Crime and Punishment — Page 2
But to be stopped on the stairs, to be forced to listen to her trivial, irrelevant gossip, to pestering demands for payment, threats and complaints, and to rack his brains for excuses, to prevaricate, to lie--no, rather than that, he would creep down the stairs like a cat and slip out unseen.
Pero que le detuvieran en la escalera, que le obligaran a escuchar sus triviales e impertinentes chismes, sus molestas exigencias de pago, amenazas y quejas, y tener que devanarse los sesos buscando pretextos, andar con rodeos, mentir... no, antes que eso, prefería bajar la escalera a hurtadillas como un gato y escabullirse sin ser visto.
This evening, however, on coming out into the street, he became acutely aware of his fears.
Sin embargo, aquella tarde, al salir a la calle, tomó una conciencia aguda de sus temores.
"I want to attempt a thing _like that_ and am frightened by these trifles," he thought, with an odd smile.
«Quiero intentar algo _así_ y me asustan estas pequeñeces», pensó con una extraña sonrisa.
"Hm... yes, all is in a man's hands and he lets it all slip from cowardice, that's an axiom.
«Hm... sí, todo está en manos del hombre y él lo deja escapar por cobardía, eso es un axioma.
It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of.
Sería interesante saber de qué es lo que más temen los hombres.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what they fear most....
Dar un paso nuevo, pronunciar una palabra nueva es lo que más temen....
But I am talking too much.
Pero estoy hablando demasiado.
It's because I chatter that I do nothing.
Es porque parloteo que no hago nada.
Or perhaps it is that I chatter because I do nothing.
O quizás parloteo porque no hago nada.
I've learned to chatter this last month, lying for days together in my den thinking... of Jack the Giant-killer.
He aprendido a parlotear este último mes, tumbado durante días en mi guarida pensando... en Juan el Matagigantes.
Why am I going there now?
¿Por qué voy allí ahora?
Am I capable of _that_?
¿Soy capaz de _eso_?
Is _that_ serious?
¿Es _eso_ serio?
It is not serious at all.
No es serio en absoluto.
It's simply a fantasy to amuse myself; a plaything!
Es simplemente una fantasía para divertirme; ¡un pasatiempo!
Yes, maybe it is a plaything.
Sí, quizás sea un pasatiempo.
Vocabulary
- Pero
- Conjunction meaning 'but,' used to contrast ideas.
- que
- Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which.'
- le
- Indirect object pronoun meaning 'to him,' 'to her.'
- detuvieran
- Past subjunctive of 'detener'; they would stop or detain.
- en
- Preposition meaning 'in,' 'on,' or 'at.'
- la
- Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
- escalera
- Noun meaning staircase, stairs, or ladder.
- obligaran
- Past subjunctive of 'obligar'; they would force or compel.
- a
- Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at.'
- escuchar
- Infinitive verb meaning to listen to or hear.
- sus
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his,' 'her,' or 'their.'
- triviales
- Adjective meaning trivial, unimportant, or insignificant matters.
- e
- Conjunction meaning 'and,' used before words starting with 'i.'
- impertinentes
- Adjective meaning impertinent, rude, or irrelevant.
- chismes
- Noun meaning gossip, rumors, or trivial talk.
- molestas
- Adjective meaning annoying, bothersome, or troublesome.
- exigencias
- Noun meaning demands, requirements, or exacting requests.
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'
- pago
- Noun meaning payment, pay, or settlement of a debt.
- amenazas
- Noun meaning threats or menacing warnings from someone.
- y
- Conjunction meaning 'and,' connecting words or clauses.
- quejas
- Noun meaning complaints, grievances, or expressions of dissatisfaction.
- tener
- Infinitive verb meaning to have or to hold.
- devanarse
- Reflexive verb; 'devanarse los sesos' means to rack one's brains.
- los
- Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' (masculine plural).
- sesos
- Noun meaning brains; used figuratively for mental effort.
- buscando
- Gerund of 'buscar,' meaning searching for or looking for.
- pretextos
- Noun meaning pretexts, excuses, or false justifications.
- andar
- Infinitive verb meaning to walk, go, or move about.
- con
- Preposition meaning 'with.'
- rodeos
- Noun meaning detours; 'andar con rodeos' means to beat around the bush.
- mentir
- Infinitive verb meaning to lie or tell falsehoods.
- no
- Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not.'
- antes
- Adverb meaning 'before,' 'previously,' or 'rather.'
- eso
- Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' (neutral).
- prefería
- Imperfect tense of 'preferir'; he/she preferred or used to prefer.
- bajar
- Infinitive verb meaning to go down, descend, or lower.
- hurtadillas
- Used in 'a hurtadillas,' meaning stealthily or on the sly.
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like,' 'as,' or 'how.'
- un
- Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
- gato
- Noun meaning cat; a domestic feline animal.
- escabullirse
- Reflexive verb meaning to slip away or sneak off quietly.
- sin
- Preposition meaning 'without.'
- ser
- Infinitive verb meaning to be (permanent or essential state).
- visto
- Past participle of 'ver,' meaning seen or noticed.
- Sin
- Preposition meaning 'without'; begins 'Sin embargo' (however).
- embargo
- Used in 'sin embargo,' meaning nevertheless or however.
- aquella
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (distant, feminine).
- tarde
- Noun meaning afternoon; or adverb meaning late.
- al
- Contraction of 'a + el,' meaning 'to the' or 'upon.'
- salir
- Infinitive verb meaning to leave, go out, or exit.
- calle
- Noun meaning street or road in a city or town.
- tomó
- Preterite of 'tomar'; he/she took or became aware of.
- una
- Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
- conciencia
- Noun meaning consciousness, awareness, or conscience.
- aguda
- Adjective meaning sharp, acute, or keen.
- temores
- Noun meaning fears, worries, or feelings of apprehension.
- Quiero
- First person singular of 'querer'; I want or I love.
- intentar
- Infinitive verb meaning to try, attempt, or endeavor.
- algo
- Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something' or 'anything.'
- _así_
- Adverb meaning 'like this,' 'this way,' or 'so.'
- me
- Reflexive or object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself.'
- asustan
- Third person plural of 'asustar'; they frighten or scare.
- estas
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' (feminine plural).
- pequeñeces
- Noun meaning trifles, petty matters, or insignificant things.
- pensó
- Preterite of 'pensar'; he/she thought or considered.
- extraña
- Adjective meaning strange, odd, or unusual.
- sonrisa
- Noun meaning smile or grin on one's face.
- sí
- Affirmative adverb meaning 'yes.'
- todo
- Pronoun or adjective meaning 'everything,' 'all,' or 'every.'
- está
- Third person singular of 'estar'; he/she/it is (state).
- manos
- Noun meaning hands; body parts used for grasping.
- del
- Contraction of 'de + el,' meaning 'of the.'
- hombre
- Noun meaning man or human being.
- él
- Personal pronoun meaning 'he.'
- lo
- Object pronoun meaning 'it' or 'him.'
- deja
- Third person singular of 'dejar'; he/she lets or allows.
- escapar
- Infinitive verb meaning to escape, flee, or slip away.
- por
- Preposition meaning 'for,' 'by,' 'through,' or 'because of.'
- cobardía
- Noun meaning cowardice, timidity, or lack of courage.
- es
- Third person singular of 'ser'; he/she/it is.
- axioma
- Noun meaning axiom, a self-evident or accepted truth.
- Sería
- Conditional of 'ser'; it would be (hypothetical situation).
- interesante
- Adjective meaning interesting, engaging, or worth attention.
- saber
- Infinitive verb meaning to know (facts) or to find out.
- qué
- Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' in questions.
- más
- Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most.'
- temen
- Third person plural of 'temer'; they fear or are afraid.
- hombres
- Noun meaning men or human beings (plural).
- Dar
- Infinitive verb meaning to give or to take (a step).
- paso
- Noun meaning step, pace, or passage.
- nuevo
- Adjective meaning new, fresh, or novel.
- pronunciar
- Infinitive verb meaning to pronounce, utter, or speak.
- palabra
- Noun meaning word or spoken expression.
- nueva
- Adjective meaning new (feminine form).
- estoy
- First person singular of 'estar'; I am (temporary state).
- hablando
- Gerund of 'hablar,' meaning speaking or talking.
- demasiado
- Adverb meaning too much, excessively, or overly.
- Es
- Third person singular of 'ser'; it is.
- porque
- Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'since.'
- parloteo
- Noun meaning chatter, babbling, or idle talk.
- hago
- First person singular of 'hacer'; I do or I make.
- nada
- Pronoun or adverb meaning 'nothing' or 'not anything.'
- O
- Conjunction meaning 'or,' presenting alternatives.
- quizás
- Adverb meaning perhaps, maybe, or possibly.
- He
- First person singular auxiliary 'haber'; I have (perfect tense).
- aprendido
- Past participle of 'aprender,' meaning learned or acquired skill.
- parlotear
- Infinitive verb meaning to chatter, babble, or prattle on.
- este
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (masculine singular).
- último
- Adjective meaning last, latest, or most recent.
- mes
- Noun meaning month, a calendar time period.
- tumbado
- Past participle of 'tumbar'; lying down or stretched out.
- durante
- Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time.
- días
- Noun meaning days (plural of 'día').
- mi
- Possessive adjective meaning 'my.'
- guarida
- Noun meaning lair, den, or hideout.
- pensando
- Gerund of 'pensar,' meaning thinking or pondering.
- el
- Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
- Matagigantes
- Compound noun meaning giant-killer or giant slayer.
- Por
- Preposition meaning 'for,' 'by,' or 'why' in questions.
- voy
- First person singular of 'ir'; I go or I am going.
- allí
- Adverb meaning 'there,' indicating a distant location.
- ahora
- Adverb meaning 'now' or 'at this moment.'
- Soy
- First person singular of 'ser'; I am (permanent state).
- capaz
- Adjective meaning capable, able, or competent.
- _eso_
- Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that,' emphasized here.
- serio
- Adjective meaning serious, earnest, or not joking.
- No
- Negation meaning 'no' or 'not.'
- absoluto
- Used in 'en absoluto,' meaning absolutely not or not at all.
- simplemente
- Adverb meaning simply, merely, or just.
- fantasía
- Noun meaning fantasy, daydream, or imaginative fiction.
- para
- Preposition meaning 'for,' 'in order to,' or 'by.'
- divertirme
- Reflexive infinitive meaning to amuse myself or have fun.
- pasatiempo
- Noun meaning pastime, hobby, or leisure activity.
- Sí
- Affirmative adverb meaning 'yes.'
- sea
- Present subjunctive of 'ser'; that it may be.
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