Meditations — Page 4

English → Fr Preface Level 9/10

We have no means of following the campaigns in detail;

Nous n'avons aucun moyen de suivre les campagnes en détail ;

but thus much is certain, that in the end the Romans succeeded in crushing the barbarian tribes, and effecting a settlement which made the empire more secure.

mais ceci est certain, qu'en fin de compte les Romains réussirent à écraser les tribus barbares, et à établir un accord qui rendit l'empire plus sûr.

Marcus was himself commander-in-chief, and victory was due no less to his own ability than to his wisdom in choice of lieutenants, shown conspicuously in the case of Pertinax.

Marc était lui-même commandant en chef, et la victoire était due autant à sa propre capacité qu'à sa sagesse dans le choix de ses lieutenants, manifestée de façon éclatante dans le cas de Pertinax.

There were several important battles fought in these campaigns; and one of them has become celebrated for the legend of the Thundering Legion.

Plusieurs batailles importantes furent livrées au cours de ces campagnes ; et l'une d'elles est devenue célèbre grâce à la légende de la Légion Fulminante.

In a battle against the Quadi in 174, the day seemed to be going in favour of the foe, when on a sudden arose a great storm of thunder and rain the lightning struck the barbarians with terror, and they turned to rout.

Lors d'une bataille contre les Quades en 174, la journée semblait tourner en faveur de l'ennemi, lorsque soudain éclata une grande tempête de tonnerre et de pluie ; la foudre frappa les barbares de terreur, et ils prirent la fuite.

In later days this storm was said to have been sent in answer to the prayers of a legion which contained many Christians, and the name Thundering Legion should be given to it on this account.

Par la suite, on dit que cette tempête avait été envoyée en réponse aux prières d'une légion qui comptait de nombreux chrétiens, et que le nom de Légion Fulminante devait lui être attribué pour cette raison.

The title of Thundering Legion is known at an earlier date, so this part of the story at least cannot be true;

Le titre de Légion Fulminante est attesté à une date antérieure, de sorte que cette partie du récit du moins ne peut être vraie ;

but the aid of the storm is acknowledged by one of the scenes carved on Antonine's Column at Rome, which commemorates these wars.

mais le secours apporté par la tempête est reconnu dans l'une des scènes sculptées sur la Colonne Antonine à Rome, qui commémore ces guerres.

The settlement made after these troubles might have been more satisfactory but for an unexpected rising in the east.

Le règlement établi après ces troubles aurait pu être plus satisfaisant sans un soulèvement inattendu à l'est.

Vocabulary

Nous: First person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
n': Contracted negation particle used before vowels.
avons: First person plural present tense of 'avoir' (to have).
aucun: Negative determiner meaning 'no' or 'not any'.
moyen: Noun meaning 'means' or 'way' to do something.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
suivre: Infinitive verb meaning 'to follow' or 'to track'.
les: Definite plural article meaning 'the'.
campagnes: Noun meaning 'campaigns' or 'military operations'.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'by'.
détail: Noun meaning 'detail'; in depth or closely.
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast.
ceci: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (thing nearby).
est: Third person singular present of 'être' meaning 'is'.
certain: Adjective meaning 'certain' or 'sure', undeniable.
qu': Contracted conjunction 'que' meaning 'that' before vowel.
fin: Noun meaning 'end'; used in 'à la fin' (in the end).
compte: Noun meaning 'account'; 'en fin de compte' means ultimately.
Romains: Noun referring to the Romans, ancient Roman people.
réussirent: Past historic of 'réussir', meaning 'succeeded' in doing.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
écraser: Infinitive verb meaning 'to crush' or 'to defeat completely'.
tribus: Noun meaning 'tribes', groups of people sharing culture.
barbares: Noun/adjective meaning 'barbarians', peoples outside Roman civilization.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
établir: Infinitive verb meaning 'to establish' or 'to set up'.
un: Indefinite masculine article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
accord: Noun meaning 'agreement' or 'accord' between parties.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which', 'that'.
rendit: Past historic of 'rendre', meaning 'made' or 'rendered'.
l': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before vowel.
empire: Noun meaning 'empire', a large political territory ruled centrally.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' used in comparatives.
sûr: Adjective meaning 'safe' or 'secure', free from danger.
était: Imperfect tense of 'être', meaning 'was' or 'used to be'.
lui: Personal pronoun meaning 'him' or 'himself'.
même: Adjective/adverb meaning 'same' or 'even', 'himself'.
commandant: Noun meaning 'commander' or 'commanding officer'.
chef: Noun meaning 'chief', 'leader', or 'head'.
la: Definite feminine article meaning 'the'.
victoire: Noun meaning 'victory', success in battle or competition.
due: Adjective meaning 'due' or 'owed', attributed to something.
autant: Adverb meaning 'as much' or 'equally', to the same degree.
sa: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
propre: Adjective meaning 'own' (one's own) or 'clean'.
capacité: Noun meaning 'capacity', 'ability', or 'skill'.
sagesse: Noun meaning 'wisdom' or 'good judgment'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' a place or time.
le: Definite masculine article meaning 'the'.
choix: Noun meaning 'choice' or 'selection' among options.
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its' (plural).
lieutenants: Noun meaning 'lieutenants', officers assisting a commander.
manifestée: Past participle of 'manifester', meaning 'demonstrated' or 'shown'.
façon: Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'fashion' of doing.
éclatante: Adjective meaning 'brilliant', 'striking', or 'dazzling'.
cas: Noun meaning 'case' or 'instance', particular situation.
Plusieurs: Adjective/pronoun meaning 'several' or 'a number of'.
batailles: Noun meaning 'battles', armed conflicts between forces.
importantes: Adjective meaning 'important' or 'significant', of great consequence.
furent: Past historic of 'être', meaning 'were' (plural).
livrées: Past participle of 'livrer', meaning 'fought' (battles fought).
au: Contracted article 'à + le' meaning 'at the' or 'in the'.
cours: Noun meaning 'course'; 'au cours de' means 'during'.
ces: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
une: Indefinite feminine article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
d': Contracted preposition 'de' before a vowel, meaning 'of'.
elles: Third person feminine plural pronoun meaning 'they' or 'them'.
devenue: Past participle of 'devenir', meaning 'become' (feminine).
célèbre: Adjective meaning 'famous' or 'renowned', widely known.
grâce: Noun meaning 'grace'; 'grâce à' means 'thanks to'.
légende: Noun meaning 'legend', a traditional story or myth.
Légion: Noun meaning 'legion', a major Roman military unit.
Lors: Preposition used in 'lors de', meaning 'during' or 'at the time of'.
bataille: Noun meaning 'battle', a fight between opposing forces.
contre: Preposition meaning 'against', in opposition to something.
journée: Noun meaning 'day' (the full course of a day).
semblait: Imperfect of 'sembler', meaning 'seemed' or 'appeared to'.
tourner: Infinitive verb meaning 'to turn' or 'to go in a direction'.
faveur: Noun meaning 'favor'; 'en faveur de' means 'in favor of'.
ennemi: Noun meaning 'enemy' or 'foe', an opposing force.
lorsque: Conjunction meaning 'when' or 'at the time that'.
soudain: Adverb/adjective meaning 'suddenly' or 'all of a sudden'.
éclata: Past historic of 'éclater', meaning 'broke out' or 'burst out'.
grande: Adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'big' (feminine).
tempête: Noun meaning 'storm', a violent weather disturbance.
tonnerre: Noun meaning 'thunder', loud noise during a storm.
pluie: Noun meaning 'rain', water falling from clouds.
foudre: Noun meaning 'lightning', electric discharge during storms.
frappa: Past historic of 'frapper', meaning 'struck' or 'hit'.
terreur: Noun meaning 'terror' or 'extreme fear'.
ils: Third person masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they'.
prirent: Past historic of 'prendre', meaning 'took'; 'prirent fuite' means fled.
fuite: Noun meaning 'flight' or 'escape'; 'prendre la fuite' means to flee.
Par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'as a result of'.
suite: Noun meaning 'continuation'; 'par suite' means 'as a result'.
on: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', 'they', or 'people'.
dit: Third person singular present of 'dire', meaning 'says' or 'said'.
que: Conjunction meaning 'that', introducing a subordinate clause.
cette: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (feminine singular).
avait: Imperfect of 'avoir', meaning 'had' (third person singular).
été: Past participle of 'être', meaning 'been'.
envoyée: Past participle of 'envoyer', meaning 'sent' (feminine).
réponse: Noun meaning 'response' or 'answer' to something.
aux: Contracted article 'à + les' meaning 'to the' (plural).
prières: Noun meaning 'prayers', religious appeals to a deity.
légion: Noun meaning 'legion', a Roman military unit.
comptait: Imperfect of 'compter', meaning 'counted' or 'included'.
nombreux: Adjective meaning 'numerous' or 'many' in quantity.
chrétiens: Noun meaning 'Christians', followers of the Christian faith.
nom: Noun meaning 'name', a word used to identify something.
devait: Imperfect of 'devoir', meaning 'had to' or 'was supposed to'.
être: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be', fundamental French verb.
attribué: Past participle of 'attribuer', meaning 'attributed' or 'assigned'.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', indicating purpose.
raison: Noun meaning 'reason' or 'cause' for something.
Le: Definite masculine article meaning 'the'.
titre: Noun meaning 'title', a name or designation of rank.
attesté: Past participle of 'attester', meaning 'attested' or 'documented'.
date: Noun meaning 'date', a specific point in time.
antérieure: Adjective meaning 'prior', 'earlier', or 'previous' in time.
sorte: Noun meaning 'sort' or 'kind'; 'de sorte que' means so that.
partie: Noun meaning 'part' or 'portion' of a whole.
du: Contracted article 'de + le' meaning 'of the' or 'from the'.
récit: Noun meaning 'account', 'story', or 'narrative'.
moins: Adverb meaning 'less' or 'at least' in comparisons.
ne: Negation particle used with 'pas', 'jamais', etc.
peut: Third person singular present of 'pouvoir', meaning 'can'.
vraie: Adjective meaning 'true' or 'real', genuine (feminine form).
secours: Noun meaning 'help', 'relief', or 'rescue'.
apporté: Past participle of 'apporter', meaning 'brought' or 'provided'.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', indicating agent or means.
reconnu: Past participle of 'reconnaître', meaning 'recognized' or 'acknowledged'.
des: Contracted article meaning 'of the' or indefinite plural 'some'.
scènes: Noun meaning 'scenes' or 'depictions' carved or shown visually.
sculptées: Past participle of 'sculpter', meaning 'sculpted' or 'carved'.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'over'.
Colonne: Noun meaning 'column', a tall pillar monument in Rome.
commémore: Third person singular of 'commémorer', meaning 'commemorates'.
guerres: Noun meaning 'wars', armed conflicts between nations or groups.
règlement: Noun meaning 'settlement' or 'regulation', resolution of dispute.
établi: Past participle of 'établir', meaning 'established' or 'set up'.
après: Preposition meaning 'after', following in time or order.
troubles: Noun meaning 'troubles', 'unrest', or 'disturbances'.
aurait: Conditional of 'avoir', meaning 'would have'.
pu: Past participle of 'pouvoir', meaning 'been able to'.
satisfaisant: Adjective meaning 'satisfactory' or 'satisfying', meeting expectations.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without', lacking something.
soulèvement: Noun meaning 'uprising' or 'revolt', a rebellion.
inattendu: Adjective meaning 'unexpected' or 'unforeseen', not anticipated.

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