Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
sich freuen
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasbegleitet
accompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
versichern
assuremydearsisterofmywohlergehen
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brise
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithfreude
delight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brise
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
vergeblich
vaintobepersuadedthatthepol
poleistheseatoffrost
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
region
regionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
sichtbar
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizont
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
frost
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
region
regionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobus
globe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodies
zweifellos
undoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
ewigen
eternallight?Imaythere
entdecken
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsthenadel
needleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisreise
voyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardent
neugier
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemeto
beginnen
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
nutzen
benefitwhichIshallconferonallmenschheit
mankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringadurchgang
passagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
leuchtet
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.This
expedition
expeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
aussicht
prospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichumgeben
surroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwas
vernachlässigt
neglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhad
verboten
forbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
dichter
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomight
erhalten
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
enttäuschung
disappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
I
begann
commencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.I
begleitete
accompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;I
freiwillig
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
bewunderung
admiration.ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
würde
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sowertvoll
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
erreichen
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseand
luxus
luxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatreichtum
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
deprimiert
depressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
reise
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
bewegung
motionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealready
angenommen
adopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeck
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihaveno
ehrgeiz
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishall
abreisen
departforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;andmy
absicht
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendto
segeln
sailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagain
bezeugen
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandfreundlichkeit
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
frost
frostandsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
schiff
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
besitzen
possessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
befriedigen
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIam
leuchtet
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedby
enttäuschung
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
medium
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,
sanft
gentleyetcourageous,possessedofakultivierten
cultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,togenehmigen
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriend
reparieren
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentin
ausführung
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
überzeugung
convictionthatIperceivedthenotwendigkeit
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analphabet
illiteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnotto
verachten
despisemeasromantic,andzuneigung
affectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulieren
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
beispiel
instance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;heis
wahnsinnig
madlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyausdruck
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisberuf
profession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsof
menschheit
humanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewas
arbeitslos
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtohelfen
assistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
bemerkenswert
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdisziplin
discipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integrität
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagieren
engagehim.Ayouthpassedin
einsamkeit
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotüberwinden
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectand
gehorsam
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyglücklich
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
weise
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,
kurz
briefly,ishisstory.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderable
summe
suminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
gestand
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
sofort
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneyto
kaufen
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershis
verhalten
conductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathie
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceivea
trost
consolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
reise
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallerlaubt
permitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
bemerkenswert
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysegeln
sailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlyto
vertrauen
confideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannot
beschreiben
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearaussicht
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibleto
vermitteln
communicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblinggefühl
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalfängstlich
fearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionate
begeisterung
enthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praktisch
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithausdauer
perseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoerforschen
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
immense
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsouthernkap
capeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
zuneigung
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Juli
July7th,17—.MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
fortgeschritten
advancedonmyvoyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
ständig
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregion
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesireto
erreichen
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwärme
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringour
reise
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Be
versichert
assuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshall
krönen
crownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
element
element?Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
wahrscheinlich
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourbesitz
possession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
schwebte
floated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
nebel
fog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthe
nebel
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeand
gezogen
drawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfameile
mile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
statur
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhich
schwimmen
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
deck
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhad
getrieben
driftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
überredeten
persuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheother
reisende
travellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedon
deck
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
akzent
accent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkof
zerstörung
destructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmygefäß
vesselwouldhavebeenaressource
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousreichtum
wealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappeared
zufrieden
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
müdigkeit
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
hütte
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
deck
deckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtoschlucken
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
wunderbar
wonderfully.Twodayspassedinthis
weise
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
kabine
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywoulderlaubte
permit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyan
ausdruck
expressionofwildness,andevenwahnsinn
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactoffreundlichkeit
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withastrahl
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerally
melancholisch
melancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifungeduldig
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;