Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthat
nessun
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofun
anenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
qui
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremycara
dearsisterofmywelfaree
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
già
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,e
andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Isento
feelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,che
whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
capisci
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,
che
whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardsche
whichIamadvancing,givesmeun
aforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
questo
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsdiventano
becomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuaded
che
thatthepoleistheseatoffroste
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
e
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
appena
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,my
sorella
sister,Iwillputsomefiducia
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowe
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingovera
calmo
calmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwonderse
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
e
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedin
un
acountryofeternallight?Imaytherediscoverthewondrous
potere
powerwhichattractstheneedlee
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequiresolo
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywith
la
thesightofapartofla
theworldneverbeforevisited,e
andmaytreadalandmai
neverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
e
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangero
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencequesto
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyabambino
childfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Ma
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesti
theinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferontutte
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringun
apassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachche
whichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;o
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,che
which,ifatallpossible,cansolo
onlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmia
mine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,
e
andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornulla
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemente
mindasasteadypurpose—apunto
pointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.Questa
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritesogno
dreamofmyearlyyears.I
ho
havereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyagesche
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanattraverso
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmay
ricordi
rememberthatahistoryoftutti
allthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedi
thewholeofourgoodZio
UncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudy
giorno
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadsentito
felt,asachild,onappreso
learningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyzio
uncletoallowmetoembarkinuna
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
quando
whenIperused,fortheprima
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoule
andliftedittoheaven.Ialso
diventato
becameapoetandforoneanno
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtain
una
anicheinthetempledove
wherethenamesofHomere
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
bene
wellacquaintedwithmyfailuree
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.Ma
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,e
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Sei
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,evennow,
ricordare
rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftoquesta
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
corpo
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
i
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstoi
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyendured
freddo
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsonno
sleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthe
giorno
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,e
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromcui
whichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
e
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
devo
mustownIfeltalittleproudquando
whenmycaptainofferedmetheseconda
seconddignityinthevessele
andentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.E
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegrande
greatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedinease
e
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytoogni
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,
che
thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldrisponda
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
e
andmyresolutionisfirm;ma
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
un
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofquale
whichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
solo
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,ma
butsometimestosustainmyown,quando
whentheirsarefailing.Thisis
il
themostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
il
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farpiù
moreagreeablethanthatofuna
anEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,
se
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adressche
whichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagrande
greatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedecke
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,quando
whennoexercisepreventsthesangue
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
ho
havenoambitiontolosemyvita
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghe
andArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
città
towninafortnightortre
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
una
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybefatto
donebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,e
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIpenso
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
e
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
cara
dearsister,howcanIrispondere
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
molti
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassprima
beforeyouandImaymeet.Se
IfIfail,youwillvedrai
seemeagainsoon,ormai
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
e
andsaveme,thatImayancora
againandagaintestifymygratitudefortutto
allyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowly
il
thetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfroste
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
I
ho
havehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomI
ho
havealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandepende
andarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Ma
ButIhaveonewantwhichIho
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,e
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIora
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Iho
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwith
la
theenthusiasmofsuccess,theresarà
willbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;se
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonesarò
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
vero
true;butthatisapoormediumfor
la
thecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
compagnia
companyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme
me,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
cara
dearsister,butIbitterlysento
feelthewantofaamico
friend.Ihavenoonenear
me
me,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmente
mind,whosetastesarelikemyposseduto
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Come
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairi
thefaultsofyourpoorfratello
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
e
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Ma
Butitisastillgreatereviltomeche
thatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmy
vita
lifeIranwildonun
acommonandreadnothingbutourZio
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwith
i
thecelebratedpoetsofourownpaese
country;butitwasonly
quando
whenithadceasedtobeinmypotere
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromtale
suchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativepaese
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
e
andaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmolti
manyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
vero
truethatIhavethoughtpiù
moreandthatmydaydreamsarepiù
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asi
thepainterscallit)keeping;e
andIgreatlyneedaamico
friendwhowouldhavesenseabbastanza
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,e
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymente
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
troverò
findnofriendonthewideocean,nornemmeno
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantse
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedto
le
thedrossofhumannature,battono
beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
un
amanofwonderfulcouragee
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
o
orrather,towordmyphrasepiù
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.Heis
un
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationale
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsalcuni
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquainted
di
withhimonboardawhalevessel;finding
che
thathewasunemployedinquesta
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdisposition
e
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenesse
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Questa
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegritye
anddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
sotto
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hanno
hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterche
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:I
ho
haveneverbelievedittobenecessary,e
andwhenIheardofun
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofcuore
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Isentito
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
sentito
heardofhimfirstinratheruna
aromanticmanner,fromasignora
ladywhoowestohimla
thehappinessofherlife.Questa
This,briefly,ishisstory.Alcuni
Someyearsagoheloveduna
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,e
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,il
thefatherofthegirlconsentedtoil
thematch.Hesawhismistress
volta
oncebeforethedestinedceremony;ma
butshewasbathedintears,e
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthestesso
sametimethatshelovedanother,ma
butthathewaspoor,e
andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
amico
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenome
nameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
aveva
hadalreadyboughtafarmwithhissoldi
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisvita
life;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,
insieme
togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,e
andthenhimselfsolicitedthegiovane
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.Ma
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,pensando
thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyamico
friend,who,whenhefoundthepadre
fatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,nortornò
returneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
ma
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
e
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,che
which,whileitrendershisconductthepiù
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheintereste
andsympathywhichotherwiseheè
wouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,
perché
becauseIcomplainalittleorperché
becauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneversapere
know,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
e
andmyvoyageisonlyora
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,
ma
butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasuna
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothatforse
perhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishall
farò
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
e
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
le
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
un
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,metà
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withquale
whichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
vado
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmiste
andsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
o
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworne
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,
ma
butIwilldiscloseasecret.I
ho
haveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthepiù
mostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereis
qualcosa
somethingatworkinmysoulche
whichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseverance
e
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaamore
loveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedintutti
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmefuori
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseae
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Ma
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
incontreremo
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,e
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricao
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
tale
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartoguardare
lookonthereverseofil
thepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomeby
ogni
everyopportunity:Imayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasions
quando
whenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.I
amo
loveyouverytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,
doveste
shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
cara
dearSister,.Iwriteafewlinesinhasteto
dire
saythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.Questa
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyuna
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynot
vedere
seemynativeland,perhaps,formolti
manyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
e
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.We
abbiamo
havealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;ma
butitistheheightofsummer,e
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,i
thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoresche
whichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheun
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthche
whichIhadnotexpected.Nessun
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusche
thatwouldmakeafigureinuna
aletter.Oneortwostiffgales
e
andthespringingofaleakareaccidentsche
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,e
andIshallbewellcontentse
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
cara
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,I
siate
willnotrashlyencounterdanger.I
sarò
willbecool,persevering,andprudent.Ma
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhave
andato
gone,tracingasecurewayoverle
thepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessese
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Perché
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedancora
yetobedientelement?Whatcan
fermare
stopthedeterminedheartandresolvedvolontà
willofman?Myswelling
cuore
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Ma
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
sorella
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
un
anaccidenthashappenedtousche
thatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobableche
thatyouwillseemeprima
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Scorso
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichchiudeva
closedintheshipontutti
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordingly
sdraiammo
layto,hopingthatsomecambiamento
changewouldtakeplaceintheatmospheree
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,
e
andwebeheld,stretchedoutinogni
everydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,che
whichseemedtohavenofine
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
e
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,quando
whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentione
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceived
una
alowcarriage,fixedonuna
asledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofmezzo
halfamile;abeing
che
whichhadtheshapeofun
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,sedette
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopes
finché
untilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Questa
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
credevamo
believed,manyhundredmilesfromqualsiasi
anyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenote
che
thatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantasweavevamo
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
seguire
followhistrack,whichweavevamo
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.Circa
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrencewesentimmo
heardthegroundsea,andprima
beforenighttheicebrokee
andfreedourship.We,however,laytountil
la
themorning,fearingtoencounterinla
thedarkthoselargeloosemassesche
whichfloataboutafterthebreakingupofla
theice.Iprofitedof
questo
thistimetorestforaqualche
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,as
appena
soonasitwaslight,Iwentupondecke
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonun
onesideofthevessel,apparentlyparlare
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,
come
likethatwehadseenprima
before,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenotte
nightonalargefragmentofice.Solo
Onlyonedogremainedalive;ma
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomi
thesailorswerepersuadingtoenteri
thevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,
un
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,ma
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeck
il
themastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,e
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishonil
theopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwith
un
aforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
disse
saidhe,“willyouhavela
thekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearing
tale
suchaquestionaddressedtomefromauomo
manonthebrinkofdestructione
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthepiù
mostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
che
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsil
thenorthernpole.Uponhearing
questo
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.Good
Dio
God!Margaret,ifyouhad
visto
seenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisesarebbe
wouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
e
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatiguee
andsuffering.Ineversawa
uomo
maninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
ma
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeck
e
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandye
andforcinghimtoswallowuna
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
mostrato
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketse
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
e
andatealittlesoup,che
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedin
questo
thismannerbeforehewasabletoparlare
speak,andIoftenfearedche
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Quando
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabine
andattendedonhimasquanto
muchasmydutywouldpermit.Inever
visto
sawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
e
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,se
ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimo
ordoeshimanythepiù
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceisilluminato
lightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolencee
andsweetnessthatInevervisto
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
e
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asse
ifimpatientoftheweightofwoesche
thatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwas
un
alittlerecoveredIhadgrande
greattroubletokeepoffil
themen,whowishedtoaskhimun
athousandquestions;