Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
You
kommer
willrejoicetohearthatingen
nodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofett
anenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedmed
withsuchevilforebodings.Iarrived
hit
hereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremykära
dearsisterofmywelfareoch
andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.Iam
redan
alreadyfarnorthofLondon,och
andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ikänner
feelacoldnorthernbreezespela
playuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesoch
andfillsmewithdelight.Doyou
förstår
understandthisfeeling?Thisbreeze,which
har
hastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,ger
givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedby
denna
thiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsblir
becomemoreferventandvivid.I
försöker
tryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostoch
anddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeauty
och
anddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddisk
bara
justskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingen
aperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,my
syster
sister,Iwillputsomeförtroende
trustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowoch
andfrostarebanished;and,sailing
över
overacalmsea,wekan
maybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersoch
andinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonden
thehabitableglobe.Itsproductions
och
andfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.What
kan
maynotbeexpectedinett
acountryofeternallight?I
kan
maytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsden
theneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequirebara
onlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriosity
med
withthesightofadel
partoftheworldneverbeforevisited,och
andmaytreadalandaldrig
neverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Dessa
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdangereller
ordeathandtoinducemetocommencedenna
thislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyabarn
childfeelswhenheembarksinaliten
littleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryupp
uphisnativeriver.Butsupposing
alla
alltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonalla
allmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringen
apassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomånga
manymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertaining
det
thesecretofthemagnet,which,om
ifatallpossible,canbara
onlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.Dessa
Thesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationmed
withwhichIbeganmyletter,och
andIfeelmyheartglowmed
withanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,foringenting
nothingcontributessomuchtotranquilliseden
themindasasteadypurpose—apunkt
pointonwhichthesoulkan
mayfixitsintellectualeye.Denna
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedröm
dreamofmyearlyyears.I
har
havereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyagessom
whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceangenom
throughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.You
kanske
mayrememberthatahistoryofalla
allthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthehela
wholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,
men
yetIwaspassionatelyfondofläsa
reading.Thesevolumesweremystudy
dag
dayandnight,andmyfamiliaritymed
withthemincreasedthatregretwhichIhade
hadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhade
hadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinett
aseafaringlife.Thesevisionsfaded
när
whenIperused,fortheförsta
firsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouloch
andliftedittoheaven.I
också
alsobecameapoetandforoneår
yearlivedinaparadiseofmyegen
owncreation;IimaginedthatI
också
alsomightobtainanicheinthetempledär
wherethenamesofHomeroch
andShakespeareareconsecrated.Youare
väl
wellacquaintedwithmyfailureoch
andhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.Men
ButjustatthattimeIinheritedden
thefortuneofmycousin,och
andmythoughtswereturnedintoden
thechanneloftheirearlierbent.Sex
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.I
kan
can,evennow,rememberthetimme
hourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftodetta
thisgreatenterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmy
kropp
bodytohardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyendured
kyla
cold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioften
arbetade
workedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedagen
dayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,och
andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromvilka
whichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,
och
andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.I
måste
mustownIfeltalite
littleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmeden
theseconddignityinthevesseloch
andentreatedmetoremainmed
withthegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Och
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?My
liv
lifemighthavebeenpassedineaseoch
andluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementsom
thatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,
att
thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldsvara
answerintheaffirmative!Mycourage
och
andmyresolutionisfirm;men
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedon
en
alonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichkommer
willdemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednot
bara
onlytoraisethespiritsofothers,men
butsometimestosustainmyegen
own,whentheirsarefailing.Detta
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquickly
över
overthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,
och
and,inmyopinion,farmer
moreagreeablethanthatofen
anEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,
om
ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresssom
whichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisen
agreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckoch
andremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,när
whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromfaktiskt
actuallyfreezinginyourveins.I
har
havenoambitiontolosemyliv
lifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.Petersburghoch
andArchangel.Ishalldepartfor
den
thelattertowninafortnighteller
orthreeweeks;andmyintentionistohire
ett
ashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebybetala
payingtheinsurancefortheowner,och
andtoengageasmanysailorsasIanser
thinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosail
förrän
untilthemonthofJune;och
andwhenshallIreturn?Ah,
kära
dearsister,howcanIanswerhär
thisquestion?IfIsucceed,
många
many,manymonths,perhapsyears,kommer
willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.Om
IfIfail,youwillse
seemeagainsoon,oraldrig
never.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,
och
andsaveme,thatIkan
mayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourkärlek
loveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Hur
Howslowlythetimepasseshär
here,encompassedasIambyfrostoch
andsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmyenterprise.
I
har
havehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;de
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIkan
candependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButI
har
haveonewantwhichIhar
haveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,och
andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInu
nowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihar
havenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,there
kommer
willbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;om
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,ingen
noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itis
sant
true;butthatisapoormediumfor
det
thecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethe
sällskap
companyofamanwhokunna
couldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomina
mine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,my
kära
dearsister,butIbitterlykänner
feelthewantofavän
friend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapacious
sinne
mind,whosetastesarelikemyegen
own,toapproveoramendmyplans.Hur
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourstackars
poorbrother!Iamtooardentinexecution
och
andtooimpatientofdifficulties.Men
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:for
de
thefirstfourteenyearsofmyliv
lifeIranwildonen
acommonandreadnothingbutourFarbror
UncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageI
blev
becameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofoureget
owncountry;butitwasonly
när
whenithadceasedtobeinmymakt
powertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsådan
suchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbli
becomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesän
thanthatofmynativehemland
country.NowIamtwenty-eight
och
andaminrealitymoreilliterateän
thanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.Itis
sant
truethatIhavethoughtmer
moreandthatmydaydreamsaremer
moreextendedandmagnificent,buttheyvill
want(asthepainterscallit)hålla
keeping;andIgreatlyneed
en
afriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,och
andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemysinne
mind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainly
hitta
findnofriendonthewideocean,norens
evenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsoch
andseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedto
den
thedrossofhumannature,slår
beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,is
en
amanofwonderfulcourageoch
andenterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,
eller
orrather,towordmyphrasemer
morecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.Heis
en
anEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationaloch
andprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainsnågra
someofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.I
första
firstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardett
awhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedin
här
thiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisa
person
personofanexcellentdispositionoch
andisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessoch
andthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Denna
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityoch
anddauntlesscourage,madememycket
verydesiroustoengagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,my
bästa
bestyearsspentunderyourgentleoch
andfemininefosterage,hassorefinedden
thegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetoden
theusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:I
har
haveneverbelievedittobenecessary,och
andwhenIheardofen
amarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartoch
andtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ikände
feltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.I
hörde
heardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromadam
ladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.Här
This,briefly,ishisstory.Några
Someyearsagoheloveden
ayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,och
andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefar
fatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.He
såg
sawhismistressoncebeforeden
thedestinedceremony;butshewasbathedintears,
och
andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesamma
sametimethatshelovedanother,men
butthathewaspoor,och
andthatherfatherwouldaldrig
neverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassured
den
thesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofden
thenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.He
hade
hadalreadyboughtafarmmed
withhismoney,onwhichhehade
haddesignedtopasstheremainderofhisliv
life;buthebestowedthe
hela
wholeonhisrival,togethermed
withtheremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,och
andthenhimselfsolicitedtheunga
youngwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagemed
withherlover.Buttheold
mannen
mandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyvän
friend,who,whenhefoundden
thefatherinexorable,quittedhisland
country,norreturneduntilhehörde
heardthathisformermistresswasgift
marriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
you
kommer
willexclaim.Heisso;
men
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:heisassilentas
en
aTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshonom
him,which,whileitrendershisconductthemer
moreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestoch
andsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Men
Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainen
alittleorbecauseIcanconceiveen
aconsolationformytoilswhichImayaldrig
neverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,
och
andmyvoyageisonlynu
nowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinter
har
hasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringlovar
promiseswell,anditisconsideredasen
aremarkablyearlyseason,soatt
thatperhapsImaysailsoonerän
thanIexpected.Ishall
göra
donothingrashly:youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudence
och
andconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomyvård
care.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationson
den
thenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyou
en
aconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halvt
halfpleasurableandhalffearful,med
withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iam
åker
goingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistoch
andsnow,”butIshalldöda
killnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafety
eller
orifIshouldcometillbaka
backtoyouaswornoch
andwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”You
kommer
willsmileatmyallusion,men
butIwilldiscloseasecret.I
har
haveoftenattributedmyattachmenttill
to,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,den
thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofden
themostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Det
Thereissomethingatworkinmysoulsom
whichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,
en
aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceoch
andlabour—butbesidesthisthereisen
aloveforthemarvellous,en
abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinalla
allmyprojects,whichhurriesmeut
outofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaoch
andunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Men
Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.ShallI
träffa
meetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,och
andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaeller
orAmerica?Idarenotexpect
sådan
suchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartose
lookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresentto
skriva
writetomebyeveryopportunity:I
kan
mayreceiveyourlettersonvissa
someoccasionswhenIneedthemmest
mosttosupportmyspirits.I
älskar
loveyouverytenderly.Rememberme
med
withaffection,shouldyouneverhör
hearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
My
kära
dearSister,.Iwritea
några
fewlinesinhastetosäga
saythatIamsafe—andväl
welladvancedonmyvoyage.Detta
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyett
amerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;mer
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotser
seemynativeland,perhaps,formånga
manyyears.Iam,however,in
gott
goodspirits:mymenarebold
och
andapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordode
thefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassoss
us,indicatingthedangersofde
theregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaydem
them.Wehavealreadyreached
en
averyhighlatitude;butitistheheightofsummer,
och
andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheen
adegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhade
hadnotexpected.Noincidents
har
havehithertobefallenusthatwouldgöra
makeafigureinaletter.One
eller
ortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentssom
whichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,och
andIshallbewellcontentom
ifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,my
kära
dearMargaret.Beassuredthatformy
egen
ownsake,aswellasdin
yours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.I
kommer
willbecool,persevering,andprudent.Men
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarI
har
havegone,tracingasecurewayöver
overthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesoch
andtestimoniesofmytriumph.Varför
Whynotstillproceedoverdet
theuntamedyetobedientelement?What
kan
canstopthedeterminedheartoch
andresolvedwillofman?Myswelling
hjärta
heartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.Men
ButImustfinish.Heavenblessmybeloved
syster
sister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrange
en
anaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitismycket
veryprobablethatyouwillseemeinnan
beforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Förra
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichstängde
closedintheshiponalla
allsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundby
en
averythickfog.Weaccordingly
låg
layto,hopingthatsomeförändring
changewouldtakeplaceindet
theatmosphereandweather.About
två
twoo’clockthemistclearedaway,och
andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastoch
andirregularplainsofice,som
whichseemedtohavenoslut
end.Someofmycomradesgroaned,
och
andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulmed
withanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionoch
anddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledge
och
anddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalv
halfamile;abeing
som
whichhadtheshapeofen
aman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satt
satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.We
tittade
watchedtherapidprogressofde
thetravellerwithourtelescopestills
untilhewaslostamongde
thedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Detta
Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswe
trodde
believed,manyhundredmilesfromnågon
anyland;butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswe
hade
hadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibleto
följa
followhistrack,whichwehade
hadobservedwiththegreatestattention.About
två
twohoursafterthisoccurrencewehörde
heardthegroundsea,andinnan
beforenighttheicebrokeoch
andfreedourship.We,however,
låg
laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemassessom
whichfloataboutafterthebreakingupp
upoftheice.Iprofitedof
här
thistimetorestforanågra
fewhours.Inthemorning,however,as
snart
soonasitwaslight,Igick
wentupondeckandfoundalla
allthesailorsbusyonena
onesideofthevessel,apparentlypratar
talkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,in
själva verket
fact,asledge,likethatwehade
hadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenatten
nightonalargefragmentofice.Endast
Onlyonedogremainedalive;men
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,as
den
theothertravellerseemedtobe,en
asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,utan
butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemaster
sa
said,“Hereisourcaptain,och
andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheöppet
opensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,although
med
withaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”
sa
saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmenton
hörde
hearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromen
amanonthebrinkofdestructionoch
andtowhomIshouldha
havesupposedthatmyvesselwouldha
havebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnotha
haveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealthden
theearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,
att
thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Upon
hörde
hearingthisheappearedsatisfiedoch
andconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,
om
ifyouhadseenthemannen
manwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldha
havebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,
och
andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueoch
andsuffering.Ineversawa
man
maninsowretchedacondition.Weattemptedtocarryhiminto
den
thecabin,butassoonashehade
hadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordingly
förde
broughthimbacktothedeckoch
andrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimmed
withbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowen
asmallquantity.Assoonashe
visade
showedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsoch
andplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.Byslowdegreesherecovered
och
andatealittlesoup,vilket
whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedin
detta
thismannerbeforehewaskunde
abletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshade
haddeprivedhimofunderstanding.När
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyegen
owncabinandattendedonhimasmycket
muchasmydutywouldpermit.I
aldrig
neversawamoreinterestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,
och
andevenmadness,buttherearemomentsnär
when,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimeller
ordoeshimanythemest
mosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,med
withabeamofbenevolenceoch
andsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Men
Butheisgenerallymelancholyoch
anddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asom
ifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshonom
him.Whenmyguestwasa
lite
littlerecoveredIhadgreatproblem
troubletokeepoffthemen,som
whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;