Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
disastro
disaster
hasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
I
arrivato
arrived
hereyesterday,andmyfirst
compito
task
istoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasing
fiducia
confidence
inthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
riempie
fills
mewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
viaggiato
travelled
fromtheregionstowardswhichIam
avanzando
advancing
,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
immaginazione
imagination
astheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
neve
snow
andfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
esempio
example
,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
vista
sight
ofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
pericolo
danger
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththe
gioia
joy
achildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhis
vacanza
holiday
mates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannot
contestare
contest
theinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
generazione
generation
,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybe
effettuato
effected
byanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectof
arrivare
arriving
attheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
biblioteca
library
.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
rammarico
regret
whichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
tempio
temple
wherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
fallimento
failure
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortuna
fortune
ofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
canale
channel
oftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
teoria
theory
ofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysical
scienza
science
fromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethe
più grande
greatest
practicaladvantage.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
rimanere
remain
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidhe
considerava
consider
myservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
merito
deserve
toaccomplishsomegreat
scopo
purpose
?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
preferito
preferred
glorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
coraggio
courage
andmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
periodo
period
fortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthe
neve
snow
intheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckand
rimanere
remaining
seatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
esercizio
exercise
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
noleggiare
hire
ashipthere,whichcan
facilmente
easily
bedonebypayingtheinsuranceforthe
proprietario
owner
,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessary
tra
among
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.
Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Giugno
June
;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
Marzo
March
,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
neve
snow
!
Yetasecondstepistaken
verso
towards
myenterprise.
Ihave
noleggiato
hired
avesselandamoccupiedin
raccogliere
collecting
mysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
sembrano
appear
tobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
coraggio
courage
.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
successo
success
,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
gioia
joy
;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantico
romantic
,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
maggiore
greater
eviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
comune
common
andreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththe
celebri
celebrated
poetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandamin
realtà
reality
moreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romantico
romantic
,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
oceano
ocean
,norevenhereinArchangel,
tra
among
merchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
tenente
lieutenant
,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
coraggio
courage
andenterprise;
heismadlydesirousof
gloria
glory
,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
facilmente
easily
engagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
coraggio
courage
,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmy
carattere
character
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequally
noto
noted
forhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
equipaggio
crew
,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
romantico
romantic
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
felicità
happiness
ofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortuna
fortune
,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
cerimonia
ceremony
;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeing
informato
informed
ofthenameofher
amante
lover
,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
fattoria
farm
withhismoney,onwhichhehad
progettato
designed
topasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchase
azioni
stock
,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
amante
lover
.
Buttheoldmandecidedly
rifiutò
refused
,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathis
ex
former
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
silenzioso
silent
asaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewould
comandato
command
.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
destino
fate
,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
tempo
weather
shallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
primavera
spring
promiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearly
stagione
season
,sothatperhapsImaysail
prima
sooner
thanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
sicurezza
safety
ofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
preparando
preparing
todepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
pertanto
therefore
donotbealarmedformy
sicurezza
safety
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
produzione
production
ofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
successo
success
,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
occasione
opportunity
:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
avanzato
advanced
onmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
apparentemente
apparently
firmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregion
verso
towards
whichweareadvancing,
sembrano
appear
todismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
sebbene
although
notsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedily
verso
towards
thoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breathea
grado
degree
ofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
pericolo
danger
.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
successo
success
shallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
tracciando
tracing
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
benedica
bless
mybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Agosto
August
5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
anche se
although
itisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
Last
Lunedì
Monday
(July31st)wewere
quasi
nearly
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
tempo
weather
.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutinevery
direzione
direction
,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
verso
towards
thenorth,atthedistanceofhalfa
miglio
mile
;
abeingwhichhadthe
forma
shape
ofaman,but
apparentemente
apparently
ofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeand
guidava
guided
thedogs.
Wewatchedtherapid
progresso
progress
ofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslost
tra
among
thedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearance
eccitato
excited
ourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,in
realtà
reality
,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhis
traccia
track
,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
verso
towards
usinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedog
rimasto
remained
alive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingto
entrare
enter
thevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
apparso
appeared
ondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
sconosciuto
stranger
addressedmeinEnglish,
anche se
although
withaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothave
scambiato
exchanged
forthemostpreciouswealththeearthcan
permettersi
afford
.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
verso
towards
thenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthishe
sembrò
appeared
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
sicurezza
safety
,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswere
quasi
nearly
frozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
condizione
condition
.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
zuppa
soup
,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
creatura
creature
:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindness
verso
towards
himordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
peso
weight
ofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
ospite
guest
wasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;