Heart of Darkness — Page 15

English → Fr Full Text Level 9/10

"I flew around like mad to get ready, and before forty-eight hours I was crossing the Channel to show myself to my employers, and sign the contract.

« Je m'agitai comme un fou pour me préparer, et avant quarante-huit heures je traversais la Manche pour me présenter à mes employeurs et signer le contrat.

In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulchre.

En très peu d'heures j'arrivai dans une ville qui me fait toujours penser à un sépulcre blanchi.

Prejudice no doubt.

Préjugé sans doute.

I had no difficulty in finding the Company's offices.

Je n'eus aucune difficulté à trouver les bureaux de la Compagnie.

It was the biggest thing in the town, and everybody I met was full of it.

C'était la chose la plus importante de la ville, et tous ceux que je rencontrais en étaient pleins.

They were going to run an over-sea empire, and make no end of coin by trade.

Ils allaient diriger un empire d'outre-mer, et gagner des sommes considérables par le commerce.

"A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting between the stones, imposing carriage archways right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar.

« Une rue étroite et déserte dans une ombre profonde, de hautes maisons, d'innombrables fenêtres avec des stores vénitiens, un silence de mort, de l'herbe poussant entre les pavés, d'imposantes voûtes cochères à droite et à gauche, d'immenses doubles portes entrebâillées avec lourdeur.

I slipped through one of these cracks, went up a swept and ungarnished staircase, as arid as a desert, and opened the first door I came to.

Je me glissai par une de ces fentes, montai un escalier balayé et sans ornement, aussi aride qu'un désert, et ouvris la première porte que je trouvai.

Two women, one fat and the other slim, sat on straw-bottomed chairs, knitting black wool.

Deux femmes, l'une grosse et l'autre mince, étaient assises sur des chaises à fond de paille, tricotant de la laine noire.

The slim one got up and walked straight at me—still knitting with downcast eyes—and only just as I began to think of getting out of her way, as you would for a somnambulist, stood still, and looked up.

La mince se leva et marcha droit vers moi — continuant à tricoter les yeux baissés — et ce n'est qu'au moment où je commençai à penser à m'écarter de son chemin, comme on le ferait pour une somnambule, qu'elle s'arrêta et leva les yeux.

Her dress was as plain as an umbrella-cover, and she turned round without a word and preceded me into a waiting-room.

Sa robe était aussi simple qu'une housse de parapluie, et elle fit demi-tour sans un mot et me précéda dans une salle d'attente.

I gave my name, and looked about.

Je donnai mon nom, et regardai autour de moi.

Vocabulary

Je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
m': Contracted form of 'me', reflexive or object pronoun.
agitai: Past tense of agiter; rushed or stirred about frantically.
comme: Conjunction or preposition meaning 'like' or 'as'.
un: Indefinite article or numeral meaning 'a' or 'one'.
fou: Adjective or noun meaning 'crazy person' or 'mad'.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
me: Reflexive or indirect object pronoun meaning 'myself' or 'me'.
préparer: Infinitive verb meaning 'to prepare' or 'to get ready'.
et: Coordinating conjunction meaning 'and'.
avant: Preposition or adverb meaning 'before' in time or order.
quarante: Cardinal number meaning 'forty'.
huit: Cardinal number meaning 'eight'.
heures: Plural noun meaning 'hours' or 'o'clock'.
je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
traversais: Imperfect tense of traverser; was crossing a body of water.
la: Definite article meaning 'the' for feminine nouns.
Manche: Proper noun referring to the English Channel between France and England.
présenter: Infinitive meaning 'to present' or 'to introduce oneself'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
mes: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' before plural nouns.
employeurs: Plural noun meaning 'employers' or 'those who hire.
signer: Infinitive verb meaning 'to sign' a document or contract.
le: Definite article meaning 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
contrat: Noun meaning 'contract', a formal binding agreement.
En: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within' a time frame.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
peu: Adverb or noun meaning 'little' or 'few'.
d': Contracted form of 'de' meaning 'of' or 'from'.
j': Contracted form of 'je' meaning 'I' before a vowel.
arrivai: Simple past of arriver; arrived at a destination.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' a place.
une: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.
ville: Noun meaning 'city' or 'town'.
qui: Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
fait: Third person singular of faire; makes or causes something.
toujours: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still'.
penser: Infinitive verb meaning 'to think' or 'to reflect'.
sépulcre: Noun meaning 'sepulchre', a tomb or burial place.
blanchi: Past participle of blanchir; whitened or whitewashed.
Préjugé: Noun meaning 'prejudice' or 'preconceived bias'.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without'.
doute: Noun meaning 'doubt'; sans doute means 'no doubt'.
n': Contracted negation particle 'ne' used before a vowel.
eus: Simple past of avoir; had, as in 'I had'.
aucune: Negative adjective meaning 'no' or 'not any' (feminine).
difficulté: Noun meaning 'difficulty' or 'trouble' encountered.
trouver: Infinitive verb meaning 'to find' or 'to locate'.
les: Definite article meaning 'the' before plural nouns.
bureaux: Plural noun meaning 'offices' or 'desks'.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
Compagnie: Noun meaning 'Company', a business organization.
C': Contracted form of 'ce' before était, meaning 'it'.
était: Imperfect tense of être; was, as in 'it was'.
chose: Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most' in comparisons.
importante: Adjective meaning 'important' or 'significant' (feminine).
tous: Indefinite pronoun or adjective meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
ceux: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'the ones'.
que: Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'whom'.
rencontrais: Imperfect of rencontrer; was meeting or encountering people.
en: Pronoun or preposition meaning 'of it', 'in', or 'about'.
étaient: Imperfect plural of être; were, as in 'they were'.
pleins: Adjective meaning 'full' or 'filled' (masculine plural).
Ils: Third person plural subject pronoun meaning 'they'.
allaient: Imperfect of aller; were going or about to do something.
diriger: Infinitive meaning 'to direct', 'to manage', or 'to run'.
empire: Noun meaning 'empire', a large territory under one ruler.
outre: Preposition meaning 'beyond' or 'overseas'.
mer: Noun meaning 'sea' or 'ocean'.
gagner: Infinitive verb meaning 'to earn', 'to win', or 'to gain'.
des: Partitive or plural article meaning 'some' or 'of the'.
sommes: Plural noun meaning 'sums' of money; also 'we are'.
considérables: Adjective meaning 'considerable' or 'substantial' (plural).
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'via'.
commerce: Noun meaning 'trade', 'commerce', or 'business'.
Une: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.
rue: Noun meaning 'street' or 'road' in a city.
étroite: Adjective meaning 'narrow' or 'tight' (feminine).
déserte: Adjective meaning 'deserted' or 'empty' (feminine).
ombre: Noun meaning 'shadow' or 'shade'.
profonde: Adjective meaning 'deep' or 'profound' (feminine).
hautes: Adjective meaning 'tall' or 'high' (feminine plural).
maisons: Plural noun meaning 'houses' or 'buildings'.
innombrables: Adjective meaning 'innumerable' or 'countless' (plural).
fenêtres: Plural noun meaning 'windows'.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
stores: Plural noun meaning 'blinds' or 'window shades'.
vénitiens: Adjective meaning 'Venetian', as in Venetian blinds (masculine plural).
silence: Noun meaning 'silence' or 'quietness'.
mort: Noun or adjective meaning 'death' or 'dead'.
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before a vowel.
herbe: Noun meaning 'grass' or 'herb'.
poussant: Present participle of pousser; growing or pushing upward.
entre: Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'.
pavés: Plural noun meaning 'cobblestones' or 'paving stones'.
imposantes: Adjective meaning 'imposing' or 'impressive' (feminine plural).
voûtes: Plural noun meaning 'vaults' or 'arched gateways'.
cochères: Adjective meaning 'carriage', as in porte cochère, a large gate.
droite: Noun or adjective meaning 'right' side or direction.
gauche: Noun or adjective meaning 'left' side or direction.
immenses: Adjective meaning 'immense' or 'enormous' (plural).
doubles: Adjective meaning 'double' or 'dual' (plural).
portes: Plural noun meaning 'doors' or 'gates'.
entrebâillées: Adjective meaning 'ajar' or 'slightly open' (feminine plural).
lourdeur: Noun meaning 'heaviness', 'sluggishness', or 'weight'.
glissai: Simple past of glisser; slipped or slid through quietly.
ces: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
fentes: Plural noun meaning 'slits', 'cracks', or 'gaps'.
montai: Simple past of monter; climbed or went up stairs.
escalier: Noun meaning 'staircase' or 'stairs'.
balayé: Past participle of balayer; swept clean of dirt or debris.
ornement: Noun meaning 'ornament' or 'decoration'.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as'.
aride: Adjective meaning 'arid', 'barren', or 'dry'.
qu': Contracted form of 'que' meaning 'as' or 'than'.
désert: Noun meaning 'desert', a barren uninhabited landscape.
ouvris: Simple past of ouvrir; opened a door or entrance.
première: Adjective meaning 'first' (feminine form).
porte: Noun meaning 'door' or 'gate'.
trouvai: Simple past of trouver; found or came across something.
Deux: Cardinal number meaning 'two'.
femmes: Plural noun meaning 'women' or 'wives'.
grosse: Adjective meaning 'fat', 'large', or 'heavy' (feminine).
autre: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
mince: Adjective meaning 'thin', 'slim', or 'slender'.
assises: Past participle of asseoir; seated or sitting (feminine plural).
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'over'.
chaises: Plural noun meaning 'chairs'.
fond: Noun meaning 'bottom', 'back', or 'depth'.
paille: Noun meaning 'straw', as in a woven straw seat.
tricotant: Present participle of tricoter; knitting with needles and yarn.
laine: Noun meaning 'wool' or 'woolen yarn'.
noire: Adjective meaning 'black' (feminine form).
La: Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'herself', 'himself', or 'itself'.
leva: Simple past of lever; stood up or rose to her feet.
marcha: Simple past of marcher; walked or strode toward someone.
droit: Adverb or adjective meaning 'straight' or 'directly'.
vers: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'.
moi: Stressed pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
continuant: Present participle of continuer; continuing an ongoing action.
tricoter: Infinitive verb meaning 'to knit' with needles and yarn.
yeux: Plural noun meaning 'eyes'.
baissés: Past participle of baisser; lowered or cast downward.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
est: Third person singular of être; is, as in 'it is'.
au: Contracted article meaning 'at the' or 'to the' (masculine).
moment: Noun meaning 'moment' or 'instant' in time.
où: Relative adverb meaning 'where' or 'when'.
commençai: Simple past of commencer; began or started an action.
écarter: Infinitive meaning 'to move aside' or 'to push away'.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
chemin: Noun meaning 'path', 'way', or 'road'.
on: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', or 'they'.
ferait: Conditional of faire; would make or would do.
somnambule: Noun meaning 'sleepwalker', one who walks while asleep.
elle: Third person singular feminine pronoun meaning 'she'.
s': Contracted reflexive pronoun 'se' before a vowel.
arrêta: Simple past of arrêter; stopped or came to a halt.
Sa: Possessive adjective meaning 'her', 'his', or 'its' (feminine).
robe: Noun meaning 'dress' or 'gown'.
simple: Adjective meaning 'simple', 'plain', or 'unadorned'.
housse: Noun meaning 'cover' or 'slipcover' for an object.
parapluie: Noun meaning 'umbrella'.
fit: Simple past of faire; made, did, or caused something.
demi: Adjective or noun meaning 'half'.
tour: Noun meaning 'turn' or 'tower'; demi-tour means 'about-face'.
mot: Noun meaning 'word'.
précéda: Simple past of précéder; preceded or went ahead of someone.
salle: Noun meaning 'room' or 'hall'.
attente: Noun meaning 'waiting' or 'expectation'; salle d'attente: waiting room.
donnai: Simple past of donner; gave something to someone.
mon: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine singular).
nom: Noun meaning 'name'.
regardai: Simple past of regarder; looked or glanced around.
autour: Adverb meaning 'around' or 'about'.

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