Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
katastrof
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.I
anlände
arrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirstuppgift
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesand
fyller
fillsmewithdelight.Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhas
rest
travelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamavancerar
advancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
fantasi
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
snö
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
exempel
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththe
synen
sightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
fara
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththeglädje
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobe
falska
false,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.
YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
bibliotek
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
ånger
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysouland
lyfte
liftedittoheaven.Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
paradis
paradiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthe
templet
templewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
misslyckande
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
förmögenhet
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothekanal
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthe
vanliga
commonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,theteori
theoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesoffysiska
physicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethestörsta
greatestpracticaladvantage.TwiceIactually
anställde
hiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmeto
stanna kvar
remainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheansåg
considermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
förtjänar
deservetoaccomplishsomegreatsyfte
purpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butI
föredrog
preferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmyväg
path.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
mod
courageandmyresolutionisfast
firm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsare
misslyckas
failing.Thisisthemostfavourableperiodfor
resa
travellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
snön
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmy
mening
opinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whenno
träning
exercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfrysa
freezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcan
lätt
easilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessarybland
amongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Juni
June;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfI
misslyckas
fail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28th
Mars
March,17—.Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
snö
snow!Yetasecondstepistaken
mot
towardsmyenterprise.Ihave
hyrt
hiredavesselandamoccupiedinsamla
collectingmysailors;thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
mod
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:
whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
glädje
joy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemme
romantisk
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
större
greatereviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
gemensam
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
romantisk
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewide
havet
ocean,norevenhereinArchangel,bland
amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
löjtnant
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulmod
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
ära
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstof
nationella
nationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,I
lätt
easilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,
tillägg
addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlessmod
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.A
ungdom
youthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmykaraktär
characterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetothevanliga
usualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhis
besättning
crew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthe
lycka
happinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
förmögenhet
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewas
badade
bathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtoskona
spareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.
Hehadalreadyboughta
gård
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchase
aktier
stock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithherälskare
lover.Buttheoldmandecidedly
vägrade
refused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathistidigare
formermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
tyst
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedas
ödet
fate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthevädret
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.The
vintern
winterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthevåren
springpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlysäsong
season,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
säkerhet
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIam
förbereder
preparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
därför
thereforedonotbealarmedformysäkerhet
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothat
produktion
productionofthemostimaginativeofmoderna
modernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthe
vanliga
commonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeof
Afrika
AfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuch
framgång
success,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
tillfälle
opportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldand
tydligen
apparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregionmot
towardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedily
mot
towardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheagrad
degreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
fara
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
But
framgång
successshallcrownmyendeavours.Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,
spårar
tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmy
älskade
belovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Augusti
August5th,17—.SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewere
nästan
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyavery
tjock
thickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceintheatmosphereand
vädret
weather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.
Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
syn
sightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passon
mot
towardsthenorth,attheavstånd
distanceofhalfamile;abeingwhichhadthe
form
shapeofaman,butuppenbarligen
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapid
framsteg
progressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostbland
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.
Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,in
verkligheten
reality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhis
spår
track,whichwehadobservedwiththestörsta
greatestattention.Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselarge
lösa
loosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
uppenbarligen
apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddrifted
mot
towardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwitha
utländsk
foreignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnessto
informera
informmewhitheryouarebound?”YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemost
värdefulla
preciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscovery
mot
towardsthenorthernpole.Uponhearingthisheappeared
nöjd
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
säkerhet
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswere
nästan
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
tillstånd
condition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
soppa
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinteresting
varelse
creature:hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyone
utför
performsanactofkindnessmot
towardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.
Whenmy
gäst
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;