← Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 23

English → Spanish Preface Level 7/10

You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.

Usted busca conocimiento y sabiduría, como yo lo hice alguna vez; y espero ardientemente que la satisfacción de sus deseos no sea una serpiente que lo pique, como lo ha sido para mí.

I do not know that the relation of my disasters will be useful to you; yet, when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale, one that may direct you if you succeed in your undertaking and console you in case of failure.

No sé si el relato de mis desgracias le será útil; sin embargo, cuando reflexiono que usted está siguiendo el mismo camino, exponiéndose a los mismos peligros que me han convertido en lo que soy, imagino que puede deducir una moraleja adecuada de mi historia, una que pueda guiarle si tiene éxito en su empresa y consolarle en caso de fracaso.

Prepare to hear of occurrences which are usually deemed marvellous.

Prepárese para escuchar sucesos que generalmente se consideran maravillosos.

Were we among the tamer scenes of nature I might fear to encounter your unbelief, perhaps your ridicule; but many things will appear possible in these wild and mysterious regions which would provoke the laughter of those unacquainted with the ever-varied powers of nature; nor can I doubt but that my tale conveys in its series internal evidence of the truth of the events of which it is composed."

Si estuviéramos entre los paisajes más apacibles de la naturaleza, podría temer encontrarme con su incredulidad, quizás con su burla; pero muchas cosas parecerán posibles en estas regiones salvajes y misteriosas que provocarían la risa de quienes no conocen los siempre variados poderes de la naturaleza; ni puedo dudar de que mi relato transmite en su serie evidencia interna de la verdad de los sucesos de los que está compuesto."

You may easily imagine that I was much gratified by the offered communication, yet I could not endure that he should renew his grief by a recital of his misfortunes.

Puede usted imaginar fácilmente que quedé muy complacido por la comunicación ofrecida, aunque no podía soportar que él renovara su dolor con el relato de sus desgracias.

I felt the greatest eagerness to hear the promised narrative, partly from curiosity and partly from a strong desire to ameliorate his fate if it were in my power.

Sentí el mayor anhelo de escuchar la narración prometida, en parte por curiosidad y en parte por un fuerte deseo de mejorar su destino si estuviera en mi poder.

I expressed these feelings in my answer.

Expresé estos sentimientos en mi respuesta.

Vocabulary

Usted
Formal second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you'
busca
Seeks or looks for something
conocimiento
Knowledge or awareness of facts and information
sabiduría
Wisdom gained through experience and reflection
como
As or like; used for comparison
lo
Neutral direct object pronoun meaning 'it'
hice
Past tense of hacer; 'I did' or 'I made'
alguna
Some or any; feminine form of alguno
vez
Time or occasion; once upon a time
espero
I hope or I wait for something
ardientemente
Ardently or passionately; with great intensity
satisfacción
Satisfaction or fulfillment of a desire
deseos
Desires or wishes one hopes to fulfill
sea
Subjunctive form of ser meaning 'be'
serpiente
Snake or serpent; a reptile
pique
Subjunctive of picar; that it stings or bites
ha
Third-person singular of haber; 'has'
sido
Past participle of ser meaning 'been'
First-person singular of saber; 'I know'
si
Conditional conjunction meaning 'if'
relato
Account or story narrating events
desgracias
Misfortunes or unfortunate events
le
Indirect object pronoun meaning 'to you' or 'to him'
será
Future tense of ser; 'will be'
útil
Useful or helpful for a purpose
sin
Preposition meaning 'without'
embargo
Used in 'sin embargo' meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'
cuando
Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'
reflexiono
I reflect or think deeply about something
está
Third-person singular of estar; 'is' (state)
siguiendo
Following or continuing along a path
mismo
Same or self; indicating identity or sameness
camino
Road, path, or way toward a destination
exponiéndose
Exposing oneself to risk or danger
mismos
Same (masculine plural); the very same ones
peligros
Dangers or hazards that threaten safety
han
Third-person plural of haber; 'have'
convertido
Converted or transformed into something else
soy
First-person singular of ser; 'I am'
imagino
I imagine or suppose something mentally
puede
Third-person singular of poder; 'can' or 'is able'
deducir
To deduce or infer a conclusion from evidence
moraleja
Moral or lesson drawn from a story
adecuada
Adequate or appropriate for a situation
historia
Story, history, or personal narrative
pueda
Subjunctive of poder; 'may be able to'
guiarle
To guide you; to lead or direct someone
tiene
Third-person singular of tener; 'has' or 'have'
éxito
Success or favorable outcome of an endeavor
empresa
Enterprise, undertaking, or company venture
consolarle
To console or comfort you in difficult times
caso
Case or instance of a situation
fracaso
Failure or unsuccessful outcome of an attempt
Prepárese
Prepare yourself; imperative form of prepararse
escuchar
To listen or hear attentively
sucesos
Events or occurrences that have taken place
generalmente
Generally or usually; in most cases
consideran
Are considered or regarded by others
maravillosos
Marvelous or wonderful; causing amazement
estuviéramos
Imperfect subjunctive of estar; 'if we were'
entre
Preposition meaning 'among' or 'between'
paisajes
Landscapes or scenic natural views
más
More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree
apacibles
Peaceful, calm, or tranquil in character
naturaleza
Nature or the natural world around us
podría
Conditional of poder; 'could' or 'would be able'
temer
To fear or dread something or someone
encontrarme
To find myself or encounter something unexpectedly
incredulidad
Incredulity or disbelief toward something stated
quizás
Perhaps or maybe; expressing uncertainty
burla
Mockery or ridicule directed at someone
parecerán
Future tense of parecer; 'will seem'
posibles
Possible or feasible; able to occur
regiones
Regions or areas of a territory
salvajes
Wild or savage; untamed and primitive
misteriosas
Mysterious or enigmatic; full of mystery
provocarían
Would provoke or cause a reaction
risa
Laughter or the act of laughing
quienes
Who; relative pronoun referring to people
conocen
Know or are acquainted with someone or something
siempre
Always; at all times without exception
variados
Varied or diverse; consisting of many types
poderes
Powers or abilities possessed by someone
ni
Neither or nor; negative conjunction
puedo
First-person singular of poder; 'I can'
dudar
To doubt or question the truth of something
transmite
Transmits or conveys information to others
serie
Series or sequence of related items or events
evidencia
Evidence or proof supporting a claim
interna
Internal or inner; belonging to the inside
verdad
Truth or reality; what is actually true
compuesto
Composed or made up of various elements
imaginar
To imagine or picture something mentally
fácilmente
Easily or without difficulty
quedé
Past tense of quedarse; 'I remained' or 'I became'
complacido
Pleased or satisfied with something received
comunicación
Communication or message exchanged between people
ofrecida
Offered or provided; given as an offer
aunque
Although or even though; concessive conjunction
podía
Imperfect of poder; 'could' or 'was able to'
soportar
To bear, endure, or tolerate something difficult
renovara
Imperfect subjunctive of renovar; 'would renew'
dolor
Pain or grief; physical or emotional suffering
Sentí
Past tense of sentir; 'I felt' something
mayor
Greater or larger; comparative of grande
anhelo
Longing or yearning for something desired deeply
narración
Narration or account of events told in sequence
prometida
Promised; something that was pledged beforehand
parte
Part or portion of a whole
curiosidad
Curiosity or desire to know about something
fuerte
Strong or powerful; having great strength
deseo
Desire or wish for something
mejorar
To improve or make better
destino
Destiny or fate; also destination
estuviera
Imperfect subjunctive of estar; 'were' or 'would be'
poder
Power or ability; also infinitive 'to be able'
Expresé
Past tense of expresar; 'I expressed' thoughts
sentimientos
Feelings or emotions experienced internally
respuesta
Answer or response to a question or message
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