Joseph II. and His Court: An Historical Novel — Page 1
THE CONFERENCE.
LA CONFERENCIA.
In the council-chamber of the Empress Maria Theresa, the six lords, who composed her cabinet council, awaited the entrance of their imperial mistress to open the sitting.
En la sala del consejo de la emperatriz María Teresa, los seis nobles que componían su consejo de gabinete aguardaban la entrada de su imperial señora para abrir la sesión.
At this sitting, a great political question was to be discussed and its gravity seemed to be reflected in the faces of the lords, as, in low tones, they whispered together in the dim, spacious apartment, whose antiquated furniture of dark velvet tapestry corresponded well with the anxious looks of its occupants.
En esta sesión se debía discutir una gran cuestión política, y su gravedad parecía reflejarse en los rostros de los nobles, quienes, en voz baja, cuchicheaban entre sí en la penumbrosa y espaciosa estancia, cuyo anticuado mobiliario de oscura tapicería de terciopelo correspondía bien con las miradas de inquietud de sus ocupantes.
In the centre of the room stood the Baron von Bartenstein and the Count von Uhlefeld, the two powerful statesmen who for thirteen years had been honored by the confidence of the empress.
En el centro de la sala se encontraban el barón von Bartenstein y el conde von Uhlefeld, los dos poderosos estadistas que durante trece años habían sido honrados con la confianza de la emperatriz.
Together they stood, their consequence acknowledged by all, while with proud and lofty mien, they whispered of state secrets.
Juntos estaban, reconocida su importancia por todos, mientras que con aire orgulloso y altivo cuchicheaban sobre secretos de Estado.
Upon the fair, smooth face of Bartenstein appeared an expression of haughty triumph, which he was at no pains to conceal; and over the delicate mouth of Von Uhlefeld fluttered a smile of ineffable complacency.
En el rostro claro y terso de Bartenstein apareció una expresión de altivo triunfo que no se molestaba en disimular; y sobre los delicados labios de Von Uhlefeld revoloteaba una sonrisa de inefable complacencia.
"I feel perfectly secure," whispered Von Bartenstein. "The empress will certainly renew the treaties, and continue the policy which we have hitherto pursued with such brilliant results to Austria."
«Me siento completamente seguro», susurró Von Bartenstein. «La emperatriz renovará sin duda los tratados y continuará la política que hemos seguido hasta ahora con resultados tan brillantes para Austria».
"The empress is wise," returned Uhlefeld. "She can reckon upon our stanch support, and so long as she pursues this policy, we will sustain her."
«La emperatriz es sabia», respondió Uhlefeld. «Puede contar con nuestro firme apoyo, y mientras siga esta política, la sostendremos».
Vocabulary
- CONFERENCIA
- A formal meeting or conference for discussion.
- sala
- A room or hall used for gatherings or meetings.
- consejo
- A council or advisory body of officials.
- emperatriz
- A female ruler of an empire; empress.
- seis
- The number six in Spanish.
- nobles
- People of high social rank or aristocracy.
- componían
- They made up or constituted a group or body.
- gabinete
- A cabinet of ministers or advisors to a ruler.
- aguardaban
- They were waiting or awaiting someone's arrival.
- entrada
- The entrance or arrival of a person into a place.
- imperial
- Relating to an emperor or empire's authority.
- señora
- A respectful title for a woman; lady or madam.
- abrir
- To open something, such as a session or door.
- sesión
- A session or formal meeting of an official body.
- debía
- Past tense of 'deber,' meaning was supposed to.
- discutir
- To discuss or debate a topic among people.
- cuestión
- A question or issue requiring debate and resolution.
- política
- Relating to politics or governmental affairs and policy.
- gravedad
- Seriousness or gravity of a situation or matter.
- parecía
- It seemed or appeared to be a certain way.
- reflejarse
- To be reflected or mirrored in something visible.
- rostros
- Faces or facial expressions of people present.
- quienes
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who' referring to people.
- voz
- Voice or spoken sound produced by a person.
- baja
- Low in volume, pitch, or height; soft voice.
- cuchicheaban
- They were whispering quietly among themselves in secret.
- penumbrosa
- Dimly lit or shadowy, having little light inside.
- espaciosa
- Spacious or roomy, having plenty of interior space.
- estancia
- A room or chamber within a building or residence.
- cuyo
- Relative possessive pronoun meaning 'whose' in Spanish.
- anticuado
- Outdated or old-fashioned in style or appearance.
- mobiliario
- Furniture or furnishings found inside a room.
- oscura
- Dark or dim in color, light, or tone.
- tapicería
- Tapestry or upholstery fabric decorating walls or furniture.
- terciopelo
- Velvet, a soft luxurious fabric with dense pile.
- correspondía
- It corresponded or matched well with something else.
- miradas
- Glances or looks exchanged between people in a room.
- inquietud
- Unease, anxiety, or restlessness felt by someone.
- ocupantes
- Occupants or people present and residing in a space.
- centro
- The center or middle point of a space or area.
- encontraban
- They were found or located at a specific place.
- barón
- A baron, a nobleman of relatively low noble rank.
- conde
- A count, a nobleman of middle aristocratic rank.
- poderosos
- Powerful or influential people holding significant authority.
- estadistas
- Statesmen or skilled political leaders serving a government.
- durante
- Preposition meaning 'during' a span of time.
- trece
- The number thirteen in Spanish.
- honrados
- Honored or recognized with trust and high regard.
- confianza
- Trust or confidence placed in a person's reliability.
- Juntos
- Together, as a group in the same place.
- reconocida
- Recognized or acknowledged for importance or achievement.
- importancia
- Importance or significance of a person, thing, or matter.
- mientras
- Conjunction meaning 'while' indicating simultaneous actions.
- aire
- Air or demeanor; manner in which someone presents themselves.
- orgulloso
- Proud or displaying a sense of self-importance.
- altivo
- Haughty or arrogant in bearing and attitude.
- secretos
- Secrets or confidential matters kept hidden from others.
- Estado
- The State or government as a political institution.
- rostro
- A face or facial expression of an individual person.
- claro
- Clear, bright, or evident in appearance or meaning.
- terso
- Smooth or polished in texture or surface appearance.
- apareció
- It appeared or became visible suddenly to observers.
- expresión
- An expression or look visible on someone's face.
- triunfo
- Triumph or victory achieved over difficulty or opposition.
- molestaba
- It bothered or troubled someone; caused discomfort.
- disimular
- To conceal or hide one's true feelings or intentions.
- delicados
- Delicate or refined in quality, appearance, or nature.
- labios
- Lips, the fleshy parts surrounding a person's mouth.
- revoloteaba
- It fluttered or hovered around in a light manner.
- sonrisa
- A smile or pleasant facial expression of happiness.
- inefable
- Ineffable or too great to be expressed in words.
- complacencia
- Complacency or self-satisfied pleasure with one's situation.
- siento
- I feel; first-person present tense of 'sentirse'.
- completamente
- Completely or entirely, without any doubt or exception.
- seguro
- Sure, safe, or confident about a particular matter.
- susurró
- He or she whispered softly to another person.
- renovará
- She or it will renew or restore something formally.
- duda
- Doubt or uncertainty about a fact or decision.
- tratados
- Treaties or formal agreements between nations or parties.
- continuará
- She or it will continue or carry on doing something.
- seguido
- Followed or continued along a particular path or policy.
- hasta
- Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to' a point.
- resultados
- Results or outcomes produced by actions or policies.
- brillantes
- Brilliant or outstanding in achievement or quality.
- sabia
- Wise or having deep knowledge and good judgment.
- respondió
- He or she responded or replied to a statement.
- contar
- To count or rely on someone's support or presence.
- firme
- Firm or steadfast in commitment, resolve, or support.
- apoyo
- Support or backing given to a person or cause.
- siga
- Subjunctive form of 'seguir,' meaning 'continue' or 'follow'.
- sostendremos
- We will sustain or support something going forward firmly.
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