Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhere
कल
yesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iamalreadyfar
उत्तर
northofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythis
हवा
windofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleisthe
सीट
seatoffrostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionof
सौंदर्य
beautyanddelight.There,Margaret,the
सूर्य
sunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
समुद्र
sea,wemaybewaftedtoaभूमि
landsurpassinginwondersandinसौंदर्य
beautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
हजार
thousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreada
भूमि
landneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
डर
fearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleनाव
boat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeनदी
river.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassage
पास
nearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatवर्तमान
presentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthe
रहस्य
secretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmy
पत्र
letter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoस्वर्ग
heaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichtheआत्मा
soulmayfixitsintellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmy
शुरुआती
earlyyears.IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
Youmayrememberthata
इतिहास
historyofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
अध्ययन
studydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoअनुमति
allowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmy
आत्मा
soulandliftedittoस्वर्ग
heaven.Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmy
चचेरे भाई
cousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirपहले
earlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmy
वर्तमान
presentundertaking.Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fisherson
कई
severalexpeditionstotheNorthसागर
Sea;Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothe
अध्ययन
studyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.बार
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittle
गर्व
proudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
आवाज
voicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
अक्सर
oftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalongand
कठिन
difficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlyto
उठाने
raisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—a
पोशाक
dresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatअंतर
differencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
जहाज
shipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinkआवश्यक
necessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthe
महीने
monthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,
उत्कृष्ट
excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
पत्र
Letter2ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecond
कदम
stepistakentowardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandare
निश्चित
certainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevere
बुराई
evil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbe
कोई
nonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtsto
कागज
paper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,
जिसका
whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastillgreater
बुराई
eviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIran
जंगली
wildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.Atthat
उम्र
ageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
समझ
senseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
निश्चित
certainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,न
norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhuman
प्रकृति
nature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanof
अद्भुत
wonderfulcourageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,or
बल्कि
rather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstof
राष्ट्रीय
nationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofan
उत्कृष्ट
excellentdispositionandisremarkableintheजहाज
shipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboard
जहाज
ship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobe
आवश्यक
necessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtheसम्मान
respectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttoher
शादी
marriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarried
अनुसार
accordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromthe
रुचि
interestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkably
प्रारंभिक
earlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthe
निकट
nearprospectofmyundertaking.Itis
असंभव
impossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“the
भूमि
landofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldisclosea
रहस्य
secret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,the
खतरनाक
dangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereissomethingatworkinmy
आत्मा
soulwhichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothe
जंगली
wildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenot
उम्मीद
expectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseoftheचित्र
picture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmostto
समर्थन
supportmyspirits.Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
पत्र
Letter3ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
पत्र
letterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynative
भूमि
land,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,
हालांकि
however,ingoodspirits:mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,
न
nordothefloatingsheetsofबर्फ
icethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotso
गर्म
warmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichउड़ा
blowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,सांस लेते
breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakea
आंकड़ा
figureinaletter.Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyrememberto
रिकॉर्ड
record,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingबुरा
worsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImust
खत्म
finish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
पत्र
Letter4ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
So
अजीब
strangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
बर्फ
ice,whichclosedintheजहाज
shiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Our
स्थिति
situationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsof
बर्फ
ice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whena
अजीब
strangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownस्थिति
situation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthe
उत्तर
north,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
बर्फ
ice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualified
आश्चर्य
wonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,many
सौ
hundredmilesfromanyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,
हालांकि
however,byice,itwasअसंभव
impossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestध्यान
attention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardtheground
समुद्र
sea,andbeforenighttheबर्फ
icebrokeandfreedourजहाज
ship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthe
अंधेरे
darkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheबर्फ
ice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthe
समुद्र
sea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightona
बड़े
largefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscovered
द्वीप
island,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
कप्तान
captain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,
हालांकि
however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,your
आश्चर्य
surprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhim
पास
nearthechimneyoftheरसोई
kitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andI
अक्सर
oftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmy
ड्यूटी
dutywouldpermit.Ineversawamore
रोचक
interestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsan
कार्य
actofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingसेवा
service,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;