Middlemarch — Page 2

English → Pt FINALE. PRELUDE. Level 9/10

Many Theresas have been born who found for themselves no epic life wherein there was a constant unfolding of far-resonant action; perhaps only a life of mistakes, the offspring of a certain spiritual grandeur ill-matched with the meanness of opportunity; perhaps a tragic failure which found no sacred poet and sank unwept into oblivion.

Muitas Theresas nasceram sem encontrar para si mesmas uma vida épica em que houvesse um constante desdobramento de ações de ampla ressonância; talvez apenas uma vida de erros, fruto de uma certa grandeza espiritual mal combinada com a mesquinhez das oportunidades; talvez um fracasso trágico que não encontrou nenhum poeta sagrado e afundou sem ser lamentado no esquecimento.

With dim lights and tangled circumstance they tried to shape their thought and deed in noble agreement; but after all, to common eyes their struggles seemed mere inconsistency and formlessness; for these later-born Theresas were helped by no coherent social faith and order which could perform the function of knowledge for the ardently willing soul.

Com luzes tênues e circunstâncias embaraçadas, elas tentaram moldar seus pensamentos e ações em nobre harmonia; mas afinal, aos olhos comuns suas lutas pareciam mera inconsistência e falta de forma; pois essas Theresas nascidas mais tarde não foram auxiliadas por nenhuma fé e ordem social coerentes que pudessem desempenhar a função do conhecimento para a alma ardentemente disposta.

Their ardor alternated between a vague ideal and the common yearning of womanhood; so that the one was disapproved as extravagance, and the other condemned as a lapse.

Seu ardor alternava entre um ideal vago e o anseio comum da condição feminina; de modo que um era desaprovado como extravagância, e o outro condenado como um deslize.

Some have felt that these blundering lives are due to the inconvenient indefiniteness with which the Supreme Power has fashioned the natures of women: if there were one level of feminine incompetence as strict as the ability to count three and no more, the social lot of women might be treated with scientific certitude.

Alguns têm sentido que essas vidas desastradas se devem à inconveniente indefinição com que o Poder Supremo moldou as naturezas das mulheres: se houvesse um único nível de incompetência feminina tão preciso quanto a capacidade de contar até três e nada mais, a sorte social das mulheres poderia ser tratada com certeza científica.

Meanwhile the indefiniteness remains, and the limits of variation are really much wider than any one would imagine from the sameness of women's coiffure and the favorite love-stories in prose and verse.

Enquanto isso, a indefinição permanece, e os limites da variação são realmente muito mais amplos do que qualquer pessoa imaginaria a partir da uniformidade do penteado das mulheres e das histórias de amor favoritas em prosa e verso.

Vocabulary

Muitas: MOO-ee-tahsh — Many; referring to a large number of things
nasceram: nah-SEH-rahw — They were born; past tense of nascer
sem: seng — Without; indicating the absence of something
encontrar: en-kon-TRAR — To find or encounter something or someone
para: PAH-rah — For; to; indicating purpose or direction
si: see — Themselves; reflexive pronoun for third person
mesmas: MEZ-mahsh — Themselves; emphatic feminine plural pronoun
uma: OO-mah — A; one; feminine indefinite article in Portuguese
vida: VEE-dah — Life; the state of being alive
épica: EH-pee-kah — Epic; grand, heroic, or extraordinary in scale
em: eng — In; at; preposition indicating location or time
que: keh — That; which; what; common conjunction or pronoun
houvesse: oh-VEH-seh — There were; imperfect subjunctive of haver
um: oong — A; one; masculine indefinite article in Portuguese
constante: kon-STAN-teh — Constant; continuous, unceasing, or persistent
desdobramento: dez-doh-brah-MEN-too — Unfolding; development or expansion of actions
de: deh — Of; from; common Portuguese preposition
ações: ah-SOYNGSH — Actions; deeds or acts performed by someone
ampla: AMP-lah — Wide; broad; extensive in scope or reach
ressonância: heh-soh-NAN-syah — Resonance; the quality of evoking deep responses
talvez: tal-VEZ — Perhaps; maybe; expressing possibility or uncertainty
apenas: ah-PEH-nahsh — Only; just; merely; limiting or restricting scope
erros: EH-hoosh — Errors; mistakes or faults committed by someone
fruto: FROO-too — Fruit; result or outcome of something
certa: SER-tah — Certain; a particular kind of something
grandeza: gran-DEH-zah — Greatness; grandeur; nobility of spirit or scale
espiritual: esh-pee-ree-TWAL — Spiritual; relating to the spirit or inner soul
mal: mal — Badly; poorly; also meaning evil or harm
combinada: kom-bee-NAH-dah — Combined; paired or matched with something else
com: kong — With; together with; Portuguese preposition of accompaniment
a: ah — The; feminine definite article in Portuguese
mesquinhez: mesh-keen-YEZ — Pettiness; meanness; smallness of spirit or opportunity
das: dahsh — Of the; contraction of de plus as
oportunidades: oh-por-too-nee-DAH-dehsh — Opportunities; chances or favorable circumstances available
fracasso: frah-KAH-soo — Failure; a lack of success or achievement
trágico: TRAH-zhee-koo — Tragic; involving or causing great suffering or disaster
não: nahw — No; not; negation in Portuguese
encontrou: en-kon-TROH — Found; encountered; past tense of encontrar
nenhum: neh-NYOONG — No; none; not any; negative determiner
poeta: poh-EH-tah — Poet; a person who writes poetry
sagrado: sah-GRAH-doo — Sacred; holy; consecrated or deeply revered
e: ee — And; conjunction connecting words or clauses
afundou: ah-foon-DOH — Sank; submerged; went down into obscurity
ser: ser — To be; also being; essential existence
lamentado: lah-men-TAH-doo — Mourned; lamented; grieved over or regretted
no: noo — In the; contraction of em plus o
esquecimento: esh-keh-see-MEN-too — Forgetting; oblivion; the state of being forgotten
Com: kong — With; together with; Portuguese preposition
luzes: LOO-zehsh — Lights; gleams or illuminations; metaphorically insights
tênues: TEH-nwehsh — Faint; dim; slight or barely perceptible
circunstâncias: sir-koon-STAN-syahsh — Circumstances; conditions surrounding a situation or event
embaraçadas: em-bah-rah-SAH-dahsh — Embarrassed; complicated; entangled in difficult situations
elas: EH-lahsh — They; third person feminine plural pronoun
tentaram: ten-TAH-rahw — They tried; attempted; past tense of tentar
moldar: mol-DAR — To mold; to shape or form something carefully
seus: SEH-oosh — Their; his; her; possessive pronoun masculine plural
pensamentos: pen-sah-MEN-toosh — Thoughts; ideas or reflections in one's mind
nobre: NOH-breh — Noble; dignified; of high moral or social character
harmonia: ar-moh-NEE-ah — Harmony; a pleasing combination or agreement of elements
mas: mahsh — But; however; conjunction introducing a contrast
afinal: ah-fee-NAL — Finally; in the end; after all is considered
aos: ahwsh — To the; contraction of a plus os
olhos: OH-lyoosh — Eyes; the organs of sight; also perspective
comuns: koh-MOONSH — Common; ordinary; shared by many people
suas: SOO-ahsh — Their; her; feminine plural possessive pronoun
lutas: LOO-tahsh — Struggles; fights; efforts against difficulty or opposition
pareciam: pah-reh-SEE-ahw — Seemed; appeared to be; imperfect tense of parecer
mera: MEH-rah — Mere; only; nothing more than something trivial
inconsistência: in-kon-sis-TEN-syah — Inconsistency; lack of coherence or steady purpose
falta: FAL-tah — Lack; absence; shortage of something needed
forma: FOR-mah — Form; shape; structure or definite organized manner
pois: poysh — Because; since; for; explanatory conjunction in Portuguese
essas: EH-sahsh — Those; feminine plural demonstrative pronoun
nascidas: nah-SEE-dahsh — Born; those who were brought into the world
mais: mahsh — More; most; indicating greater quantity or degree
tarde: TAR-deh — Late; later; afternoon; after the expected time
foram: FOH-rahw — Were; went; third person plural past of ser/ir
auxiliadas: ow-zee-LYAH-dahsh — Aided; helped; assisted by someone or something
por: por — By; for; through; Portuguese preposition
nenhuma: neh-NYOO-mah — No; none; not any; feminine negative determiner
fé: feh — Faith; belief; trust in something or someone
ordem: OR-deng — Order; structure; organization or social arrangement
social: soh-SYAL — Social; relating to society or social interactions
coerentes: koh-eh-REN-tehsh — Coherent; consistent; logically connected and unified
pudessem: poo-DEH-seng — Could; were able to; imperfect subjunctive of poder
desempenhar: deh-zem-pen-YAR — To perform; to carry out a role or function
função: foon-SAHW — Function; role; the purpose something is designed for
do: doo — Of the; contraction of de plus o
conhecimento: koh-nyeh-see-MEN-too — Knowledge; understanding; awareness of facts or skills
alma: AL-mah — Soul; the spiritual or immaterial part of a person
ardentemente: ar-den-teh-MEN-teh — Ardently; passionately; with great intensity or fervor
disposta: dees-POHSH-tah — Disposed; willing; ready or inclined to act
Seu: SEH-oo — His; her; your; singular possessive pronoun
ardor: ar-DOR — Ardor; passion; intense enthusiasm or burning desire
alternava: al-ter-NAH-vah — Alternated; shifted back and forth between two things
entre: EN-treh — Between; among; in the middle of two things
ideal: ee-deh-AL — Ideal; a perfect standard or aspiration aimed at
vago: VAH-goo — Vague; unclear; not well defined or expressed
o: oo — The; masculine singular definite article in Portuguese
anseio: an-SEH-yoo — Yearning; longing; a deep desire for something
comum: koh-MOONG — Common; ordinary; shared or widespread among people
da: dah — Of the; contraction of de plus a
condição: kon-dee-SAHW — Condition; state; circumstances of a person's existence
feminina: feh-mee-NEE-nah — Feminine; relating to women or female characteristics
modo: MOH-doo — Mode; manner; way in which something is done
era: EH-rah — Was; imperfect past tense of ser (to be)
desaprovado: deh-zah-proh-VAH-doo — Disapproved; not accepted; criticized or looked down upon
como: KOH-moo — Like; as; how; used for comparison or manner
extravagância: esh-trah-vah-GAN-syah — Extravagance; excess; going beyond reasonable limits
outro: OH-troo — Other; another; a different one
condenado: kon-deh-NAH-doo — Condemned; judged guilty; disapproved of strongly
deslize: dez-LEE-zeh — Slip; indiscretion; a minor fault or social misstep
Alguns: al-GOONSH — Some; a few; an unspecified number of people
têm: teng — Have; third person plural present of ter
sentido: sen-TEE-doo — Felt; sensed; past participle of sentir; also meaning
vidas: VEE-dahsh — Lives; plural of vida; individual existences
desastradas: deh-zahsh-TRAH-dahsh — Disastrous; clumsy; marked by misfortune or failure
se: seh — Oneself; reflexive pronoun or conditional conjunction
devem: DEH-veng — Must; owe; they should; third plural of dever
à: ah — To the; feminine contraction of a plus a
inconveniente: in-kon-veh-NYEN-teh — Inconvenient; inappropriate; causing difficulty or trouble
indefinição: in-deh-fee-nee-SAHW — Indefiniteness; lack of clear definition or purpose
Poder: poh-DER — Power; ability; also the infinitive to be able
Supremo: soo-PREH-moo — Supreme; highest; of the greatest power or authority
moldou: mol-DOH — Shaped; molded; past tense of moldar
as: ahsh — The; feminine plural definite article in Portuguese
naturezas: nah-too-REH-zahsh — Natures; inherent characters or dispositions of beings
mulheres: mool-YEH-rehsh — Women; adult female human beings
único: OO-nee-koo — Unique; only; singular and without equal
nível: NEE-vel — Level; degree; a particular standard or grade
incompetência: in-kom-peh-TEN-syah — Incompetence; inability to do something adequately
tão: tahw — So; such; as; used to intensify an adjective
preciso: preh-SEE-zoo — Precise; exact; accurate; also meaning necessary
quanto: KWAN-too — As much as; how much; used in comparisons
capacidade: kah-pah-see-DAH-deh — Capacity; ability; the power to do something
contar: kon-TAR — To count; to tell; to narrate something
até: ah-TEH — Until; up to; even; indicating a limit or extent
três: trehsh — Three; the number 3
nada: NAH-dah — Nothing; not anything; zero or absence of something
sorte: SOR-teh — Luck; fortune; fate or chance
poderia: poh-deh-REE-ah — Could; would be able to; conditional of poder
tratada: trah-TAH-dah — Treated; handled or dealt with in a certain way
certeza: ser-TEH-zah — Certainty; sureness; the state of being sure
científica: syen-TEE-fee-kah — Scientific; relating to or based on science
Enquanto: en-KWAN-too — While; whereas; during the time that something occurs
isso: EE-soo — This; that; neuter demonstrative pronoun in Portuguese
permanece: per-mah-NEH-seh — Remains; stays; continues to be in a state
os: oosh — The; masculine plural definite article in Portuguese
limites: lee-MEE-tehsh — Limits; boundaries; the furthest extent of something
variação: vah-ryah-SAHW — Variation; change; difference within a range
são: sahw — Are; third person plural present tense of ser
realmente: reh-al-MEN-teh — Really; truly; in actual fact or reality
muito: MWEE-too — Very; much; a lot; indicating great quantity or degree
amplos: AMP-loosh — Wide; broad; extensive in range or scope
qualquer: kwal-KER — Any; whatever; any one from a group
pessoa: peh-SOH-ah — Person; individual; a human being
imaginaria: ee-mah-zhee-NAH-ryah — Would imagine; conditional of imaginar
partir: par-TEER — To leave; to depart; also to start from
uniformidade: oo-nee-for-mee-DAH-deh — Uniformity; sameness; the quality of being consistent
penteado: pen-teh-AH-doo — Hairstyle; hairdress; the way hair is arranged
histórias: ees-TOH-ryahsh — Stories; histories; accounts of events or narratives
amor: ah-MOR — Love; a deep affection for someone or something
favoritas: fah-voh-REE-tahsh — Favorites; most preferred or liked things
prosa: PROH-zah — Prose; ordinary written language, not poetry
verso: VER-soo — Verse; poetry; lines written in metrical form

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