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Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhere
ieri
yesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythis
vento
windofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleisthe
sede
seatoffrostanddesolation;
itever
presenta
presentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionof
bellezza
beautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,the
sole
sunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
mare
sea,wemaybewaftedtoa
terra
landsurpassinginwondersandin
bellezza
beautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
mille
thousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreada
terra
landneverbeforeimprintedbythe
piede
footofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
paura
fearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittle
barca
boat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnative
fiume
river.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassage
vicino
nearthepoletothosecountries,to
raggiungere
reachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthe
segreto
secretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichI
iniziato
beganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmeto
cielo
heaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmay
fissare
fixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
Youmayrememberthata
storia
historyofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
studio
studydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,on
appreso
learningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmy
anima
soulandlifteditto
cielo
heaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
I
immaginavo
imaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyI
sopportato
borethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmy
cugino
cousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
Sixyearshave
passati
passedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstothe
Nord
NorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
I
spesso
oftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothe
studio
studyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.
Due volte
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittle
orgoglioso
proudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
voce
voicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
spesso
oftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalongand
difficile
difficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlyto
alzare
raisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
They
volano
flyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—a
vestito
dresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreat
differenza
differencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
nave
shipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendtosailuntilthe
mese
monthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,will
passeranno
passbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,
eccellente
excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Lettera
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetime
passa
passeshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecond
passo
stepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandare
certamente
certainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevere
male
evil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbe
nessuno
nonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtsto
carta
paper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastillgreater
male
eviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIran
selvaggio
wildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
senso
senseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
certo
certainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,
né
norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhuman
natura
nature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanof
meraviglioso
wonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimon
bordo
boardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofan
eccellente
excellentdispositionandisremarkableinthe
nave
shipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyears
trascorsi
spentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedon
bordo
boardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandthe
rispetto
respectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstin
piuttosto
ratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywho
deve
owestohimthehappinessofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedto
passare
passtheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttoher
matrimonio
marriagewithherlover.
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,
lasciò
quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarried
secondo
accordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhich
altrimenti
otherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonot
supporre
suppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itis
impossibile
impossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“the
terra
landofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldisclosea
segreto
secret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
Thereissomethingatworkinmy
anima
soulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothe
selvaggio
wildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
I
oso
darenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannot
sopportare
beartolookonthereverseofthe
quadro
picture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmostto
sostenere
supportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Lettera
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
lettera
letterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynative
terra
land,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,
né
nordothefloatingsheetsof
ghiaccio
icethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.
Wehavealready
raggiunto
reachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotso
caldo
warmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,which
soffiano
blowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,
respirano
breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakea
figura
figureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyrememberto
registrare
record,andIshallbewellcontentifnothing
peggio
worsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImust
finire
finish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Lettera
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
So
strano
strangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
ghiaccio
ice,whichclosedinthe
nave
shiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Our
situazione
situationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsof
ghiaccio
ice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmind
cominciò
begantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whena
strano
strangesightsuddenlyattractedour
attenzione
attentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourown
situazione
situation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,
passare
passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
ghiaccio
ice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualified
meraviglia
wonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,many
centinaia
hundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparition
sembrava
seemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,by
ghiaccio
ice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatest
attenzione
attention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthe
terra
groundsea,andbeforenightthe
ghiaccio
icebrokeandfreedour
nave
ship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,
temendo
fearingtoencounterinthe
buio
darkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupofthe
ghiaccio
ice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,
però
however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthe
mare
sea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightona
grande
largefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertraveller
sembrava
seemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
capitano
captain,andhewillnot
permetterà
allowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeon
bordo
boardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhave
supporre
supposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeon
bordo
board.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,your
sorpresa
surprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehad
lasciato
quittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhim
vicino
nearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodays
passarono
passedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andI
spesso
oftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmy
dovere
dutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamore
interessante
interestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsan
atto
actofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttrifling
servizio
service,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhima
mille
thousandquestions;