Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwill
alegrará
rejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasacompanhou
accompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveconsiderou
regardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
assegurar
assuremydearsisterofmybem-estar
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brisa
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithprazer
delight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brisa
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
vão
vaintobepersuadedthatthepólo
poleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
região
regionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
visível
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonte
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
geada
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitable
globo
globe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodies
sem dúvida
undoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
eterna
eternallight?Imaythere
descubra
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichatrai
attractstheneedleandmayregular
regulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequerem
requireonlythisvoyagetotornar
rendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardent
curiosidade
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaypisar
treadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficientto
vencer
conquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousviagem
voyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpedição
expeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
benefício
benefitwhichIshallconferonallhumanidade
mankind,tothelastgeneration,bydescobrindo
discoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthe
ímã
magnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
brilhar
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasafirme
steadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintelectual
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthe
favorito
favouritedreamofmyearlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
perspectiva
prospectofarrivingattheNorthPacífico
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichcercam
surroundthepole.Youmayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesof
descoberta
discoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwas
apaixonadamente
passionatelyfondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththem
aumentava
increasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.Thesevisions
desvaneceram
fadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.Ialsobecamea
poeta
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncriação
creation;IimaginedthatIalsomight
obter
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhow
pesadamente
heavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeI
herdei
inheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceI
resolvi
resolvedonmypresentundertaking.Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichI
dediquei
dedicatedmyselftothisgreatempresa
enterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmybodyto
dificuldades
hardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
voluntariamente
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayand
dedicava
devotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanaval
navaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
admiração
admiration.ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
dignidade
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovalioso
valuabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
realizar
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedin
facilidade
easeandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatriqueza
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerinthe
afirmativamente
affirmative!Mycourageandmy
resolução
resolutionisfirm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamaboutto
prosseguir
proceedonalonganddifficultviagem
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwillexigirão
demandallmyfortitude:Iam
exijo
requirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustentar
sustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
movimento
motionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnot
excessivo
excessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingtheconvés
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexerciseimpede
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihaveno
ambição
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishall
partir
departforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;andmy
intenção
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonot
tenciono
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfI
sucesso
succeed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Adeus
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdown
bênçãos
blessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestemunhar
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandbondade
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehireda
navio
vesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
possuem
possessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andthe
ausência
absenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIam
brilhar
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipar
participatemyjoy;ifIamassailedby
desapontamento
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustentar
sustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
meio
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswould
respondam
replytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,
gentil
gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toaprovar
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriend
reparar
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentin
execução
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
convicção
convictionthatIperceivedthenecessidade
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analfabeto
illiteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andI
muito
greatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodesprezar
despisemeasromantic,andafeto
affectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregular
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
exemplo
instance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;heis
loucamente
madlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyfrase
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofissão
profession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,
mantém
retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanidade
humanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhale
navio
vessel;findingthathewas
desempregado
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoajudar
assistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellent
disposição
dispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdisciplina
discipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integridade
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedin
solidão
solitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentil
gentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotsuperar
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamariner
igualmente
equallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediência
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyafortunado
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
forma
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,
brevemente
briefly,ishisstory.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyof
moderada
moderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderável
considerablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhis
amante
mistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
confessando
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsentiria
consenttotheunion.My
generoso
generousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantaneamente
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
resto
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhis
rival
rival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytocomprar
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsentir
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
amante
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whata
nobre
noblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheis
totalmente
whollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindof
ignorante
ignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileittorna
rendershisconductthemoresurpreendente
astonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsimpatia
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
queixo
complainalittleorbecauseIcanconceber
conceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
viagem
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermita
permitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
notavelmente
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaynavegar
sailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlyto
confiar
confideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannot
descrever
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearperspectiva
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibleto
comunicar
communicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensação
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtopartir
depart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
névoa
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwill
revelar
discloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmy
apego
attachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
praticamente
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutar
executewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemaravilhoso
marvellous,abeliefinthemaravilhoso
marvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplorar
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemost
meridional
southerncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthe
reverso
reverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
afeição
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Julho
July7th,17—.MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmy
viagem
voyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomeward
viagem
voyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
continuamente
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregião
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitisthe
auge
heightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoalcançar
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingcalor
warmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
vazamento
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsmal
scarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourviagem
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.
Iwillbecool,persevering,and
prudente
prudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
triunfo
triumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyet
obediente
obedientelement?Whatcanstopthe
determinado
determinedheartandresolvedwillofman?My
inchado
swellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
provável
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourposse
possession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
flutuava
floated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
nevoeiro
fog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
atmosfera
atmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthe
névoa
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomrades
gemeram
groaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyatraiu
attractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.We
percebemos
perceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgigantic
estatura
stature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedthe
rápido
rapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.This
aparição
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,so
distante
distantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthis
ocorrência
occurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingto
encontrar
encounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichflutuam
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
convés
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthenavio
vessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalarge
fragmento
fragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
persuadindo
persuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheother
viajante
travellerseemedtobe,aselvagem
savageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropeu
European.WhenIappearedon
convés
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutopereçam
perishontheopensea.”On
perceber
perceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignsotaque
accent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethe
bondade
kindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthe
beira
brinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmynavio
vesselwouldhavebeenarecurso
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousriqueza
wealththeearthcanafford.I
respondi
replied,however,thatwewereonaviagem
voyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorte
northernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
fadiga
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninso
miserável
wretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhe
desmaiou
fainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
convés
deckandrestoredhimtoanimação
animationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtoengolir
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthe
chaminé
chimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreeshe
recuperou
recoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimmaravilhosamente
wonderfully.Twodayspassedinthis
maneira
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsome
medida
measurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabine
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermitiria
permit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
geralmente
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenloucura
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofbondade
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,witharaio
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawigualado
equalled.Butheisgenerally
melancólico
melancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpaciente
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwasalittle
recuperado
recoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;