Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 8
"I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge. Oh, that I had for ever remained in my native wood, nor known nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, and heat!
"No puedo describirte la agonía que estas reflexiones me infligieron; intenté disiparlas, pero el dolor solo aumentó con el conocimiento. ¡Oh, si hubiera permanecido para siempre en mi bosque natal, sin conocer ni sentir más allá de las sensaciones de hambre, sed y calor!
"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock.
"¡De qué extraña naturaleza es el conocimiento! Se aferra a la mente cuando una vez se ha apoderado de ella como un liquen en la roca.
I wished sometimes to shake off all thought and feeling, but I learned that there was but one means to overcome the sensation of pain, and that was death—a state which I feared yet did not understand.
A veces deseaba sacudirme todo pensamiento y sentimiento, pero aprendí que no había más que un medio para superar la sensación de dolor, y ese era la muerte, un estado que temía pero que no comprendía.
I admired virtue and good feelings and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my cottagers, but I was shut out from intercourse with them, except through means which I obtained by stealth, when I was unseen and unknown, and which rather increased than satisfied the desire I had of becoming one among my fellows.
Admiraba la virtud y los buenos sentimientos y amaba los modales gentiles y las cualidades amables de mis aldeanos, pero estaba excluido del trato con ellos, excepto a través de medios que obtenía furtivamente, cuando era invisible e ignorado, y que más bien aumentaban que satisfacían el deseo que tenía de convertirme en uno más entre mis semejantes.
The gentle words of Agatha and the animated smiles of the charming Arabian were not for me.
Las dulces palabras de Agatha y las animadas sonrisas de la encantadora árabe no eran para mí.
The mild exhortations of the old man and the lively conversation of the loved Felix were not for me.
Las suaves exhortaciones del anciano y la animada conversación del querido Félix no eran para mí.
Miserable, unhappy wretch!
¡Miserable, desdichada criatura!
"Other lessons were impressed upon me even more deeply.
"Otras lecciones quedaron grabadas en mí aún más profundamente.
Vocabulary
- puedo
- First person singular present of 'poder'; I can.
- describirte
- To describe something to you.
- agonía
- Intense physical or mental suffering; agony.
- reflexiones
- Thoughts or meditations on a subject.
- infligieron
- Third person plural preterite of 'infligir'; they inflicted.
- intenté
- First person singular preterite of 'intentar'; I tried.
- disiparlas
- To dispel or scatter them away completely.
- dolor
- Physical or emotional pain or suffering.
- aumentó
- Third person singular preterite of 'aumentar'; it increased.
- conocimiento
- Knowledge or awareness gained through experience.
- hubiera
- Past subjunctive of 'haber'; had (in hypothetical contexts).
- permanecido
- Past participle of 'permanecer'; remained or stayed.
- siempre
- Adverb meaning 'always'; at all times.
- bosque
- A forest or woodland area with trees.
- natal
- Adjective relating to place or time of birth.
- conocer
- To know or become acquainted with someone or something.
- sentir
- To feel or perceive emotions or sensations.
- allá
- Adverb meaning 'beyond' or 'over there'.
- sensaciones
- Physical or emotional sensations experienced by the body.
- hambre
- The feeling of needing or wanting food.
- sed
- The feeling of needing or wanting water.
- calor
- Warmth or heat felt physically or environmentally.
- extraña
- Adjective meaning strange, unusual, or foreign.
- naturaleza
- Nature or the inherent character of something.
- aferra
- Third person singular of 'aferrarse'; clings or holds tightly.
- mente
- The mind or intellect; seat of thought.
- vez
- A time or instance; once.
- apoderado
- Past participle of 'apoderarse'; seized or taken over.
- liquen
- A lichen; organism that clings to rock surfaces.
- roca
- A rock or large stone formation.
- veces
- Plural of 'vez'; times or occasions.
- deseaba
- First or third person imperfect of 'desear'; desired.
- sacudirme
- To shake off or free oneself from something.
- pensamiento
- A thought or idea formed in the mind.
- sentimiento
- A feeling or emotion experienced internally.
- aprendí
- First person singular preterite of 'aprender'; I learned.
- medio
- A means or way to achieve something.
- superar
- To overcome or surpass a difficulty or obstacle.
- sensación
- A physical or emotional feeling or impression.
- muerte
- Death; the end of life.
- estado
- A state or condition; past participle of 'estar'.
- temía
- First or third person imperfect of 'temer'; feared.
- comprendía
- First or third person imperfect of 'comprender'; understood.
- Admiraba
- First or third person imperfect of 'admirar'; admired.
- virtud
- Virtue; moral excellence or goodness of character.
- sentimientos
- Feelings or emotions experienced by a person.
- amaba
- First or third person imperfect of 'amar'; loved.
- modales
- Manners or social behavior in interactions.
- gentiles
- Adjective plural meaning gentle or kind in manner.
- cualidades
- Qualities or characteristics that define someone.
- amables
- Adjective plural meaning kind, friendly, or amiable.
- aldeanos
- Villagers; people who live in a small village.
- excluido
- Past participle of 'excluir'; excluded or shut out.
- trato
- Interaction or dealings between people; treatment.
- excepto
- Preposition meaning 'except' or 'excluding'.
- través
- Used in 'a través de' meaning through or across.
- medios
- Means or methods used to achieve a goal.
- obtenía
- First or third person imperfect of 'obtener'; obtained.
- furtivamente
- Adverb meaning furtively or secretly and stealthily.
- invisible
- Unable to be seen; not visible to others.
- ignorado
- Past participle of 'ignorar'; ignored or unnoticed.
- aumentaban
- Third person plural imperfect of 'aumentar'; they increased.
- satisfacían
- Third person plural imperfect of 'satisfacer'; they satisfied.
- deseo
- A wish, desire, or longing for something.
- convertirme
- To become or transform oneself into something.
- semejantes
- Fellow beings; others similar to oneself.
- dulces
- Adjective plural meaning sweet or gentle.
- palabras
- Words used in speech or writing.
- animadas
- Adjective plural meaning lively, animated, or cheerful.
- sonrisas
- Smiles; expressions of happiness on the face.
- encantadora
- Adjective feminine meaning charming or delightful.
- árabe
- Adjective or noun referring to Arab person or language.
- suaves
- Adjective plural meaning soft, gentle, or mild.
- exhortaciones
- Earnest appeals or encouragements urging someone to act.
- anciano
- An elderly man; old person.
- animada
- Adjective feminine meaning lively, spirited, or animated.
- conversación
- A spoken exchange of thoughts between people.
- querido
- Adjective meaning dear or beloved; past participle of 'querer'.
- Miserable
- Adjective meaning wretched, miserable, or deeply unhappy.
- desdichada
- Adjective feminine meaning unfortunate, wretched, or unhappy.
- criatura
- A creature or being; any living entity.
- lecciones
- Lessons or teachings learned from experience.
- quedaron
- Third person plural preterite of 'quedar'; they remained.
- grabadas
- Past participle feminine plural of 'grabar'; engraved or imprinted.
- aún
- Adverb meaning 'still' or 'even'; yet.
- profundamente
- Adverb meaning deeply or profoundly.
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