← 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 4

English → Pt Full Text Level 9/10

For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; they neither build houses, (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old; except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked upon only as probationers; as I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.

Pois não podemos empregá-los nem em artesanato nem na agricultura; eles não constroem casas, (refiro-me ao campo) nem cultivam a terra: raramente conseguem ganhar a vida roubando antes de chegarem aos seis anos de idade; exceto quando são de aptidões promissoras, embora eu confesse que aprendem os rudimentos muito antes; durante esse tempo, no entanto, só podem ser propriamente considerados como aprendizes; conforme fui informado por um distinto cavalheiro do condado de Cavan, que me assegurou nunca ter conhecido mais de um ou dois casos abaixo dos seis anos de idade, mesmo numa parte do reino tão renomada pela mais rápida proficiência nessa arte.

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl, before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a crown at most, on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriments and rags having been at least four times that value.

Sou informado pelos nossos comerciantes de que um menino ou uma menina, antes dos doze anos de idade, não constitui nenhuma mercadoria vendável, e mesmo quando chegam a essa idade, não renderão mais de três libras, ou três libras e meia coroa no máximo, na bolsa; o que não pode resultar em proveito algum nem para os pais nem para o reino, tendo o custo de alimentação e trapos sido pelo menos quatro vezes esse valor.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

Proponho agora, portanto, humildemente, os meus próprios pensamentos, que espero não estarem sujeitos à menor objeção.

Vocabulary

Pois
For, because, therefore; used to connect clauses
não
No, not; negation particle
podemos
We can; first person plural present of poder
empregá-los
To employ them; use them for a purpose
nem
Nor, neither; used in negative constructions
em
In, at, on; preposition indicating location or time
artesanato
Craftsmanship, handicrafts, or artisanal work
na
In the (feminine); contraction of em + a
agricultura
Agriculture, farming, cultivation of land
eles
They; third person plural pronoun
constroem
They build; third person plural present of construir
casas
Houses; plural of casa
refiro-me
I refer to; first person singular reflexive of referir
ao
To the; contraction of a + o
campo
Field, countryside, rural area
cultivam
They cultivate; third person plural present of cultivar
terra
Land, earth, ground, soil
raramente
Rarely, seldom; adverb indicating low frequency
conseguem
They manage, they succeed; third person plural present
ganhar
To earn, to win, to gain
vida
Life; state of being alive
roubando
Stealing, robbing; present participle of roubar
antes
Before, beforehand; indicates prior time or preference
de
Of, from; preposition indicating possession or origin
chegarem
To arrive; infinitive form of chegar
aos
To the (plural); contraction of a + os
seis
Six; cardinal number
anos
Years; plural of ano
idade
Age; number of years lived
exceto
Except, save; indicates exclusion from rule
quando
When; interrogative or relative adverb
são
Are; third person plural present of ser
aptidões
Aptitudes, talents, natural abilities or inclinations
promissoras
Promising, showing signs of future success
embora
Although, though; concessive conjunction
eu
I; first person singular pronoun
confesse
I confess; first person singular subjunctive of confessar
que
That, which; relative or subordinating conjunction
aprendem
They learn; third person plural present of aprender
os
The; masculine plural definite article
rudimentos
Rudiments, basics, fundamental principles or elements
muito
Much, very, a lot; adverb or adjective
durante
During, throughout; preposition indicating time period
esse
That; demonstrative pronoun or adjective
tempo
Time, period, weather; duration or season
no
In the; contraction of em + o
entanto
However, meanwhile; used in temporal expressions
só
Only, sole, lonely; adjective or adverb
podem
They can; third person plural present of poder
ser
To be; essential verb in Portuguese
propriamente
Properly, correctly, appropriately; adverb of manner
considerados
Considered, regarded; past participle of considerar
como
As, like; comparative conjunction or preposition
aprendizes
Apprentices, trainees; plural of aprendiz
conforme
According to, as; preposition or conjunction
fui
I was, I went; first person singular past of ser/ir
informado
Informed, told; past participle of informar
por
By, for, through; preposition indicating agent or cause
um
A, one; masculine singular indefinite article
distinto
Distinguished, eminent, prominent; adjective
cavalheiro
Gentleman, knight; man of honor and courtesy
do
Of the; contraction of de + o
condado
County, earldom; territorial division or rank
me
Me; first person singular object pronoun
assegurou
Assured, guaranteed; third person singular past of assegurar
nunca
Never; adverb of negation or frequency
ter
To have; auxiliary or main verb
conhecido
Known, acquainted; past participle of conhecer
mais
More, plus; comparative adverb or adjective
ou
Or; disjunctive conjunction
dois
Two; cardinal number
casos
Cases, instances; plural of caso
abaixo
Below, under, beneath; adverb or preposition
dos
Of the; contraction of de + os
mesmo
Same, self; pronoun or adjective for emphasis
numa
In a; contraction of em + uma
parte
Part, portion; section or role
reino
Kingdom, realm; territory ruled by a monarch
tão
So, such; adverb of degree or intensity
← Previous Next →

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

Create free account →