Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
disastro
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.I
arrivato
arrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirstcompito
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingfiducia
confidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
riempie
fillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
viaggiato
travelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamavanzando
advancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
immaginazione
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
neve
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
esempio
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
vista
sightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
pericolo
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththegioia
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisvacanza
holidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannot
contestare
contesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgenerazione
generation,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybe
effettuato
effectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectof
arrivare
arrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
biblioteca
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
rammarico
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
tempio
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
fallimento
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortuna
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothecanale
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
teoria
theoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalscienza
sciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethepiù grande
greatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
rimanere
remainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsiderava
considermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
merito
deservetoaccomplishsomegreatscopo
purpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
preferito
preferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
coraggio
courageandmyresolutionisfirm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
periodo
periodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
neve
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckand
rimanere
remainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoesercizio
exercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
noleggiare
hireashipthere,whichcanfacilmente
easilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheproprietario
owner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessarytra
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-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
towardsmyenterprise.Ihave
noleggiato
hiredavesselandamoccupiedinraccogliere
collectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
sembrano
appeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscoraggio
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
successo
success,therewillbenonetoparticipatemygioia
joy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantico
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
maggiore
greatereviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
comune
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththe
celebri
celebratedpoetsofourowncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandamin
realtà
realitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romantico
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
oceano
ocean,norevenhereinArchangel,tra
amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
tenente
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcoraggio
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
gloria
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
facilmente
easilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
coraggio
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmy
carattere
characterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequally
noto
notedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhisequipaggio
crew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
romantico
romanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthefelicità
happinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortuna
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
cerimonia
ceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeing
informato
informedofthenameofheramante
lover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughta
fattoria
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehadprogettato
designedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchase
azioni
stock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithheramante
lover.Buttheoldmandecidedly
rifiutò
refused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisex
formermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
silenzioso
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcomandato
command.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
destino
fate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthetempo
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
primavera
springpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlystagione
season,sothatperhapsImaysailprima
soonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
sicurezza
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
preparando
preparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
pertanto
thereforedonotbealarmedformysicurezza
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
produzione
productionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.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
advancedonmyvoyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
apparentemente
apparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregionverso
towardswhichweareadvancing,sembrano
appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
sebbene
althoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilyverso
towardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheagrado
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
pericolo
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
successo
successshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
tracciando
tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
benedica
blessmybelovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Agosto
August5th,17—.SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
anche se
althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Last
Lunedì
Monday(July31st)wewerequasi
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
tempo
weather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutinevery
direzione
direction,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
verso
towardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamiglio
mile;abeingwhichhadthe
forma
shapeofaman,butapparentemente
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidava
guidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapid
progresso
progressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslosttra
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearance
eccitato
excitedourunqualifiedwonder.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
towardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyonedog
rimasto
remainedalive;buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingto
entrare
enterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
apparso
appearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,the
sconosciuto
strangeraddressedmeinEnglish,anche se
althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothave
scambiato
exchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanpermettersi
afford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
verso
towardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthishe
sembrò
appearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
sicurezza
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswere
quasi
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
condizione
condition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
zuppa
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
creatura
creature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindness
verso
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
peso
weightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmy
ospite
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;