← Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 5

English → Spanish Preface Level 7/10

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

Y ahora, querida Margaret, ¿no merezco lograr algún gran propósito?

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

Mi vida podría haber transcurrido en comodidad y lujo, pero preferí la gloria a cada tentación que la riqueza puso en mi camino.

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

¡Oh, que alguna voz alentadora respondiera afirmativamente!

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

Mi valentía y mi resolución son firmes; pero mis esperanzas fluctúan, y mi ánimo suele estar decaído.

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.

Estoy a punto de emprender un viaje largo y difícil, cuyas contingencias exigirán toda mi fortaleza: se me pide no solo elevar el ánimo de los demás, sino a veces sostener el mío propio, cuando el de ellos flaquea.

This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia.

Este es el período más favorable para viajar por Rusia.

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.

Vuelan rápidamente sobre la nieve en sus trineos; el movimiento es agradable y, en mi opinión, mucho más placentero que el de una diligencia inglesa.

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.

El frío no es excesivo si uno va envuelto en pieles —una vestimenta que ya he adoptado—, pues hay una gran diferencia entre pasear por la cubierta y permanecer sentado e inmóvil durante horas, cuando ningún ejercicio impide que la sangre se congele literalmente en las venas.

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

No tengo ninguna ambición de perder la vida en el camino postal entre San Petersburgo y Arcángel.

Vocabulary

ahora
Means 'now', referring to the present moment.
querida
Means 'dear' or 'beloved', used as a term of affection.
merezco
First person singular of 'merecer': 'I deserve'.
lograr
To achieve or accomplish a goal or purpose.
algún
Means 'some' or 'any', an indefinite adjective before nouns.
gran
Means 'great' or 'grand', describing something of importance.
propósito
Means 'purpose' or 'goal', an aim or intention.
vida
Means 'life', referring to one's existence or lifetime.
podría
Conditional form of 'poder': 'could' or 'would be able'.
haber
Auxiliary verb meaning 'to have', used in compound tenses.
transcurrido
Past participle of 'transcurrir': elapsed or passed by.
comodidad
Means 'comfort' or 'ease', a state of physical comfort.
lujo
Means 'luxury', an extravagant or lavish lifestyle.
preferí
First person preterite of 'preferir': 'I preferred'.
gloria
Means 'glory', fame or honor achieved through great deeds.
cada
Means 'each' or 'every', referring to individual items.
tentación
Means 'temptation', an urge to do something unwise.
riqueza
Means 'wealth' or 'riches', abundance of money or assets.
puso
Third person preterite of 'poner': 'placed' or 'put'.
camino
Means 'path' or 'road', a route or way forward.
alguna
Feminine form of 'algún': 'some' or 'any'.
voz
Means 'voice', the sound produced when speaking or singing.
alentadora
Means 'encouraging', providing support, hope, or motivation.
respondiera
Imperfect subjunctive of 'responder': 'would respond' or 'answered'.
afirmativamente
Means 'affirmatively', in a positive or confirming manner.
valentía
Means 'bravery' or 'courage', bold and fearless behavior.
resolución
Means 'resolution' or 'determination', firm decision or resolve.
firmes
Means 'firm' or 'steady', strong and unwavering in nature.
esperanzas
Means 'hopes', feelings of optimism about future outcomes.
fluctúan
Third person plural of 'fluctuar': 'they fluctuate' or waver.
ánimo
Means 'spirit' or 'mood', one's emotional state or energy.
suele
Third person singular of 'soler': 'usually does' or 'tends'.
estar
To be, a verb expressing state, condition, or location.
decaído
Means 'downcast' or 'low', describing low spirits or energy.
punto
Means 'point'; 'a punto de' means 'about to' do something.
emprender
To undertake or begin an enterprise, journey, or endeavor.
viaje
Means 'journey' or 'trip', travel from one place to another.
largo
Means 'long', describing great length in space or time.
difícil
Means 'difficult' or 'hard', requiring great effort or skill.
cuyas
Means 'whose', a relative possessive pronoun, feminine plural.
contingencias
Means 'contingencies', uncertain events or possible future situations.
exigirán
Future tense of 'exigir': 'will require' or 'will demand'.
toda
Means 'all' or 'entire', encompassing the whole of something.
fortaleza
Means 'fortitude' or 'strength', inner resilience and endurance.
pide
Third person singular of 'pedir': 'asks' or 'requires'.
solo
Means 'not only' or 'alone', referring to a single thing.
elevar
To elevate or lift up, to raise someone's spirits or status.
demás
Means 'others' or 'the rest', referring to other people.
sino
Conjunction meaning 'but rather', introducing an alternative idea.
veces
Means 'times'; 'a veces' means 'sometimes' or 'at times'.
sostener
To sustain or support, to hold something or someone up.
mío
Means 'mine', a first-person singular possessive pronoun.
propio
Means 'own', emphasizing personal possession or individuality.
cuando
Means 'when', introducing a time clause or condition.
flaquea
Third person singular of 'flaquear': 'weakens' or 'falters'.
período
Means 'period', a span of time with specific characteristics.
más
Means 'more' or 'most', used in comparisons and superlatives.
favorable
Means 'favorable', advantageous or conducive to a desired outcome.
para
Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or indicating purpose.
viajar
To travel, to journey from one place to another.
por
Preposition meaning 'through', 'by', 'for', or 'because of'.
Vuelan
Third person plural of 'volar': 'they fly' or 'they speed'.
rápidamente
Means 'rapidly' or 'quickly', in a fast manner.
sobre
Preposition meaning 'over', 'on', 'about', or 'across'.
nieve
Means 'snow', frozen precipitation that falls in winter.
trineos
Means 'sleds' or 'sleighs', vehicles that glide over snow.
movimiento
Means 'movement' or 'motion', the act of moving.
agradable
Means 'pleasant' or 'agreeable', enjoyable or pleasing.
opinión
Means 'opinion', a personal view or judgment about something.
mucho
Means 'much' or 'a lot', indicating a large quantity.
placentero
Means 'pleasant' or 'pleasurable', causing enjoyment or satisfaction.
diligencia
Means 'stagecoach' or 'diligence', a horse-drawn passenger carriage.
inglesa
Means 'English' (feminine), relating to England or its culture.
frío
Means 'cold', a low temperature or feeling of coldness.
excesivo
Means 'excessive', more than what is normal or needed.
si
Means 'if', introducing a conditional clause or supposition.
envuelto
Past participle of 'envolver': 'wrapped' or 'bundled up' in.
pieles
Means 'furs' or 'skins', animal hides used as warm clothing.
vestimenta
Means 'clothing' or 'attire', garments worn on the body.
ya
Means 'already' or 'now', indicating something has occurred.
adoptado
Past participle of 'adoptar': 'adopted' or 'taken on' something.
pues
Means 'since', 'well', or 'because', used as a connector.
hay
Impersonal form of 'haber': 'there is' or 'there are'.
diferencia
Means 'difference', the quality of being unlike something else.
entre
Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among' two or more things.
pasear
To stroll or walk about leisurely for pleasure or exercise.
cubierta
Means 'deck', the flat upper surface of a ship.
permanecer
To remain or stay in a place or condition.
sentado
Means 'seated' or 'sitting', being in a sitting position.
e
Variant of 'y' meaning 'and', used before words starting with 'i'.
inmóvil
Means 'motionless' or 'immobile', completely still without movement.
durante
Means 'during' or 'for', indicating a period of time.
horas
Means 'hours', units of time equal to sixty minutes each.
ningún
Means 'no' or 'not any', a negative adjective before nouns.
ejercicio
Means 'exercise', physical activity done for health or fitness.
impide
Third person singular of 'impedir': 'prevents' or 'hinders'.
sangre
Means 'blood', the red fluid circulating through the body.
congele
Present subjunctive of 'congelar': 'freezes' or 'may freeze'.
literalmente
Means 'literally', in an exact or word-for-word sense.
venas
Means 'veins', blood vessels carrying blood toward the heart.
ninguna
Means 'no' or 'none', feminine negative adjective or pronoun.
ambición
Means 'ambition', a strong desire to achieve something important.
perder
To lose something or miss an opportunity.
postal
Means 'postcard' or relating to mail, a written correspondence card.
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