×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Start learning this lesson now
image

Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym by Edgar Allan Poe, INTRODUCTORY NOTE

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

UPON my return to the United States a few months ago, after the extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to the public. I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no person but myself; others not so much so. One consideration which deterred me was that, having kept no journal during a greater portion of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have the appearance of that truth it would really possess, barring only the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that the incidents to be narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous that, unsupported as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, through life, to put faith in my veracity-the probability being that the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an impudent and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers.

Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the "Southern Literary Messenger," a monthly magazine, published by Mr. Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common-sense of the public-insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of being received as truth.

Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded by myself, publishing it in the "Southern Messenger" under the garb of fiction. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended fiction appeared, consequently, in the "Messenger" for January and February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table of contents of the magazine. The manner in which this ruse was received has induced me at length to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which appeared in the "Messenger" (without altering or distorting a single fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P. 's address, distinctly expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity.

This exposé being made, it will be seen at once how much of what follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the "Messenger," it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily perceived. A. G. PYM.

Learn languages from TV shows, movies, news, articles and more! Try LingQ for FREE

INTRODUCTORY NOTE EINLEITENDE BEMERKUNG NOTA INTRODUCTORIA NOTA INTRODUTTIVA 소개 노트 NOTA WPROWADZAJĄCA NOTA INTRODUTÓRIA ВСТУПИТЕЛЬНАЯ ЗАМЕТКА GİRİŞ NOTU ВСТУПНА ЗАПИСКА 介绍性说明

UPON my return to the United States a few months ago, after the extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to the public. |||||||||||||非凡的||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||в інших місцях||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||постійно|закликаючи||||||обов'язок||||||| После моего возвращения в Соединенные Штаты несколько месяцев назад, после необыкновенных приключений в Южных морях и других местах, о которых рассказывается на следующих страницах, случай забросил меня в общество нескольких джентльменов в Ричмонде, штат Вирджиния, которые проявляли глубокий интерес ко всему, что касалось посещенных мною регионов, и постоянно убеждали меня в том, что мой рассказ должен стать достоянием общественности. 几个月前，我回到美国，经历了一系列在南海及其他地方的奇异冒险，以下页面中对此有详细叙述，意外让我进入了维吉尼亚州里士满几位绅士的社交圈，他们对我所访问地区的所有事务非常感兴趣，且不断督促我将我的叙述公之于众，认为这是我的责任。 I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no person but myself; others not so much so. ||||||拒绝||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||однак||відмовлятися||||||||||||||стосуються||||||||| Однако у меня было несколько причин отказаться от этого, некоторые из которых носили совершенно частный характер и не касались никого, кроме меня самого, а другие были не столь значительными. 不过，我有几个理由拒绝这样做，其中一些是完全私人的，与其他人无关；其他的则不那么私人。 One consideration which deterred me was that, having kept no journal during a greater portion of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have the appearance of that truth it would really possess, barring only the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the imaginative faculties. |||阻止|||||||||||大部分||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||possessing|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |розгляд||стримував|||||||||||частині||||||||відсутній||боявся|||||||||лише||||||||||||зовнішність|||||||володіти||||||неминучий|перебільшення|||||||схильні||||||||||||| Одно из соображений, сдерживавших меня, заключалось в том, что, не ведя дневника в течение большей части времени, когда я отсутствовал, я опасался, что не смогу написать по памяти столь подробное и связное изложение, чтобы оно имело видимость истины, которой оно действительно обладало бы, если бы не естественное и неизбежное преувеличение, к которому все мы склонны при описании событий, имевших сильное влияние на возбуждение способностей воображения. 一个让我犹豫的考虑因素是，在我缺席的大部分时间里没有写日记，我担心仅凭记忆无法写出如此详细且连贯的叙述，以至于具有实际上所拥有的真实性，除了我们在详细描述对想象力产生强烈影响的事件时都容易出现的自然且不可避免的夸张。 Another reason was, that the incidents to be narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous that, unsupported as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, through life, to put faith in my veracity-the probability being that the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an impudent and ingenious fiction. |||||||||||||||令人惊叹的|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||чудовий||||||||||||докази||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||правдивість|||||||||||||||||||безсоромна||винахідливий| Другая причина заключалась в том, что описываемые происшествия носили настолько удивительный характер, что, как бы ни были неподтверждены мои утверждения (за исключением свидетельств одного человека, к тому же индейца-полукровки), я мог надеяться на веру только моей семьи и тех моих друзей, которые имели основания в течение жизни верить в мою правдивость, а вероятность того, что широкая публика сочтет то, что я изложил, просто дерзким и гениальным вымыслом, невелика. 另一个原因是，被叙述的事件的性质如此神奇，以至于我的说法必然无法得到支持（除了一个半印第安人的证据），我只能希望我的家人和那些因生活原因而向我真实性投以信任的朋友们能够相信我——公众普遍会把我所提出的视为无耻和巧妙的虚构。 A distrust in my own abilities as a writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers. |||||здібностей|||||тим не менш||||основних|||||||||||| 对我作为作家的能力的不信任，然而，仍然是阻止我遵从顾问建议的主要原因之一。

Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the "Southern Literary Messenger," a monthly magazine, published by Mr. Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. ||||||||||||||||关于||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||особливо|||||частина цього|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 在弗吉尼亚州，那些对我陈述表示最大兴趣的绅士中，尤其是对于与南极洋相关的部分，最近担任《南方文学邮报》编辑的波先生对此表现出特别关注，该杂志由托马斯·W·怀特先生在里士满市出版。 He strongly advised me, among others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common-sense of the public-insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of being received as truth. ||建议||||||||||||||||||||||机智|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||пережив і витримав|||||||||||||||||однак, проте||||лише|||||||||||||||||||||||||| 他强烈建议我，和其他人一样，立即准备一份我所见所经历的完整叙述，并信任公众的敏锐和常识——他强调，不论在单纯的作者身份上多么粗糙，我的书都应该整理出来，它的奇特之处，如果有的话，将有更好的机会被接纳为真相。

Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as he suggested. 尽管如此|||||||||||||| незважаючи на|||||||||||||| 尽管有这样的建议，我并没有下定决心去按照他的建议做。 He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded by myself, publishing it in the "Southern Messenger" under the garb of fiction. ||||||||介入|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||запропонував|||||||||||||||||||||||||||частини моїх пригод||||||provided by|||||||||||обгортці|| 后来他提议（发现我在此事上不愿意行动）让我允许他用他自己的话撰写我冒险经历的早期部分的叙述，内容基于我提供的事实，并以虚构的名义在《南方信使》上发表。 To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating only that my real name should be retained. |||||||规定||||||||保留 ||усвідомлюючи|||||||||||||збережене 对此，我没有看到反对意见，因此我同意，只要求保留我的真实姓名。 Two numbers of the pretended fiction appeared, consequently, in the "Messenger" for January and February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table of contents of the magazine. ||||||||||信使|||||||||||||||||||||||||文章|||||||| ||||||з'явилися||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 因此，《信使》在1837年1月和2月刊登了两篇伪造的虚构文章，并且为了确保它被视为虚构，波先生的名字被附在杂志目录的文章上。 The manner in which this ruse was received has induced me at length to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which appeared in the "Messenger" (without altering or distorting a single fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P. |||||||||促使||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||компіляція|||||||||||||незважаючи на|||||||||||||||||||з'явилася||||||||||||||||||схильні||||||||||||| 这种诡计受到的反应促使我最终决定对相关冒险进行正式的编纂和出版；因为我发现，尽管我在《信使》上发表的那部分陈述周围巧妙地披上了寓言的外衣（没有改变或扭曲任何事实），公众仍然完全没有将其视为寓言，几封信件被发给了P先生。 's address, distinctly expressing a conviction to the contrary. |||||信念||| ||чітко|||переконання||| '的地址，明显表达了相反的信念。 I thence concluded that the facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity. |因此|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |відтак||||||||||||||||||||||||автентичність|||||отже||||||||| 因此，我得出结论，我叙述的事实将证明其本质能够带有足够的证据表明其真实性，因此我在公众的不信任方面几乎没有什么可担心的。

This exposé being made, it will be seen at once how much of what follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were written by Mr. Poe. |报告|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 这个揭露一旦做出，接下来我声称是我自己写作的部分将立刻显现；同时也将明白在前几页中没有任何事实被错误地表述，而这些内容是由波 Poe 先生所写的。 Even to those readers who have not seen the "Messenger," it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily perceived. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||容易地| |||||||||||||||||||частина||||||||||||||легко помітно|помічений 即使对于那些没有看到《信使》的读者，也没有必要指出他的部分在哪里结束而我的部分在哪里开始；风格上的差异将很容易被察觉。 A. G. PYM. A. G. PYM.