Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
desastre
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.I
llegué
arrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttarea
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfianza
confidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
llena
fillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
viajado
travelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamavanzando
advancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
imaginación
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
nieve
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
ejemplo
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
vista
sightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
peligro
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththealegría
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisvacaciones
holidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
generación
generation,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybe
efectuado
effectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectof
llegar
arrivingattheNorthPacificOcéano
Oceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
biblioteca
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
arrepentimiento
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
paraíso
paradiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
templo
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
fracaso
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortuna
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothecanal
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
teoría
theoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesoffísica
physicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticalventaja
advantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
permaneciera
remainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsideraban
considermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
merezco
deservetoaccomplishsomegreatpropósito
purpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
preferí
preferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmycamino
path.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
coraje
courageandmyresolutionisfirm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsare
fallando
failing.Thisisthemostfavourable
período
periodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
nieve
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmy
opinión
opinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckand
permanecer
remainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoejercicio
exercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcan
fácilmente
easilybedonebypayingtheseguro
insurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryentre
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Junio
June;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfI
fracaso
fail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
Marzo
March,17—.Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
nieve
snow!Yetasecondstepistaken
hacia
towardsmyenterprise.Ihave
alquilado
hiredavesselandamoccupiedinrecogiendo
collectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
parecen
appeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscoraje
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofthe
objeto
objectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
éxito
success,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyalegría
joy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishall
comprometer
commitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
deseo
desirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemme
romántico
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
común
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romántico
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
océano
ocean,norevenhereinArchangel,entre
amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
teniente
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcoraje
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
gloria
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
fácilmente
easilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
coraje
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.A
juventud
youthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
tripulación
crew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletoasegurar
securehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
felicidad
happinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortuna
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
ceremonia
ceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttothe
unión
union.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeing
informado
informedofthenameofheramante
lover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughta
granja
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
amante
lover.Buttheoldmandecidedly
negó
refused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
silencioso
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
destino
fate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthetiempo
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.The
invierno
winterhasbeendreadfullysevere,buttheprimavera
springpromiseswell,anditisconsidera
consideredasaremarkablyearlytemporada
season,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
seguridad
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
preparando
preparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
por lo tanto
thereforedonotbealarmedformyseguridad
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesof
océano
oceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeof
África
AfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuch
éxito
success,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
oportunidad
opportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
avanzado
advancedonmyvoyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
aparentemente
apparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregionhacia
towardswhichweareadvancing,parecen
appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
aunque
althoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilyhacia
towardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydeseo
desiretoattain,breatheagrado
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
peligro
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
éxito
successshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
trazando
tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
bendiga
blessmybelovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Agosto
August5th,17—.SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
aunque
althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Last
Lunes
Monday(July31st)wewerecasi
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
tiempo
weather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
vista
sightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
hacia
towardsthenorth,atthedistancia
distanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadthe
forma
shapeofaman,butaparentemente
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapid
progreso
progressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostentre
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
aparentemente
apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
hacia
towardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingto
entrara
enterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
aparecí
appearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,the
desconocido
strangeraddressedmeinEnglish,aunque
althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcan
permitirse
afford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
hacia
towardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthishe
pareció
appearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
seguridad
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswere
casi
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
condición
condition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
sopa
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinand
atendí
attendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Ineversawamoreinteresting
criatura
creature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyone
realiza
performsanactofkindnesshacia
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
peso
weightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmy
huésped
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;