← Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 2

English → Fr Full Text Level 8/10

—fortunate for the land of his birth, which he has already done so much to save and bless!—fortunate for a large circle of friends and acquaintances, whose sympathy and affection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings he has endured, by his virtuous traits of character, by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in bonds, as being bound with them!—fortunate for the multitudes, in various parts of our republic, whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery, and who have been melted to tears by his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men!—fortunate for himself, as it at once brought him into the field of public usefulness, "gave the world assurance of a MAN," quickened the slumbering energies of his soul, and consecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor, and letting the oppressed go free!

—heureux pour la terre de sa naissance, qu'il a déjà tant fait pour sauver et bénir !—heureux pour un grand cercle d'amis et de connaissances, dont il a fortement conquis la sympathie et l'affection par les nombreuses souffrances qu'il a endurées, par ses vertueuses qualités de caractère, par son souvenir toujours vivace de ceux qui sont dans les fers, comme s'il était enchaîné avec eux !—heureux pour les multitudes, dans diverses parties de notre république, dont il a éclairé les esprits sur la question de l'esclavage, et qui ont été fondues en larmes par son pathétisme, ou soulevées d'une indignation vertueuse par sa vibrante éloquence contre les esclavagistes !—heureux pour lui-même, car cela l'a aussitôt conduit sur le terrain de l'utilité publique, « donna au monde l'assurance d'un HOMME », éveilla les énergies assoupies de son âme, et le consacra à la grande œuvre de briser le sceptre de l'oppresseur et de laisser partir libres les opprimés !

I shall never forget his first speech at the convention—the extraordinary emotion it excited in my own mind—the powerful impression it created upon a crowded auditory, completely taken by surprise—the applause which followed from the beginning to the end of his felicitous remarks.

Je n'oublierai jamais son premier discours à la convention—l'émotion extraordinaire qu'il suscita dans mon propre esprit—l'impression puissante qu'il produisit sur une assemblée nombreuse, complètement prise par surprise—les applaudissements qui suivirent du début à la fin de ses heureuses remarques.

I think I never hated slavery so intensely as at that moment; certainly, my perception of the enormous outrage which is inflicted by it, on the godlike nature of its victims, was rendered far more clear than ever.

Je crois n'avoir jamais haï l'esclavage aussi intensément qu'à ce moment-là ; certes, ma perception de l'énorme outrage qu'il inflige à la nature divine de ses victimes fut rendue bien plus claire que jamais.

Vocabulary

heureux: Feeling or causing happiness and joy.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
la: Definite article 'the' for feminine nouns.
terre: The ground, earth, or land beneath one's feet.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
sa: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
naissance: The event or act of being born.
qu': Contraction of 'que', meaning 'that' or 'which'.
il: Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
a: Third-person singular form of verb 'avoir', meaning 'has'.
déjà: Adverb meaning 'already' or 'yet'.
tant: Adverb meaning 'so much' or 'so many'.
fait: Past participle of 'faire', meaning 'done' or 'made'.
sauver: To rescue or save someone from danger or harm.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
bénir: To bless someone or something with divine favor.
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
grand: Adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'tall'.
cercle: A circle or group of people sharing common interests.
d': Contraction of 'de', meaning 'of' or 'from'.
amis: Plural of 'ami', meaning close companions or friends.
connaissances: People one knows; acquaintances rather than close friends.
dont: Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'of which', or 'from whom'.
fortement: Adverb meaning 'strongly' or 'powerfully'.
conquis: Past participle of 'conquérir', meaning 'won over' or 'conquered'.
sympathie: Warm feeling of understanding and support toward others.
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before vowels.
affection: A gentle feeling of fondness or liking toward someone.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'.
les: Plural definite article meaning 'the' for all genders.
nombreuses: Adjective meaning 'numerous' or 'many', feminine plural form.
souffrances: Physical or emotional pain and suffering endured.
endurées: Past participle of 'endurer', meaning 'endured' or 'suffered through'.
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural).
vertueuses: Having or showing high moral standards and virtuous character.
qualités: Positive characteristics or attributes of a person or thing.
caractère: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
souvenir: A memory or remembrance of a person or event.
toujours: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still'.
vivace: Lively and enduring; still alive or persistent over time.
ceux: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'the ones'.
qui: Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
sont: Third-person plural of 'être', meaning 'are'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'.
fers: Plural of 'fer'; chains or shackles; also means 'irons'.
comme: Conjunction or preposition meaning 'like', 'as', or 'how'.
s': Reflexive pronoun contraction of 'se' before a vowel.
était: Imperfect tense of 'être', meaning 'was' or 'used to be'.
enchaîné: Chained or shackled; bound by physical or metaphorical chains.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
eux: Stressed third-person plural masculine pronoun meaning 'them'.
multitudes: Very large numbers of people or things gathered together.
diverses: Adjective meaning 'various' or 'diverse', feminine plural form.
parties: Parts or regions; also can mean 'parties' in various contexts.
notre: Possessive adjective meaning 'our'.
république: A state governed by elected representatives, not a monarchy.
éclairé: Enlightened or informed; having knowledge and understanding.
esprits: Plural of 'esprit'; minds or spirits of individuals.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'about', or 'over'.
question: A matter or issue requiring consideration or discussion.
esclavage: The practice of owning and exploiting enslaved people.
ont: Third-person plural of 'avoir', meaning 'have'.
été: Past participle of 'être', meaning 'been'.
fondues: Melted or dissolved; overcome with emotion, feminine plural.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'as'.
larmes: Tears shed from the eyes due to emotion.
pathétisme: Quality of evoking deep pity, sadness, or emotional pathos.
ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative.
soulevées: Stirred up or roused; lifted by emotion, feminine plural form.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
indignation: Anger or annoyance provoked by unjust or unfair treatment.
vertueuse: Morally excellent and righteous; having strong virtuous character.
vibrante: Vibrating with energy; full of life and emotional resonance.
éloquence: Fluent and persuasive use of language in speaking.
contre: Preposition meaning 'against' or 'in opposition to'.
esclavagistes: People who support or practice the institution of slavery.
lui: Third-person singular pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him/her'.
même: Adjective or adverb meaning 'same', 'even', or 'itself'.
car: Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for', giving a reason.
cela: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this thing'.
aussitôt: Adverb meaning 'immediately' or 'as soon as'.
conduit: Leads or guides; third-person singular of 'conduire'.
le: Masculine definite article meaning 'the'.
terrain: Ground, territory, or field; area of activity or discussion.
utilité: The quality of being useful or beneficial to others.
publique: Relating to the community or the public, feminine form.
donna: Past tense of 'donner', meaning 'gave'.
au: Contraction of 'à le', meaning 'to the' or 'at the'.
monde: The world or a large group of people; society.
assurance: Confidence or certainty; also a guarantee or insurance.
HOMME: Man or human being; emphasized here in capital letters.
éveilla: Past tense of 'éveiller', meaning 'awakened' or 'stirred up'.
énergies: Forces or powers enabling activity and vigorous action.
assoupies: Dormant or lulled to sleep; made drowsy, feminine plural.
âme: The soul or spirit; inner moral and emotional essence.
consacra: Past tense of 'consacrer', meaning 'dedicated' or 'devoted'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
grande: Feminine form of 'grand', meaning 'great' or 'large'.
œuvre: A work, especially a significant artistic or literary creation.
briser: To break or shatter something into pieces.
sceptre: A staff symbolizing royal authority; here used metaphorically.
oppresseur: A person who oppresses others through unjust use of power.
laisser: To let, allow, or leave someone or something.
partir: To leave or go away from a place.
libres: Free from captivity, constraint, or oppression; plural form.
opprimés: People subjected to oppression and unjust treatment.
Je: First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
n': Contraction of 'ne', part of French negation construction.
oublierai: Future tense of 'oublier', meaning 'will forget'.
jamais: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever' in French sentences.
premier: Adjective meaning 'first' in order or rank.
discours: A formal speech delivered to an audience.
convention: A formal assembly or meeting of delegates; established practice.
émotion: A strong feeling such as joy, fear, or sadness.
extraordinaire: Remarkable or exceptional; beyond what is ordinary or expected.
suscita: Past tense of 'susciter', meaning 'aroused' or 'provoked'.
mon: Masculine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
propre: Adjective meaning 'own', 'clean', or 'proper'.
esprit: The mind, intellect, or spirit of a person.
impression: An idea, feeling, or opinion formed about something.
puissante: Powerful or strong, feminine singular form of 'puissant'.
produisit: Past tense of 'produire', meaning 'produced' or 'created'.
assemblée: A group of people gathered together; a formal assembly.
nombreuse: Large in number; consisting of many members, feminine form.
complètement: Adverb meaning 'completely' or 'entirely'.
prise: Taken or seized; caught off guard, feminine past participle.
surprise: An unexpected event or feeling of astonishment.
applaudissements: Clapping of hands to express approval or appreciation.
suivirent: Past tense of 'suivre', meaning 'followed'.
du: Contraction of 'de le', meaning 'of the' or 'from the'.
début: The beginning or start of something.
fin: The end or conclusion of something.
heureuses: Happy or fortunate; feminine plural form of 'heureux'.
remarques: Observations or comments made about a subject.
crois: First-person singular of 'croire', meaning 'believe' or 'think'.
avoir: Infinitive meaning 'to have'; also an auxiliary verb.
haï: Past participle of 'haïr', meaning 'hated'.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'.
intensément: Adverb meaning 'intensely' or 'with great force'.
ce: Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'.
moment: A brief period of time; a particular point in time.
là: Adverb meaning 'there' or indicating a specific moment.
certes: Adverb meaning 'certainly', 'admittedly', or 'indeed'.
ma: Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
perception: The ability to see, hear, or understand something clearly.
énorme: Adjective meaning 'enormous', 'huge', or 'immense'.
outrage: An extremely strong reaction of anger or moral offense.
inflige: Present tense of 'infliger', meaning 'inflicts' or 'imposes'.
nature: The inherent qualities or character of a person or thing.
divine: Relating to or coming from God; supremely good, feminine form.
victimes: People harmed, injured, or killed as a result of wrongdoing.
fut: Simple past of 'être', meaning 'was'.
rendue: Past participle of 'rendre', meaning 'made' or 'rendered'.
bien: Adverb meaning 'well', 'very', or 'indeed'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'no longer' in negation.
claire: Clear or bright; easy to understand, feminine form of 'clair'.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'than'.

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