Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhas
acompañado
accompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
asegurar
assuremydearsisterofmybienestar
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthern
brisa
breezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdeleite
delight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
This
brisa
breeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryin
vano
vaintobepersuadedthatthepolo
poleistheseatofhelada
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
región
regionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
visible
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonte
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
helada
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyevery
región
regionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobo
globe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaofthe
celestes
heavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaythere
descubrir
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichatrae
attractstheneedleandmayregular
regulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequieren
requireonlythisvoyagetohacer
rendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardent
curiosidad
curiositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaypisar
treadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficientto
vencer
conquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocomenzar
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpedición
expeditionofdiscoveryuphisnatal
nativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimable
beneficio
benefitwhichIshallconferonallhumanidad
mankind,tothelastgeneration,bydescubriendo
discoveringapassagenearthepolo
poletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthe
imán
magnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
brilla
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontribuye
contributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasafirme
steadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintelectual
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthe
favorito
favouritedreamofmyearlyyears.Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeinthe
perspectiva
prospectofarrivingattheNorthPacífico
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichrodean
surroundthepole.Youmayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesof
descubrimiento
discoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththem
aumentó
increasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadprohibido
forbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.Thesevisions
desvanecieron
fadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.Ialsobecamea
poeta
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreación
creation;IimaginedthatIalsomight
obtener
obtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethe
decepción
disappointment.ButjustatthattimeI
heredé
inheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodyto
dificultades
hardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
voluntariamente
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayand
dedicaba
devotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanaval
navaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmethesecond
dignidad
dignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
lograr
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedin
facilidad
easeandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatriqueza
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerinthe
afirmativo
affirmative!Mycourageandmy
resolución
resolutionisfirm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
viaje
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwillexigirán
demandallmyfortitude:Iam
requiere
requirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosostener
sustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
the
movimiento
motionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnot
excesivo
excessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadoptado
adopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthecubierta
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexerciseevita
preventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihaveno
ambición
ambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.Ishall
partiré
departforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;andmy
intención
intentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonot
intención
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfI
éxito
succeed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Adiós
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdown
bendiciones
blessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestificar
testifymygratitudeforallyourloveandbondad
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
helada
frostandsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
Ihavehiredavesselandam
ocupado
occupiedincollectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainly
poseen
possessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
satisfacer
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIam
brillando
glowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;ifIamassailedby
decepción
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthe
comunicación
communicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswould
respondan
replytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,
poseído
possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toaprobar
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriend
reparar
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentin
ejecución
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithad
dejado
ceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvicción
convictionthatIperceivedthenecesidad
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynatal
nativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymore
analfabeto
illiteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,and
afecto
affectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregular
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,for
ejemplo
instance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;heis
locamente
madlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmyfrase
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofesión
profession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,
conserva
retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanidad
humanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
notable
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdisciplina
discipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-known
integridad
integrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
superar
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamariner
igualmente
equallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencia
obediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyafortunado
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
manera
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamasseda
considerable
considerablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsintió
consentedtothematch.Hesawhis
amante
mistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,
confesando
confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsentiría
consenttotheunion.My
generoso
generousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantáneamente
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
resto
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhis
rival
rival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytocomprar
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsintiera
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformer
amante
mistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whata
noble
noblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindof
ignorante
ignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileithace
rendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsimpatía
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
quejo
complainalittleorbecauseIcanconcebir
conceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
viaje
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermita
permitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImay
navegar
sailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowme
suficiente
sufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenear
perspectiva
prospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyoua
concepción
conceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtopartir
depart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
niebla
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwill
revelar
discloseasecret.Ihaveoftenattributedmy
apego
attachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iam
prácticamente
practicallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoejecutar
executewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemaravilloso
marvellous,abeliefinthemaravilloso
marvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplorar
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemost
meridional
southerncapeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthe
reverso
reverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
afecto
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Julio
July7th,17—.MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmy
viaje
voyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomeward
viaje
voyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemy
natal
nativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
continuamente
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregión
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesireto
alcanzar
attain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
fuga
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourviaje
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashly
encontraré
encounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshall
coronará
crownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
triunfo
triumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyet
obediente
obedientelement?Whatcanstopthe
decidido
determinedheartandresolvedwillofman?My
hinchado
swellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisvery
probable
probablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourposesión
possession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshe
flotaba
floated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
niebla
fog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
atmósfera
atmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthe
niebla
mistclearedaway,andwevimos
beheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenly
atrajo
attractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.We
percibimos
perceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedthe
rápido
rapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.This
aparición
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,so
distante
distantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehad
observado
observedwiththegreatestattention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingto
encontrar
encounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichflotan
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
cubierta
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalarge
fragmento
fragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswere
persuadiendo
persuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheother
viajero
travellerseemedtobe,asalvaje
savageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropeo
European.WhenIappearedon
cubierta
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperezcas
perishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
acento
accent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethe
bondad
kindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmay
concebir
conceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanontheborde
brinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyrecipiente
vesselwouldhavebeenarecurso
resourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciousriqueza
wealththeearthcanafford.I
respondí
replied,however,thatwewereonaviaje
voyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorte
northernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedand
consintió
consentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
fatiga
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
cabaña
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.We
en consecuencia
accordinglybroughthimbacktothecubierta
deckandrestoredhimtoanimación
animationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtotragar
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewe
envolvimos
wrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimenea
chimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreeshe
recuperó
recoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrecuperó
restoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthis
manera
mannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshadprivado
deprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsome
medida
measurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabina
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermitía
permit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
generalmente
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenlocura
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofbondad
kindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,witharayo
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawigualado
equalled.Butheisgenerally
melancólico
melancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpaciente
impatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmyguestwasalittle
recuperó
recoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;