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INSTRUCTIONS: For google chrome, click the link and add the extension. This will leave a little green square with 'R' in the middle in the top right of your browser. Click it, then choose the appropriate languages (French to English for most of you) and then click on any word in your target language. At this point a simple one word translation will appear above that chosen word but I don't want you to rely on this too much. I would rather you turn to the wordreference dictionary translation which is far more detailed. For this, you must now press on the readlang menu button which will open a pop down menu. In this you will find 'open dictionary' and clicking this will bring the mini wordreference to the left of your screen. Henceforth, click away on words you are not sure of and the dictionary will automatically follow. (No more copying and pasting my friends: welcome to the revolution!)
INSTRUCTIONS: For google chrome, click the link and add the extension. This will leave a little green square with 'R' in the middle in the top right of your browser. Click it, then choose the appropriate languages (French to English for most of you) and then click on any word in your target language. At this point a simple one word translation will appear above that chosen word but I don't want you to rely on this too much. I would rather you turn to the wordreference dictionary translation which is far more detailed. For this, you must now press on the readlang menu button which will open a pop down menu. In this you will find 'open dictionary' and clicking this will bring the mini wordreference to the left of your screen. Henceforth, click away on words you are not sure of and the dictionary will automatically follow. (No more copying and pasting my friends: welcome to the revolution!)
Nouvelle/ Short Story/ Historia Corta *** Intermediate Level / Niveau Intermédiaire / Nivel Intermedio
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PART
I ~ADVERTISEMENT~
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BRAM STOKER'S
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Abraham "Bram" Stoker (1847 - 1912) fue un novelista y escritor irlandés, conocido por su novela Drácula (1897)."
El invitado de Drácula es un relato corto de la colección El invitado de Drácula y otras historias de terror publicada por primera vez en 1914, dos años después de la muerte de su autor. Florence Stoker, viuda de Bram Stoker, declaró que El invitado de Drácula era un episodio del diario de Jonathan Harker y el primer capítulo del manuscrito original de Drácula, que los editores consideraron superfluo para la historia. Aunque esta declaración es la más extendida, algunos estudiosos como David J. Skal y Elizabeth Miller, entre otros, están en desacuerdo. (EDITED QUOTE from Wikipedia) |
Abraham "Bram" Stoker (1847 – 1912) was an Irish author known today for his 1897 Gothicnovel, Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned
It is widely believed that "Dracula's Guest" is actually the deleted first chapter from the original Dracula manuscript, which the publisher felt was superfluous to the story. It first appeared in Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories, a collection of short stories by Bram Stoker that was first published in 1914, two years after Stoker's death. (EDITED QUOTES from Wikipedia) |
Abraham Stoker dit Bram Stoker (1847 - 1912) est un écrivain britannique d'origine irlandaise, auteur de nombreux romans et de nouvelles, qui a connu la célébrité grâce à son ouvrage intitulé Dracula.
(EDITED QUOTE: Wikipedia) |
NOTE: you may find it more convenient to open the desired YouTube audio videos (see below) in another tab so that you don't have to scroll up and lose you position when you want to pause the audios to make a cup of tea or something. To do so, click on the title words at the top left hand corner of the on-screens screens (I made a hash of explaining that didn't I. Well, maybe my left buttock might care the occasional Wednesday morning. As for the rest of me...)
SPANISH TRANSLATION
Unknown Story starts at 12:07 |
ENGLISH ORIGINAL
Bram Stoker 1914 |
FRENCH TRANSLATION
Unknown |
More at Terror y Nada Mas
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More at ChapterVox
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Sorry No audio available |
PARA 1
Cuando iniciamos nuestro paseo, el sol brillaba intensamente sobre Múnich y el aire estaba repleto de la alegría propia de comienzos del verano. En el mismo momento en que íbamos a partir, Herr Delbrück (el maitre d'hôtel del Quatre Saisons, donde me alojaba) bajó hasta el carruaje sin detenerse a ponerse el sombrero y, tras desearme un placentero paseo, le dijo al cochero, sin apartar la mano de la manija de la puerta del coche: -No olvide estar de regreso antes de la puesta del sol. El cielo parece claro, pero se nota un frescor en el viento del norte que me dice que puede haber una tormenta en cualquier momento. Pero estoy seguro de que no se retrasará -sonrió-, pues ya sabe qué noche es. ............................ ~paseo = [walk/ stroll/ outing] ~repleto de = [filled with/ packed with/ replete with] ~propia de = [appropriate to/ typical with/ suitable for] ~íbamos a = [{we} was going to] ~me alojaba = [I was lodging/ I was staying] ~carruaje = [carriage/ coach] ~desearme = [wishing me] ~apartar = [moving away/ moving off] ~manija = [handle/ knob] ~puesta del sol = [sunset/ setting of the sun] ~frescor = [freshness/ coolness] ~que puede haber = [that there could be (LIT: that {it} can have)] ~cualquier = [any] ~se retrasará = [{you} will be late or delayed/ will fall behind (though read as 'will be out too late'] |
PARA 1
When we started for our drive the sun was shining brightly on Munich, and the air was full of the joyousness of early summer. Just as we were about to depart, Herr Delbruck (the maitre d'hotel of the Quatre Saisons, where I was staying) came down bareheaded to the carriage and, after wishing me a pleasant drive, said to the coachman, still holding his hand on the handle of the carriage door, "Remember you are back by nightfall. The sky looks bright but there is a shiver in the north wind that says there may be a sudden storm. But I am sure you will not be late." Here he smiled and added,"for you know what night it is." |
PARA 1
Lorsque je partis en excursion, un beau soleil illuminait Munich, et l’air était rempli de cette joie particulière au début de l’été. La voiture s’ébranlait déjà lorsque Herr Delbrück (le patron de l’hôtel des Quatre Saisons où j’étais descendu) accourut pour me souhaiter une promenade agréable ; puis, la main toujours sur la portière, il s’adressa au cocher : – Et, surtout, soyez de retour avant le soir, n’est-ce pas ? Pour le moment, il fait beau, mais ce vent du nord pourrait bien finir, malgré tout, par nous amener un orage. Il est vrai qu’il est inutile de vous recommander la prudence : vous savez aussi bien que moi qu’il ne faut pas s’attarder en chemin cette nuit ! Il avait souri en disant ces derniers mots. ................................... ~partis = [left/ set off] ~s’ébranlait = [was shaking or rattling about] ~étais descendu = [had stayed OR was staying] NOTE: I can't get a feeling for which one of the two it is because this is an extremely rare use of decendre whose normal meaning is [to descend/ to go down/ to come down/ to alight/ to drop down] In normal circumstances you would give it a 'had' translation, reading it as the PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT but I suspect it is being used here as the IMPARFAIT + past participle used as adjective. Can't win 'em all ~rempli = [filled] ~orage = [storm] ~malgré = [despite] ~accourut = [ran up to {me}/ rushed up to {me}] NOTE: you have to imply the 'me' as this would normally be seen as m'accourut ~soyez = [be] ~amener = [to bring (though read as 'in bringing'] ~s’attarder = [to linger/ to dawdle/ to remain/ to hang about] |
PARA 2
Johann le contestó con un enfático: -Ja, mein Herr. Y, llevándose la mano al sombrero, se dio prisa en partir. Cuando hubimos salido de la ciudad le dije, tras indicarle que se detuviera: ..................... ~contestó = [answered/ replied] 3rd person singular of contestar in the PRETÉRITO ~se dio prisa en partir = [LIT: gave himself haste in leaving (though read as 'hurried off'] ~hubimos salido = [{we} had exited/ {we} had gone out {of}] 1st person plural of salir in the PRETÉRITO ANTERIOR ~que se detuviera = [that {he} stop] NOTE: literally 'that {he} stop himself' |
PARA 2
Johann answered with an emphatic, "Ja, mein Herr," and, touching his hat, drove off quickly. When we had cleared the town, I said, after signalling to him to stop: |
PARA 2
– Ja, mein Herr, fit Johann d’un air entendu et, touchant de deux doigts son chapeau, il fit partir les chevaux à toute vitesse. Lorsque nous fûmes sortis de la ville, je lui fis signe d’arrêter, et lui demandai aussitôt : .................................. ~fit = [said] NOTE: that this is actually the passé simple of faire = [to do/ to make] which used to be used stylistically like this in the past to mean 'said'. God knows why! ~entendu = [knowing] NOTE: usually means 'understood' or 'heard' ~touchant de deux doigts = [touching with two fingers] i.e doffing his hat or making a small respectful salute. ~fit partir = [made leave/ made set off] ~fûmes sortis = [were left/ were exited (though read as 'were outside of')] ~fis signe = [made {a} sign/ gave signal] |
PARA 3
-Dígame, Johann, ¿qué noche es hoy? .............................. ~Díga = [tell] Usted form of decir in the IMPERITIVO ~hoy = [today] |
PARA 3
"Tell me, Johann, what is tonight?" |
PARA 3
– Dites-moi, Johann, pourquoi le patron a-t-il parlé ainsi de la nuit prochaine ? |
PARA 4
Se persignó al tiempo que contestaba lacónicamente: -Walpurgis Nacht. Y sacó su reloj, un grande y viejo instrumento alemán de plata, tan grande como un nabo, y lo contempló, con las cejas juntas y un pequeño e impaciente encogimiento de hombros. ... Me di cuenta de que aquella era su forma de protestar respetuosamente contra el innecesario retraso y me volví a recostar en el asiento, haciéndole señas de que prosiguiese. Reanudó una buena marcha, como si quisiera recuperar el tiempo perdido. De vez en cuando, los caballos parecían alzar sus cabezas y olisquear suspicazmente el aire. En tales ocasiones, yo miraba alrededor, alarmado. ... ... El camino era totalmente anodino, pues estábamos atravesando una especie de alta meseta barrida por el viento. Mientras viajábamos, vi un camino que parecía muy poco usado y que aparentemente se hundía en un pequeño y serpenteante valle. Parecía tan invitador que, aun arriesgándome a ofenderlo, le dije a Johann que se detuviera y, cuando lo hubo hecho, le expliqué que me gustaría que bajase por allí. Me dio toda clase de excusas, y se persignó con frecuencia mientras hablaba. Esto, de alguna forma, excitó mi curiosidad, así que le hice varias preguntas. Respondió evasivamente, sin dejar de mirar una y otra vez su reloj como protesta. ................................ ~~Se persignó [{he} crossed himself] ~~contestaba = [was answering/ was replying] ~~sacó = [(he) took out OR got out] ~~plata = [silver] ~~nabo = [turnip] NOTE: is also a slang word for 'penis' ~~cejas = [eyebrows/ brows] ~~encogimiento = [shrugging/ shrinking] ~~Me di cuenta de = [LIT: I gave myself account of (though you must read as 'I realised')] ~~que aquella [that that] ~~retraso = [delay/ retardation] ~~me volví a = [(I) returned to/ (I) went back to] LIT: 'I returned myself to' ~~~recostar = [to lying back/ to leaning back] ~~Reanudó = [(he) renewed OR resumed OR restarted] ~~alzar = [to raise/ to erect/ to gather (as in 'harvest')/ to conceal/ to lift (as in 'prohibition)] ~~olisquear = [to smell/ to sniff] ~~miraba = [would look/ would watch/ would look out] NOTE: this is not a conditional 'would' but an IMPERFECTO 'would' as used when the was/were/used-to translations just don't fit. ~~anodino = [anodyne/ humdrum/ harmless/ inoffensive] ~~una especie de = [LIT: a species of (though read as 'a kind of' OR 'some sort of')] ~~meseta = [plateau] ~~barrida = [swept] ~~usado = [used] ~~se hundía = [sank (down into)] LIT: 'sank itself (into)'] ~~serpenteante = [winding/ twisting] LIT: 'snaking' ~~arriesgándome = [puttings myself in risk (though read as 'at the risk of')] ~~hubo hecho = [(he) had done] 3rd person singular of hacer in the PRETÉRITO ANTERIOR ~~bajase = [(I/he) go down/ would go down/ was going down] NOTE: you be forgiven for mistaking this as form of the reflexive verb bajarse i.e. baja-se, but infact, it is from of bajar, that form being either the 1st or 3rd person singular in the more litarary (and somewhat outdated) version of the IMPERFECTO SUBJUNTIVO. Why are there two versions of this tense/mood? See this link. NOTE: I also can't be sure whether it is 'he' or 'I' because in this literary version of the imperfecto subjuntivo, the 3rd and 1st person singular forms are identical, and the context in the story is not helping. ~excitó = [excited] ~así que =[and so thus/ such that consequently] NOTE: these are my own personal ways of translating ainsi que in these kind of circumstances. |
PARA 4
He crossed himself, as he answered laconically: "Walpurgis nacht." Then he took out his watch, a great, old-fashioned German silver thing as big as a turnip and looked at it, with his eyebrows gathered together and a little impatient shrug of his shoulders. ... ... I realized that this was his way of respectfully protesting against the unnecessary delay and sank back in the carriage, merely motioning him to proceed. He started off rapidly, as if to make up for lost time. Every now and then the horses seemed to throw up their heads and sniff the air suspiciously. On such occasions I often looked round in alarm. ... ... ... ... ... The road was pretty bleak, for we were traversing a sort of high windswept plateau. As we drove,I saw a road that looked but little used and which seemed to dip through a little winding valley. ... ... It looked so inviting that, even at the risk of offending him, I called Johann to stop; and when he had pulled up, I told him I would like to drive down that road. He made all sorts of excuses and frequently crossed himself as he spoke. This somewhat piqued my curiosity, so I asked him various questions. He answered fencingly and repeatedly looked at his watch in protest. |
PARA 4
En se signant, il me répondit brièvement : – Walpurgis Nacht ! Puis, de sa poche, il tira sa montre – une ancienne montre allemande, en argent et de la grosseur d’un navet ; il la consulta en fronçant les sourcils, et haussa légèrement les épaules dans un mouvement de contrariété. Je compris que c’était là sa façon de protester assez respectueusement contre ce retard inutile, et je me laissai retomber au fond de la voiture. Aussitôt, il se remit en route à vive allure, comme s’il voulait regagner le temps perdu. De temps à autre, les chevaux relevaient brusquement la tête et reniflaient – on eût dit qu’une odeur ou l’autre qu’eux seuls percevaient leur inspirait quelque crainte. Et chaque fois que je les voyais ainsi effrayés, moi-même, assez inquiet, je regardais le paysage autour de moi. La route était battue des vents, car nous montions une côte depuis un bon moment et parvenions sur un plateau. Peu après, je vis un chemin par lequel, apparemment, on ne passait pas souvent et qui, me semblait-il, s’enfonçait vers une vallée étroite. J’eus fort envie de le prendre et, même au risque d’importuner Johann, je lui criai à nouveau d’arrêter et je lui expliquai alors que j’aimerais descendre par ce chemin. Cherchant toutes sortes de prétextes, il dit que c’était impossible – et il se signa plusieurs fois tandis qu’il parlait. Ma curiosité éveillée, je lui posai de nombreuses questions. Il y répondit évasivement et en consultant sa montre à tout instant – en guise de protestation. |
PARA 5
Al final, le dije: -Bueno, Johann, quiero bajar por ese camino. No le diré que venga si no lo desea, pero cuénteme por qué no quiere hacerlo, eso es todo lo que le pido. Como respuesta, pareció zambullirse desde el pescante por lo rápidamente que llegó al suelo. Entonces extendió sus manos hacia mí en gesto de súplica y me imploró que no fuera. Mezclaba el suficiente inglés con su alemán como para que yo entendiese el hilo de sus palabras. Parecía estar siempre a punto de decirme algo, cuya sola idea era evidente que le aterrorizaba; pero cada vez se echaba atrás y decía mientras se persignaba: -Walpurgis Nacht! ............................. ~~Al final = [in the end] LIT: 'at the end' ~~No[no] le[you] diré[will tell (though read as 'will order' due to special construction)] que[that] venga[(you) come] NOTE: the special construction of 'decir a algn que + SUBJUNCTIVO' changes the mean of decir into an order rather than just saying or telling. ~~zambullirse = [to dive himself off] ~~pescante = [coachman's seat/ driver's seat] ~~hacia = [towards] ~~súplica = [supplication] ~~fuera = [(I) go/ would go] 1st/3rd person singular of both Ir and ser (though here it is of Ir) in the IMPERFECTO SUBJUNTIVO ~Mezclaba = [(he) was mixing] IMPERFECTO ~~entendiese = [(I) was understanding/ (I) would understand/ (I) understood] IMPERFECTO SUBJUNTIVO ~~hilo = [thread/ wire] ~~cuya = [of which/ whose] ~se echaba atrás = [LIT: would throw himself backward/ FIG: would back out] a form of echarse atrás |
PARA 5
Finally I said, "Well, Johann, I want to go down this road. I shall not ask you to come unless you like; but tell me why you do not like to go, that is all I ask." For answer he seemed to throw himself off the box, so quickly did he reach the ground. Then he stretched out his hands appealingly to me and implored me not to go. There was just enough of English mixed with the German for me to understand the drift of his talk. He seemed always just about to tell me something - the very idea of which evidently frightened him; but each time he pulled himself up saying, "Walpurgis nacht!" |
PARA 5
À la fin, je n’y tins plus. – Johann, lui dis-je, je veux descendre par ce chemin. Je ne vous oblige pas à m’accompagner ; mais je voudrais savoir pourquoi vous ne voulez pas le prendre. Pour toute réponse, d’un bond rapide, il sauta du siège. Une fois à terre, il joignit les mains, me supplia de ne pas m’enfoncer dans ce chemin. Il mêlait à son allemand assez de mots anglais pour que je le comprenne. Il me semblait toujours qu’il allait me dire quelque chose – dont la seule idée sans aucun doute l’effrayait -, mais, à chaque fois, il se ressaisissait et répétait simplement en faisant le signe de la croix : – Walpurgis Nacht ! Walpurgis Nacht! |
PARA 6
Traté de argumentar con él pero era difícil discutir con un hombre cuyo idioma no hablaba. Ciertamente, él tenía todas las ventajas, pues aunque comenzaba hablando en inglés, un inglés muy burdo y entrecortado, siempre se excitaba y acababa por revertir a su idioma natal.... y cada vez que lo hacía miraba su reloj. ... ... Entonces los caballos se mostraron inquietos y olisquearon el aire. Ante esto, palideció y, mirando a su alrededor de forma asustada, saltó de pronto hacia adelante, los aferró por las bridas y los hizo avanzar unos diez metros. Yo lo seguí y le pregunté por qué había hecho aquello. ... ... Como respuesta, se persignó, señaló al punto que había abandonado y apuntó con su látigo hacia el otro camino, indicando una cruz y diciendo, primero en alemán y luego en inglés: -Enterrados..., estar enterrados los que matarse ellos mismos. ......................... ~~Traté de = [(I) tried to] PRETÉRITO ~~ventajas = [advantages] ~~pues = [since/ as] ~~aunque = [although/ in spite of/ even though] ~~burdo = [clumsy/ crude/ rough/ course] ~~entrecortado = [clipped/ broken/ laboured/ faltering/ choked] ~~ acababa por = [would end up by/ would finish by] ~~revertir = [reverting to/ to revert] ~~se mostraron = [seemed] LIT: showed themselves i.e. gave off the appearance of being ~~olisquearon = [(they) sniffed] ~~Ante = [in the face of/ faced with/ before] |
PARA 6
I tried to argue with him, but it was difficult to argue with a man when I did not know his language. The advantage certainly rested with him, for although he began to speak in English, of a very crude and broken kind, he always got excited and broke into his native tongue - and every time he did so, he looked at his watch. ... ... Then the horses became restless and sniffed the air. At this he grew very pale, and, looking around in a frightened way, he suddenly jumped forward, took them by the bridles, and led them on some twenty feet. I followed and asked why he had done this. ... .... ... For an answer he crossed himself, pointed to the spot we had left, and drew his carriage in the direction of the other road, indicating a cross, and said, first in German, then in English, "Buried him; him what killed themselves." |
PARA 6
Je voulus un peu discuter, mais allez donc discuter quand vous ne comprenez pas la langue de votre interlocuteur ! Il garda l’avantage sur moi, car bien qu’il s’appliquât chaque fois à utiliser les quelques mots d’anglais qu’il connaissait, il finissait toujours par s’exciter et par se remettre à parler allemand – et, invariablement alors, il regardait sa montre pour me faire comprendre ce que j’avais à comprendre. Les chevaux aussi devenaient impatients et ils reniflèrent à nouveau ; voyant cela, l’homme blêmit, regarda tout autour de lui, l’air épouvanté et, soudain, saisissant les brides, conduisit les chevaux à quelques mètres de là. Je le suivis et lui demandai ce qui le poussait soudain à quitter l’endroit où nous nous étions d’abord arrêtés. Il se signa, me montra l’endroit en question, fit encore avancer sa voiture vers la route opposée et, enfin, le doigt tendu vers une croix qui se trouvait là, me dit, d’abord en allemand puis dans son mauvais anglais : – C’est là qu’on a enterré celui qui s’est tué. |
PARA 7
Recordé la vieja costumbre de enterrar a los suicidas en los cruces de los caminos. -¡Ah! Ya veo, un suicida. ¡Qué interesante! Pero a fe mía que no podía saber por qué estaban asustados los caballos. |
PARA 7
I remembered the old custom of burying suicides at cross roads: "Ah! I see, a suicide. How interesting!" But for the life of me I could not make out why the horses were frightened. |
PARA 7
Je me souvins alors de la coutume ancienne qui voulait qu’on enterrât les suicidés à proximité des carrefours. – Ah oui ! fis-je, un suicidé… Intéressant… Mais il m’était toujours impossible de comprendre pourquoi les chevaux avaient été pris de frayeur. |
PARA 8
Mientras hablábamos, escuchamos un sonido que era un cruce entre el aullido de un lobo y el ladrido de un perro. Se oía muy lejos, pero los caballos se mostraron muy inquietos, y le llevó bastante tiempo a Johann calmarlos. Estaba muy pálido y dijo: -Suena como lobo..., pero no hay lobos aquí, ahora. |
PARA 8
Whilst we were talking, we heard a sort of sound between a yelp and a bark. It was far away; but the horses got very restless, and it took Johann all his time to quiet them. He was pale and said, "It sounds like a wolf, but yet there are no wolves here now." |
PARA 8
Tandis que nous parlions de la sorte, nous parvint de très loin un cri qui tenait à la fois du jappement et de l’aboiement ; de très loin, certes, mais les chevaux se montraient maintenant véritablement affolés, et Johann eut toutes les difficultés du monde à les apaiser. Il se retourna vers moi, et me dit, la voix tremblante : – On croirait entendre un loup, et pourtant il n’y a plus de loups ici. |
PARA 9
-¿No? -pregunté inquisitivamente-. ¿Hace ya mucho tiempo desde que los lobos estuvieron tan cerca de la ciudad? |
PARA 9
"No?" I said, questioning him. "Isn't it long since the wolves were so near the city?" |
PARA 9
– Ah non ? Et il y a longtemps que les loups n’approchent plus de la ville ? |
PARA 10
-Mucho, mucho -contestó-. En primavera y verano, pero con la nieve los lobos no mucho lejos. |
PARA 10
"Long, long," he answered, "in the spring and summer; but with the snow the wolves have been here not so long." |
PARA 10
– Très, très longtemps, du moins au printemps et en été ; mais on les a revus parfois… avec la neige. |
PARA 11
Mientras acariciaba los caballos y trataba de calmarlos, oscuras nubes comenzaron a pasar rápidas por el cielo. El sol desapareció, y una bocanada de aire frío sopló sobre nosotros. No obstante, tan sólo fue un soplo, y más parecía un aviso que una realidad, pues el sol volvió a salir brillante. |
PARA 11
Whilst he was petting the horses and trying to quiet them, dark clouds drifted rapidly across the sky. The sunshine passed away, and a breath of cold wind seemed to drift over us. It was only a breath, however, and more of a warning than a fact, for the sun came out brightly again. |
PARA 11
Il caressait ses chevaux, essayant toujours de les calmer, lorsque le soleil fut caché par de gros nuages sombres qui, en quelques instants, envahirent le ciel. Presque en même temps un vent froid souffla – ou plutôt il y eut une seule bouffée de vent froid qui ne devait être somme toute qu’un signe précurseur car le soleil, bientôt, brilla à nouveau. |
PARA 12
Johann miró hacia el horizonte haciendo visera con su mano, y dijo: -La tormenta de nieve venir dentro de mucho poco. Luego miró de nuevo su reloj, y, manteniendo firmemente las riendas, pues los caballos seguían manoteando inquietos y agitando sus cabezas, subió al pescante como si hubiera llegado el momento de proseguir nuestro viaje. |
PARA 12
Johann looked under his lifted hand at the horizon and said, "The storm of snow, he comes before long time." Then he looked at his watch again, and, straightway holding his reins firmly (for the horses were still pawing the ground restlessly and shaking their heads) he climbed to his box as though the time had come for proceeding on our journey. |
PARA 12
La main en visière, Johann examina l’horizon, puis me dit : – Tempête de neige ; nous l’aurons avant longtemps. Une fois de plus, il regarda l’heure, puis, tenant plus fermement les rênes, car assurément la nervosité des chevaux pouvait lui faire redouter le pire, il remonta sur le siège comme si le moment était venu de reprendre la route. |
PARA 13
Me sentía un tanto obstinado y no subí inmediatamente al carruaje. |
PARA 13
I felt a little obstinate and did not at once get into the carriage. |
PARA 13
Quant à moi, je voulais encore qu’il m’expliquât quelque chose. ......................... ((DIFFERENT)) "As for me, I still wanted him to explain something to me." If you haven't noticed by now, this French translation is very, very liberal. This does not, however, make it a bad translation; In fact, it reads quite well. It's just that it's making the colour alignment task a living knightmare for me. (You've got to admire the French: They don't like doing anything unless they can do it there own way!) |
PARA 14
-Hábleme del lugar al que lleva este camino -le dije, y señalé hacia abajo. |
PARA 14
"Tell me," I said, "about this place where the road leads," and I pointed down. |
PARA 14
– Où mène donc cette petite route que vous refusez de prendre ? lui demandai-je. À quel endroit arrive-t-on ? |
PARA 15
Se persignó de nuevo y murmuró una plegaria antes de responderme: -Es maldito. |
PARA 15
Again he crossed himself and mumbled a prayer before he answered, "It is unholy." |
PARA 15
Il se signa, marmonna une prière entre les dents, puis se contenta de me répondre : – Il est interdit d’y aller. .................... 'It is forbidden to go there' |
PARA 16
-¿Qué es lo que es maldito? -inquirí. |
PARA 16
"What is unholy?" I enquired. |
PARA 16
– Interdit d’aller où ? ........................ 'Forbidden to go where?' |
PARA 17
-El pueblo. |
PARA 17
"The village." |
PARA 17
– Mais au village. |
PARA 18
-Entonces, ¿hay un pueblo? |
PARA 18
"Then there is a village?" |
PARA 18
– Ah ! il y a un village, là-bas ? |
PARA 19
-No, no. Nadie vive allá desde cientos de años. |
PARA 19
"No, no. No one lives there hundreds of years." |
PARA 19
– Non, non. Il y a des siècles que personne n’y vit plus. |
PARA 20
Me devoraba la curiosidad: -Pero dijo que había un pueblo. |
PARA 20
My curiosity was piqued, "But you said there was a village." |
PARA 20
– Pourtant vous parliez d’un village ? ..................... 'And yet, you spoke of a village?' |
PARA 21
-Había. |
PARA 21
"There was." |
PARA 21
– Oui, il y en avait un. |
PARA 22
-¿Y qué pasa ahora? |
PARA 22
"Where is it now?" |
PARA 22
– Qu’est-il devenu ? |
PARA 23
Como respuesta, se lanzó a desgranar una larga historia en alemán y en inglés, tan mezclados que casi no podía comprender lo que decía, pero a grandes rasgos logré entender que hacía muchos cientos de años habían muerto allí personas que habían sido enterradas; y se habían oído ruidos bajo la tierra, y cuando se abrieron las fosas se hallaron a los hombres y mujeres con el aspecto de vivos y las bocas rojas de sangre. ... ... Y por eso, buscando salvar sus vidas (¡ay, y sus almas!.... y aquí se persignó de nuevo), los que quedaron huyeron a otros lugares donde los vivos vivían y los muertos estaban muertos y no.... no otra cosa. Evidentemente tenía miedo de pronunciar las últimas palabras. ... ... Mientras avanzaba en su narración, se iba excitando más y más, parecía como si su imaginación se hubiera desbocado, y terminó en un verdadero paroxismo de terror: blanco el rostro, sudoroso, tembloroso y mirando a su alrededor, como si esperase que alguna horrible presencia se fuera a manifestar allí mismo, en la llanura abierta, bajo la luz del sol. |
PARA 23
Whereupon he burst out into a long story in German and English, so mixed up that I could not quite understand exactly what he said. Roughly I gathered that long ago, hundreds of years, men had died there and been buried in their graves; but sounds were heard under the clay, and when the graves were opened, men and women were found rosy with life and their mouths red with blood. ... ... ... And so, in haste to save their lives (aye, and their souls! - and here he crossed himself) those who were left fled away to other places, where the living lived and the dead were dead and not... not something. He was evidently afraid to speak the last words. ... ... As he proceeded with his narration, he grew more and more excited. It seemed as if his imagination had got hold of him, and he ended in a perfect paroxysm of fear--white-faced, perspiring, trembling, and looking round him as if expecting that some dreadful presence would manifest itself there in the bright sunshine on the open plain. |
PARA 23
Là-dessus, il se lança dans une longue histoire où l’allemand se mêlait à l’anglais dans un langage si embrouillé que je le suivais difficilement, on s’en doute ; je crus comprendre cependant qu’autrefois – il y avait de cela des centaines et des centaines d’années – des hommes étaient morts dans ce village, y avaient été enterrés ; puis on avait entendu des bruits sous la terre, et lorsqu’on avait ouvert leurs tombes, ces hommes – et ces femmes -étaient apparus pleins de vie, un sang vermeil colorant leurs lèvres. Aussi, afin de sauver leurs vies (et surtout leurs âmes, ajouta Johann en se signant), les habitants s’enfuirent vers d’autres villages où les vivants vivaient et où les morts étaient des morts et non pas des… et non pas quelque chose d’autre. Le cocher, évidemment, avait été sur le point de prononcer certains mots et, à la dernière seconde, il en avait été lui-même épouvanté. Tandis qu’il poursuivait son récit, il s’excitait de plus en plus. On eût dit que son imagination l’emportait, et c’est dans une véritable crise de terreur qu’il l’acheva pâle comme la mort, suant à grosses gouttes, tremblant, regardant avec angoisse tout autour de lui, comme s’il s’attendait à voir se manifester quelque présence redoutable sur la plaine où le soleil brillait de tous ses feux. |
PARA 24
Finalmente, en una agonía de desesperación, gritó: «Walpurgis Nacht!», e hizo una seña hacia el vehículo, indicándome que subiera. |
PARA 24
Finally, in an agony of desperation, he cried, "Walpurgis nacht!" and pointed to the carriage for me to get in. |
PARA 24
Finalement, il eut un cri déchirant, plein de désespoir : – Walpurgis Nacht ! Et il me montra la voiture comme pour me supplier d’y reprendre place. |
PARA 25
Mi sangre inglesa hirvió ante esto y, echándome hacia atrás, dije: -Tiene usted miedo, Johann... tiene usted miedo. Regrese, yo volveré solo; un paseo a pie me sentará bien. ... -La puerta del carruaje estaba abierta. Tomé del asiento el bastón de roble que siempre llevo en mis excursiones y cerré la puerta. Señalé el camino de regreso a Múnich y repetí-: Regrese, Johann... La noche de Walpurgis no tiene nada que ver con los ingleses. |
PARA 25
All my English blood rose at this, and standing back I said, "You are afraid, Johann, you are afraid. Go home, I shall return alone, the walk will do me good." ... ... The carriage door was open. I took from the seat my oak walking stick, which I always carry on my holiday excursions, and closed the door, pointing back to Munich, and said, "Go home, Johann. Walpurgis nacht doesn't concern Englishmen." |
PARA 25
Mon sang anglais me monta à la tête et, reculant d’un pas ou deux, je dis à l’Allemand : – Vous avez peur, Johann, vous avez peur ! Reprenez la route de Munich ; je retournerai seul. La promenade à pied me fera du bien. La portière étant ouverte, je n’eus qu’à prendre ma canne en bois de chêne dont, en vacances, j’avais toujours soin de me munir. – Oui, rentrez à Munich, Johann, repris-je. Walpurgis Nacht, ça ne concerne pas les Anglais. |
End of Part One