Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoiceto
oír
hearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedel
thecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedcon
withsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
aquí
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearhermana
sisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,
y
andasIwalkinlas
thestreetsofPetersburgh,Isiento
feelacoldnorthernbreezetocar
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesy
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
entiendes
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,which
ha
hastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,da
givesmeaforetasteofesos
thoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
este
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsvuelven
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
trato
tryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrosty
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
y
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirting
el
thehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—for
con
withyourleave,mysister,Iwillpondré
putsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowy
andfrostarebanished;and,sailingovera
tranquilo
calmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersy
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonel
thehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
y
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,aslos
thephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.What
puede
maynotbeexpectedinun
acountryofeternallight?I
puede
maytherediscoverthewondrouspoder
powerwhichattractstheneedley
andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequiresólo
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriosity
con
withthesightofaparte
partoftheworldneverantes
beforevisited,andmaytreaduna
alandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofhombre
man.Thesearemyenticements,
y
andtheyaresufficienttoconquertodo
allfearofdangerormuerte
deathandtoinducemetocommenceeste
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyaniño
childfeelswhenheembarksinapequeño
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Pero
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,totheúltima
lastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletoesos
thosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsotantos
manymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,
cual
which,ifatallpossible,puede
canonlybeeffectedbyuna
anundertakingsuchasmine.Estas
Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationcon
withwhichIbeganmyletter,y
andIfeelmyheartglowcon
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornada
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemente
mindasasteadypurpose—apunto
pointonwhichthesoulpuede
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Esta
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritesueño
dreamofmyearlyyears.Ihave
leído
readwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenhecho
madeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceana través de
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmay
recuerdes
rememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondof
leer
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
día
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritycon
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhabía
hadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhabía
hadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinuna
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
cuando
whenIperused,fortheprimera
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouly
andliftedittoheaven.I
también
alsobecameapoetandforoneaño
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatI
también
alsomightobtainanicheinthetempledonde
wherethenamesofHomery
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
bien
wellacquaintedwithmyfailurey
andhowheavilyIborela
thedisappointment.Butjustat
ese
thattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,y
andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.Seis
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.I
puedo
can,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftoesta
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
cuerpo
bodytohardship.Iaccompanied
los
thewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstolos
theNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyendured
frío
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsueño
sleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthe
día
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,y
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichun
anavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
y
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
debo
mustownIfeltapoco
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesegunda
seconddignityinthevessely
andentreatedmetoremaincon
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Y
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegran
greatpurpose?Mylifemight
haber
havebeenpassedineasey
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytocada
everyenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewould
respondiera
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
y
andmyresolutionisfirm;pero
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
un
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandtoda
allmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
sólo
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,sino
butsometimestosustainmyown,cuando
whentheirsarefailing.Thisis
el
themostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
sobre
overthesnowintheirsledges;el
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmás
moreagreeablethanthatofuna
anEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,
si
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forhay
thereisagreatdifferenceentre
betweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,cuando
whennoexercisepreventsthesangre
bloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
tengo
havenoambitiontolosemyvida
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghy
andArchangel.Ishalldepartforthelatter
ciudad
towninafortnightortres
threeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
un
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybehacer
donebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,y
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIcreo
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntil
el
themonthofJune;andwhenshallI
regresaré
return?Ah,dearsister,how
puedo
canIanswerthisquestion?Si
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,tal vez
perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouy
andImaymeet.IfIfail,youwill
verás
seemeagainsoon,ornunca
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
y
andsaveme,thatIpueda
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudefortodo
allyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythe
tiempo
timepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrosty
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
I
he
havehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomI
he
havealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIpuedo
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.Pero
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhavenunca
neveryetbeenabletosatisfy,y
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichIahora
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihaveno
nofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowing
con
withtheenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;si
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonesoy
willendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
cierto
true;butthatisa
pobre
poormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
compañía
companyofamanwhopueda
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomíos
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydear
hermana
sister,butIbitterlyfeella
thewantofafriend.I
tengo
havenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedasasí
wellasofacapaciousmente
mind,whosetastesarelikemytengo
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Cómo
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairlas
thefaultsofyourpoorhermano
brother!Iamtooardentinexecution
y
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Pero
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:for
los
thefirstfourteenyearsofmyvida
lifeIranwildonun
acommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.At
esa
thatageIbecameacquaintedwithlos
thecelebratedpoetsofourpropio
owncountry;butitwas
sólo
onlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypoder
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromtal
suchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedcon
withmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativepaís
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
y
andaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmuchos
manyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
cierto
truethatIhavethoughtmás
moreandthatmydaydreamsaremás
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyquieren
want(asthepainterscallit)keeping;y
andIgreatlyneedaamigo
friendwhowouldhavesensesuficiente
enoughnottodespisemeasromantic,y
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymente
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
encontraré
findnofriendonthewideocean,norsiquiera
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsy
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedto
la
thedrossofhumannature,golpean
beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
un
amanofwonderfulcouragey
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
o
orrather,towordmyphrasemás
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,
y
andinthemidstofnationaly
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsalgunos
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquainted
con
withhimonboardawhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedin
esta
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
persona
personofanexcellentdispositiony
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessy
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Esta
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityy
anddauntlesscourage,madememuy
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspent
bajo
underyourgentleandfemininefosterage,han
hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:I
he
haveneverbelievedittobenecessary,y
andwhenIheardofun
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofcorazón
heartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Isentí
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
oí
heardofhimfirstinratheruna
aromanticmanner,fromadama
ladywhoowestohimla
thehappinessofherlife.Esta
This,briefly,ishisstory.Algunos
Someyearsagoheloveduna
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,y
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thepadre
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
vio
sawhismistressoncebeforela
thedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
y
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatla
thesametimethatsheamaba
lovedanother,butthathewaspobre
poor,andthatherfatherera
wouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerous
amigo
friendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofla
thenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
había
hadalreadyboughtafarmcon
withhismoney,onwhichhehabía
haddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisvida
life;buthebestowedthe
todo
wholeonhisrival,togethercon
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,y
andthenhimselfsolicitedthejoven
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagecon
withherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomy
amigo
friend,who,whenhefoundel
thefatherinexorable,quittedhispaís
country,norreturneduntilheoyó
heardthathisformermistresswascasado
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
pero
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,
y
andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendslo
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthemás
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinteresty
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,
porque
becauseIcomplainalittleo
orbecauseIcanconceiveun
aconsolationformytoilswhichIpuedo
mayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Esos
Thoseareasfixedasfate,y
andmyvoyageisonlyahora
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinter
ha
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromete
promiseswell,anditisconsideredasuna
aremarkablyearlyseason,sothattal vez
perhapsImaysailsoonerde
thanIexpected.Ishall
haré
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
y
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycuidado
care.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
la
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
una
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,mitad
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,con
withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
voy
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmisty
andsnow,”butIshallmataré
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
o
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouasworny
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
voy
willsmileatmyallusion,pero
butIwilldiscloseasecret.I
he
haveoftenattributedmyattachmenta
to,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,los
thedangerousmysteriesofoceantoesa
thatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Hay
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotentiendo
understand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecute
con
withperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesesto
thisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedintodos
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmefuera
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,incluso
eventothewildseay
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Pero
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallImeetyou
de nuevo
again,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,y
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricao
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
tal
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartomirar
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continuefor
el
thepresenttowritetomebycada
everyopportunity:Imayreceiveyourletterson
algunas
someoccasionswhenIneedthemmás
mosttosupportmyspirits.Iloveyou
muy
verytenderly.Remembermewithaffection,shouldyou
nunca
neverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
Mydear
Hermana
Sister,.Iwriteafewlinesinhasteto
decir
saythatIamsafe—andbien
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Esta
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyun
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;más
morefortunatethanI,whopuede
maynotseemynativeland,tal vez
perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenarebold
y
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.We
hemos
havealreadyreachedaveryalta
highlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
y
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheun
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhabía
hadnotexpected.Noincidents
ha
havehithertobefallenusthatwouldhiciera
makeafigureinaletter.One
o
ortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyrecuerdan
remembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentsi
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformy
propio
ownsake,aswellassuyo
yours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.I
seré
willbecool,persevering,andprudent.Pero
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarI
he
havegone,tracingasecurecamino
wayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesy
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Por qué
Whynotstillproceedoverel
theuntamedyetobedientelement?What
puede
canstopthedeterminedhearty
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
corazón
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Pero
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
hermana
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
un
anaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitismuy
veryprobablethatyouwillveas
seemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,which
cerró
closedintheshipontodos
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
una
averythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsome
cambio
changewouldtakeplaceintheatmospherey
andweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemist
despejó
clearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vasty
andirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtotener
havenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
y
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulcon
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentiony
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
y
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsel
thenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;un
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofun
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,sentó
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.We
observamos
watchedtherapidprogressofthetravellercon
withourtelescopesuntilhewasperdió
lostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Esta
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
creíamos
believed,manyhundredmilesfromcualquier
anyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswe
habíamos
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
seguir
followhistrack,whichwehabíamos
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.About
dos
twohoursafterthisoccurrenceweescuchamos
heardthegroundsea,andbeforenoche
nighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.We,however,laytountil
la
themorning,fearingtoencounterinla
thedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterla
thebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedof
este
thistimetorestforafewhours.Inthe
mañana
morning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondecky
andfoundallthesailorsbusyonun
onesideofthevessel,apparentlyhablando
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,in
hecho
fact,asledge,likethatwehadvisto
seenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenoche
nightonalargefragmentofice.Sólo
Onlyonedogremainedalive;pero
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,as
el
theothertravellerseemedtobe,un
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,sino
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemaster
dijo
said,“Hereisourcaptain,y
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceiving
mí
me,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughcon
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
dijo
saidhe,“willyouhavela
thekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
oír
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromahombre
manonthebrinkofdestructiony
andtowhomIshouldhaber
havesupposedthatmyvesselsido
wouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhesido
wouldnothaveexchangedforla
themostpreciouswealththetierra
earthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereon
un
avoyageofdiscoverytowardsel
thenorthernpole.Uponhearing
esto
thisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.Good
Dios
God!Margaret,ifyouhad
visto
seenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisesido
wouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
y
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatiguey
andsuffering.Ineversawa
hombre
maninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,
pero
butassoonashehadquittedthefreshaire
airhefainted.Weaccordingly
trajimos
broughthimbacktothedecky
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimcon
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowuna
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
mostró
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsy
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofla
thekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
y
andatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Dos
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletohablar
speak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshubieran
haddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Cuando
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabiny
andattendedonhimastanto
muchasmydutywouldpermit.I
nunca
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
y
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,si
ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimo
ordoeshimanythemás
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceisilumina
lightedup,asitwere,con
withabeamofbenevolencey
andsweetnessthatInevervisto
sawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholy
y
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,assi
ifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseslo
him.Whenmyguestwas
un
alittlerecoveredIhadgran
greattroubletokeepofflos
themen,whowishedtopreguntas
askhimathousandquestions;