Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohear
que
thatnodisasterhasaccompaniedle
thecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedavec
withsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
ici
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsœur
sisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinle
thesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
déjà
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,et
andasIwalkinles
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Isens
feelacoldnorthernbreezejouer
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynerveset
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
comprenez
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,
qui
whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardsqui
whichIamadvancing,givesmeun
aforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
ce
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsdeviennent
becomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuaded
que
thatthepoleistheseatoffrostet
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationas
la
theregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,
le
thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingle
thehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—for
avec
withyourleave,mysister,Ivais
willputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowet
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingover
une
acalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoune
alandsurpassinginwonderset
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
et
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asles
thephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinces
thoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedin
un
acountryofeternallight?I
peut
maytherediscoverthewondrouspouvoir
powerwhichattractstheneedleet
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlyce
thisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriosity
avec
withthesightofapartie
partoftheworldneverbeforevisited,et
andmaytreadalandjamais
neverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
et
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerou
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencece
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyaenfant
childfeelswhenheembarksinapetit
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Mais
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontestla
theinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferontoutes
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringun
apassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;ou
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,qui
which,ifatallpossible,peut
canonlybeeffectedbyune
anundertakingsuchasmine.Ces
Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationavec
withwhichIbeganmyletter,et
andIfeelmyheartglowavec
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,forrien
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apoint
pointonwhichthesoulpeut
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Cette
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouriterêve
dreamofmyearlyyears.I
ont
havereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyagesqui
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceantravers
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.You
peut
mayrememberthatahistoryoftous
allthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthetoute
wholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondof
lire
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
jour
dayandnight,andmyfamiliarityavec
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadressenti
felt,asachild,onapprenant
learningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyoncle
uncletoallowmetoembarkinune
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
quand
whenIperused,forthepremière
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulet
andliftedittoheaven.I
aussi
alsobecameapoetandforonean
yearlivedinaparadiseofmypropre
owncreation;IimaginedthatI
aussi
alsomightobtainanicheinthetempleoù
wherethenamesofHomeret
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
bien
wellacquaintedwithmyfailureet
andhowheavilyIborela
thedisappointment.Butjustatthat
moment
timeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,et
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Six
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.I
peux
can,evennow,rememberthehourfromlaquelle
whichIdedicatedmyselftocette
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
corps
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
les
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstoles
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyendured
froid
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsommeil
sleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthe
journée
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,et
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromdont
whichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
et
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
dois
mustownIfeltapeu
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethedeuxième
seconddignityinthevesselet
andentreatedmetoremainavec
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Et
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegrand
greatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedinease
et
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytochaque
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewould
réponde
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
et
andmyresolutionisfirm;mais
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
un
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofdont
whichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraise
le
thespiritsofothers,butparfois
sometimestosustainmyown,quand
whentheirsarefailing.Thisis
la
themostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
sur
overthesnowintheirsledges;le
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,beaucoup
farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Le
Thecoldisnotexcessive,si
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavedéjà
alreadyadopted,forthereisune
agreatdifferencebetweenwalkingle
thedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,quand
whennoexercisepreventsthesang
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihave
pas
noambitiontolosemyvie
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghet
andArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
ville
towninafortnightortrois
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
un
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybefaire
donebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,et
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIpense
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntil
le
themonthofJune;and
quand
whenshallIreturn?Ah,
chère
dearsister,howcanIrépondre
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
nombreux
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,être
willpassbeforeyouandIpeut
maymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagain
bientôt
soon,ornever.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
et
andsaveme,thatIpuisse
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudefortout
allyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythe
temps
timepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostet
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehired
un
avesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;ceux
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIpeux
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Mais
ButIhaveonewantdont
whichIhaveneveryetbeenmesure
abletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofle
theobjectofwhichImaintenant
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavepas
nofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,
il
therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;si
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonesuis
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
vrai
true;butthatisa
pauvre
poormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
compagnie
companyofamanwhopuisse
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.You
pouvez
maydeemmeromantic,mydearsœur
sister,butIbitterlyfeelle
thewantofafriend.I
possédant
havenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedasbien
wellasofacapaciousesprit
mind,whosetastesarelikemypossédant
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Comment
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairles
thefaultsofyourpoorfrère
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
et
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Mais
Butitisastillgreatereviltomeque
thatIamself-educated:for
les
thefirstfourteenyearsofmyvie
lifeIranwildonun
acommonandreadnothingbutourOncle
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquainted
avec
withthecelebratedpoetsofourpropre
owncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmy
pouvoir
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedavec
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativepays
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
et
andaminrealitymoreilliteratethanbeaucoup
manyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
vrai
truethatIhavethoughtplus
moreandthatmydaydreamsareplus
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyveulent
want(asthepainterscallit)garder
keeping;andIgreatlyneeda
ami
friendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,et
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemyesprit
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
trouverai
findnofriendonthewideocean,normême
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantset
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedto
la
thedrossofhumannature,battent
beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
un
amanofwonderfulcourageet
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
ou
orrather,towordmyphraseplus
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.Heis
un
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalet
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainscertains
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedin
cette
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
personne
personofanexcellentdispositionet
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenesset
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Cette
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityet
anddauntlesscourage,mademetrès
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
sous
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterque
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihave
jamais
neverbelievedittobenecessary,et
andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofcœur
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Isentis
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
entendu
heardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromadame
ladywhoowestohimthehappinessofhervie
life.This,briefly,ishis
histoire
story.Someyearsagohe
aimait
lovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,et
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thepère
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
vu
sawhismistressoncebeforela
thedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
et
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthemême
sametimethatshelovedautre
another,butthathewaspauvre
poor,andthatherfatherwouldjamais
neverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
ami
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofla
thenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehad
déjà
alreadyboughtafarmwithhisargent
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassle
theremainderofhislife;mais
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetheravec
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,et
andthenhimselfsolicitedthejeune
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriageavec
withherlover.Buttheold
homme
mandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyami
friend,who,whenhefoundle
thefatherinexorable,quittedhispays
country,norreturneduntilheentendu
heardthathisformermistresswasmariée
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
mais
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
et
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,qui
which,whileitrendershisconductla
themoreastonishing,detractsfromla
theinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Pourtant
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainapeu
littleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayjamais
neverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Celles
Thoseareasfixedasfate,et
andmyvoyageisonlymaintenant
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Le
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,mais
butthespringpromiseswell,et
anditisconsideredasune
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothatpeut-être
perhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishall
ne
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
et
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomysoins
care.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
la
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
une
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,moitié
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,avec
withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
vais
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistet
andsnow,”butIshalltuerai
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
ou
orifIshouldcomerevenir
backtoyouaswornet
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,
mais
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,
les
thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofles
themostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereis
quelque chose
somethingatworkinmysoulwhichIne
donotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecute
avec
withperseveranceandlabour—butbesidescela
thisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedintous
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmesortir
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,même
eventothewildseaet
andunvisitedregionsIamsur
abouttoexplore.Butto
revenons
returntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
rencontrerai
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,et
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaou
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
tel
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartoregarder
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continuefor
le
thepresenttowritetomebychaque
everyopportunity:Imayreceiveyourletterson
certaines
someoccasionswhenIneedthemplus
mosttosupportmyspirits.Iloveyou
très
verytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
Mydear
Sœur
Sister,.Iwriteafewlinesinhasteto
dire
saythatIamsafe—andbien
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Cette
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyun
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;plus
morefortunatethanI,whopeut
maynotseemynativeland,peut-être
perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
et
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,norne
dothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehave
déjà
alreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;mais
butitistheheightofsummer,et
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,qui
whichblowusspeedilytowardsces
thoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheun
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthqui
whichIhadnotexpected.Aucun
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusqui
thatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.One
ou
ortwostiffgalesandles
thespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,et
andIshallbewellcontentsi
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformy
propre
ownsake,aswellasvôtre
yours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,
et
andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracing
un
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,les
theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnesseset
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Pourquoi
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?What
peut
canstopthedeterminedheartet
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
cœur
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Mais
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
sœur
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
un
anaccidenthashappenedtousque
thatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitistrès
veryprobablethatyouwillverrez
seemebeforethesepaperspuis
cancomeintoyourpossession.Dernier
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichfermait
closedintheshipontous
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbya
très
verythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,
espérant
hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinle
theatmosphereandweather.About
deux
twoo’clockthemistclearedaway,et
andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastet
andirregularplainsofice,qui
whichseemedtohavenofin
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
et
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulavec
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionet
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourpropre
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
et
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsle
thenorth,atthedistanceofdemi
halfamile;abeing
qui
whichhadtheshapeofun
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,assis
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.We
regardâmes
watchedtherapidprogressofthetravelleravec
withourtelescopesuntilhewasperde
lostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Cette
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
croyions
believed,manyhundredmilesfromtoute
anyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Fermé
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletosuivre
followhistrack,whichwehadobservedavec
withthegreatestattention.About
deux
twohoursafterthisoccurrenceweentendu
heardthegroundsea,andavant
beforenighttheicebrokeet
andfreedourship.We,however,laytountil
la
themorning,fearingtoencounterinla
thedarkthoselargeloosemassesqui
whichfloataboutafterthebreakingupofla
theice.Iprofitedof
ce
thistimetorestforaquelques
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeck
et
andfoundallthesailorsbusyononecôté
sideofthevessel,apparentlyparler
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,in
fait
fact,asledge,likethatwehadvu
seenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinla
thenightonalargefragmentofice.Only
un
onedogremainedalive;buttherewas
un
ahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,
un
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,mais
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeck
le
themastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,et
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishonle
theopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwith
un
aforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
dit
saidhe,“willyouhavela
thekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
entendant
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromahomme
manonthebrinkofdestructionet
andtowhomIshouldavoir
havesupposedthatmyvesselété
wouldhavebeenaresourcewhichheété
wouldnothaveexchangedforla
themostpreciouswealththeterre
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
que
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsle
thenorthernpole.Uponhearing
cela
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.Good
Dieu
God!Margaret,ifyouhad
vu
seenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurpriseété
wouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
et
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueet
andsuffering.Ineversaw
un
amaninsowretchedun
acondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
mais
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordingly
ramené
broughthimbacktothedecket
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimavec
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowune
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
montré
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketset
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofla
thekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
et
andatealittlesoup,qui
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedin
cette
thismannerbeforehewasabletoparler
speak,andIoftenfearedque
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Quand
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomypropre
owncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.I
jamais
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyes
ont
havegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,et
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,si
ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimou
ordoeshimanytheplus
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceet
andsweetnessthatInevervu
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
et
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesqui
thatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwas
un
alittlerecoveredIhadgreatmal
troubletokeepoffthemen,qui
whowishedtoaskhimun
athousandquestions;