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

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

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
I
angekommen
arrived
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasing
vertrauen
confidence
inthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
fantasie
imagination
astheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
schnee
snow
andfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
anblick
sight
ofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
gefahr
danger
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththe
freude
joy
achildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobe
falsch
false
,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
generation
generation
,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacific
Ozean
Ocean
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
bibliothek
library
.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
bedauern
regret
whichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
paradies
paradise
ofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
tempel
temple
wherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
scheitern
failure
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
vermögen
fortune
ofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
kanal
channel
oftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
theorie
theory
ofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethe
größten
greatest
practicaladvantage.
TwiceIactually
eingestellt
hired
myselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
bleiben
remain
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
verdiene
deserve
toaccomplishsomegreat
zweck
purpose
?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferred
ruhm
glory
toeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmy
weg
path
.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
mut
courage
andmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourableperiodfor
reisen
travelling
inRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthe
schnee
snow
intheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
bewegung
exercise
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
mieten
hire
ashipthere,whichcan
leicht
easily
bedonebypayingthe
versicherung
insurance
fortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessary
unter
among
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Juni
June
;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
How
langsam
slowly
thetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
schnee
snow
!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihave
gemietet
hired
avesselandamoccupiedin
sammeln
collecting
mysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
mut
courage
.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
freude
joy
;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantisch
romantic
,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandamin
wirklichkeit
reality
moreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
ozean
ocean
,norevenhereinArchangel,
unter
among
merchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
leutnant
lieutenant
,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
mut
courage
andenterprise;
heismadlydesirousof
ruhm
glory
,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
leicht
easily
engagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
mut
courage
,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
A
jugend
youth
passedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetothe
übliche
usual
brutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
besatzung
crew
,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
romantische
romantic
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
vermögen
fortune
,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
zeremonie
ceremony
;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimto
verschonen
spare
her,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttothe
vereinigung
union
.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
farm
farm
withhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
liebhaber
lover
.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimself
gebunden
bound
inhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathis
ehemalige
former
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
schweigend
silent
asaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
schicksal
fate
,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
wetter
weather
shallpermitmyembarkation.
The
winter
winter
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
frühling
spring
promiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanI
erwartet
expected
.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
sicherheit
safety
ofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
daher
therefore
donotbealarmedformy
sicherheit
safety
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
produktion
production
ofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeof
Afrika
Africa
orAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
erfolg
success
,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
gelegenheit
opportunity
:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
anscheinend
apparently
firmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
obwohl
although
notsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breathea
grad
degree
ofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnot
erwartet
expected
.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
gefahr
danger
.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
erfolg
success
shallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
verfolgt
tracing
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August
August
5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
obwohl
although
itisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
Last
Montag
Monday
(July31st)wewere
fast
nearly
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
wetter
weather
.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
anblick
sight
suddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthe
entfernung
distance
ofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadthe
form
shape
ofaman,but
anscheinend
apparently
ofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapid
fortschritt
progress
ofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,in
wirklichkeit
reality
,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhis
spur
track
,whichwehadobservedwiththe
größten
greatest
attention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
offenbar
apparently
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedog
blieb
remained
alive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
erschien
appeared
ondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
fremde
stranger
addressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
sicherheit
safety
,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswere
fast
nearly
frozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueand
leiden
suffering
.
Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
zustand
condition
.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
suppe
soup
,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimof
verständnis
understanding
.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
geschöpf
creature
:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyone
sein
performs
anactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
gewicht
weight
ofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
gast
guest
wasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;