Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuch
onda
evilforebodings.Iarrivedhere
igår
yesterday,andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythis
vind
windofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
itever
presenterar
presentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofskönhet
beautyanddelight.There,Margaret,the
solen
sunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowandfrostarebanished;
and,sailingoveracalm
hav
sea,wemaybewaftedtoaland
landsurpassinginwondersandinskönhet
beautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.
Whatmaynotbe
förvänta
expectedinacountryofeternallight?Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulatea
tusen
thousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirsynes
seemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreada
land
landneverbeforeimprintedbythefot
footofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerall
rädsla
fearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittlebåt
boat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.But
antag
supposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenära
nearthepoletothosecountries,tonå
reachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthe
hemlighet
secretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichI
inledde
beganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetohimlen
heaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualöga
eye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingatthe
Norra
NorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.Youmayrememberthata
historia
historyofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremy
studerade
studydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletotillåta
allowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoets
vars
whoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittohimlen
heaven.Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;
IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyI
bar
borethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheir
tidigare
earlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmy
nuvarande
presentundertaking.Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fisherson
flera
severalexpeditionstotheNorthSea;Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
I
ofta
oftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsunder
duringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudera
studyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage.Två gånger
TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittle
stolt
proudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose?
Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.
Oh,thatsomeencouraging
röst
voicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsare
ofta
oftendepressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalongand
svår
difficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
They
flyger
flyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreat
skillnad
differencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohirea
skepp
shipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.IdonotintendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;
andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,will
passera
passbeforeyouandImaymeet.IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Himlen
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostandsnow!
Yetasecond
steg
stepistakentowardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandare
verkligen
certainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevere
ondska
evil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtsto
papper
paper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,
vars
whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,
vars
whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIran
vild
wildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhave
förnuft
senseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishall
säkert
certainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageandenterprise;
heismadlydesirousofglory,or
snarare
rather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimon
ombord
boardawhalevessel;findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofan
utmärkt
excellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.
Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyears
tillbringade
spentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonombord
boardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobe
nödvändigt
necessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespekt
respectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstin
ganska
ratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderatefortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.
Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,and
kastade
throwingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;
buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttoher
äktenskap
marriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,
lämnade
quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedenligt
accordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromthe
intresse
interestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonot
antar
suppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.
Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkably
tidig
earlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIförväntade
expected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.
Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itis
omöjligt
impossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwill
le
smileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseahemlighet
secret.Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,the
farliga
dangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeofmodernpoets.Thereissomethingatworkinmy
själ
soulwhichIdonotunderstand.Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—but
förutom
besidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothevilda
wildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
I
vågar
darenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Fortsätt
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
This
brev
letterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,
men
however,ingoodspirits:mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,
inte heller
nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypasserar
passus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealready
nått
reachedaveryhighlatitude;butitistheheightof
sommaren
summer,andalthoughnotsovarmt
warmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblåser
blowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,andas
breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotförväntat
expected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakea
figur
figureinaletter.Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyrememberto
registrera
record,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingvärre
worsehappentousduringourvoyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyown
skull
sake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.
Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImust
avsluta
finish.Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
Sostrangean
olycka
accidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedby
is
ice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Our
situation
situationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereandweather.
Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,which
verkade
seemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmind
började
begantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightplötsligt
suddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation
situation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,
passera
passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesofthe
isen
ice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualified
förundran
wonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,many
hundra
hundredmilesfromanyland;butthisapparition
verkade
seemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,
emellertid
however,byice,itwasomöjligt
impossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestuppmärksamhet
attention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenightthe
isen
icebrokeandfreedourskepp
ship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthe
mörkret
darkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheisen
ice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,
men
however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthehavet
sea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightona
stort
largefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertraveller
verkade
seemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredö
island,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisour
kapten
captain,andhewillnotlåta
allowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.
“BeforeIcomeon
ombord
boardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhave
antagit
supposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,
emellertid
however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeon
ombord
board.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,your
förvåning
surprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.
Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedto
bära
carryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadlämnat
quittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyand
tvinga
forcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhim
nära
nearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.By
långsamt
slowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andI
ofta
oftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmy
plikt
dutywouldpermit.Ineversawamore
intressant
interestingcreature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsan
handling
actofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhima
tusen
thousandquestions;