Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
आपदा
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirst
कार्य
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingआत्मविश्वास
confidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
कल्पना
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
बर्फ
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
उदाहरण
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
दृष्टि
sightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
खतरे
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththeखुशी
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisछुट्टी
holidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
पीढ़ी
generation,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthe
पसंदीदा
favouritedreamofmyearlyyears.IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacific
महासागर
Oceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
लाइब्रेरी
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
पछतावा
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
स्वर्ग
paradiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
मंदिर
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
असफलता
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
चैनल
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthe
आम
commonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,theसिद्धांत
theoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofभौतिक
physicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticalलाभ
advantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththe
सबसे बड़ी
greatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
हकदार
deservetoaccomplishsomegreatउद्देश्य
purpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferred
गौरव
glorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
साहस
courageandmyresolutionisदृढ़
firm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwill
मांग
demandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
अवधि
periodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
बर्फ
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmy
राय
opinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
व्यायाम
exercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
किराए
hireashipthere,whichcanआसानी
easilybedonebypayingtheबीमा
insurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryबीच
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
जून
June;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfI
असफल
fail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
मार्च
March,17—.Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
बर्फ
snow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
साहस
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofthe
वस्तु
objectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
सफलता
success,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
इच्छा
desirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemme
रोमांटिक
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
आम
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
रोमांटिक
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseare
बेकार
uselesscomplaints;Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthe
व्यापक
wideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
लेफ्टिनेंट
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulसाहस
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
गौरव
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationaland
व्यावसायिक
professionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
आसानी
easilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
साहस
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmy
चरित्र
characterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheसामान्य
usualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingableto
सुरक्षित
securehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
रोमांटिक
romanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimtheखुशी
happinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
समारोह
ceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttothe
संघ
union.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofher
प्रेमी
lover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughta
खेत
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchase
शेयर
stock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherप्रेमी
lover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathis
पूर्व
formermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
चुप
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldआदेश
command.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
शिकायत
complainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedas
भाग्य
fate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheमौसम
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.The
सर्दी
winterhasbeendreadfullysevere,buttheवसंत
springpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyमौसम
season,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
सुरक्षा
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
इसलिए
thereforedonotbealarmedformyसुरक्षा
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesof
समुद्र
oceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofआधुनिक
modernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthe
सामान्य
commonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
सफलता
success,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
अवसर
opportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparently
दृढ़
firmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
हालांकि
althoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheaडिग्री
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
खतरे
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
सफलता
successshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracinga
सुरक्षित
securewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
आशीर्वाद
blessmybelovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
अगस्त
August5th,17—.SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
हालांकि
althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Last
सोमवार
Monday(July31st)wewereलगभग
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyavery
घने
thickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
मौसम
weather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutinevery
दिशा
direction,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeand
खींची
drawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,attheदूरी
distanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadthe
आकार
shapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapid
प्रगति
progressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearance
उत्तेजित
excitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedog
रहा
remainedalive;buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
अजनबी
strangeraddressedmeinEnglish,हालांकि
althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemost
कीमती
preciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappeared
संतुष्ट
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
सुरक्षा
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswere
लगभग
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
स्थिति
condition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
सूप
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
प्राणी
creature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindness
प्रति
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
भार
weightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmy
अतिथि
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;