Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatno
thảm họa
disasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirst
nhiệm vụ
taskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation;
iteverpresentsitselftomy
tưởng tượng
imaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.
There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—there
tuyết
snowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithout
ví dụ
example,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight?
Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedleandmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearof
nguy hiểm
dangerordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislaboriousvoyagewiththeniềm vui
joyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;
orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye.
Thisexpeditionhasbeenthe
yêu thích
favouritedreamofmyearlyyears.IhavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacific
Dương
Oceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole.YoumayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’
thư viện
library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading.
Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthat
tiếc
regretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedina
thiên đường
paradiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewellacquaintedwithmy
thất bại
failureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthe
tài sản
fortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothekênh
channeloftheirearlierbent.SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise.
Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship.
Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;
Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryof
y
medicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalkhoa học
sciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticallợi thế
advantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration.
ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidhe
coi
considermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInot
đáng
deservetoaccomplishsomegreatmục đích
purpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferred
vinh quang
glorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative!
My
dũng cảm
courageandmyresolutionisfirm;butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficultvoyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:
Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimestosustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.
Thisisthemostfavourable
giai đoạn
periodfortravellinginRussia.Theyflyquicklyoverthe
tuyết
snowintheirsledges;themotionispleasant,and,inmy
ý kiến
opinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.Thecoldisnotexcessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingthedeckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.
Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishalldepartforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;
andmyintentionisto
thuê
hireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingthebảo hiểm
insurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoareaccustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonotintendtosailuntilthemonthof
Sáu
June;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.
Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveandkindness.
Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIambyfrostand
tuyết
snow!Yetasecondstepistaken
hướng tới
towardsmyenterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntless
dũng cảm
courage.ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenabletosatisfy,andtheabsenceofthe
đối tượng
objectofwhichInowfeelasamostsevereevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemy
niềm vui
joy;ifIamassailedbydisappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.
Ishall
cam kết
commitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;butthatisapoormediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.
I
mong muốn
desirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.Youmaydeemme
lãng mạn
romantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,toapproveoramendmyplans.
Howwouldsuchafriendrepairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!
Iamtooardentinexecutionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.
Butitisastill
lớn
greatereviltomethatIamself-educated:forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildona
chung
commonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.AtthatageIbecameacquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;
butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsuchaconvictionthatIperceivedthenecessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.
NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedandmagnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;
andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeas
lãng mạn
romantic,andaffectionenoughformetoendeavourtoregulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthe
rộng
wideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beatevenintheseruggedbosoms.
My
trung úy
lieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfuldũng cảm
courageandenterprise;heismadlydesirousof
vinh quang
glory,orrather,towordmyphrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationaland
chuyên nghiệp
professionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.Ifirstbecameacquaintedwithhimonboardawhalevessel;
findingthathewasunemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtoassistinmyenterprise.
Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandisremarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.
Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntless
dũng cảm
courage,mademeverydesiroustoengagehim.A
trẻ
youthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmynhân vật
characterthatIcannotovercomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarlyfortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.
Iheardofhimfirstinrathera
lãng mạn
romanticmanner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehạnh phúc
happinessofherlife.This,briefly,ishisstory.
SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyofmoderate
tài sản
fortune,andhavingamassedaconsiderablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldneverconsenttotheunion.
Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofher
yêu
lover,instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughta
trang trại
farmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopasstheremainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhisrival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytopurchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertoconsenttohermarriagewithher
yêu
lover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whatanoblefellow!”
youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheiswhollyuneducated:
heisas
im lặng
silentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershisconductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandsympathywhichotherwisehewouldlệnh
command.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseI
phàn nàn
complainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmyvoyageisonlynowdelayeduntilthe
thời tiết
weathershallpermitmyembarkation.The
mùa đông
winterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasaremarkablyearlymùa
season,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowmesufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthe
an toàn
safetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannot
mô tả
describetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetremblingsensation,halfpleasurableandhalffearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.
Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandofmistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;
do đó
thereforedonotbealarmedformyan toàn
safetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemostimaginativeof
hiện đại
modernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmantoexecutewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,abeliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthe
phổ biến
commonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttoexplore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversedimmenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsoutherncapeofAfricaorAmerica?
Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthereverseofthepicture.
Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyevery
cơ hội
opportunity:ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewithaffection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.
Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage.
ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.
Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmof
mục đích
purpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude;
butitistheheightofsummer,and
mặc dù
althoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlymong muốn
desiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage.
Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounter
nguy hiểm
danger.Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent.
Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracinga
an toàn
securewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedientelement?
Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmy
yêu
belovedsister!Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,
mặc dù
althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.Last
Thứ hai
Monday(July31st)weweregần
nearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyavery
dày
thickfog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
khí quyển
atmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthemistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutinevery
hướng
direction,vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrange
cảnh
sightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfa
dặm
mile;abeingwhichhadthe
hình dạng
shapeofaman,butrõ ràng
apparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.Wewatchedtherapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslost
giữa
amongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.Thisappearance
kích thích
excitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,sodistantaswehadsupposed.
Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselarge
lỏng
loosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,
dường như
apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.
Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.
Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”
Onperceivingme,the
lạ
strangeraddressedmeinEnglish,mặc dù
althoughwithaforeignaccent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethekindnessto
thông báo
informmewhitheryouarebound?”YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemost
quý
preciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.
Uponhearingthisheappeared
hài lòng
satisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhis
an toàn
safety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.Hislimbswere
gần
nearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedbyfatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretcheda
tình trạng
condition.Weattemptedtocarryhimintothecabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.
Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothedeckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandyandforcinghimtoswallowasmallquantity.
Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittle
súp
soup,whichrestoredhimwonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsomemeasurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.
Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshavegenerallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenmadness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withabeamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.
Butheisgenerallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientofthe
trọng lượng
weightofwoesthatoppresseshim.Whenmy
khách
guestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;