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

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

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
désastre
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirst
tâche
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthe
succès
successofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
remplit
fillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregions
vers
towardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
imagination
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
neige
snowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
exemple
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
vue
sightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththe
joie
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhis
vacances
holidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannot
contester
contesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
génération
generation,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
bibliothèque
library.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
regret
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
temple
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
échec
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortune
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
canal
channeloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
théorie
theoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesof
physique
physicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethe
plus
greatestpracticaladvantage.
TwiceIactually
engagé
hiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
rester
remainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidhe
considérait
considermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
mérite
deservetoaccomplishsomegreat
but
purpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
préféré
preferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
courage
courageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsare
échoue
failing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
période
periodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthe
neige
snowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmy
avis
opinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckand
rester
remainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
exercice
exercisepreventsthebloodfromactually
geler
freezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
louer
hireashipthere,whichcan
facilement
easilybedonebypayingtheinsuranceforthe
propriétaire
owner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessary
parmi
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Juin
June;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
Mars
March,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
neige
snow!
Yetasecondstepistaken
vers
towardsmyenterprise.
Ihave
loué
hiredavesselandamoccupiedin
rassembler
collectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
semblent
appeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
courage
courage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
succès
success,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
joie
joy;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
désire
desirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantique
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
plus
greatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
commun
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththe
célèbres
celebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romantique
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthe
large
wideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,
parmi
amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
lieutenant
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
courage
courageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
facilement
easilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
courage
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
A
jeunesse
youthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmy
caractère
characterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
équipage
crew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
romantique
romanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
bonheur
happinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortune
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
cérémonie
ceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeing
informé
informedofthenameofher
amant
lover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
ferme
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththe
restes
remainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
amant
lover.
Buttheoldmandecidedly
refusa
refused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
silencieux
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
destin
fate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
temps
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
printemps
springpromiseswell,anditis
considéré
consideredasaremarkablyearly
saison
season,sothatperhapsImaysail
plus tôt
soonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
sécurité
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
prépare
preparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
par conséquent
thereforedonotbealarmedformy
sécurité
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
production
productionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
succès
success,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
Imay
recevoir
receiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
avancé
advancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
apparemment
apparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregion
vers
towardswhichweareadvancing,
semblent
appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedily
vers
towardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardently
désire
desiretoattain,breathea
degré
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
succès
successshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
traçant
tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
bénisse
blessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Août
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
Last
Lundi
Monday(July31st)wewere
presque
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyavery
épais
thickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
temps
weather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
vue
sightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
vers
towardsthenorth,atthe
distance
distanceofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadthe
forme
shapeofaman,but
apparemment
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeand
guidait
guidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslost
parmi
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearance
excité
excitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththe
plus
greatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
apparemment
apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
vers
towardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedog
resté
remainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcan
permettre
afford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
vers
towardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthishe
sembla
appearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
sécurité
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswere
presque
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
état
condition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
soupe
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,I
retiré
removedhimtomyowncabinand
assisté
attendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
créature
creature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyone
accomplit
performsanactofkindness
envers
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
poids
weightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
invité
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;