← Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 5

English → De Preface Level 7/10

And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose?

Und nun, liebe Margaret, verdiene ich es nicht, einen großen Zweck zu erfüllen?

My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.

Mein Leben hätte in Bequemlichkeit und Luxus verbracht werden können, aber ich zog den Ruhm jedem Reiz vor, den der Reichtum mir in den Weg legte.

Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative!

Oh, dass doch eine ermutigende Stimme bejahend antworten würde!

My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed.

Mein Mut und meine Entschlossenheit sind fest; aber meine Hoffnungen schwanken, und meine Stimmung ist oft gedrückt.

I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.

Ich stehe im Begriff, eine lange und schwierige Reise anzutreten, deren Widrigkeiten meine ganze Standhaftigkeit erfordern werden: Ich bin nicht nur gefordert, die Stimmung anderer zu heben, sondern manchmal auch meine eigene aufrechtzuerhalten, wenn die ihre zu schwinden droht.

This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia.

Dies ist die günstigste Zeit zum Reisen in Russland.

They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stagecoach.

Sie gleiten schnell über den Schnee in ihren Schlitten; die Bewegung ist angenehm und meiner Meinung nach weitaus angenehmer als die einer englischen Postkutsche.

The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs—a dress which I have already adopted, for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins.

Die Kälte ist nicht übermäßig, wenn man in Pelze gehüllt ist – eine Kleidung, die ich bereits angenommen habe, denn es besteht ein großer Unterschied zwischen dem Auf-und-Ab-Gehen auf dem Deck und dem stundenlangen regungslosen Sitzen, wenn keine Bewegung verhindert, dass das Blut tatsächlich in den Adern gefriert.

I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St. Petersburgh and Archangel.

Ich habe keinen Ehrgeiz, mein Leben auf der Poststraße zwischen St. Petersburg und Archangelsk zu verlieren.

Vocabulary

Und
And; used to connect words or clauses.
nun
Now; at the present time or moment.
liebe
Love; affection or deep feeling for someone.
verdiene
Deserve; earn or be worthy of something.
ich
I; first person singular pronoun.
es
It; third person singular neuter pronoun.
nicht
Not; negation or denial of something.
einen
A or an; indefinite article accusative masculine.
großen
Great or large; of considerable size or importance.
Zweck
Purpose; the intended goal or objective.
zu
To; infinitive marker or preposition for direction.
erfüllen
Fulfill; accomplish or complete a purpose or duty.
Mein
My; possessive adjective first person singular.
Leben
Life; existence or period of being alive.
hätte
Would have; conditional past auxiliary verb.
in
In; preposition indicating location or position.
Bequemlichkeit
Comfort; state of physical ease and convenience.
Luxus
Luxury; expensive items or indulgences beyond necessity.
verbracht
Spent; passed time in a particular way.
werden
Become or be; auxiliary verb for passive voice.
können
Can or be able to; modal verb expressing ability.
aber
But; conjunction expressing contrast or opposition.
zog
Drew or pulled; past tense of ziehen.
den
The; definite article accusative masculine.
Ruhm
Fame or glory; renown and public recognition.
jedem
Every or each; every single one of something.
Reiz
Charm or appeal; attractive quality or appeal.
vor
Before or in front of; spatial preposition.
der
The; definite article nominative or dative feminine.
Reichtum
Wealth; abundance of money or valuable possessions.
mir
Me; first person singular dative pronoun.
Weg
Way or path; a route or direction.
legte
Laid or placed; past tense of legen.
dass
That; conjunction introducing subordinate clause.
doch
Yet or still; however or nevertheless.
eine
A or an; indefinite article nominative feminine.
ermutigende
Encouraging; giving confidence or support to someone.
Stimme
Voice; sound produced by speaking or singing.
bejahend
Affirmatively; in agreement or positive manner.
antworten
Answer or reply; respond to a question.
würde
Would; conditional auxiliary verb in subjunctive.
Mut
Courage; bravery or boldness in facing difficulty.
meine
My; possessive adjective first person plural or feminine.
Entschlossenheit
Determination; firm resolve or resolute intent.
sind
Are; plural or formal present tense of sein.
fest
Firm or solid; fixed or stable position.
Hoffnungen
Hopes; feelings of expectation and desire.
schwanken
Waver or fluctuate; move unsteadily back and forth.
Stimmung
Mood or atmosphere; emotional state or feeling.
oft
Often; frequently or repeatedly over time.
gedrückt
Depressed or low; feeling sad or down.
stehe
Stand; be in upright position.
im
In the; contraction of in dem.
Begriff
Concept or understanding; act or process of grasping.
lange
Long; of considerable duration or distance.
schwierige
Difficult; hard or challenging to accomplish.
Reise
Journey or trip; traveling from one place.
deren
Whose or of which; possessive relative pronoun.
Widrigkeiten
Adversities or hardships; difficulties or challenges.
ganze
Whole or entire; complete or undivided.
Standhaftigkeit
Steadfastness or firmness; unwavering resolve and loyalty.
erfordern
Require or demand; need as necessary condition.
bin
Am; first person singular present of sein.
nur
Only or just; solely or merely.
gefordert
Required or demanded; called upon to do something.
anderer
Others or other; different people or things.
heben
Lift or raise; move upward or elevate.
sondern
But rather; used after negative to show alternative.
manchmal
Sometimes; occasionally or at irregular intervals.
auch
Also or too; as well or likewise.
eigene
Own; belonging to oneself not others.
aufrechtzuerhalten
Maintain or uphold; keep in proper condition.
wenn
If or when; conditional conjunction.
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