider
myservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
verdien
deserve
toaccomplishsomegreat
doel
purpose
?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferred
glorie
glory
toeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmy
pad
path
.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
moed
courage
andmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsare
faalt
failing
.
Thisisthemostfavourable
periode
period
fortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthe
sneeuw
snow
intheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
oefening
exercise
preventsthebloodfromactually
bevriezen
freezing
inyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
huren
hire
ashipthere,whichcan
gemakkelijk
easily
bedonebypayingthe
verzekering
insurance
fortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessary
onder
among
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Juni
June
;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfI
misluk
fail
,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
Maart
March
,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
sneeuw
snow
!
Yetasecondstepistaken
richting
towards
myenterprise.
Ihave
gehuurd
hired
avesselandamoccupiedin
verzamelen
collecting
mysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
lijken
appear
tobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
moed
courage
.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofthe
object
object
ofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
succes
success
,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
vreugde
joy
;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
verlang
desire
thecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantisch
romantic
,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
groter
greater
eviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandamin
werkelijkheid
reality
moreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romantisch
romantic
,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
oceaan
ocean
,norevenhereinArchangel,
onder
among
merchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
luitenant
lieutenant
,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
moed
courage
andenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstof
nationale
national
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
gemakkelijk
easily
engagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,
toegevoegd
added
tohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
moed
courage
,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
A
jeugd
youth
passedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetothe
gebruikelijke
usual
brutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
bemanning
crew
,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
romantische
romantic
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
geluk
happiness
ofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortuin
fortune
,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
ceremonie
ceremony
;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimto
sparen
spare
her,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofher
minnaar
lover
,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
boerderij
farm
withhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
minnaar
lover
.
Buttheoldmandecidedly
weigerde
refused
,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathis
voormalige
former
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
stil
silent
asaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
lot
fate
,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
weer
weather
shallpermitmyembarkation.
The
winter
winter
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
lente
spring
promiseswell,anditis
beschouwd
considered
asaremarkablyearly
seizoen
season
,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
veiligheid
safety
ofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
voorbereid
preparing
todepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
daarom
therefore
donotbealarmedformy
veiligheid
safety
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesof
oceaan
ocean
tothatproductionofthemostimaginativeof
moderne
modern
poets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeof
Afrika
Africa
orAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
succes
success
,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
gelegenheid
opportunity
:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
blijkbaar
apparently
firmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardently
wens
desire
toattain,breathea
mate
degree
ofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
succes
success
shallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
traceren
tracing
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Augustus
August
5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
Last
Maandag
Monday
(July31st)wewere
bijna
nearly
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyavery
dikke
thick
fog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
weer
weather
.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
gezicht
sight
suddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeand
getrokken
drawn
bydogs,passon
naar
towards
thenorth,atthedistanceofhalfa
mijl
mile
;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,but
blijkbaar
apparently
ofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapid
voortgang
progress
ofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslost
tussen
among
thedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,in
werkelijkheid
reality
,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhis
spoor
track
,whichwehadobservedwiththe
grootste
greatest
attention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselarge
losse
loose
masseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
blijkbaar
apparently
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
naar
towards
usinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedog
bleef
remained
alive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
verscheen
appeared
ondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
vreemdeling
stranger
addressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothave
uitgewisseld
exchanged
forthemostpreciouswealththeearthcan
veroorloven
afford
.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
naar
towards
thenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthishe
leek
appeared
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
veiligheid
safety
,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswere
bijna
nearly
frozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueand
lijden
suffering
.
Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
toestand
condition
.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
soep
soup
,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
wezen
creature
:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
gewicht
weight
ofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
gast
guest
wasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;