Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoiceto
usłyszysz
hearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
tu
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
już
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,i
andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Iczuję
feelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,który
whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,
który
whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardsktóry
whichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteoftych
thoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
tym
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsstają się
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
próbuję
tryinvaintobepersuadedże
thatthepoleistheseatoffrosti
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
i
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
tylko
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—for
z
withyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsomeufam
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowi
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwonders
i
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
i
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareintych
thoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedina
kraju
countryofeternallight?I
może
maytherediscoverthewondrousmoc
powerwhichattractstheneedlei
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequiretylko
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofa
części
partoftheworldneverbeforevisited,i
andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
i
andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerlub
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencetej
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyadziecko
childfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onto
anexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Ale
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonwszystkie
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsowiele
manymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,
co
which,ifatallpossible,może
canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingtakie
suchasmine.Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitation
z
withwhichIbeganmyletter,i
andIfeelmyheartglowz
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornic
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apunkt
pointonwhichthesoulmoże
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Ta
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyages
które
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanprzez
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.You
może
mayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthecałej
wholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Te
Thesevolumesweremystudydzień
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedże
thatregretwhichIhadodczuwałem
felt,asachild,onlearningże
thatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthe
po raz pierwszy
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouli
andliftedittoheaven.I
także
alsobecameapoetandforonerok
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;Iimagined
że
thatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomeri
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
dobrze
wellacquaintedwithmyfailurei
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.Ale
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,a
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Sześć
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,
nawet
evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
ciała
bodytohardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyendured
zimno
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsnu
sleep;Ioftenworkedharder
niż
thanthecommonsailorsduringthednia
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,i
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
i
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownI
czułem
feltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesseli
andentreatedmetoremainz
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.A
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedinease
i
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewould
odpowiedział
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
i
andmyresolutionisfirm;ale
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalong
i
anddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichbędą
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
tylko
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,ale
butsometimestosustainmywłasny
own,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquickly
nad
overthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,
i
and,inmyopinion,farbardziej
moreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.The
zimno
coldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavejuż
alreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencemiędzy
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthekrwi
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
mam
havenoambitiontolosemyżycia
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghi
andArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
miasta
towninafortnightortrzy
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohireaship
tam
there,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,i
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIuważam
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
a
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,dearsister,
jak
howcanIanswerthispytanie
question?IfIsucceed,many,
wiele
manymonths,perhapsyears,willpasszanim
beforeyouandImayspotkać
meet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagain
wkrótce
soon,ornever.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
i
andsaveme,thatImayagaini
andagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourmiłość
loveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythe
czas
timepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrosti
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavessel
i
andamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomI
posiadają
havealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependi
andarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Ale
ButIhaveonewantwhichImam
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,a
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIteraz
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Imam
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,
nie
therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;jeśli
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,nie
noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
prawda
true;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofaman
który
whocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomoje
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,
ale
butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.I
mam
havenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousumysł
mind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapprovelub
oramendmyplans.Howwouldsucha
przyjaciel
friendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrata
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
i
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Ale
Butitisastillgreatereviltomeże
thatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmy
życia
lifeIranwildonacommoni
andreadnothingbutourWujka
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourown
kraju
country;butitwasonly
gdy
whenithadceasedtobeinmymocy
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesniż
thanthatofmynativekraju
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
i
andaminrealitymoreilliterateniż
thanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
prawda
truethatIhavethoughtmorei
andthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedi
andmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;i
andIgreatlyneedafriendktóry
whowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,i
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemyumysł
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
znajdę
findnofriendonthewideocean,nornawet
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsi
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beat
nawet
evenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourage
i
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrase
bardziej
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,
i
andinthemidstofnationali
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsniektóre
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
po raz pierwszy
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;finding
że
thathewasunemployedintym
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdisposition
i
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessi
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Ta
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityi
anddauntlesscourage,mademebardzo
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
pod
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterże
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihave
nigdy nie
neverbelievedittobenecessary,andgdy
whenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ipoczułem
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
usłyszałem
heardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromadamy
ladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherżycia
life.This,briefly,ishis
historia
story.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,
a
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,theojciec
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
widział
sawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;ale
butshewasbathedintears,i
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthetym samym
sametimethatshelovedinnego
another,butthathewaspoor,i
andthatherfatherwouldnigdy nie
neverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
przyjaciel
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehad
już
alreadyboughtafarmwithhispieniądze
money,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisżycia
life;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,
wraz
togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,a
andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sojca
fathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherlover.Ale
Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,gdy
whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiskraj
country,norreturneduntilheusłyszał
heardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
ale
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattends
mu
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthebardziej
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,
dlatego
becauseIcomplainalittlealbo
orbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImaynigdy nie
neverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
a
andmyvoyageisonlyteraz
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,
ale
butthespringpromiseswell,i
anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,soże
thatperhapsImaysailsoonerniż
thanIexpected.Ishall
zrobię
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
i
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmist
i
andsnow,”butIshallzabiję
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworn
i
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,
ale
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasm
dla
for,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthenajbardziej
mostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Nie
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotrozumiem
understand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseverance
i
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisamiłość
loveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichspieszy
hurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,nawet
eventothewildseai
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Ale
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
spotkam
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,i
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricalub
orAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresentto
pisz
writetomebyeveryopportunity:Imayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasions
kiedy
whenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.Iloveyou
bardzo
verytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,shouldyounever
usłyszysz
hearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
I
piszę
writeafewlinesinhastetopowiedzieć
saythatIamsafe—anddobrze
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Ten
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;bardziej
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,forwiele
manyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
i
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassnas
us,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismayich
them.Wehavealreadyreacheda
bardzo
veryhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
i
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,które
whichblowusspeedilytowardstych
thoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthktóre
whichIhadnotexpected.Nie
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusktóre
thatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.Jeden
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentsktóre
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentjeśli
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassured
że
thatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,
i
andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
Thus
daleko
farIhavegone,tracingasecuredrogę
wayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Dlaczego
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?What
może
canstopthedeterminedhearti
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
serce
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Ale
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangeanaccidenthas
zdarzył
happenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordinggo
it,althoughitisveryprobableże
thatyouwillseemezanim
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,
który
whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominktóry
whichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbya
bardzo
verythickfog.Weaccordingly
leżeliśmy
layto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmospherei
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretched
się
outineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,które
whichseemedtohavenokońca
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmy
własny
ownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,kiedy
whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourwłasny
ownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
i
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofpół
halfamile;abeing
która
whichhadtheshapeofaman,ale
butapparentlyofgiganticstature,siedziała
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopes
dopóki
untilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Ten
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
wierzyliśmy
believed,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;ale
butthisapparitionseemedtodenoteże
thatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,
które
whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.Około
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweusłyszeliśmy
heardthegroundsea,andprzed
beforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.My
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkte
thoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutpo
afterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
ten
thistimetorestforakilka
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeck
i
andfoundallthesailorsbusyononestronie
sideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtokimś
someoneinthesea.Itwas,in
rzeczywistości
fact,asledge,likethatwehadwidzieliśmy
seenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenocy
nightonalargefragmentofice.Tylko
Onlyonedogremainedalive;ale
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,
ale
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemaster
powiedział
said,“Hereisourcaptain,i
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceiving
mnie
me,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughz
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
powiedział
saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
usłyszałem
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructioni
andtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
że
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearing
tego
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.Dobry
GoodGod!Margaret,ifyouhad
widziała
seenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
I
nigdy nie
neversawamaninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
ale
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordingly
przywieźliśmy
broughthimbacktothedecki
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimz
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsof
życia
lifewewrappedhimupinblanketsi
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
i
andatealittlesoup,która
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedin
ten
thismannerbeforehewasstanie
abletospeak,andIoftenfearedże
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Kiedy
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabini
andattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.I
nigdy nie
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyes
mają
havegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andnawet
evenmadness,buttherearemomentskiedy
when,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimlub
ordoeshimanythenajbardziej
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessże
thatIneversawequalled.Ale
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andczasami
sometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesktóre
thatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwasa
trochę
littlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,którzy
whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;