Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Finnish A2 Books

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Finnish A2 Books

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhere
eilen
yesterday
,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleisthe
paikka
seat
offrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,the
aurinko
sun
isforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
meren
sea
,wemaybewaftedtoa
maan
land
surpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbe
odottaa
expected
inacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
tuhansia
thousand
celestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbefore
vieraillut
visited
,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
pelon
fear
ofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnative
joelle
river
.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichI
aloitin
began
myletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthe
sielu
soul
mayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingatthe
Pohjoiseen
North
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
Youmayrememberthata
historia
history
ofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
opiskelin
study
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncleto
antamasta
allow
metoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoets
joiden
whose
effusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyI
kannan
bore
thedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
I
usein
often
workedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.
Kaksi kertaa
Twice
Iactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmy
kapteeni
captain
offeredmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
ääni
voice
wouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
usein
often
depressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlyto
nostaa
raise
thespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
They
lentävät
fly
quicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreat
ero
difference
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
laiva
ship
there,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,
erinomainen
excellent
Margaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Kirje
Letter
2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetime
kulkee
passes
here,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecond
askel
step
istakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandare
varmasti
certainly
possessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,
jonka
whose
eyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,
jonka
whose
tastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastillgreater
paha
evil
tomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIran
villi
wild
onacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
Atthat
iässä
age
Ibecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
järkeä
sense
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
varmasti
certainly
findnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,or
pikemminkin
rather
,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedon
aluksella
board
ship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstin
melko
rather
aromanticmanner,fromaladywho
velkaa
owes
tohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,
eikä
nor
returneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarried
mukaan
according
toherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromthe
kiinnostusta
interest
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanI
odotin
expected
.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itis
mahdotonta
impossible
tocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwill
hymyilette
smile
atmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihave
usein
often
attributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
I
uskaltaisi
dare
notexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthe
kuvan
picture
.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Kirje
Letter
3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
kirje
letter
willreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinually
kulkevat
pass
us,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightof
kesän
summer
,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,which
puhaltavat
blow
usspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnot
odottanut
expected
.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothing
pahempaa
worse
happentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyown
vuoksi
sake
,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImust
lopetettava
finish
.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Kirje
Letter
4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
So
outo
strange
anaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
jäällä
ice
,whichclosedinthe
aluksen
ship
onallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Our
tilanne
situation
wassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,which
näyttänyt
seemed
tohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmind
alkoivat
began
togrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whena
outo
strange
sightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthe
pohjoiseen
north
,atthedistanceofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
jään
ice
.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparition
näytti
seemed
todenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehad
olimme olettaneet
supposed
.
Shutin,however,by
jää
ice
,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenightthe
jää
ice
brokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,
peläten
fearing
toencounterinthe
pimeässä
dark
thoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupofthe
jään
ice
.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,
mutta
however
,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertraveller
näytti
seemed
tobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
kapteeni
captain
,andhewillnot
anna
allow
youtoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyand
pakottaen
forcing
himtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andI
usein
often
fearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhima
tuhansia
thousand
questions;