← Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 3

English → Spanish Preface Level 7/10

But supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind, to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.

Pero suponiendo que todas estas conjeturas sean falsas, no podéis disputar el inestimable beneficio que conferiré a toda la humanidad, hasta la última generación, al descubrir un paso cerca del polo hacia aquellos países, a los cuales se necesitan actualmente tantos meses para llegar; o al determinar el secreto del imán, lo cual, si es posible en absoluto, solo puede lograrse mediante una empresa como la mía.

These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillise the mind as a steady purpose—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

Estas reflexiones han disipado la agitación con la que comencé mi carta, y siento que mi corazón arde con un entusiasmo que me eleva hasta el cielo, pues nada contribuye tanto a tranquilizar la mente como un propósito firme: un punto en el que el alma puede fijar su ojo intelectual.

This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years.

Esta expedición ha sido el sueño favorito de mis primeros años.

I have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole.

He leído con ardor los relatos de los diversos viajes que se han realizado con la perspectiva de llegar al Océano Pacífico Norte a través de los mares que rodean el polo.

You may remember that a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good Uncle Thomas' library.

Quizás recuerdes que una historia de todos los viajes realizados con fines de descubrimiento componía la totalidad de la biblioteca de nuestro buen tío Tomás.

My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading.

Mi educación fue descuidada, pero yo era apasionadamente aficionado a la lectura.

These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.

Estos volúmenes fueron mi estudio día y noche, y mi familiaridad con ellos acrecentó aquel pesar que había sentido, de niño, al saber que la última voluntad de mi padre había prohibido a mi tío permitirme embarcarme en una vida marinera.

Vocabulary

Pero: Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
suponiendo: Assuming or supposing something to be the case.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
todas: Feminine plural form of 'all' or 'every'.
estas: Feminine plural demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these'.
conjeturas: Guesses or speculations made without full evidence.
sean: Subjunctive form of 'ser', meaning 'may be' or 'are'.
falsas: Feminine plural adjective meaning false or untrue.
no: Basic negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'.
podéis: Second person plural present of 'poder', meaning 'you can'.
disputar: To dispute, argue about, or contest something.
el: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
inestimable: Invaluable or immeasurable in worth or importance.
beneficio: A benefit, advantage, or gain derived from something.
conferiré: Future tense of 'conferir', meaning 'I will confer or grant'.
a: Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at' in Spanish.
toda: Feminine singular form of 'all' or 'entire'.
la: Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
humanidad: All of humankind or the quality of being human.
hasta: Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to' a point.
última: Feminine adjective meaning 'last' or 'final'.
generación: A generation, referring to a group born around same time.
al: Contraction of 'a' and 'el', meaning 'to the'.
descubrir: To discover or uncover something previously unknown.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
paso: A step, passage, or route through a place.
cerca: Adverb or preposition meaning 'near' or 'close to'.
del: Contraction of 'de' and 'el', meaning 'of the'.
polo: The geographic pole, north or south extreme of Earth.
hacia: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'.
aquellos: Masculine plural demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those'.
países: Plural of 'país', meaning countries or nations.
los: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
se: Reflexive pronoun used in reflexive or passive constructions.
necesitan: Third person plural of 'necesitar', meaning 'they need'.
actualmente: Currently or at the present time, nowadays.
tantos: Masculine plural meaning 'so many' or 'as many'.
meses: Plural of 'mes', meaning months of the year.
para: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'by'.
llegar: To arrive at or reach a destination or goal.
o: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative option.
determinar: To determine, establish, or find out something definitively.
secreto: A secret or mystery kept hidden from others.
imán: A magnet; object that attracts ferromagnetic materials.
lo: Neuter pronoun or masculine object pronoun meaning 'it' or 'him'.
cual: Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who' in clauses.
si: Conditional conjunction meaning 'if' in Spanish.
es: Third person singular of 'ser', meaning 'is'.
posible: Possible; able to happen or be done.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'.
absoluto: Absolute; complete, or used in 'en absoluto' meaning 'at all'.
solo: Alone or only; can modify verbs or adjectives.
puede: Third person singular of 'poder', meaning 'can' or 'is able'.
lograrse: Reflexive form of 'lograr', meaning 'to be achieved or accomplished'.
mediante: Preposition meaning 'by means of' or 'through'.
empresa: An enterprise, undertaking, or business venture.
como: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like', 'as', or 'how'.
mía: Feminine possessive pronoun meaning 'mine'.
Estas: Feminine plural demonstrative adjective meaning 'these'.
reflexiones: Reflections or thoughts pondered carefully over time.
han: Third person plural auxiliary 'haber', used in perfect tenses.
disipado: Past participle of 'disipar', meaning dissipated or dispersed.
agitación: Agitation, restlessness, or emotional turmoil.
con: Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or means.
comencé: First person preterite of 'comenzar', meaning 'I began'.
mi: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' in Spanish.
carta: A letter written to communicate with someone.
y: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
siento: First person singular of 'sentir', meaning 'I feel'.
corazón: The heart, both physically and as a seat of emotion.
arde: Third person singular of 'arder', meaning 'burns' or 'blazes'.
entusiasmo: Enthusiasm or intense eagerness and excitement.
me: First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
eleva: Third person singular of 'elevar', meaning 'raises' or 'lifts'.
cielo: The sky or heaven, depending on context used.
pues: Conjunction meaning 'since', 'because', or 'well then'.
nada: Nothing; used as pronoun or to intensify negation.
contribuye: Third person singular of 'contribuir', meaning 'contributes'.
tanto: So much or as much; used to express degree.
tranquilizar: To calm down or reassure someone or oneself.
mente: The mind or mental faculties of a person.
propósito: Purpose, intention, or goal one aims to achieve.
firme: Firm, steady, or resolute in decision or stance.
punto: A point, dot, or specific location or moment.
alma: The soul or inner spiritual essence of a person.
fijar: To fix, set, or focus attention on something.
su: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their'.
ojo: The eye; also used figuratively for attention or gaze.
intelectual: Relating to the intellect or mental and scholarly pursuits.
Esta: Feminine singular demonstrative adjective meaning 'this'.
expedición: An expedition or organized journey for a specific purpose.
ha: Third person singular auxiliary 'haber', used in perfect tenses.
sido: Past participle of 'ser', meaning 'been'.
sueño: A dream or the act of sleeping and dreaming.
favorito: Favorite; most preferred or cherished among others.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or indicating possession.
mis: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'my' for multiple nouns.
primeros: Masculine plural adjective meaning 'first' or 'earliest'.
años: Plural of 'año', meaning years of time or age.
He: First person singular auxiliary 'haber', used in perfect tenses.
leído: Past participle of 'leer', meaning 'read'.
ardor: Ardor or passionate enthusiasm and intense feeling.
relatos: Stories, accounts, or narratives describing events.
diversos: Various or diverse; different kinds of things.
viajes: Plural of 'viaje', meaning trips or journeys taken.
realizado: Past participle of 'realizar', meaning 'carried out' or 'accomplished'.
perspectiva: Perspective, viewpoint, or outlook on a situation.
Océano: Ocean; a vast body of saltwater covering Earth.
Norte: North; one of the four cardinal geographic directions.
través: Used in 'a través de', meaning 'through' or 'across'.
mares: Plural of 'mar', meaning seas or large bodies of water.
rodean: Third person plural of 'rodear', meaning 'surround' or 'encircle'.
Quizás: Perhaps or maybe, expressing uncertainty or possibility.
recuerdes: Subjunctive form of 'recordar', meaning 'you remember'.
historia: History or a story; narrative of past events.
todos: Masculine plural meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
realizados: Masculine plural past participle of 'realizar'; completed or carried out.
fines: Plural of 'fin', meaning ends, goals, or purposes.
descubrimiento: A discovery or the act of finding something new.
componía: Imperfect of 'componer', meaning 'composed' or 'made up'.
totalidad: The totality or entirety of something considered as whole.
biblioteca: A library or personal collection of books.
nuestro: Possessive adjective meaning 'our', indicating shared ownership.
buen: Shortened form of 'bueno', meaning 'good' before nouns.
tío: Uncle; the brother of one's father or mother.
Mi: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' in Spanish.
educación: Education or upbringing; the process of learning formally.
fue: Third person singular preterite of 'ser' or 'ir', meaning 'was' or 'went'.
descuidada: Neglected or careless; not given proper attention or care.
pero: Conjunction meaning 'but', contrasting two ideas.
yo: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
era: First or third person singular imperfect of 'ser', meaning 'was'.
apasionadamente: Passionately; with intense emotion or deep enthusiasm.
aficionado: A fan or enthusiast devoted to a particular activity.
lectura: Reading; the activity or practice of reading texts.
Estos: Masculine plural demonstrative adjective meaning 'these'.
volúmenes: Volumes; bound books or large quantities of material.
fueron: Third person plural preterite of 'ser' or 'ir', meaning 'were' or 'went'.
estudio: Study; the act of learning or a room for studying.
día: Day; a 24-hour period or daytime hours.
noche: Night; the dark period between sunset and sunrise.
familiaridad: Familiarity; close knowledge or intimacy with something.
ellos: Third person plural pronoun meaning 'they' or 'them'.
acrecentó: Third person singular preterite of 'acrecentar', meaning 'increased' or 'grew'.
aquel: Masculine singular demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (distant).
pesar: Regret, sorrow, or grief felt about something unfortunate.
había: Third person singular imperfect of 'haber', meaning 'there was' or auxiliary 'had'.
sentido: Past participle of 'sentir', meaning 'felt'; also 'sense' as noun.
niño: A child or young boy; an infant or youngster.
saber: To know facts or information; the verb 'to know'.
voluntad: Will, wish, or desire; one's determination to act.
padre: Father; a male parent or paternal figure.
prohibido: Past participle of 'prohibir', meaning prohibited or forbidden.
permitirme: Infinitive 'permitir' with reflexive pronoun, meaning 'to allow me'.
embarcarme: Reflexive form of 'embarcar', meaning 'to embark' or 'set sail'.
vida: Life; the existence or way of living of a person.
marinera: Related to sailors or the sea; a sailor's life.

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