Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 3
I gradually saw plainly the clear stream that supplied me with drink and the trees that shaded me with their foliage.
Gradualmente vi con claridad el arroyo cristalino que me proveía de bebida y los árboles que me daban sombra con su follaje.
I was delighted when I first discovered that a pleasant sound, which often saluted my ears, proceeded from the throats of the little winged animals who had often intercepted the light from my eyes.
Me alegré mucho cuando descubrí por primera vez que un sonido agradable, que frecuentemente saludaba mis oídos, procedía de las gargantas de los pequeños animales alados que a menudo habían interceptado la luz ante mis ojos.
I began also to observe, with greater accuracy, the forms that surrounded me and to perceive the boundaries of the radiant roof of light which canopied me.
Comencé también a observar, con mayor precisión, las formas que me rodeaban y a percibir los límites del radiante techo de luz que me cobijaba.
Sometimes I tried to imitate the pleasant songs of the birds but was unable.
A veces intentaba imitar los agradables cantos de los pájaros, pero era incapaz de hacerlo.
Sometimes I wished to express my sensations in my own mode, but the uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into silence again.
A veces deseaba expresar mis sensaciones a mi propia manera, pero los sonidos toscos e inarticulados que brotaban de mí me asustaban y me hacían guardar silencio de nuevo.
"The moon had disappeared from the night, and again, with a lessened form, showed itself, while I still remained in the forest.
«La luna había desaparecido de la noche y, de nuevo, con una forma menguada, volvió a mostrarse, mientras yo permanecía aún en el bosque.
My sensations had by this time become distinct, and my mind received every day additional ideas.
Mis sensaciones se habían vuelto nítidas para entonces, y mi mente recibía cada día nuevas ideas.
My eyes became accustomed to the light and to perceive objects in their right forms; I distinguished the insect from the herb, and by degrees, one herb from another.
Mis ojos se acostumbraron a la luz y a percibir los objetos en sus formas correctas; distinguí el insecto de la hierba y, poco a poco, una hierba de otra.
I found that the sparrow uttered none but harsh notes, whilst those of the blackbird and thrush were sweet and enticing.
Descubrí que el gorrión no emitía más que notas ásperas, mientras que las del mirlo y el zorzal eran dulces y seductoras.
"One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it.
«Un día, cuando el frío me oprimía, encontré un fuego que había sido dejado por unos mendigos errantes, y me sentí embargado de alegría por el calor que experimenté gracias a él.
Vocabulary
- Gradualmente
- Slowly, in a step-by-step manner over time
- vi
- First-person singular preterite of 'ver'; I saw
- con
- Preposition meaning 'with'
- claridad
- Clarity; the quality of being clear or bright
- arroyo
- A small stream or brook of flowing water
- cristalino
- Crystal-clear, transparent, or pure like crystal
- proveía
- Imperfect tense of 'proveer'; it supplied or provided
- bebida
- A drink or beverage; liquid for consumption
- árboles
- Trees; tall woody plants found in nature
- daban
- Imperfect of 'dar'; they gave or provided
- sombra
- Shade or shadow; darkness cast by blocking light
- follaje
- Foliage; the leaves of a plant or tree
- alegré
- Preterite of 'alegrarse'; I felt glad or happy
- mucho
- A lot; indicating a large degree or amount
- cuando
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'
- descubrí
- Preterite of 'descubrir'; I discovered or found out
- primera
- Feminine form of 'first'; occurring before all others
- vez
- Time or instance; one occurrence of an event
- sonido
- A sound; noise or tone perceived by hearing
- agradable
- Pleasant, agreeable, or pleasing to the senses
- frecuentemente
- Frequently; happening often or repeatedly over time
- saludaba
- Imperfect of 'saludar'; it greeted or reached
- oídos
- Ears; the organs used for hearing sounds
- procedía
- Imperfect of 'proceder'; it came from or originated
- gargantas
- Throats; the front part of the neck or vocal tract
- pequeños
- Small or little; of limited size or age
- animales
- Animals; living creatures other than humans
- alados
- Winged; having wings for flight
- menudo
- Used in 'a menudo,' meaning often or frequently
- interceptado
- Intercepted; blocked or cut off something in transit
- luz
- Light; visible electromagnetic radiation or illumination
- ante
- Preposition meaning 'before' or 'in front of'
- ojos
- Eyes; the organs used for seeing and vision
- Comencé
- Preterite of 'comenzar'; I began or started something
- también
- Also or too; in addition to something else
- observar
- To observe; to watch or notice something carefully
- mayor
- Greater, larger, or older; comparative of 'grande'
- precisión
- Precision; accuracy and exactness in detail
- formas
- Forms or shapes; the outlines or appearances of things
- rodeaban
- Imperfect of 'rodear'; they surrounded or encircled
- percibir
- To perceive; to become aware through the senses
- límites
- Limits or boundaries; the edges of something defined
- radiante
- Radiant; emitting or reflecting bright light or warmth
- techo
- Ceiling or roof; the overhead surface of a space
- cobijaba
- Imperfect of 'cobijar'; it sheltered or covered over
- veces
- Times; plural of 'vez,' used in 'a veces' (sometimes)
- intentaba
- Imperfect of 'intentar'; I was trying or attempting
- imitar
- To imitate; to copy or mimic someone or something
- agradables
- Pleasant or agreeable; plural form of 'agradable'
- cantos
- Songs or chants; melodic vocal expressions or sounds
- pájaros
- Birds; small winged animals that typically can fly
- pero
- Conjunction meaning 'but,' indicating contrast
- era
- Imperfect of 'ser'; I or it was (describing state)
- incapaz
- Incapable or unable; lacking ability to do something
- hacerlo
- To do it; infinitive 'hacer' with attached object pronoun
- deseaba
- Imperfect of 'desear'; I desired or wished for something
- expresar
- To express; to communicate feelings or thoughts outwardly
- sensaciones
- Sensations; physical or emotional feelings experienced
- propia
- Own; belonging specifically to oneself
- manera
- Manner or way; the method of doing something
- sonidos
- Sounds; plural of 'sonido,' noises perceived by ears
- toscos
- Rough or crude; lacking refinement or polish
- inarticulados
- Inarticulate; not clearly or distinctly spoken or formed
- brotaban
- Imperfect of 'brotar'; they burst out or emerged
- asustaban
- Imperfect of 'asustar'; they frightened or scared me
- hacían
- Imperfect of 'hacer'; they made or caused something
- guardar
- To keep, guard, or maintain something in a state
- silencio
- Silence; the complete absence of sound or noise
- nuevo
- New; used in 'de nuevo' meaning again or anew
- luna
- The moon; Earth's natural satellite visible at night
- había
- Third-person singular imperfect of 'haber'; had (auxiliary)
- desaparecido
- Past participle of 'desaparecer'; disappeared or vanished
- noche
- Night; the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
- forma
- Form, shape, or manner; the appearance of something
- menguada
- Waning or diminished; reduced in size or brightness
- volvió
- Preterite of 'volver'; it returned or came back
- mostrarse
- To show itself; reflexive of 'mostrar,' to appear
- mientras
- While or whereas; indicating simultaneous actions
- permanecía
- Imperfect of 'permanecer'; I remained or stayed somewhere
- aún
- Still or yet; indicating continuation up to a point
- bosque
- Forest or woods; a large area of dense trees
- vuelto
- Past participle of 'volver'; become or turned (into)
- nítidas
- Sharp or clear; distinct and well-defined in appearance
- entonces
- Then; at that time or as a consequence
- mente
- Mind; the seat of thought, memory, and consciousness
- recibía
- Imperfect of 'recibir'; it received or took in something
- cada
- Each or every; referring to all members individually
- día
- Day; a 24-hour period of time
- nuevas
- New; feminine plural form of 'nuevo'
- ideas
- Ideas; thoughts or concepts formed in the mind
- acostumbraron
- Preterite of 'acostumbrarse'; they became accustomed to
- objetos
- Objects; physical things that can be seen or touched
- correctas
- Correct or accurate; free from error or mistake
- distinguí
- Preterite of 'distinguir'; I distinguished or told apart
- insecto
- An insect; a small six-legged invertebrate animal
- hierba
- Grass or herb; a low green plant covering the ground
- poco
- Little or a bit; a small amount of something
- otra
- Another or other; a different or additional one
- Descubrí
- Preterite of 'descubrir'; I discovered or noticed something
- gorrión
- A sparrow; a small common songbird
- emitía
- Imperfect of 'emitir'; it emitted or produced sounds
- más
- More; a greater quantity, degree, or extent
- notas
- Notes; individual musical tones or written marks
- ásperas
- Rough or harsh; unpleasant to hear or touch
- mirlo
- A blackbird; a common songbird with dark plumage
- zorzal
- A thrush; a songbird known for melodious singing
- eran
- Imperfect of 'ser'; they were (describing a state)
- dulces
- Sweet or gentle; pleasant to the taste or ear
- seductoras
- Seductive or alluring; charming and hard to resist
- frío
- Cold; a low temperature or the sensation of it
- oprimía
- Imperfect of 'oprimir'; it oppressed or weighed heavily upon
- encontré
- Preterite of 'encontrar'; I found or came across
- fuego
- Fire; combustion producing heat, light, and flames
- sido
- Past participle of 'ser'; been (used in perfect tenses)
- dejado
- Past participle of 'dejar'; left behind or abandoned
- mendigos
- Beggars; people who ask others for money or food
- errantes
- Wandering or roaming; moving without a fixed destination
- sentí
- Preterite of 'sentir'; I felt or experienced an emotion
- embargado
- Overwhelmed or seized; overcome by a strong feeling
- alegría
- Joy or happiness; a feeling of great pleasure
- calor
- Heat or warmth; high temperature felt physically
- experimenté
- Preterite of 'experimentar'; I experienced or felt something
- gracias
- Thanks; used to express gratitude; also 'gracias a' (thanks to)
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