Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 6
Victor, when falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?
Víctor, cuando la falsedad puede parecerse tanto a la verdad, ¿quién puede asegurarse de una felicidad cierta?
I feel as if I were walking on the edge of a precipice, towards which thousands are crowding and endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss.
Me siento como si caminara por el borde de un precipicio, hacia el cual miles de personas se agolpan y se esfuerzan por hundirme en el abismo.
William and Justine were assassinated, and the murderer escapes; he walks about the world free, and perhaps respected.
William y Justine fueron asesinados, y el asesino escapa; camina por el mundo libre, y quizás respetado.
But even if I were condemned to suffer on the scaffold for the same crimes, I would not change places with such a wretch."
Pero incluso si fuera condenada a sufrir en el cadalso por los mismos crímenes, no cambiaría mi lugar con semejante miserable."
I listened to this discourse with the extremest agony.
Escuché este discurso con la más extrema agonía.
I, not in deed, but in effect, was the true murderer.
Yo, no de hecho, sino en efecto, era el verdadero asesino.
Elizabeth read my anguish in my countenance, and kindly taking my hand, said, "My dearest friend, you must calm yourself.
Elizabeth leyó mi angustia en mi semblante y, tomando amablemente mi mano, dijo: «Mi querido amigo, debes calmarte.
These events have affected me, God knows how deeply; but I am not so wretched as you are.
Estos acontecimientos me han afectado, Dios sabe cuán profundamente; pero no soy tan desdichada como tú.
There is an expression of despair, and sometimes of revenge, in your countenance that makes me tremble.
Hay una expresión de desesperación, y a veces de venganza, en tu semblante que me hace temblar.
Dear Victor, banish these dark passions.
Querido Víctor, destierra estas oscuras pasiones.
Remember the friends around you, who centre all their hopes in you.
Recuerda a los amigos que te rodean, quienes cifran todas sus esperanzas en ti.
Have we lost the power of rendering you happy?
¿Hemos perdido el poder de hacerte feliz?
Ah! While we love, while we are true to each other, here in this land of peace and beauty, your native country, we may reap every tranquil blessing—what can disturb our peace?"
¡Ah! Mientras nos amemos, mientras seamos fieles el uno al otro, aquí en esta tierra de paz y belleza, tu tierra natal, podremos cosechar toda bendición tranquila: ¿qué puede perturbar nuestra paz?»
And could not such words from her whom I fondly prized before every other gift of fortune suffice to chase away the fiend that lurked in my heart?
¿Y no podrían tales palabras de aquella a quien yo apreciaba con cariño por encima de todos los demás dones de la fortuna bastar para ahuyentar al demonio que acechaba en mi corazón?
Vocabulary
- cuando
- Conjunction meaning 'when,' introducing time clauses.
- falsedad
- Falsehood or deceit; the quality of being untrue.
- puede
- Third-person singular of 'poder'; means 'can' or 'is able.'
- parecerse
- Reflexive verb meaning to resemble or look like something.
- tanto
- Adverb meaning 'so much' or 'as much.'
- verdad
- Noun meaning truth or reality; opposite of falsehood.
- quién
- Interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' in questions.
- asegurarse
- Reflexive verb meaning to make sure or ensure something.
- felicidad
- Noun meaning happiness or a state of contentment.
- cierta
- Adjective meaning certain, sure, or reliable.
- siento
- First-person singular of 'sentir'; means 'I feel.'
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like,' 'as,' or 'how.'
- si
- Conjunction meaning 'if,' introducing conditional clauses.
- caminara
- Imperfect subjunctive of 'caminar'; meaning 'were walking.'
- por
- Preposition meaning 'through,' 'by,' or 'along.'
- borde
- Noun meaning edge or rim of something.
- precipicio
- Noun meaning cliff or precipice; a steep dangerous drop.
- hacia
- Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of.'
- cual
- Relative pronoun meaning 'which' referring to a noun.
- miles
- Noun meaning thousands; large numbers of things or people.
- personas
- Noun meaning people or persons in a group.
- agolpan
- Verb meaning to crowd together or press in a mass.
- esfuerzan
- Third-person plural of 'esforzarse'; meaning they strive.
- hundirme
- Infinitive with pronoun; meaning 'to sink me' or submerge.
- abismo
- Noun meaning abyss or deep chasm; extreme depth.
- fueron
- Third-person plural preterite of 'ser/ir'; meaning 'were/went.'
- asesinados
- Past participle of 'asesinar'; meaning murdered or killed.
- asesino
- Noun meaning murderer or assassin; one who kills.
- escapa
- Third-person singular of 'escapar'; meaning 'escapes.'
- camina
- Third-person singular of 'caminar'; meaning 'walks.'
- mundo
- Noun meaning world or Earth; all of humanity.
- libre
- Adjective meaning free or unrestrained; not imprisoned.
- quizás
- Adverb meaning perhaps or maybe; expressing uncertainty.
- respetado
- Past participle of 'respetar'; meaning respected or esteemed.
- Pero
- Conjunction meaning 'but,' introducing a contrasting idea.
- incluso
- Adverb meaning even or including; adding emphasis.
- fuera
- Imperfect subjunctive of 'ser/estar'; meaning 'were' conditionally.
- condenada
- Past participle of 'condenar'; meaning condemned or sentenced.
- sufrir
- Infinitive meaning to suffer or endure hardship or pain.
- cadalso
- Noun meaning scaffold or gallows used for executions.
- mismos
- Adjective meaning same; used for emphasis or identity.
- crímenes
- Noun meaning crimes or criminal acts committed wrongfully.
- cambiaría
- Conditional of 'cambiar'; meaning 'would change' or exchange.
- lugar
- Noun meaning place, position, or spot.
- semejante
- Adjective meaning such, similar, or such a type.
- miserable
- Adjective/noun meaning miserable wretch; deeply unhappy person.
- Escuché
- First-person preterite of 'escuchar'; meaning 'I listened.'
- este
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this,' referring to nearby noun.
- discurso
- Noun meaning speech or discourse; a formal verbal expression.
- más
- Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'; used in comparisons.
- extrema
- Adjective meaning extreme or intense; the highest degree.
- agonía
- Noun meaning agony or extreme suffering, physical or mental.
- hecho
- Past participle of 'hacer'; meaning done or made.
- sino
- Conjunction meaning 'but rather,' contrasting a negative statement.
- efecto
- Noun meaning effect or result caused by something.
- era
- Imperfect of 'ser'; meaning 'was' or 'used to be.'
- verdadero
- Adjective meaning true, real, or genuine; not false.
- leyó
- Third-person preterite of 'leer'; meaning 'she/he read.'
- angustia
- Noun meaning anguish, distress, or acute anxiety.
- semblante
- Noun meaning face or expression; one's countenance or look.
- tomando
- Gerund of 'tomar'; meaning taking or grasping something.
- amablemente
- Adverb meaning kindly or gently; in a friendly manner.
- mano
- Noun meaning hand; the body part at arm's end.
- dijo
- Third-person preterite of 'decir'; meaning 'she/he said.'
- querido
- Adjective meaning dear or beloved; term of endearment.
- amigo
- Noun meaning friend; a close companion or acquaintance.
- debes
- Second-person singular of 'deber'; meaning 'you must/should.'
- calmarte
- Infinitive with pronoun; meaning 'to calm yourself' down.
- Estos
- Demonstrative plural meaning 'these,' referring to nearby nouns.
- acontecimientos
- Noun meaning events or occurrences; notable happenings.
- han
- Auxiliary verb; third-person plural of 'haber' meaning 'have.'
- afectado
- Past participle of 'afectar'; meaning affected or impacted emotionally.
- Dios
- Noun meaning God; the supreme deity in monotheistic religion.
- sabe
- Third-person singular of 'saber'; meaning 'knows' or 'knows how.'
- cuán
- Adverb meaning 'how' used in exclamatory or indirect questions.
- profundamente
- Adverb meaning deeply or profoundly; to a great extent.
- pero
- Conjunction meaning 'but,' introducing a contrasting clause.
- soy
- First-person singular of 'ser'; meaning 'I am.'
- tan
- Adverb meaning 'so' or 'as'; used in comparisons.
- desdichada
- Adjective meaning wretched or unfortunate; deeply unhappy person.
- Hay
- Impersonal form of 'haber'; meaning 'there is/there are.'
- expresión
- Noun meaning expression; a look conveying feeling or thought.
- desesperación
- Noun meaning despair or hopelessness; a state of utter desperation.
- veces
- Noun meaning times or occasions; plural of 'vez.'
- venganza
- Noun meaning revenge or vengeance; retaliation for a wrong.
- hace
- Third-person singular of 'hacer'; meaning 'makes' or 'does.'
- temblar
- Infinitive meaning to tremble or shake from fear or cold.
- Querido
- Adjective meaning dear or beloved; affectionate form of address.
- destierra
- Second-person imperative of 'desterrar'; meaning banish or exile.
- estas
- Demonstrative feminine plural meaning 'these,' referring to nearby nouns.
- oscuras
- Adjective meaning dark or gloomy; lacking light or hope.
- pasiones
- Noun meaning passions; intense emotions or strong desires.
- Recuerda
- Imperative of 'recordar'; meaning 'remember' as a command.
- amigos
- Noun meaning friends; close companions or acquaintances.
- rodean
- Third-person plural of 'rodear'; meaning 'surround' or encircle.
- quienes
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who,' referring to people.
- cifran
- Third-person plural of 'cifrar'; meaning to place or pin hopes.
- todas
- Adjective meaning all or every; feminine plural of 'todo.'
- esperanzas
- Noun meaning hopes; desires for positive future outcomes.
- ti
- Object pronoun meaning 'you,' used after prepositions.
- Hemos
- First-person plural of 'haber'; meaning 'we have.'
- perdido
- Past participle of 'perder'; meaning lost or having lost.
- poder
- Infinitive meaning 'to be able' or to have power.
- hacerte
- Infinitive with pronoun; meaning 'to make you' something.
- feliz
- Adjective meaning happy or joyful; in a state of happiness.
- Mientras
- Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'as long as.'
- amemos
- First-person plural present subjunctive of 'amar'; meaning 'we love.'
- mientras
- Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'as long as.'
- seamos
- First-person plural present subjunctive of 'ser'; meaning 'we are.'
- fieles
- Adjective meaning faithful or loyal; true to someone or something.
- uno
- Pronoun/adjective meaning 'one'; used in reciprocal expressions.
- otro
- Adjective/pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another.'
- aquí
- Adverb meaning here; indicating proximity to the speaker.
- esta
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this,' feminine singular form.
- tierra
- Noun meaning earth, land, or ground; also homeland.
- paz
- Noun meaning peace; a state free from conflict or disturbance.
- belleza
- Noun meaning beauty; the quality of being pleasing aesthetically.
- natal
- Adjective meaning native or of one's birth; homeland-related.
- podremos
- First-person plural future of 'poder'; meaning 'we will be able.'
- cosechar
- Infinitive meaning to harvest or reap; gather crops or rewards.
- toda
- Adjective meaning all or every; feminine singular of 'todo.'
- bendición
- Noun meaning blessing; a benefit or divine favor received.
- tranquila
- Adjective meaning calm, peaceful, or tranquil; serene.
- qué
- Interrogative/exclamatory pronoun meaning 'what' or 'how.'
- perturbar
- Infinitive meaning to disturb or perturb; upset tranquility.
- nuestra
- Possessive adjective meaning 'our,' feminine singular form.
- podrían
- Conditional of 'poder'; meaning 'they/you could' or 'would be able.'
- tales
- Adjective meaning such; used to refer to something mentioned.
- palabras
- Noun meaning words; units of spoken or written language.
- aquella
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that,' feminine singular far form.
- quien
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who,' referring to a person.
- apreciaba
- Imperfect of 'apreciar'; meaning 'I valued' or 'I appreciated.'
- cariño
- Noun meaning affection, fondness, or warm emotional attachment.
- encima
- Adverb/preposition meaning above or on top; over and above.
- todos
- Adjective/pronoun meaning all or everyone; masculine plural form.
- demás
- Adjective/pronoun meaning the rest or the others; remaining ones.
- dones
- Noun meaning gifts or talents; blessings bestowed upon someone.
- fortuna
- Noun meaning fortune, luck, or wealth; one's fate or destiny.
- bastar
- Infinitive meaning to suffice or be enough; to be adequate.
- para
- Preposition meaning 'for,' 'in order to,' or 'by.'
- ahuyentar
- Infinitive meaning to drive away or scare off something.
- demonio
- Noun meaning demon or devil; an evil supernatural being.
- acechaba
- Imperfect of 'acechar'; meaning 'lurked' or 'was lying in wait.'
- corazón
- Noun meaning heart; the organ or center of emotions.
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