×

Select Store

Dowload from Google Play Dowload from the App Store

Scan with Camera

Dowload via QR Code
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
verheugen
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhas
vergezeld
accompaniedthecommencementofan
onderneming
enterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
verzekeren
assuremydearsisterofmy
welzijn
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewith
vreugde
delight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthose
ijzige
icyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
tevergeefs
vaintobepersuadedthatthe
paal
poleistheseatof
vorst
frostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyand
genot
delight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforever
zichtbaar
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthe
horizon
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
vorst
frostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
regio
regionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitable
aardbol
globe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
eeuwig
eternallight?
Imaythere
ontdek
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsthe
naald
needleandmayregulateathousand
hemelse
celestialobservationsthatrequireonlythis
reis
voyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardent
nieuwsgierigheid
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmay
betreden
treadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemeto
beginnen
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
voordeel
benefitwhichIshallconferonall
mensheid
mankind,tothelastgeneration,by
ontdekken
discoveringapassagenearthe
pool
poletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthe
magneet
magnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
gloeit
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothing
draagt
contributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixits
intellectuele
intellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthe
favoriete
favouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthe
verschillende
variousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
vooruitzicht
prospectofarrivingattheNorth
Stille oceaan
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhich
omringen
surroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwas
verwaarloosd
neglected,yetIwaspassionately
dol
fondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththem
vergrootte
increasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhad
verboden
forbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
Thesevisions
vervaagden
fadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
dichter
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyown
creatie
creation;
IimaginedthatIalsomight
verkrijgen
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
teleurstelling
disappointment.
ButjustatthattimeI
erfde
inheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlier
gebogen
bent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichI
gewijd
dedicatedmyselftothisgreat
onderneming
enterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodyto
moeilijkheden
hardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
vrijwillig
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayand
wijdde
devotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatest
praktische
practicaladvantage.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
bewondering
admiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
waardigheid
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,so
waardevol
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
bereiken
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedin
gemak
easeandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthat
rijkdom
wealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
depressief
depressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
reis
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimesto
ondersteunen
sustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
beweging
motionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouare
gewikkeld
wrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealready
aangenomen
adopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthe
dek
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercise
voorkomt
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihaveno
ambitie
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthe
laatste
lattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmy
bedoeling
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoare
gewend
accustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonot
plan
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfI
lukt
succeed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdown
zegeningen
blessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymy
dankbaarheid
gratitudeforallyourloveand
vriendelijkheid
kindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
vorst
frostandsnow!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmy
onderneming
enterprise.
Ihavehireda
schip
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
bezitten
possessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
bevredigen
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIam
gloei
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedby
teleurstelling
disappointment,noonewillendeavourto
ondersteunen
sustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
medium
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswould
beantwoorden
replytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,
zacht
gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,to
goed te keuren
approveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriend
herstellen
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentin
uitvoering
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
overtuiging
convictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analfabeet
illiteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnotto
verachten
despisemeasromantic,and
genegenheid
affectionenoughformetoendeavourto
reguleren
regulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beateveninthese
ruige
ruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageand
onderneming
enterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhis
beroep
profession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,
behoudt
retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsof
mensheid
humanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewas
werkloos
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimto
helpen
assistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
opmerkelijk
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhis
discipline
discipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integriteit
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedin
eenzaamheid
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyour
zachte
gentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
overwinnen
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectand
gehoorzaamheid
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarly
gelukkig
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
manier
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,
kortom
briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyof
matig
moderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderable
bedrag
suminprize-money,thefatherofthegirl
stemde
consentedtothematch.
Hesawhis
minnares
mistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
bekende
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
onmiddellijk
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
rest
remainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhis
rivaal
rival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneyto
kopen
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfatherto
toestemming
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
minnares
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershis
gedrag
conductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestand
sympathie
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
klaag
complainalittleorbecauseIcan
bedenken
conceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
reis
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
opmerkelijk
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImay
varen
sailsoonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowme
genoeg
sufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannot
beschrijven
describetoyoumysensationsonthenear
vooruitzicht
prospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetrembling
gevoel
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingto
vertrekken
depart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwill
onthullen
discloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmy
gehechtheid
attachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praktisch
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmanto
uit te voeren
executewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,a
geloof
beliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamaboutto
verkennen
explore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsouthern
kaap
capeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
genegenheid
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Juli
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmy
reis
voyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomeward
reis
voyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
voortdurend
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersofthe
regio
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitisthe
hoogte
heightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesireto
bereiken
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovating
warmte
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
lek
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigators
nauwelijks
scarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringour
reis
voyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Be
verzekerd
assuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,and
voorzichtig
prudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
triomf
triumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
element
element?
Whatcanstopthe
vastberaden
determinedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
waarschijnlijk
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyour
bezit
possession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearly
omringd
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,
nauwelijks
scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
zweefde
floated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
atmosfeer
atmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwe
zagen
beheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,
uitgestrekte
vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenly
trok
attractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalow
koets
carriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
gestalte
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedthe
snelle
rapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthe
verre
distantinequalitiesoftheice.
This
verschijning
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,so
ver
distantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehad
waargenomen
observedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthis
gebeurtenis
occurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
dek
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthe
schip
vessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhad
gedreven
driftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
overtuigden
persuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheother
reiziger
travellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedon
dek
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
accent
accent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthe
rand
brinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmy
schip
vesselwouldhavebeena
hulpbron
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostprecious
rijkdom
wealththeearthcanafford.
I
antwoordde
replied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedand
stemde
consentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
vermoeidheid
fatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninso
ellendige
wretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
hut
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
dek
deckandrestoredhimtoanimationby
wrijven
rubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimto
slikken
swallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewe
wikkelden
wrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthe
schoorsteen
chimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthis
manier
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshad
beroofd
deprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
hut
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
algemeen
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andeven
waanzin
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactof
vriendelijkheid
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,witha
straal
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheis
algemeen
generallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asif
ongeduldig
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;