Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
You
fogsz
willrejoicetohearthatnem
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithilyen
suchevilforebodings.Iarrived
ide
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydrága
dearsisterofmywelfareés
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
már
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,és
andasIwalkinaz
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Iérzem
feelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,ami
whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstand
ezt
thisfeeling?Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowards
amely
whichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreams
válnak
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
próbálom
tryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostés
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
és
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
csak
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnow
és
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingover
egy
acalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoegy
alandsurpassinginwondersés
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
és
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternal
fény
light?Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedle
és
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsamely
thatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightof
egy
apartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,és
andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofember
man.Thesearemyenticements,
és
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerminden
allfearofdangerorhalál
deathandtoinducemetocommenceezt
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyagyermek
childfeelswhenheembarksinakis
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.De
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,totheutolsó
lastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;vagy
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ha
ifatallpossible,cancsak
onlybeeffectedbyanundertakingolyan
suchasmine.Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwith
amely
whichIbeganmyletter,és
andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmamely
whichelevatesmetoheaven,forsemmi
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisetheelme
mindasasteadypurpose—apont
pointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.Ez
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouriteálmom
dreamofmyearlyyears.IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOcean
keresztül
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmay
emlékszel
rememberthatahistoryofallthevoyageshogy
madeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedtheegész
wholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
mégis
yetIwaspassionatelyfondofolvasni
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
nap
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedamit
thatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningamit
thatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.Ezek
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,fortheelőször
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulés
andliftedittoheaven.I
is
alsobecameapoetandforoneyearéltem
livedinaparadiseofmysaját
owncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtain
egy
anicheinthetempleahol
wherethenamesofHomerés
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
jól
wellacquaintedwithmyfailureés
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.De
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,és
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Hat
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,even
most
now,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisnagy
greatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,
és
andwantofsleep;Ioften
dolgoztam
workedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayés
anddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,és
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
és
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
kell
mustownIfeltakicsit
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethemásodik
seconddignityinthevesselés
andentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.És
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomenagy
greatpurpose?Mylifemight
volna
havebeenpassedineaseés
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytominden
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,that
valamilyen
someencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
és
andmyresolutionisfirm;de
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
egy
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofmelynek
whichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,
hanem
butsometimestosustainmyown,amikor
whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquickly
felett
overthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,
és
and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablemint
thanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.The
hideg
coldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisanagy
greatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckés
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthevér
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihave
nincs
noambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghés
andArchangel.Ishalldepartfor
az
thelattertowninafortnightorhárom
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
egy
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,és
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongazok
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
és
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
drága
dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?Ha
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,talán
perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.Ha
IfIfail,youwillseemeújra
againsoon,ornever.Farewell,my
drága
dear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshower
le
downblessingsonyou,andsaveengem
me,thatImayagainés
andagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveés
andkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Milyen
Howslowlythetimepassesitt
here,encompassedasIambyfrostés
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehired
egy
avesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;azok
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependés
andarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButI
van
haveonewantwhichIvan
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,és
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichImost
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ivan
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ha
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonefog
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
igaz
true;butthatisa
gyenge
poormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyof
egy
amanwhocouldsympathisewithvelem
me,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
drága
dearsister,butIbitterlyérzem
feelthewantofafriend.I
vagy
havenoonenearme,gentlede
yetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapprovevagy
oramendmyplans.Howwould
ilyen
suchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourszegény
poorbrother!Iamtooardentinexecution
és
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.De
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:forthe
első
firstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonegy
acommonandreadnothingbutourBácsi
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofour
saját
owncountry;butitwas
csak
onlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithtöbb
morelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.Most
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratemint
thanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
igaz
truethatIhavethoughttöbbet
moreandthatmydaydreamsaretöbbet
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyakarják
want(asthepainterscallit)keeping;és
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldvan
havesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,és
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Nos
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;Ishallcertainly
találok
findnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsés
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossof
emberi
humannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
egy
amanofwonderfulcourageés
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
vagy
orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,
és
andinthemidstofnationalés
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
először
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardegy
awhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisa
ember
personofanexcellentdispositionés
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessés
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Ez
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityés
anddauntlesscourage,mademenagyon
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,my
legjobb
bestyearsspentunderyourgentleés
andfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:I
van
haveneverbelievedittobenecessary,és
andwhenIheardofegy
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartés
andtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhim
először
firstinratheraromanticmanner,fromegy
aladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.Ez
This,briefly,ishisstory.Néhány
Someyearsagohelovedegy
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,és
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,theapa
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
látta
sawhismistressoncebeforea
thedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
és
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,de
butthathewaspoor,és
andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
barátom
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenevét
nameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
már
hadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhemár
haddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;de
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,együtt
togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,és
andthenhimselfsolicitedthefiatal
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.De
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,gondolta
thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,aki
who,whenhefoundtheapja
fatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norvissza
returneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
you
fogod
willexclaim.Heisso;
de
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentas
egy
aTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendsőt
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestés
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Mégis
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainegy
alittleorbecauseItudom
canconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImaynevertudom
know,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
és
andmyvoyageisonlymost
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.A
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,de
butthespringpromiseswell,és
anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothattalán
perhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
és
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,
félig
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
megyek
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistés
andsnow,”butIshallölni
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
vagy
orifIshouldcomevissza
backtoyouaswornés
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
fogsz
willsmileatmyallusion,de
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
Nem
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotértek
understand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,
egy
aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceés
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisegy
aloveforthemarvellous,egy
abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinminden
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaés
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.De
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
találkozzunk
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,és
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricavagy
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
ilyen
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartonézzem
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresentto
írj
writetomebyeveryopportunity:Imayreceiveyourletterson
néhány
someoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.Iloveyou
nagyon
verytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,shouldyou
soha
neverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
drága
dearSister,.Iwritea
néhány
fewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andjól
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Ez
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyegy
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunate
mint
thanI,whomaynotlátja
seemynativeland,perhaps,forsok
manyyears.Iam,however,in
jó
goodspirits:mymenarebold
és
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreached
egy
averyhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
és
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsazok
thoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Nem
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeegy
afigureinaletter.Oneor
két
twostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,és
andIshallbewellcontentha
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
drága
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformy
maga
ownsake,aswellasyours,Ifogok
willnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbe
hűvös
cool,persevering,andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhave
mentem
gone,tracingasecurewayfelett
overthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesés
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Miért
Whynotstillproceedovera
theuntamedyetobedientelement?Whatcanstop
az
thedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofember
man?Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitself
ki
outthus.ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangeanaccidenthas
történt
happenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisnagyon
veryprobablethatyouwillseememielőtt
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Múlt
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,amely
whichclosedintheshiponminden
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominamely
whichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
egy
averythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsome
változás
changewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereés
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,
és
andwebeheld,stretchedoutinminden
everydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenincs
noend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
és
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,amikor
whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionés
anddivertedoursolicitudefromoursaját
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedon
egy
asledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceoffél
halfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeof
egy
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,ült
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopes
amíg
untilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Ez
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
de
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswevolt
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
követni
followhistrack,whichwevolt
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.Körülbelül
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrencewehearda
thegroundsea,andbeforenighta
theicebrokeandfreedourship.Mi
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutután
afterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
ezt
thistimetorestforanéhány
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeck
és
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonegyik
onesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,in
valójában
fact,asledge,likethatwevolt
hadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinaz
thenightonalargefragmentofice.Csak
Onlyonedogremainedalive;de
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhoma
thesailorswerepersuadingtoentera
thevessel.Hewasnot,asthe
másik
othertravellerseemedtobe,egy
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,de
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemaster
mondta
said,“Hereisourcaptain,és
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishonthenyílt
opensea.”Onperceivingme,
az
thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
mondta
saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuch
egy
aquestionaddressedtomefromegy
amanonthebrinkofdestructionés
andtowhomIshouldvolna
havesupposedthatmyvessellesz
wouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhelesz
wouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeföld
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
hogy
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsaz
thenorthernpole.Uponhearing
ezt
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.Jó
GoodGod!Margaret,ifyouhadseentheman
aki
whothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldvolna
havebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
és
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueés
andsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhiminto
a
thecabin,butassoonashehadquitteda
thefreshairhefainted.Weaccordingly
hogy
broughthimbacktothedeckés
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyés
andforcinghimtoswallowegy
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
mutatott
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsés
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
és
andatealittlesoup,ami
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismanner
mielőtt
beforehewasabletobeszélni
speak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingsvolt
haddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Amikor
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomysaját
owncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Inever
láttam
sawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
és
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifvalaki
anyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimvagy
ordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hisegész
wholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceés
andsweetnessthatIneverláttam
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
és
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Amikor
Whenmyguestwasakicsit
littlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,akik
whowishedtoaskhimegy
athousandquestions;