Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
Iarrivedhere
ontem
yesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythis
vento
windofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleisthe
assento
seatoffrostanddesolation;itever
apresenta
presentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeleza
beautyanddelight.There,Margaret,the
sol
sunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
mar
sea,wemaybewaftedtoaterra
landsurpassinginwondersandinbeleza
beautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbe
esperar
expectedinacountryofeternallight?Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
mil
thousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreada
terra
landneverbeforeimprintedbythepé
footofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
medo
fearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittlebarco
boat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativerio
river.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassage
perto
nearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthe
segredo
secretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichI
comecei
beganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetocéu
heaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthealma
soulmayfixitsintellectualolho
eye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmy
primeiros
earlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingatthe
Norte
NorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayrememberthata
história
historyofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
estudo
studydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onsaber
learningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletopermitir
allowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoets
cujas
whoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittocéu
heaven.Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
I
imaginei
imaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyI
suportei
borethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmy
primo
cousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheiranterior
earlierbent.Sixyearshave
passaram
passedsinceIresolvedonmypresente
presentundertaking.Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstothe
Norte
NorthSea;Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
I
muitas vezes
oftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsdurante
duringthedayanddevotedmynightstotheestudo
studyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.Duas vezes
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittle
orgulhoso
proudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
voz
voicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
muitas vezes
oftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalongand
difícil
difficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlyto
levantar
raisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
They
voam
flyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—a
vestido
dresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdiferença
differencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
navio
shipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessário
necessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthe
mês
monthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,will
passarão
passbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,
excelente
excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Carta
Letter2ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetime
passa
passeshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!Yetasecond
passo
stepistakentowardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandare
certamente
certainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevere
mal
evil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbe
ninguém
nonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtsto
papel
paper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,
cujos
whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,
cujos
whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastillgreater
mal
eviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIran
selvagem
wildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.Atthat
idade
ageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
senso
senseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
certamente
certainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhuman
natureza
nature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimon
bordo
boardawhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofan
excelente
excellentdispositionandisremarkableinthenavio
shipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedon
bordo
boardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobe
necessário
necessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespeito
respectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstin
bastante
ratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhodeve
owestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,and
atirando
throwingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedto
passar
passtheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttoher
casamento
marriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromthe
interesse
interestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonot
suponha
suppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanI
esperava
expected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itis
impossível
impossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“the
terra
landofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouas
desgastado
wornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwill
sorrir
smileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasegredo
secret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
Thereissomethingatworkinmy
alma
soulwhichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—but
além
besidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventotheselvagem
wildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenot
esperar
expectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotsuportar
beartolookonthereverseofthequadro
picture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmostto
apoiar
supportmyspirits.Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letra
Letter3ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
carta
letterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynative
terra
land,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,
no entanto
however,ingoodspirits:mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,
nem
nordothefloatingsheetsofgelo
icethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealready
atingimos
reachedaveryhighlatitude;butitistheheightof
verão
summer,andalthoughnotsoquente
warmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,respiram
breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotesperava
expected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakea
figura
figureinaletter.Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothing
pior
worsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImust
terminar
finish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Carta
Letter4ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
So
estranho
strangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
gelo
ice,whichclosedinthenavio
shiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Our
situação
situationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsof
gelo
ice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmind
começou
begantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedouratenção
attentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituação
situation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,
passar
passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
gelo
ice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,many
centenas
hundredmilesfromanyland;butthisapparition
parecia
seemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,
no entanto
however,byice,itwasimpossível
impossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestatenção
attention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthe
terra
groundsea,andbeforenightthegelo
icebrokeandfreedournavio
ship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,
temendo
fearingtoencounterintheescuro
darkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupofthegelo
ice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,
porém
however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthemar
sea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightona
grande
largefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertraveller
parecia
seemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredilha
island,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
capitão
captain,andhewillnotpermitirá
allowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhave
suposto
supposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,
porém
however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeon
bordo
board.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,your
surpresa
surprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthe
fresco
freshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyand
forçando
forcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhim
perto
nearthechimneyofthecozinha
kitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodays
passaram
passedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andImuitas vezes
oftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmy
dever
dutywouldpermit.Ineversawamore
interessante
interestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsan
ato
actofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingserviço
service,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhima
mil
thousandquestions;