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

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 8

English → Fr Full Text Level 8/10

" Admitting this to have been an extraordinary case of mental deterioration, it proves at least that the white slave can sink as low in the scale of humanity as the black one.

« En admettant que cela ait été un cas extraordinaire de dégradation mentale, cela prouve au moins que l'esclave blanc peut descendre aussi bas dans l'échelle de l'humanité que l'esclave noir.

_Mr. Douglass_ has very properly chosen to write his own Narrative, in his own style, and according to the best of his ability, rather than to employ some one else.

_M. Douglass_ a très justement choisi d'écrire son propre Récit, dans son propre style, et selon le meilleur de ses capacités, plutôt que de confier cette tâche à quelqu'un d'autre.

It is, therefore, entirely his own production; and, considering how long and dark was the career he had to run as a slave,—how few have been his opportunities to improve his mind since he broke his iron fetters,—it is, in my judgment, highly creditable to his head and heart.

Il s'agit donc entièrement de sa propre œuvre ; et, si l'on considère combien longue et sombre fut la vie qu'il dut mener en tant qu'esclave, — combien rares ont été ses occasions de cultiver son esprit depuis qu'il a brisé ses fers, — c'est, à mon avis, tout à l'honneur de son intelligence et de son cœur.

He who can peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit,—without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of that execrable system,—without trembling for the fate of this country in the hands of a righteous God, who is ever on the side of the oppressed, and whose arm is not shortened that it cannot save,—must have a flinty heart, and be qualified to act the part of a trafficker "in slaves and the souls of men.

Celui qui peut le lire sans avoir l'œil humide, la poitrine oppressée, l'âme affligée, — sans être envahi d'une horreur indicible pour l'esclavage et tous ceux qui le soutiennent, et animé de la ferme volonté de chercher le renversement immédiat de cet exécrable système, — sans trembler pour le sort de ce pays entre les mains d'un Dieu juste, qui est toujours du côté des opprimés, et dont le bras n'est point raccourci au point de ne pouvoir sauver, — doit avoir un cœur de pierre, et être tout désigné pour jouer le rôle d'un négociant « en esclaves et en âmes d'hommes ».

Vocabulary

En: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'while'.
admettant: Assuming or granting that something is true.
que: Conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'.
cela: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this'.
ait: Subjunctive form of 'avoir', meaning 'has'.
été: Past participle of 'être', meaning 'been'.
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
cas: A case or instance of something occurring.
extraordinaire: Remarkable or exceptional beyond ordinary standards.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
dégradation: A deterioration or lowering of status or condition.
mentale: Relating to the mind or mental faculties.
prouve: Third-person singular of 'prouver', meaning 'proves'.
au: Contracted form of 'à le', meaning 'at the'.
moins: Meaning 'less' or 'at least' in comparisons.
l': Contracted definite article before a vowel sound.
esclave: A person held in slavery or bondage.
blanc: Adjective meaning 'white', referring to race or color.
peut: Third-person singular of 'pouvoir', meaning 'can'.
descendre: To go down, fall, or sink to a lower level.
aussi: Meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as' in comparisons.
bas: Meaning 'low' or 'down' in position or status.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' something.
échelle: A scale, ladder, or hierarchy of values.
humanité: Humanity or humankind; the quality of being human.
noir: Adjective meaning 'black', referring to color or race.
a: Third-person singular of 'avoir', meaning 'has'.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
justement: Rightly, justly, or precisely as expected.
choisi: Past participle of 'choisir', meaning 'chosen'.
d': Contracted preposition 'de' before a vowel sound.
écrire: To write or compose a text or document.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
propre: Meaning 'own' or 'clean' depending on context.
Récit: A narrative account or story of events.
style: A manner or way of writing or expressing oneself.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
selon: Preposition meaning 'according to' or 'depending on'.
le: Definite article meaning 'the' for masculine nouns.
meilleur: Meaning 'best', superlative of 'bon' (good).
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural).
capacités: Abilities or capacities to do something effectively.
plutôt: Meaning 'rather' or 'instead', expressing preference.
confier: To entrust or hand over a task to someone.
cette: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' for feminine nouns.
tâche: A task or job that needs to be completed.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'for'.
quelqu': Contracted form of 'quelque', meaning 'some' or 'any'.
autre: Meaning 'other' or 'another', indicating difference.
Il: Third-person singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
s': Reflexive pronoun 'se' contracted before a vowel.
agit: Third-person singular of 'agir'; 's'agit de' means 'it is about'.
donc: Conjunction meaning 'therefore', 'so', or 'thus'.
entièrement: Meaning 'entirely' or 'completely' without exception.
sa: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine).
œuvre: A work, especially a literary or artistic creation.
si: Conjunction meaning 'if' or adverb meaning 'so'.
on: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', or 'people'.
considère: Third-person singular of 'considérer', meaning 'considers'.
combien: Meaning 'how much' or 'how many' in quantity.
longue: Feminine adjective meaning 'long' in duration or length.
sombre: Meaning 'dark', 'gloomy', or 'somber' in tone.
fut: Simple past of 'être', meaning 'was' (literary).
la: Definite article meaning 'the' for feminine nouns.
vie: Life; the state of being alive or one's existence.
qu': Contracted conjunction 'que' before a vowel sound.
il: Third-person singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
dut: Simple past of 'devoir', meaning 'had to' (literary).
mener: To lead or conduct; to live a certain kind of life.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'as', or 'while'.
tant: Meaning 'so much' or 'as' (in 'en tant que').
rares: Plural adjective meaning 'rare' or 'few' in number.
ont: Third-person plural of 'avoir', meaning 'have'.
occasions: Opportunities or circumstances allowing something to happen.
cultiver: To cultivate or develop one's mind, skills, or land.
esprit: The mind, intellect, or spirit of a person.
depuis: Meaning 'since' or 'for' indicating time elapsed.
brisé: Past participle of 'briser', meaning 'broken' or 'shattered'.
fers: Irons or chains used to restrain enslaved people.
c': Contracted form of 'ce' before 'est', meaning 'it is'.
est: Third-person singular of 'être', meaning 'is'.
mon: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for masculine nouns.
avis: An opinion, view, or piece of advice given.
tout: Meaning 'all', 'every', or 'entirely' depending on context.
honneur: Honor or great respect earned through worthy conduct.
intelligence: The ability to think, reason, and understand things.
cœur: The heart, both physical organ and seat of emotions.
Celui: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'the one' or 'he who'.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
lire: To read a written text or document.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without', indicating absence of something.
avoir: To have; an auxiliary verb used in compound tenses.
œil: The eye; the organ of sight in humans.
humide: Meaning 'damp', 'moist', or 'wet' in texture.
poitrine: The chest or breast area of the human body.
oppressée: Feeling oppressed, constricted, or weighed down with emotion.
âme: The soul or innermost spiritual essence of a person.
affligée: Afflicted, distressed, or deeply saddened by something.
être: To be; the fundamental verb of existence in French.
envahi: Past participle of 'envahir', meaning 'overcome' or 'overwhelmed'.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
horreur: Horror or intense feeling of shock and revulsion.
indicible: Meaning 'unspeakable' or 'inexpressible', beyond words entirely.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'about'.
esclavage: The institution or condition of slavery and bondage.
tous: Plural form of 'tout', meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
ceux: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' or 'the ones'.
soutiennent: Third-person plural of 'soutenir', meaning 'support' or 'maintain'.
animé: Animated, driven, or motivated by a strong desire.
ferme: Meaning 'firm', 'resolute', or steadfast in determination.
volonté: Will or determination to achieve a desired goal.
chercher: To look for, seek, or try to achieve something.
renversement: An overthrow or overturning of an established system.
immédiat: Meaning 'immediate', happening at once without delay.
cet: Demonstrative adjective 'this' before masculine vowel-starting nouns.
exécrable: Meaning 'execrable', detestable, or utterly reprehensible.
système: A system or organized set of principles or methods.
trembler: To tremble or shake with fear or strong emotion.
sort: Fate or destiny of a person or nation.
ce: Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'it'.
pays: A country or region considered as a political entity.
entre: Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among' things or people.
les: Definite article meaning 'the' for plural nouns.
mains: Hands; the plural of 'main' meaning hand.
Dieu: God; the supreme being in monotheistic religions.
juste: Meaning 'just', 'fair', or 'righteous' in moral sense.
toujours: Meaning 'always' or 'still', indicating continuity or permanence.
du: Contracted form of 'de le', meaning 'of the'.
côté: Side; direction or position relative to something else.
des: Plural indefinite article or contraction of 'de les'.
opprimés: The oppressed; those subjected to cruel or unjust treatment.
dont: Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'of which', or 'from which'.
bras: Arm; the limb of the body from shoulder to hand.
n': Contracted negation particle 'ne' before a vowel sound.
point: Used with 'ne' to mean 'not at all' (literary).
raccourci: Shortened or curtailed; past participle of 'raccourcir'.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' or other negatives.
pouvoir: To be able to; the ability or power to act.
sauver: To save or rescue someone from danger or harm.
doit: Third-person singular of 'devoir', meaning 'must' or 'owes'.
pierre: Stone or rock; also a common French given name.
désigné: Designated or appointed to fulfill a specific role.
jouer: To play or perform a role in something.
rôle: A role or part played in a situation or performance.
négociant: A merchant or trader who deals in goods commercially.
esclaves: Plural of 'esclave'; enslaved persons held in bondage.
âmes: Souls; plural of 'âme', the spiritual essence of people.
hommes: Men or human beings; the plural of 'homme'.

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