Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 13
One or two stiff gales and the springing of a leak are accidents which experienced navigators scarcely remember to record, and I shall be well content if nothing worse happen to us during our voyage.
Un ou deux vents violents et l'apparition d'une voie d'eau sont des accidents que les navigateurs expérimentés se souviennent à peine de consigner, et je serai bien satisfait si rien de pire ne nous arrive pendant notre voyage.
Adieu, my dear Margaret.
Adieu, ma chère Margaret.
Be assured that for my own sake, as well as yours, I will not rashly encounter danger.
Soyez assurée que pour mon propre bien, ainsi que pour le vôtre, je n'affronterai pas le danger témérairement.
I will be cool, persevering, and prudent.
Je serai calme, persévérant et prudent.
But success _shall_ crown my endeavours.
Mais le succès _couronnera_ mes efforts.
Wherefore not?
Pourquoi pas ?
Thus far I have gone, tracing a secure way over the pathless seas, the very stars themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph.
Jusqu'ici j'ai avancé, traçant une voie sûre sur les mers sans chemins, les étoiles elles-mêmes étant témoins et témoignages de mon triomphe.
Why not still proceed over the untamed yet obedient element?
Pourquoi ne pas continuer à avancer sur cet élément sauvage et pourtant obéissant ?
What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?
Qu'est-ce qui peut arrêter le cœur déterminé et la volonté résolue de l'homme ?
My swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus.
Mon cœur gonflé se répand ainsi involontairement.
But I must finish.
Mais je dois terminer.
Heaven bless my beloved sister!
Que le Ciel bénisse ma sœur bien-aimée !
R.W.
R.W.
Letter 4
Lettre 4
_To Mrs. Saville, England._
_À Mme Saville, Angleterre._
August 5th, 17—.
Le 5 août 17—.
So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording it, although it is very probable that you will see me before these papers can come into your possession.
Un accident si étrange nous est arrivé que je ne puis m'empêcher de le consigner, bien qu'il soit fort probable que vous me verrez avant que ces papiers puissent parvenir en votre possession.
Last Monday (July 31st) we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides, scarcely leaving her the sea-room in which she floated.
Lundi dernier (31 juillet), nous étions presque entourés de glaces, qui enserraient le navire de tous côtés, lui laissant à peine l'espace de mer dans lequel il flottait.
Our situation was somewhat dangerous, especially as we were compassed round by a very thick fog.
Notre situation était quelque peu dangereuse, d'autant plus que nous étions enveloppés d'un brouillard très épais.
We accordingly lay to, hoping that some change would take place in the atmosphere and weather.
Nous mîmes donc en panne, espérant qu'un changement se produirait dans l'atmosphère et le temps.
Vocabulary
- un
- The indefinite article 'a' or 'an' in French.
- ou
- Conjunction meaning 'or' expressing alternatives.
- deux
- The number two.
- vents
- Plural noun meaning winds or air currents.
- violents
- Adjective meaning violent, forceful, or intense.
- et
- Conjunction meaning 'and' joining words or clauses.
- apparition
- Noun meaning appearance, emergence, or sudden arrival.
- une
- Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
- voie
- Noun meaning way, path, route, or course.
- eau
- Noun meaning water.
- sont
- Third person plural present tense of 'être' (to be).
- des
- Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'any'.
- accidents
- Plural noun meaning accidents, incidents, or mishaps.
- que
- Relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
- les
- Definite article meaning 'the' in plural form.
- navigateurs
- Plural noun meaning sailors or navigators of ships.
- expérimentés
- Adjective meaning experienced, skilled, or seasoned.
- se
- Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'themselves'.
- souviennent
- Third person plural of 'se souvenir' (to remember).
- peine
- Noun meaning difficulty, hardship, or barely.
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
- consigner
- Verb meaning to record, document, or note down.
- je
- First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
- serai
- First person singular future of 'être' (will be).
- bien
- Adverb meaning well, quite, very, or good.
- satisfait
- Adjective meaning satisfied, pleased, or content.
- si
- Conjunction meaning 'if' or adverb meaning 'so'.
- rien
- Pronoun meaning nothing or anything in negatives.
- pire
- Adjective meaning worse or worst.
- ne
- Adverb used in negative constructions with verbs.
- nous
- First person plural pronoun meaning 'us' or 'we'.
- arrive
- Verb meaning to arrive, happen, or occur.
- pendant
- Preposition meaning during or while a time period.
- notre
- Possessive adjective meaning 'our'.
- voyage
- Noun meaning journey, trip, or voyage.
- Adieu
- Interjection meaning goodbye, farewell, or adieu.
- ma
- Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine).
- chère
- Adjective meaning dear or beloved.
- Soyez
- Second person plural imperative of 'être' (be).
- assurée
- Adjective meaning assured, certain, or confident.
- pour
- Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
- mon
- Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine).
- propre
- Adjective meaning own, proper, or clean.
- ainsi
- Adverb meaning thus, so, or in this way.
- le
- Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine).
- vôtre
- Possessive pronoun meaning 'yours' (formal/plural).
- affronterai
- First person singular future of 'affronter' (to face).
- pas
- Adverb meaning 'not' or noun meaning 'step'.
- danger
- Noun meaning danger, peril, or hazard.
- Je
- First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
- calme
- Adjective meaning calm, peaceful, or serene.
- persévérant
- Adjective meaning persevering, persistent, or determined.
- prudent
- Adjective meaning prudent, careful, or cautious.
- Mais
- Conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however'.
- succès
- Noun meaning success or favorable outcome.
- _couronnera_
- Third person singular future of 'couronner' (to crown).
- mes
- Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural).
- efforts
- Plural noun meaning efforts, attempts, or exertions.
- Pourquoi
- Adverb meaning 'why' or 'for what reason'.
- Jusqu
- Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'.
- ici
- Adverb meaning here or in this place.
- ai
- First person singular present of 'avoir' (to have).
- avancé
- Adjective meaning advanced or past participle of avancer.
- traçant
- Present participle of 'tracer' (to trace or draw).
- sûre
- Adjective meaning sure, certain, or safe.
- sur
- Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'over'.
- mers
- Plural noun meaning seas or oceans.
- sans
- Preposition meaning 'without'.
- chemins
- Plural noun meaning paths, roads, or ways.
- étoiles
- Plural noun meaning stars.
- elles-mêmes
- Reflexive pronoun meaning 'themselves' (feminine).
- étant
- Present participle of 'être' (being or are).
- témoins
- Plural noun meaning witnesses or testimonies.
- témoignages
- Plural noun meaning testimonies, evidence, or witnesses.
- triomphe
- Noun meaning triumph, victory, or success.
- continuer
- Verb meaning to continue or keep going.
- avancer
- Verb meaning to advance, move forward, or progress.
- cet
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
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