Letter1
ToMrs.Saville,England.
St.
Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17—.
Youwillrejoicetohearthatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofan
doanh nghiệp
enterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings.Iarrivedhereyesterday,andmyfirsttaskisto
đảm bảo
assuremydearsisterofmyphúc
welfareandincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking.IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon,andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh,Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks,whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight.
Doyouunderstandthisfeeling?
Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes.
Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid.
Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatof
sương
frostanddesolation;iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationasthe
khu vực
regionofbeautyanddelight.There,Margaret,thesunisforever
nhìn thấy
visible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingtheđường chân trời
horizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour.There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators—theresnowand
sương
frostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea,wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregionhithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe.
Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaofthe
thiên
heavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes.Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryof
vĩnh cửu
eternallight?Imaythere
khám phá
discoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractsthekim
needleandmayregulateathousandthiên
celestialobservationsthatrequireonlythischuyến đi
voyagetorendertheirseemingeccentricitiesquán
consistentforever.Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworldneverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman.
Thesearemyenticements,andtheyare
đủ
sufficienttoconquerallfearofdangerordeathandtoinducemetobắt
commencethislaboriousvoyagewiththejoyachildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat,withhisholidaymates,onancuộc thám hiểm
expeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver.Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse,youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshall
trao
conferonallmankind,tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthecực
poletothosecountries,toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite;orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter,andIfeelmyheart
sáng
glowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven,fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillisethemindasaổn định
steadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitstrí tuệ
intellectualeye.Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears.
Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthe
khác nhau
variousvoyageswhichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthThái bình dương
PacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthecực
pole.Youmayrememberthatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesof
khám phá
discoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library.Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionately
thích
fondofreading.Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmy
quen
familiaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt,asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncletoallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven.
Ialsobecamea
nhà thơ
poetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation;IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated.
Youarewell
quen
acquaintedwithmyfailureandhownặng nề
heavilyIborethedisappointment.ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking.
Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreat
doanh nghiệp
enterprise.Icommencedbyinuringmybodyto
khó khăn
hardship.Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea;
I
tự nguyện
voluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep;Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanaval
nhà thám hiểm
adventurermightderivethegreatestthực tế
practicaladvantage.TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselfto
ngưỡng mộ
admiration.ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthe
tàu
vesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeserveto
đạt
accomplishsomegreatpurpose?Mylifemighthavebeenpassedin
thoải mái
easeandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatgiàu
wealthplacedinmypath.Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerinthe
khẳng định
affirmative!Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm;
butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoften
chán nản
depressed.Iamabouttoproceedonalonganddifficult
chuyến đi
voyage,theemergenciesofwhichwilldemandallmyfortitude:Iamrequirednotonlytoraisethespiritsofothers,butsometimesto
duy trì
sustainmyown,whentheirsarefailing.ThisisthemostfavourableperiodfortravellinginRussia.
Theyflyquicklyoverthesnowintheirsledges;
themotionispleasant,and,inmyopinion,farmoreagreeablethanthatofanEnglishstagecoach.
Thecoldisnot
quá
excessive,ifyouarewrappedinfurs—adresswhichIhavealreadyadopted,forthereisagreatdifferencebetweenwalkingtheboong
deckandremainingseatedmotionlessforhours,whennoexercisepreventsthebloodfromactuallyfreezinginyourveins.Ihavenoambitiontolosemylifeonthepost-roadbetweenSt.PetersburghandArchangel.
Ishall
khởi hành
departforthelattertowninafortnightorthreeweeks;andmyintentionistohireashipthere,whichcaneasilybedonebypayingtheinsurancefortheowner,andtoengageasmanysailorsasIthinknecessaryamongthosewhoare
quen
accustomedtothewhale-fishing.Idonot
định
intendtosailuntilthemonthofJune;andwhenshallIreturn?
Ah,dearsister,howcanIanswerthisquestion?
IfIsucceed,many,manymonths,perhapsyears,willpassbeforeyouandImaymeet.
IfIfail,youwillseemeagainsoon,ornever.
Tạm biệt
Farewell,mydear,excellentMargaret.Heavenshowerdownblessingsonyou,andsaveme,thatImayagainandagaintestifymygratitudeforallyourloveand
lòng
kindness.Letter2
ToMrs.Saville,England.
Archangel,28thMarch,17—.
Howslowlythetimepasseshere,encompassedasIamby
sương
frostandsnow!Yetasecondstepistakentowardsmy
doanh nghiệp
enterprise.Ihavehiredavesselandamoccupiedincollectingmysailors;
thosewhomIhavealreadyengagedappeartobemenonwhomIcandependandarecertainlypossessedofdauntlesscourage.
ButIhaveonewantwhichIhaveneveryetbeenableto
thỏa mãn
satisfy,andtheabsenceoftheobjectofwhichInowfeelasamostnghiêm trọng
severeevil,Ihavenofriend,Margaret:whenIamglowingwiththeenthusiasmofsuccess,therewillbenonetoparticipatemyjoy;
ifIamassailedby
thất vọng
disappointment,noonewillendeavourtosustainmeindejection.Ishallcommitmythoughtstopaper,itistrue;
butthatisapoor
phương tiện
mediumforthecommunicationoffeeling.Idesirethecompanyofamanwhocouldsympathisewithme,whoseeyeswouldreplytomine.
Youmaydeemmeromantic,mydearsister,butIbitterlyfeelthewantofafriend.
Ihavenoonenearme,gentleyetcourageous,possessedofacultivatedaswellasofacapaciousmind,whosetastesarelikemyown,to
phê duyệt
approveoramendmyplans.Howwouldsuchafriend
sửa chữa
repairthefaultsofyourpoorbrother!Iamtooardentin
thực hiện
executionandtooimpatientofdifficulties.ButitisastillgreatereviltomethatIamself-educated:
forthefirstfourteenyearsofmylifeIranwildonacommonandreadnothingbutourUncleThomas’booksofvoyages.
AtthatageIbecame
quen
acquaintedwiththecelebratedpoetsofourowncountry;butitwasonlywhenithadceasedtobeinmypowertoderiveitsmostimportantbenefitsfromsucha
niềm tin
convictionthatIperceivedthecần thiết
necessityofbecomingacquaintedwithmorelanguagesthanthatofmynativecountry.NowIamtwenty-eightandaminrealitymoreilliteratethanmanyschoolboysoffifteen.
ItistruethatIhavethoughtmoreandthatmydaydreamsaremoreextendedand
tuyệt vời
magnificent,buttheywant(asthepainterscallit)keeping;andIgreatlyneedafriendwhowouldhavesenseenoughnottodespisemeasromantic,and
tình
affectionenoughformetoendeavourtođiều chỉnh
regulatemymind.Well,theseareuselesscomplaints;
Ishallcertainlyfindnofriendonthewideocean,norevenhereinArchangel,amongmerchantsandseamen.
Yetsomefeelings,unalliedtothedrossofhumannature,beateveninthese
gồ ghề
ruggedbosoms.Mylieutenant,forinstance,isamanofwonderfulcourageand
doanh nghiệp
enterprise;heismadlydesirousofglory,orrather,towordmy
cụm từ
phrasemorecharacteristically,ofadvancementinhisprofession.HeisanEnglishman,andinthemidstofnationalandprofessionalprejudices,unsoftenedbycultivation,retainssomeofthenoblestendowmentsofhumanity.
Ifirstbecame
quen
acquaintedwithhimonboardacá voi
whalevessel;findingthathewas
thất nghiệp
unemployedinthiscity,Ieasilyengagedhimtohỗ trợ
assistinmyenterprise.Themasterisapersonofanexcellentdispositionandis
đáng chú ý
remarkableintheshipforhisgentlenessandthemildnessofhisdiscipline.Thiscircumstance,addedtohiswell-knownintegrityanddauntlesscourage,mademeverydesirousto
tham gia
engagehim.Ayouthpassedinsolitude,mybestyearsspentunderyourgentleandfemininefosterage,hassorefinedthegroundworkofmycharacterthatIcannot
vượt qua
overcomeanintensedistastetotheusualbrutalityexercisedonboardship:Ihaveneverbelievedittobenecessary,andwhenIheardofamarinerequallynotedforhiskindlinessofheartandtherespectandobediencepaidtohimbyhiscrew,Ifeltmyselfpeculiarly
may mắn
fortunateinbeingabletosecurehisservices.Iheardofhimfirstinratheraromantic
cách
manner,fromaladywhoowestohimthehappinessofherlife.This,
ngắn gọn
briefly,ishisstory.SomeyearsagohelovedayoungRussianladyof
vừa
moderatefortune,andhavingamassedađáng kể
considerablesuminprize-money,thefatherofthegirlconsentedtothematch.Hesawhismistressoncebeforethedestinedceremony;
butshewasbathedintears,andthrowingherselfathisfeet,entreatedhimtospareher,confessingatthesametimethatshelovedanother,butthathewaspoor,andthatherfatherwouldnever
đồng ý
consenttotheunion.Mygenerousfriendreassuredthesuppliant,andonbeinginformedofthenameofherlover,
ngay lập tức
instantlyabandonedhispursuit.Hehadalreadyboughtafarmwithhismoney,onwhichhehaddesignedtopassthe
phần còn lại
remainderofhislife;buthebestowedthewholeonhis
đối thủ
rival,togetherwiththeremainsofhisprize-moneytomua
purchasestock,andthenhimselfsolicitedtheyoungwoman’sfathertođồng ý
consenttohermarriagewithherlover.Buttheoldmandecidedlyrefused,thinkinghimselfboundinhonourtomyfriend,who,whenhefoundthefatherinexorable,quittedhiscountry,norreturneduntilheheardthathisformermistresswasmarriedaccordingtoherinclinations.
“Whata
quý tộc
noblefellow!”youwillexclaim.
Heisso;
butthenheis
hoàn toàn
whollyuneducated:heisassilentasaTurk,andakindofignorantcarelessnessattendshim,which,whileitrendershis
hành vi
conductthemoreastonishing,detractsfromtheinterestandcảm
sympathywhichotherwisehewouldcommand.Yetdonotsuppose,becauseIcomplainalittleorbecauseIcanconceiveaconsolationformytoilswhichImayneverknow,thatIamwaveringinmyresolutions.
Thoseareasfixedasfate,andmy
chuyến đi
voyageisonlynowdelayeduntiltheweathershallpermitmyembarkation.Thewinterhasbeendreadfullysevere,butthespringpromiseswell,anditisconsideredasa
đáng chú ý
remarkablyearlyseason,sothatperhapsImaysailsoonerthanIexpected.Ishalldonothingrashly:
youknowme
đủ
sufficientlytoconfideinmyprudenceandconsideratenesswheneverthesafetyofothersiscommittedtomycare.Icannotdescribetoyoumysensationsonthenearprospectofmyundertaking.
Itisimpossibletocommunicatetoyouaconceptionofthetrembling
cảm giác
sensation,halfpleasurableandhalfsợ hãi
fearful,withwhichIampreparingtodepart.Iamgoingtounexploredregions,to“thelandof
sương mù
mistandsnow,”butIshallkillnoalbatross;thereforedonotbealarmedformysafetyorifIshouldcomebacktoyouaswornandwoefulasthe“AncientMariner.”
Youwillsmileatmyallusion,butIwilldiscloseasecret.
Ihaveoftenattributedmyattachmentto,mypassionateenthusiasmfor,thedangerousmysteriesofoceantothatproductionofthemost
tưởng tượng
imaginativeofmodernpoets.ThereissomethingatworkinmysoulwhichIdonotunderstand.
Iampracticallyindustrious—painstaking,aworkmanto
thực hiện
executewithperseveranceandlabour—butbesidesthisthereisaloveforthemarvellous,aniềm tin
beliefinthemarvellous,intertwinedinallmyprojects,whichhurriesmeoutofthecommonpathwaysofmen,eventothewildseaandunvisitedregionsIamabouttokhám phá
explore.Buttoreturntodearerconsiderations.
ShallImeetyouagain,afterhavingtraversed
lớn
immenseseas,andreturnedbythemostsouthernmũi
capeofAfricaorAmerica?Idarenotexpectsuchsuccess,yetIcannotbeartolookonthe
ngược
reverseofthepicture.Continueforthepresenttowritetomebyeveryopportunity:
ImayreceiveyourlettersonsomeoccasionswhenIneedthemmosttosupportmyspirits.
Iloveyouverytenderly.
Remembermewith
tình
affection,shouldyouneverhearfrommeagain.Letter3
ToMrs.Saville,England.
July7th,17—.
MydearSister,.
IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmy
chuyến đi
voyage.ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel;
more
may mắn
fortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears.Iam,however,ingoodspirits:
mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethat
liên tục
continuallypassus,indicatingthedangersofthekhu vực
regiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem.Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhigh
vĩ
latitude;butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected.
Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter.
Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofa
rò rỉ
leakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourchuyến đi
voyage.Adieu,mydearMargaret.
Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashly
gặp
encounterdanger.Iwillbecool,persevering,and
thận trọng
prudent.Butsuccessshallcrownmyendeavours.
Whereforenot?
ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmy
chiến thắng
triumph.Whynotstillproceedovertheuntamedyetobedient
yếu tố
element?Whatcanstopthedeterminedheartandresolvedwillofman?
Myswellingheartinvoluntarilypoursitselfoutthus.
ButImustfinish.
Heavenblessmybelovedsister!
Letter4
ToMrs.Saville,England.
August5th,17—.
SostrangeanaccidenthashappenedtousthatIcannotforbearrecordingit,althoughitisveryprobablethatyouwillseemebeforethesepaperscancomeintoyourpossession.
LastMonday(July31st)wewerenearlysurroundedbyice,whichclosedintheshiponallsides,scarcelyleavingherthesea-roominwhichshefloated.
Oursituationwassomewhatdangerous,especiallyaswewerecompassedroundbyaverythick
sương mù
fog.Weaccordinglylayto,hopingthatsomechangewouldtakeplaceinthe
khí quyển
atmosphereandweather.Abouttwoo’clockthe
sương mù
mistclearedaway,andwebeheld,stretchedoutineverydirection,lớn
vastandirregularplainsofice,whichseemedtohavenoend.Someofmycomradesgroaned,andmyownmindbegantogrowwatchfulwithanxiousthoughts,whenastrangesightsuddenlyattractedourattentionanddivertedoursolicitudefromourownsituation.
Weperceivedalowcarriage,fixedonasledgeanddrawnbydogs,passontowardsthenorth,atthedistanceofhalfamile;
abeingwhichhadtheshapeofaman,butapparentlyofgiganticstature,satinthesledgeandguidedthedogs.
Wewatchedthe
nhanh chóng
rapidprogressofthetravellerwithourtelescopesuntilhewaslostamongthedistantinequalitiesoftheice.This
xuất hiện
appearanceexcitedourunqualifiedwonder.Wewere,aswebelieved,manyhundredmilesfromanyland;
butthisapparitionseemedtodenotethatitwasnot,inreality,so
xa
distantaswehadsupposed.Shutin,however,byice,itwasimpossibletofollowhistrack,whichwehadobservedwiththegreatestattention.
Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.
We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingto
gặp
encounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichnổi
floataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.
Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupon
boong
deckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalarge
mảnh
fragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;
buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthe
tàu
vessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.
WhenIappearedon
boong
deckthemastersaid,“Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.”Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeign
giọng
accent.“BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,”saidhe,“willyouhavethe
lòng
kindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?”Youmayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkof
hủy diệt
destructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmytàu
vesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereona
chuyến đi
voyageofdiscoverytowardsthebắc
northernpole.Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.
GoodGod!
Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.
Hislimbswerenearlyfrozen,andhisbodydreadfullyemaciatedby
mệt mỏi
fatigueandsuffering.Ineversawamaninsowretchedacondition.
Weattemptedtocarryhimintothe
cabin
cabin,butassoonashehadquittedthefreshairhefainted.Weaccordinglybroughthimbacktothe
boong
deckandrestoredhimtoanimationbyrubbinghimwithbrandy
brandyandforcinghimtonuốt
swallowasmallquantity.Assoonasheshowedsignsoflifewewrappedhimupinblanketsandplacedhimnearthechimneyofthekitchenstove.
Byslowdegreesherecoveredandatealittlesoup,whichrestoredhim
tuyệt vời
wonderfully.Twodayspassedinthismannerbeforehewasabletospeak,andIoftenfearedthathissufferingshaddeprivedhimofunderstanding.
Whenhehadinsome
biện pháp
measurerecovered,Iremovedhimtomyowncabin
cabinandattendedonhimasmuchasmydutywouldpermit.Ineversawamoreinterestingcreature:
hiseyeshave
thường
generallyanexpressionofwildness,andevenđiên
madness,buttherearemomentswhen,ifanyoneperformsanactofkindnesstowardshimordoeshimanythemosttriflingservice,hiswholecountenanceislightedup,asitwere,withachùm
beamofbenevolenceandsweetnessthatIneversawequalled.Butheis
thường
generallymelancholyanddespairing,andsometimeshegnasheshisteeth,asifimpatientoftheweightofwoesthatoppresseshim.WhenmyguestwasalittlerecoveredIhadgreattroubletokeepoffthemen,whowishedtoaskhimathousandquestions;