← A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick

A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick — Page 9

English → Spanish Full Text Level 9/10

But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Psalmanaazor, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality, as a prime dainty; and that, in his time, the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns.

Pero para justificar a mi amigo, confesó que este expediente le fue sugerido por el famoso Psalmanaazor, natural de la isla de Formosa, quien vino de allí a Londres hace más de veinte años, y en conversación le contó a mi amigo que en su país, cuando algún joven era condenado a muerte, el verdugo vendía el cadáver a personas de calidad como un manjar exquisito; y que, en su tiempo, el cuerpo de una rolliza muchacha de quince años, que fue crucificada por intentar envenenar al Emperador, fue vendido al primer ministro de estado de su majestad imperial, y a otros grandes mandarines de la corte en porciones del patíbulo, a cuatrocientas coronas.

Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at a playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse.

En verdad, tampoco puedo negar que si se hiciera el mismo uso de varias rollizas muchachas jóvenes de esta ciudad, quienes sin un solo centavo en su haber no pueden salir a la calle sin una silla de manos, y se presentan en teatros y reuniones luciendo galas extranjeras que jamás pagarán, el reino no estaría peor.

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance.

Algunas personas de espíritu abatido están muy preocupadas por ese vasto número de personas pobres que son ancianas, están enfermas o son lisiadas; y se me ha pedido que aplique mi pensamiento a qué medidas podrían tomarse para aliviar a la nación de tan gravosa carga.

Vocabulary

Pero
Conjunction meaning 'but,' contrasting two ideas.
para
Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to.'
justificar
To justify or give reasons for something.
a
Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at.'
mi
Possessive pronoun meaning 'my.'
amigo
A male friend or close acquaintance.
confesó
He/she confessed or admitted something openly.
que
Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which.'
este
Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this.'
expediente
A file, dossier, or official record of proceedings.
le
Indirect object pronoun meaning 'to him/her/you.'
fue
Past tense of 'ser/ir,' meaning 'was' or 'went.'
sugerido
Past participle of 'sugerir,' meaning 'suggested.'
por
Preposition meaning 'by,' 'for,' or 'through.'
el
Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
famoso
Famous or well-known to many people.
natural
Native of a place; also meaning natural or innate.
de
Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'
la
Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
isla
An island, a landmass surrounded by water.
quien
Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whom.'
vino
Past tense of 'venir,' meaning 'came'; also means 'wine.'
allí
Adverb meaning 'there,' indicating a distant location.
Londres
The capital city of England and the United Kingdom.
hace
Used with time expressions to mean 'ago.'
más
Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most.'
veinte
The number twenty.
años
Plural noun meaning 'years.'
y
Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses.
en
Preposition meaning 'in,' 'on,' or 'at.'
conversación
A spoken exchange or dialogue between people.
contó
He/she recounted or narrated a story or event.
su
Possessive adjective meaning 'his,' 'her,' or 'their.'
país
A nation or country with its own government.
cuando
Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when.'
algún
Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'any.'
joven
A young person; also used as adjective meaning 'young.'
era
Imperfect tense of 'ser,' meaning 'was' or 'used to be.'
condenado
Condemned or sentenced to a punishment.
muerte
Death; the end of life.
verdugo
An executioner who carries out death sentences.
vendía
Imperfect tense of 'vender,' meaning 'used to sell.'
cadáver
A corpse or dead body of a person.
personas
People; individual human beings.
calidad
Quality; also high social rank or status.
como
As, like, or how; used for comparisons.
un
Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
manjar
A delicacy or exquisite dish considered fine food.
exquisito
Exquisite or exceptionally fine in quality or taste.
tiempo
Time; also weather depending on context.
cuerpo
The body of a living or dead person.
una
Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
rolliza
Plump or chubby; well-rounded in body shape.
muchacha
A girl or young woman.
quince
The number fifteen.
crucificada
Crucified; executed by being nailed to a cross.
intentar
To try or attempt to do something.
envenenar
To poison someone or contaminate with poison.
al
Contraction of 'a + el,' meaning 'to the.'
Emperador
An emperor; the supreme ruler of an empire.
vendido
Past participle of 'vender,' meaning 'sold.'
primer
First; used before a masculine singular noun.
ministro
A minister or high-ranking government official.
estado
State or nation; also past participle of 'estar.'
majestad
Majesty; a title of respect for royalty.
imperial
Relating to an emperor or empire.
otros
Others; referring to additional people or things.
grandes
Great or large; important or powerful people.
mandarines
High-ranking Chinese officials; also the mandarin orange.
corte
Royal court; the entourage surrounding a monarch.
porciones
Portions or servings of food or other items.
del
Contraction of 'de + el,' meaning 'of the.'
patíbulo
A gallows or scaffold used for executions.
cuatrocientas
The number four hundred (feminine form).
coronas
Crowns; also a unit of currency in some countries.
En
Preposition meaning 'in,' 'on,' or 'at.'
verdad
Truth; a statement or fact that is true.
tampoco
Neither; also not; used in negative statements.
puedo
First person singular present of 'poder': 'I can.'
negar
To deny or refuse to acknowledge something.
si
Conjunction meaning 'if,' introducing a condition.
se
Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or passive verbs.
hiciera
Imperfect subjunctive of 'hacer': 'were to do/make.'
mismo
Same; also used for emphasis meaning 'himself/itself.'
uso
Use or usage; the application of something.
varias
Several or various; more than two but not many.
rollizas
Plump or chubby (feminine plural form).
muchachas
Girls or young women (plural).
jóvenes
Young people; plural of 'joven.'
esta
Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' (feminine).
ciudad
A city or large urban settlement.
quienes
Relative pronoun meaning 'who' (plural form).
sin
Preposition meaning 'without.'
solo
Alone; only; without others or exceptions.
centavo
A cent; a small unit of currency.
haber
Auxiliary verb 'to have,' used in compound tenses.
no
Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not.'
pueden
Third person plural of 'poder': 'they can.'
salir
To go out or leave a place.
calle
A street or road in a town or city.
silla
A chair; a seat for one person.
manos
Hands; the body part at the end of arms.
presentan
They present themselves or appear at a place.
teatros
Theaters; buildings for dramatic performances.
reuniones
Meetings or gatherings of people for a purpose.
luciendo
Showing off or displaying something proudly.
galas
Finery or festive clothing worn to impress others.
extranjeras
Foreign (feminine plural); from another country.
jamás
Never; emphatic form of 'nunca.'
pagarán
Future tense of 'pagar': 'they will pay.'
reino
A kingdom; a territory ruled by a king or queen.
estaría
Conditional of 'estar': 'would be.'
peor
Worse or worst; comparative form of 'malo.'
Algunas
Some (feminine plural); an indefinite quantity.
espíritu
Spirit or soul; also mood or mental state.
abatido
Downcast, dejected, or in low spirits.
están
Third person plural of 'estar': 'they are.'
muy
Very; used to intensify adjectives or adverbs.
preocupadas
Worried or concerned (feminine plural).
ese
That; demonstrative adjective for something nearby.
vasto
Vast or enormous in extent or quantity.
número
Number; a quantity or numerical figure.
pobres
Poor people; those lacking money or resources.
son
Third person plural of 'ser': 'they are.'
ancianas
Elderly women; old ladies.
enfermas
Sick or ill (feminine plural).
o
Conjunction meaning 'or,' presenting an alternative.
lisiadas
Disabled or crippled (feminine plural).
me
First person singular object pronoun: 'me.'
ha
Third person singular of 'haber': 'has.'
pedido
Past participle of 'pedir': 'asked' or 'requested.'
aplique
Subjunctive of 'aplicar': 'to apply' or 'to devote.'
pensamiento
Thought or thinking; a mental idea or reflection.
qué
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what.'
medidas
Measures or steps taken to address a problem.
podrían
Conditional of 'poder': 'they could' or 'might.'
tomarse
To be taken; reflexive infinitive of 'tomar.'
aliviar
To relieve or alleviate suffering or a burden.
nación
A nation or country with shared identity and government.
tan
So or such; used to intensify adjectives or adverbs.
gravosa
Burdensome or costly; imposing a heavy load.
carga
A burden, load, or weight to be carried.
← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →