Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoiceto
ouvir
hearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedo
thecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedcom
withsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
aqui
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremyquerida
dearsisterofmywelfaree
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
já
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,e
andasIwalkino
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Isinto
feelacoldnorthernbreezebrincar
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervese
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
compreendes
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,
que
whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardsque
whichIamadvancing,givesmeum
aforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
este
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamstornam
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
tento
tryinvaintobepersuadedque
thatthepoleistheseatoffroste
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
e
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
apenas
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingum
aperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,my
irmã
sister,Iwillputsomeconfiar
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowe
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingovera
calmo
calmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwonderse
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
e
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asos
thephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.What
pode
maynotbeexpectedinapaís
countryofeternallight?Imay
ali
therediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedlee
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireapenas
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriosity
com
withthesightofaparte
partoftheworldneverantes
beforevisited,andmaytreaduma
alandneverbeforeimprintedbya
thefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,
e
andtheyaresufficienttoconquertodo
allfearofdangerormorte
deathandtoinducemetocommenceesta
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyacriança
childfeelswhenheembarksinapequeno
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Mas
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitque
whichIshallconferonallmankind,totheúltima
lastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletoaqueles
thosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;ou
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,que
which,ifatallpossible,pode
canonlybeeffectedbyuma
anundertakingsuchasmine.Estas
Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationcom
withwhichIbeganmyletter,e
andIfeelmyheartglowcom
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornada
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemente
mindasasteadypurpose—aponto
pointonwhichthesoulpode
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Esta
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritesonho
dreamofmyearlyyears.Ihave
li
readwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyagesque
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanatravés
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmay
lembre
rememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourbom
goodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondof
ler
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
dia
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritycom
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadsentia
felt,asachild,onsaber
learningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmytio
uncletoallowmetoembarkinuma
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
quando
whenIperused,forthefirstvez
time,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoule
andliftedittoheaven.I
também
alsobecameapoetandforoneano
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;Iimagined
que
thatIalsomightobtainum
anicheinthetempleonde
wherethenamesofHomere
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
bem
wellacquaintedwithmyfailuree
andhowheavilyIboreo
thedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,
e
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Seis
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,
mesmo
evennow,rememberthehourfromque
whichIdedicatedmyselftoesta
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
corpo
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
os
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstoos
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyendured
frio
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsono
sleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthe
dia
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,e
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichum
anavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceI
realmente
actuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,e
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
devo
mustownIfeltapouco
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevessele
andentreatedmetoremaincom
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.E
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishalgum
somegreatpurpose?Mylife
poderia
mighthavebeenpassedineasee
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytocada
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,
que
thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldrespondesse
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
e
andmyresolutionisfirm;mas
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalong
e
anddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandtoda
allmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
só
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,mas
butsometimestosustainmyown,quando
whentheirsarefailing.Thisis
o
themostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
sobre
overthesnowintheirsledges;o
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,muito
farmoreagreeablethanthatofuma
anEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,
se
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adressque
whichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagrande
greatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedecke
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,quando
whennoexercisepreventsthesangue
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
tenho
havenoambitiontolosemyvida
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghe
andArchangel.Ishalldepartfor
a
thelattertowninafortnightou
orthreeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
um
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybefeito
donebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,e
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIachar
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosail
até
untilthemonthofJune;e
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
querida
dearsister,howcanIresponder
answerthisquestion?IfIsucceed,
muitos
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassantes
beforeyouandImayencontrar
meet.IfIfail,youwill
ver
seemeagainsoon,ornunca
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
e
andsaveme,thatIpossa
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudefortodo
allyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowly
o
thetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfroste
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehired
um
avesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;aqueles
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIposso
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Mas
ButIhaveonewantwhichItenho
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,e
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIagora
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Itenho
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowing
com
withtheenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;se
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonefor
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
verdade
true;butthatisa
pobre
poormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
companhia
companyofamanwhopossa
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomeus
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
querida
dearsister,butIbitterlysinto
feelthewantofaamigo
friend.Ihavenoonenear
mim
me,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedasbem
wellasofacapaciousmente
mind,whosetastesarelikemypossuído
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Como
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairas
thefaultsofyourpoorirmão
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
e
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Mas
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:for
os
thefirstfourteenyearsofmyvida
lifeIranwildonum
acommonandreadnothingbutourTio
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwith
os
thecelebratedpoetsofourownpaís
country;butitwasonly
quando
whenithadceasedtobeinmypoder
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromtal
suchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedcom
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativepaís
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
e
andaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmuitos
manyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
verdade
truethatIhavethoughtmais
moreandthatmydaydreamsaremais
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyquerem
want(asthepainterscallit)manter
keeping;andIgreatlyneed
um
afriendwhowouldhavesensesuficiente
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,e
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymente
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
encontrarei
findnofriendonthewideocean,norevenaqui
hereinArchangel,amongmerchantse
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,
batem
beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
um
amanofwonderfulcouragee
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
ou
orrather,towordmyphrasemais
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.Heis
um
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationale
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsalguns
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboard
um
awhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthis
cidade
city,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
pessoa
personofanexcellentdispositione
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenesse
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Esta
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegritye
anddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
sob
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterque
thatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihave
nunca
neverbelievedittobenecessary,e
andwhenIheardofum
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofcoração
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Isenti
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
ouvi
heardofhimfirstinratheruma
aromanticmanner,fromasenhora
ladywhoowestohimthehappinessofhervida
life.This,briefly,ishis
história
story.Someyearsagohe
amava
lovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,e
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,o
thefatherofthegirlconsentedtoo
thematch.Hesawhismistressonce
antes
beforethedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
e
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthemesmo
sametimethatshelovedoutro
another,butthathewaspobre
poor,andthatherfatherwouldnunca
neverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
amigo
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofa
thenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
tinha
hadalreadyboughtafarmcom
withhismoney,onwhichhetinha
haddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisvida
life;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,together
com
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,e
andthenhimselfsolicitedthejovem
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagecom
withherlover.Butthe
velho
oldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyamigo
friend,who,whenhefoundthepai
fatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norvoltou
returneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
you
vai
willexclaim.Heisso;
mas
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
e
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,enquanto
whileitrendershisconductthemais
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheintereste
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.No entanto
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainum
alittleorbecauseIposso
canconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichIposso
mayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Esses
Thoseareasfixedasfate,e
andmyvoyageisonlyagora
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinter
tem
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromete
promiseswell,anditisconsideredasuma
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothattalvez
perhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishall
farei
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
e
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
uma
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,meio
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,com
withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
vou
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmiste
andsnow,”butIshallmatar
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
ou
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworne
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
vai
willsmileatmyallusion,mas
butIwilldiscloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthe
mais
mostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereis
algo
somethingatworkinmysoulque
whichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecute
com
withperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaamor
loveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedintodos
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseae
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Mas
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallImeetyouagain,after
ter
havingtraversedimmenseseas,andvolto
returnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaou
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
tal
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartoolhar
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresentto
escrever
writetomebyeveryopportunity:I
posso
mayreceiveyourlettersonalgumas
someoccasionswhenIneedthemmais
mosttosupportmyspirits.I
amo
loveyouverytenderly.Rememberme
com
withaffection,shouldyouneverouvir
hearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
querida
dearSister,.Iwriteafewlinesinhasteto
dizer
saythatIamsafe—andbem
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Esta
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyum
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;mais
morefortunatethanI,whopode
maynotseemynativeland,talvez
perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,in
bom
goodspirits:mymenarebold
e
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaylos
them.Wehavealreadyreached
uma
averyhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
e
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheum
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Nenhum
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusque
thatwouldmakeafigureinuma
aletter.Oneortwostiffgales
e
andthespringingofaleakareaccidentsque
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,e
andIshallbewellcontentse
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
querida
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellas
seu
yours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,
e
andprudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracing
um
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessese
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceed
sobre
overtheuntamedyetobedientelement?What
pode
canstopthedeterminedhearte
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
coração
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Mas
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
irmã
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
um
anaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitismuito
veryprobablethatyouwillveja
seemebeforethesepapersposso
cancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,
que
whichclosedintheshipontodos
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominque
whichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
um
averythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,
esperando
hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmospheree
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,
e
andwebeheld,stretchedoutintodas as
everydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,que
whichseemedtohavenofim
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
e
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulcom
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentione
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
e
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofmeia
halfamile;abeing
que
whichhadtheshapeofum
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,sentou
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetraveller
com
withourtelescopesuntilhewasperdeu
lostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Esta
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
acreditávamos
believed,manyhundredmilesfromqualquer
anyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswe
tínhamos
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
seguir
followhistrack,whichwetínhamos
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.About
duas
twohoursafterthisoccurrenceweouvimos
heardthegroundsea,andantes
beforenighttheicebrokee
andfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthe
manhã
morning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemassesque
whichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
este
thistimetorestforafewhours.Inthe
manhã
morning,however,assoonasitwasluz
light,Iwentupondecke
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonum
onesideofthevessel,apparentlyconversando
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,in
fato
fact,asledge,likethatwehadseenantes
before,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenoite
nightonalargefragmentofice.Só
Onlyonedogremainedalive;mas
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,as
o
theothertravellerseemedtobe,um
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,mas
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeck
o
themastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,e
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishono
theopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,although
com
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
disse
saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
ouvir
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromum
amanonthebrinkofdestructione
andtowhomIshouldter
havesupposedthatmyvesselwouldter
havebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnotter
haveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeterra
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
que
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Upon
ouvir
hearingthisheappearedsatisfiede
andconsentedtocomeonboard.Good
Deus
God!Margaret,ifyouhadseenthe
homem
manwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
e
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatiguee
andsuffering.Ineversawa
homem
maninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
mas
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshar
airhefainted.Weaccordingly
trouxemos
broughthimbacktothedecke
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimcom
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowuma
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
mostrou
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketse
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofo
thekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
e
andatealittlesoup,que
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismanner
antes
beforehewasabletofalar
speak,andIoftenfearedque
thathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Quando
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabine
andattendedonhimastanto
muchasmydutywouldpermit.I
nunca
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyes
têm
havegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,e
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,se
ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimou
ordoeshimanythemais
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,com
withabeamofbenevolencee
andsweetnessthatInevervi
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
e
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asse
ifimpatientoftheweightofwoesque
thatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwas
um
alittlerecoveredIhadgrande
greattroubletokeepoffthemen,que
whowishedtoaskhimum
athousandquestions;