Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening German B2

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening German B2

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
sich freuen
rejoice
tohearthatnodisasterhas
begleitet
accompanied
thecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
versichern
assure
mydearsisterofmy
wohlergehen
welfare
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brise
breeze
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewith
freude
delight
.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brise
breeze
,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
vergeblich
vain
tobepersuadedthatthe
pol
pole
istheseatof
frost
frost
anddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
region
region
ofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforever
sichtbar
visible
,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthe
horizont
horizon
anddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
frost
frost
arebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
region
region
hithertodiscoveredonthehabitable
globus
globe
.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodies
zweifellos
undoubtedly
areinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
ewigen
eternal
light?
Imaythere
entdecken
discover
thewondrouspowerwhichattractsthe
nadel
needle
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythis
reise
voyage
torendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardent
neugier
curiosity
withthesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemeto
beginnen
commence
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
nutzen
benefit
whichIshallconferonall
menschheit
mankind
,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringa
durchgang
passage
nearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
leuchtet
glow
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
This
expedition
expedition
hasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
aussicht
prospect
ofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhich
umgeben
surround
thepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwas
vernachlässigt
neglected
,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhad
verboten
forbidden
myuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
dichter
poet
andforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomight
erhalten
obtain
anicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
enttäuschung
disappointment
.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
I
begann
commenced
byinuringmybodytohardship.
I
begleitete
accompanied
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
freiwillig
voluntarily
enduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
bewunderung
admiration
.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
würde
dignity
inthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,so
wertvoll
valuable
didheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
erreichen
accomplish
somegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseand
luxus
luxury
,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthat
reichtum
wealth
placedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
deprimiert
depressed
.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
reise
voyage
,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
bewegung
motion
ispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealready
angenommen
adopted
,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthe
deck
deck
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihaveno
ehrgeiz
ambition
tolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishall
abreisen
depart
forthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmy
absicht
intention
istohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendto
segeln
sail
untilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagain
bezeugen
testify
mygratitudeforallyourloveand
freundlichkeit
kindness
.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
frost
frost
andsnow!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
schiff
vessel
andamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
besitzen
possessed
ofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
befriedigen
satisfy
,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIam
leuchtet
glowing
withtheenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedby
enttäuschung
disappointment
,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
medium
medium
forthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,
sanft
gentle
yetcourageous,possessedofa
kultivierten
cultivated
aswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,to
genehmigen
approve
oramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriend
reparieren
repair
thefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentin
ausführung
execution
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
überzeugung
conviction
thatIperceivedthe
notwendigkeit
necessity
ofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analphabet
illiterate
thanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnotto
verachten
despise
measromantic,and
zuneigung
affection
enoughformetoendeavourto
regulieren
regulate
mymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
beispiel
instance
,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heis
wahnsinnig
madly
desirousofglory,orrather,towordmy
ausdruck
phrase
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhis
beruf
profession
.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsof
menschheit
humanity
.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewas
arbeitslos
unemployed
inthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimto
helfen
assist
inmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
bemerkenswert
remarkable
intheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhis
disziplin
discipline
.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integrität
integrity
anddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesirousto
engagieren
engage
him.
Ayouthpassedin
einsamkeit
solitude
,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
überwinden
overcome
anintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectand
gehorsam
obedience
paidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarly
glücklich
fortunate
inbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
weise
manner
,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,
kurz
briefly
,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderable
summe
sum
inprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
gestand
confessing
atthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
sofort
instantly
abandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneyto
kaufen
purchase
stock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershis
verhalten
conduct
themoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestand
sympathie
sympathy
whichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceivea
trost
consolation
formytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
reise
voyage
isonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershall
erlaubt
permit
myembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
bemerkenswert
remarkably
earlyseason,sothatperhapsImay
segeln
sail
soonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlyto
vertrauen
confide
inmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannot
beschreiben
describe
toyoumysensationsonthenear
aussicht
prospect
ofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibleto
vermitteln
communicate
toyouaconceptionofthetrembling
gefühl
sensation
,halfpleasurableandhalf
ängstlich
fearful
,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionate
begeisterung
enthusiasm
for,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praktisch
practically
industrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewith
ausdauer
perseverance
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamaboutto
erforschen
explore
.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
immense
immense
seas,andreturnedbythemostsouthern
kap
cape
ofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
zuneigung
affection
,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Juli
July
7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
fortgeschritten
advanced
onmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
ständig
continually
passus,indicatingthedangersofthe
region
region
towardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesireto
erreichen
attain
,breatheadegreeofrenovating
wärme
warmth
whichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringour
reise
voyage
.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Be
versichert
assured
thatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshall
krönen
crown
myendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
element
element
?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
wahrscheinlich
probable
thatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyour
besitz
possession
.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
schwebte
floated
.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
nebel
fog
.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthe
nebel
mist
clearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeand
gezogen
drawn
bydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfa
meile
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
float
aboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
deck
deck
andfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhad
getrieben
drifted
towardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
überredeten
persuading
toenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheother
reisende
traveller
seemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedon
deck
deck
themastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
akzent
accent
.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkof
zerstörung
destruction
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmy
gefäß
vessel
wouldhavebeena
ressource
resource
whichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostprecious
reichtum
wealth
theearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappeared
zufrieden
satisfied
andconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
müdigkeit
fatigue
andsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
hütte
cabin
,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
deck
deck
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwith
brandy
brandy
andforcinghimto
schlucken
swallow
asmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
wunderbar
wonderfully
.
Twodayspassedinthis
weise
manner
beforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyown
kabine
cabin
andattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywould
erlaubte
permit
.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyan
ausdruck
expression
ofwildness,andeven
wahnsinn
madness
,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactof
freundlichkeit
kindness
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,witha
strahl
beam
ofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerally
melancholisch
melancholy
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asif
ungeduldig
impatient
oftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;