Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B1 Learners

Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B1 Learners

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Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
desastre
disaster
hasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.
I
llegué
arrived
hereyesterday,andmyfirst
tarea
task
istoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasing
confianza
confidence
inthesuccessofmyundertaking.
IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
llena
fills
mewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
viajado
travelled
fromtheregionstowardswhichIam
avanzando
advancing
,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
imaginación
imagination
astheregionofbeautyanddelight.
There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
nieve
snow
andfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
ejemplo
example
,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
vista
sight
ofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
peligro
danger
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththe
alegría
joy
achildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhis
vacaciones
holiday
mates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.
Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelast
generación
generation
,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybe
efectuado
effected
byanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectof
llegar
arriving
attheNorthPacific
Océano
Ocean
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
biblioteca
library
.
Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
arrepentimiento
regret
whichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
paraíso
paradise
ofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
templo
temple
wherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
fracaso
failure
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
fortuna
fortune
ofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothe
canal
channel
oftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,the
teoría
theory
ofmedicine,andthosebranchesof
física
physical
sciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpractical
ventaja
advantage
.
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
permaneciera
remain
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidhe
consideraban
consider
myservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
merezco
deserve
toaccomplishsomegreat
propósito
purpose
?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
preferí
preferred
glorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmy
camino
path
.
Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
coraje
courage
andmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsare
fallando
failing
.
Thisisthemostfavourable
período
period
fortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthe
nieve
snow
intheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmy
opinión
opinion
,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckand
permanecer
remaining
seatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
ejercicio
exercise
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcan
fácilmente
easily
bedonebypayingthe
seguro
insurance
fortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessary
entre
among
thosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-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
towards
myenterprise.
Ihave
alquilado
hired
avesselandamoccupiedin
recogiendo
collecting
mysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengaged
parecen
appear
tobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
coraje
courage
.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofthe
objeto
object
ofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmof
éxito
success
,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
alegría
joy
;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishall
comprometer
commit
mythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
deseo
desire
thecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romántico
romantic
,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
común
common
andreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romántico
romantic
,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.
Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
océano
ocean
,norevenhereinArchangel,
entre
among
merchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
teniente
lieutenant
,forinstance,isamanofwonderful
coraje
courage
andenterprise;
heismadlydesirousof
gloria
glory
,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.
HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
fácilmente
easily
engagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
coraje
courage
,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
A
juventud
youth
passedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:
Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
tripulación
crew
,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingableto
asegurar
secure
hisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
felicidad
happiness
ofherlife.
This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
fortuna
fortune
,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestined
ceremonia
ceremony
;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttothe
unión
union
.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeing
informado
informed
ofthenameofher
amante
lover
,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
granja
farm
withhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
amante
lover
.
Buttheoldmandecidedly
negó
refused
,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
silencioso
silent
asaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
destino
fate
,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
tiempo
weather
shallpermitmyembarkation.
The
invierno
winter
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthe
primavera
spring
promiseswell,anditis
considera
considered
asaremarkablyearly
temporada
season
,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.
Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
seguridad
safety
ofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
preparando
preparing
todepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
por lo tanto
therefore
donotbealarmedformy
seguridad
safety
orifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesof
océano
ocean
tothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.
ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeof
África
Africa
orAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuch
éxito
success
,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
oportunidad
opportunity
:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwell
avanzado
advanced
onmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
aparentemente
apparently
firmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregion
hacia
towards
whichweareadvancing,
parecen
appear
todismaythem.
Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
aunque
although
notsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedily
hacia
towards
thoseshoreswhichIsoardently
deseo
desire
toattain,breathea
grado
degree
ofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
peligro
danger
.
Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
éxito
success
shallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
trazando
tracing
asecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heaven
bendiga
bless
mybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Agosto
August
5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
aunque
although
itisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
Last
Lunes
Monday
(July31st)wewere
casi
nearly
surroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.
Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
tiempo
weather
.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
vista
sight
suddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
hacia
towards
thenorth,atthe
distancia
distance
ofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadthe
forma
shape
ofaman,but
aparentemente
apparently
ofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapid
progreso
progress
ofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslost
entre
among
thedistantinequalitiesoftheice.
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.
Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
aparentemente
apparently
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.
Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
hacia
towards
usinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingto
entrara
enter
thevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenI
aparecí
appeared
ondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
desconocido
stranger
addressedmeinEnglish,
aunque
although
withaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”
YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcan
permitirse
afford
.
Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
hacia
towards
thenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthishe
pareció
appeared
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
seguridad
safety
,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswere
casi
nearly
frozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
condición
condition
.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
sopa
soup
,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.
Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinand
atendí
attended
onhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
criatura
creature
:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyone
realiza
performs
anactofkindness
hacia
towards
himordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
peso
weight
ofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
huésped
guest
wasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;