Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
You
werden
willrejoicetohearthatkein
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaben
haveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
hier
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearschwester
sisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
schon
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,und
andasIwalkindie
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifühle
feelacoldnorthernbreezespielen
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesund
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstand
dieses
thisfeeling?Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreams
werden
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
versuche
tryinvaintobepersuadeddass
thatthepoleistheseatoffrostund
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
und
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
nur
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,my
schwester
sister,Iwillputsomevertrauen
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowund
andfrostarebanished;and,sailing
über
overacalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoein
alandsurpassinginwondersund
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredondas
thehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
und
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.What
kann
maynotbeexpectedinaland
countryofeternallight?I
kann
maytherediscoverthewondrouskraft
powerwhichattractstheneedleund
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequirenur
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightof
ein
apartoftheworldnie
neverbeforevisited,andmaytreadein
alandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
und
andtheyaresufficienttoconqueralle
allfearofdangerortod
deathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyakind
childfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Aber
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonalle
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsoviele
manymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertaining
die
thesecretofthemagnet,was
which,ifatallpossible,kann
canonlybeeffectedbyein
anundertakingsuchasmine.Thesereflections
haben
havedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,und
andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornichts
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apunkt
pointonwhichthesoulkann
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Diese
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOcean
durch
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayremember
dass
thatahistoryofalldie
thevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposeddie
thewholeofourgoodOnkel
UncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
doch
yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
tag
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadgefühlt
felt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’ssterben
dyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyonkel
uncletoallowmetoembarkinein
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
als
whenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulund
andliftedittoheaven.I
auch
alsobecameapoetandforeinem
oneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;Iimagined
dass
thatIalsomightobtaineine
anicheinthetemplewo
wherethenamesofHomerund
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmyfailure
und
andhowheavilyIboredie
thedisappointment.Butjustatthat
zeit
timeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,und
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Sechs
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.I
kann
can,evennow,rememberthestunde
hourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
körper
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
die
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstodie
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,
und
andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharder
als
thanthecommonsailorsduringthedayund
anddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,und
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichein
anavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
und
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
muss
mustownIfeltawenig
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmedie
theseconddignityinthevesselund
andentreatedmetoremainwithdie
thegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Und
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?My
leben
lifemighthavebeenpassedineaseund
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytojeder
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoice
würde
wouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
und
andmyresolutionisfirm;aber
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
eine
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwerden
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
nur
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,sondern
butsometimestosustainmyown,wenn
whentheirsarefailing.Thisis
die
themostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
über
overthesnowintheirsledges;die
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeableals
thanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhave
bereits
alreadyadopted,forthereisein
agreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckund
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennicht
noexercisepreventsthebloodfromtatsächlich
actuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitionto
verlieren
losemylifeonthepost-roadzwischen
betweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishalldepartfor
die
thelattertowninafortnightordrei
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
ein
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybegetan
donebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,und
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntil
die
themonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,
liebe
dearsister,howcanIbeantworten
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
viele
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,werden
willpassbeforeyouandIkönnen
maymeet.IfIfail,you
wirst
willseemeagainsoon,ornie
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
und
andsaveme,thatIkann
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourliebe
loveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowly
die
thetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostund
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehired
ein
avesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomI
sein
havealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIkann
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Aber
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhavenie
neveryetbeenabletosatisfy,und
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIjetzt
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofreund
friend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwith
der
theenthusiasmofsuccess,therewird
willbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;wenn
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
wahr
true;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwho
könnte
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
liebe
dearsister,butIbitterlyfeeldas
thewantofafriend.Ihaveno
einem
onenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousverstand
mind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.How
würde
wouldsuchafriendrepairdie
thefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentinexecution
und
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Aber
Butitisastillgreatereviltomedass
thatIamself-educated:for
die
thefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonund
andreadnothingbutourOnkel
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwith
die
thecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;aber
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictiondass
thatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmehr
morelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.Jetzt
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymehr
moreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
wahr
truethatIhavethoughtmehr
moreandthatmydaydreamsaremehr
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywollen
want(asthepainterscallit)keeping;und
andIgreatlyneedafreund
friendwhowouldhavesensegenug
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,und
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemyverstand
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
finden
findnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhier
hereinArchangel,amongmerchantsund
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossof
menschlichen
humannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
ein
amanofwonderfulcourageund
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
Heis
ein
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalund
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainseinige
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
finding
dass
thathewasunemployedindieser
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
person
personofanexcellentdispositionund
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessund
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Dieser
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityund
anddauntlesscourage,mademesehr
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
unter
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefineddie
thegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetodie
theusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihave
nie
neverbelievedittobenecessary,und
andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartund
andtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifühlte
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhim
zuerst
firstinratheraromanticmanner,fromadame
ladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishis
geschichte
story.Someyearsagoheloved
eine
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,und
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,der
thefatherofthegirlconsentedtoder
thematch.Hesawhismistress
einmal
oncebeforethedestinedceremony;aber
butshewasbathedintears,und
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatder
thesametimethatshelovedanother,aber
butthathewaspoor,und
andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttoder
theunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,
und
andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehad
bereits
alreadyboughtafarmwithhisgeld
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;aber
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,zusammen
togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,und
andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’svater
fathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.Aber
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfreund
friend,who,whenhefoundder
thefatherinexorable,quittedhisland
country,norreturneduntilhehearddass
thathisformermistresswasverheiratet
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“What
ein
anoblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
aber
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
und
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendsihn
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthenoch
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestund
andsympathywhichotherwisehewürde
wouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,
weil
becauseIcomplainalittleorweil
becauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichIkann
mayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
und
andmyvoyageisonlyjetzt
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Der
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,aber
butthespringpromiseswell,und
anditisconsideredaseine
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothatvielleicht
perhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishall
tun
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
und
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
die
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
eine
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halb
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
gehe
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistund
andsnow,”butIshalltöten
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyor
ob
ifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornund
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
werden
willsmileatmyallusion,aber
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,
die
thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofdie
themostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereis
etwas
somethingatworkinmysoulder
whichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseverance
und
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaliebe
loveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeaus
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,sogar
eventothewildseaund
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Aber
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
treffen
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,und
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbearto
schauen
lookonthereverseofdie
thepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomeby
jeder
everyopportunity:Imayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasions
wenn
whenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.I
liebe
loveyouverytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,
sollten
shouldyouneverhearfrommewieder
again.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
liebe
dearSister,.Iwritea
paar
fewlinesinhastetosagen
saythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.Dieser
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmanjetzt
nowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;mehr
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotsehen
seemynativeland,perhaps,forviele
manyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
und
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.We
haben
havealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;aber
butitistheheightofsummer,und
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthat
werden
wouldmakeafigureinaletter.Oneor
zwei
twostiffgalesandthespringingofein
aleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,und
andIshallbewellcontentwenn
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
liebe
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
I
werde
willbecool,persevering,andprudent.Aber
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhave
gegangen
gone,tracingasecurewayüber
overthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesund
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Warum
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?What
kann
canstopthedeterminedheartund
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
herz
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Aber
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
schwester
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
ein
anaccidenthashappenedtousso
thatIcannotforbearrecordinges
it,althoughitisveryprobableso
thatyouwillseemebevor
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,which
schloss
closedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbya
sehr
verythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,
hofften
hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereund
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistcleared
entfernte
away,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastund
andirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohaben
havenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
und
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,als
whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionund
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
und
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;ein
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofein
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeund
andguidedthedogs.We
beobachteten
watchedtherapidprogressofden
thetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongden
thedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Dieses
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
glaubten
believed,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;aber
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Schlossen
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofolgen
followhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.About
zwei
twohoursafterthisoccurrencewehearddas
thegroundsea,andbeforeabend
nighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.Wir
We,however,laytountilthemorgen
morning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutnach
afterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
diese
thistimetorestforein
afewhours.Inthe
morgen
morning,however,assoonasitwaslicht
light,Iwentupondeckund
andfoundallthesailorsbusyoneiner
onesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneindas
thesea.Itwas,infact,
ein
asledge,likethatwehadgesehen
seenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenacht
nightonalargefragmentofice.Nur
Onlyonedogremainedalive;aber
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,as
der
theothertravellerseemedtobe,ein
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,sondern
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeck
der
themastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,und
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishonder
theopensea.”Onperceiving
mich
me,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyou
sein
havethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearing
solche
suchaquestionaddressedtomefromeine
amanonthebrinkofdestructionund
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposeddass
thatmyvesselwouldhavebeeneine
aresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeerde
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
dass
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfied
und
andconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,
wenn
ifyouhadseenthemann
manwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
und
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueund
andsuffering.Ineversawa
mann
maninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhiminto
die
thecabin,butassoonashehadquitteddie
thefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthim
wieder
backtothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyund
andforcinghimtoswalloweine
asmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsof
leben
lifewewrappedhimupinblanketsund
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofder
thekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
und
andatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Zwei
Twodayspassedinthismannerbevor
beforehewasabletosprechen
speak,andIoftenfeareddass
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabin
und
andattendedonhimassehr
muchasmydutywouldpermit.I
nie
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
und
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifjemand
anyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimortut
doeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceund
andsweetnessthatInevergesehen
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
und
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppressesihn
him.Whenmyguestwasa
etwas
littlerecoveredIhadgreatschwierigkeiten
troubletokeepoffthemen,whowollten
wishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;