Heart of Darkness — Page 10

English → Fr Full Text Level 9/10

"I don't want to bother you much with what happened to me personally,"

« Je ne veux pas trop vous ennuyer avec ce qui m'est arrivé personnellement, »

he began, showing in this remark the weakness of many tellers of tales who seem so often unaware of what their audience would like best to hear;

commença-t-il, révélant dans cette remarque la faiblesse de nombreux conteurs qui semblent si souvent ignorer ce que leur auditoire aimerait le mieux entendre ;

"yet to understand the effect of it on me you ought to know how I got out there, what I saw, how I went up that river to the place where I first met the poor chap.

« mais pour comprendre l'effet que cela a eu sur moi, vous devriez savoir comment je me suis retrouvé là-bas, ce que j'ai vu, comment j'ai remonté ce fleuve jusqu'à l'endroit où j'ai rencontré pour la première fois ce pauvre bougre.

It was the farthest point of navigation and the culminating point of my experience.

C'était le point le plus éloigné de la navigation et le point culminant de mon expérience.

It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me—and into my thoughts.

Il semblait d'une certaine manière projeter une sorte de lumière sur tout ce qui m'entourait — et dans mes pensées.

It was sombre enough, too—and pitiful—not extraordinary in any way—not very clear either.

C'était suffisamment sombre, aussi — et pitoyable — sans être extraordinaire en aucune façon — pas très clair non plus.

No, not very clear.

Non, pas très clair.

And yet it seemed to throw a kind of light.

Et pourtant il semblait projeter une sorte de lumière.

"I had then, as you remember, just returned to London after a lot of Indian Ocean, Pacific, China Seas—a regular dose of the East—six years or so, and I was loafing about, hindering you fellows in your work and invading your homes, just as though I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you.

« J'étais alors, comme vous vous en souvenez, tout juste rentré à Londres après avoir beaucoup fréquenté l'océan Indien, le Pacifique, les mers de Chine — une bonne dose d'Orient — six ans environ, et je flânais, gênant vos travaux et envahissant vos foyers, comme si j'avais reçu une mission divine pour vous civiliser.

It was very fine for a time, but after a bit I did get tired of resting.

C'était très agréable pendant un temps, mais au bout d'un moment je finis par me lasser de me reposer.

Then I began to look for a ship—I should think the hardest work on earth.

Alors je commençai à chercher un navire — ce qui est, je crois, le travail le plus difficile au monde.

But the ships wouldn't even look at me.

Mais les navires ne voulaient même pas me regarder.

And I got tired of that game, too.

Et je me lassai de ce jeu-là aussi.

"Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps.

« Or, quand j'étais petit, j'avais une passion pour les cartes.

Vocabulary

Je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
veux: First person singular present of 'vouloir', meaning 'want'.
pas: Negative particle paired with 'ne' meaning 'not'.
trop: Adverb meaning 'too much' or 'too'.
vous: Second person plural or formal pronoun meaning 'you'.
ennuyer: To bore or to annoy someone.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
m': Contracted first person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
est: Third person singular present of 'être', meaning 'is'.
arrivé: Past participle of 'arriver', meaning 'happened' or 'arrived'.
personnellement: Adverb meaning 'personally' or 'in person'.
commença-t-il: Inverted form of 'he began', used in narration.
révélant: Present participle of 'révéler', meaning 'revealing'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within'.
cette: Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'this'.
remarque: A comment or observation made about something.
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
faiblesse: Noun meaning 'weakness' or 'flaw'.
de: Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
nombreux: Adjective meaning 'numerous' or 'many'.
conteurs: Noun meaning 'storytellers' or 'narrators'.
semblent: Third person plural present of 'sembler', meaning 'seem'.
si: Adverb or conjunction meaning 'so', 'if', or 'yes'.
souvent: Adverb meaning 'often' or 'frequently'.
ignorer: To ignore or to be unaware of something.
que: Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
leur: Possessive adjective or pronoun meaning 'their' or 'them'.
auditoire: Noun meaning 'audience' or group of listeners.
aimerait: Conditional form of 'aimer', meaning 'would like'.
le: Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'.
mieux: Adverb meaning 'better' or 'best'.
entendre: To hear or to listen to something.
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but' introducing contrast.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
comprendre: To understand or to grasp something fully.
l': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before vowel.
effet: Noun meaning 'effect' or 'impact' of something.
cela: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this'.
a: Third person singular present of 'avoir', meaning 'has'.
eu: Past participle of 'avoir', meaning 'had'.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'about'.
moi: Stressed first person singular pronoun meaning 'me'.
devriez: Second person plural conditional of 'devoir', meaning 'should'.
savoir: To know a fact or how to do something.
comment: Adverb meaning 'how' in questions or clauses.
je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
me: First person singular reflexive or object pronoun.
suis: First person singular present of 'être', meaning 'am'.
retrouvé: Past participle of 'retrouver', meaning 'found myself'.
là-bas: Adverb meaning 'over there' or 'in that place'.
j': Contracted first person singular subject pronoun before vowel.
ai: First person singular present of 'avoir', meaning 'have'.
vu: Past participle of 'voir', meaning 'seen'.
remonté: Past participle of 'remonter', meaning 'gone back up'.
fleuve: Noun meaning a large river flowing into the sea.
jusqu': Contracted preposition meaning 'until' or 'as far as'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
endroit: Noun meaning 'place' or 'spot' or 'location'.
où: Relative adverb meaning 'where' or 'when'.
rencontré: Past participle of 'rencontrer', meaning 'met' or 'encountered'.
première: Feminine ordinal adjective meaning 'first'.
fois: Noun meaning 'time' as in an occurrence or instance.
pauvre: Adjective meaning 'poor' or 'unfortunate'.
bougre: Informal noun meaning 'fellow' or 'poor wretch'.
C': Contracted demonstrative pronoun 'ce' meaning 'it' or 'this'.
était: Third person singular imperfect of 'être', meaning 'was'.
point: Noun or adverb meaning 'point' or 'not at all'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'no longer' in negation.
éloigné: Adjective meaning 'distant', 'remote', or 'far away'.
navigation: Noun meaning 'navigation' or 'sailing' on water.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and' linking words or clauses.
culminant: Present participle meaning 'culminating' or 'reaching peak'.
mon: Masculine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
expérience: Noun meaning 'experience' or an experiment undergone.
Il: Third person masculine singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
semblait: Third person singular imperfect of 'sembler', meaning 'seemed'.
d': Contracted preposition 'de' meaning 'of' before vowel.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
certaine: Feminine adjective meaning 'certain' or 'particular'.
manière: Noun meaning 'manner', 'way', or 'style'.
projeter: To project, cast, or throw something outward.
sorte: Noun meaning 'sort', 'kind', or 'type'.
lumière: Noun meaning 'light', physical or metaphorical.
tout: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'everything', or 'whole'.
entourait: Third person singular imperfect of 'entourer', meaning 'surrounded'.
mes: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
pensées: Noun meaning 'thoughts' or 'ideas' in the mind.
suffisamment: Adverb meaning 'sufficiently' or 'enough'.
sombre: Adjective meaning 'dark', 'gloomy', or 'somber'.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'.
pitoyable: Adjective meaning 'pitiful', 'pathetic', or 'wretched'.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without'.
être: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
extraordinaire: Adjective meaning 'extraordinary' or 'remarkable'.
en: Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'on', or 'of it'.
aucune: Feminine negative adjective meaning 'no' or 'none'.
façon: Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'fashion'.
très: Adverb meaning 'very' intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
clair: Adjective meaning 'clear', 'bright', or 'light'.
non: Adverb or interjection meaning 'no'.
Non: Emphatic adverb meaning 'no', often standing alone.
Et: Conjunction meaning 'and', here used emphatically.
pourtant: Adverb meaning 'yet', 'however', or 'nevertheless'.
il: Third person masculine singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
J': Contracted first person singular subject pronoun before vowel.
étais: First person singular imperfect of 'être', meaning 'was'.
alors: Adverb meaning 'then', 'at that time', or 'so'.
comme: Conjunction or preposition meaning 'like', 'as', or 'when'.
souvenez: Second person plural imperative of 'se souvenir', 'remember'.
juste: Adjective or adverb meaning 'just', 'fair', or 'only'.
rentré: Past participle of 'rentrer', meaning 'returned home'.
Londres: Proper noun, the capital city of England, London.
après: Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'afterward'.
avoir: Infinitive meaning 'to have', auxiliary verb in French.
beaucoup: Adverb meaning 'a lot', 'much', or 'many'.
fréquenté: Past participle of 'fréquenter', meaning 'frequented' or 'visited regularly'.
océan: Noun meaning 'ocean', a vast body of saltwater.
Indien: Adjective meaning 'Indian', referring to India or its ocean.
Pacifique: Proper adjective meaning 'Pacific', as in the Pacific Ocean.
les: Plural definite article meaning 'the'.
mers: Plural noun meaning 'seas', bodies of saltwater.
Chine: Proper noun meaning 'China', the East Asian country.
bonne: Feminine adjective meaning 'good' or 'large' before a noun.
dose: Noun meaning 'dose' or 'good measure' of something.
Orient: Noun meaning 'the Orient' or 'the East'.
six: Cardinal number meaning 'six'.
ans: Plural noun meaning 'years' of age or duration.
environ: Adverb meaning 'approximately' or 'about'.
flânais: First person singular imperfect of 'flâner', meaning 'was strolling idly'.
gênant: Present participle of 'gêner', meaning 'bothering' or 'hindering'.
vos: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal or plural).
travaux: Plural noun meaning 'work', 'tasks', or 'construction works'.
envahissant: Present participle of 'envahir', meaning 'invading' or 'intruding upon'.
foyers: Plural noun meaning 'homes', 'hearths', or 'households'.
avais: First person singular imperfect of 'avoir', meaning 'had'.
reçu: Past participle of 'recevoir', meaning 'received'.
mission: Noun meaning 'mission', a task or assignment given.
divine: Feminine adjective meaning 'divine' or 'of God'.
civiliser: To civilize, bring civilization to a people or place.
agréable: Adjective meaning 'pleasant', 'enjoyable', or 'agreeable'.
pendant: Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
temps: Noun meaning 'time', 'weather', or 'tense'.
au: Contracted article meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
bout: Noun meaning 'end', 'tip', or after 'au bout de', 'after'.
moment: Noun meaning 'moment' or period of time.
finis: First person singular passé simple of 'finir', meaning 'ended up'.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'.
lasser: To tire of or grow weary of something.
reposer: To rest or to put something back down.
Alors: Adverb meaning 'so', 'then', or 'at that time'.
commençai: First person singular passé simple of 'commencer', meaning 'began'.
chercher: To look for or search for something.
navire: Noun meaning 'ship' or large vessel.
crois: First person singular present of 'croire', meaning 'believe'.
travail: Noun meaning 'work', 'job', or 'labor'.
difficile: Adjective meaning 'difficult' or 'hard'.
monde: Noun meaning 'world' or 'people' in general.
Mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast.
navires: Plural noun meaning 'ships' or large vessels.
voulaient: Third person plural imperfect of 'vouloir', meaning 'wanted'.
même: Adjective or adverb meaning 'same', 'even', or 'itself'.
regarder: To look at or watch something or someone.
lassai: First person singular passé simple of 'se lasser', meaning 'tired of'.
jeu-là: Phrase meaning 'that game' referring dismissively to an activity.
Or: Conjunction meaning 'now', 'but', introducing a new point.
quand: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
petit: Adjective meaning 'small', 'little', or 'young'.
passion: Noun meaning 'passion', strong enthusiasm or love for something.
cartes: Plural noun meaning 'maps' or 'cards'.

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