Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 12
As if it were less cruel to reduce a human being to the condition of a thing, than to give him a severe flagellation, or to deprive him of necessary food and clothing!
Comme s'il était moins cruel de réduire un être humain à la condition d'une chose, que de lui infliger une flagellation sévère, ou de le priver de nourriture et de vêtements nécessaires !
As if whips, chains, thumb-screws, paddles, blood-hounds, overseers, drivers, patrols, were not all indispensable to keep the slaves down, and to give protection to their ruthless oppressors!
Comme si les fouets, les chaînes, les vis de pouce, les pagaies, les chiens de sang, les surveillants, les conducteurs, les patrouilles, n'étaient pas tous indispensables pour maintenir les esclaves sous le joug, et pour protéger leurs oppresseurs impitoyables !
As if, when the marriage institution is abolished, concubinage, adultery, and incest, must not necessarily abound; when all the rights of humanity are annihilated, any barrier remains to protect the victim from the fury of the spoiler; when absolute power is assumed over life and liberty, it will not be wielded with destructive sway!
Comme si, lorsque l'institution du mariage est abolie, le concubinage, l'adultère et l'inceste ne doivent pas nécessairement abonder ; lorsque tous les droits de l'humanité sont anéantis, il reste une barrière pour protéger la victime de la fureur du spoliateur ; lorsqu'un pouvoir absolu est exercé sur la vie et la liberté, il ne sera pas manié avec une emprise destructrice !
Skeptics of this character abound in society.
Les sceptiques de ce caractère abondent dans la société.
In some few instances, their incredulity arises from a want of reflection; but, generally, it indicates a hatred of the light, a desire to shield slavery from the assaults of its foes, a contempt of the colored race, whether bond or free.
Dans quelques rares cas, leur incrédulité provient d'un manque de réflexion ; mais, en général, elle indique une haine de la lumière, un désir de protéger l'esclavage des assauts de ses ennemis, un mépris de la race de couleur, qu'elle soit esclave ou libre.
Such will try to discredit the shocking tales of slaveholding cruelty which are recorded in this truthful Narrative; but they will labor in vain.
Ceux-là essaieront de discréditer les récits choquants de la cruauté esclavagiste qui sont consignés dans ce récit véridique ; mais ils peineront en vain.
_Mr. Douglass_ has frankly disclosed the place of his birth, the names of those who claimed ownership in his body and soul, and the names also of those who committed the crimes which he has alleged against them.
_M. Douglass_ a franchement divulgué le lieu de sa naissance, les noms de ceux qui revendiquaient la propriété de son corps et de son âme, ainsi que les noms de ceux qui ont commis les crimes qu'il leur a imputés.
His statements, therefore, may easily be disproved, if they are untrue.
Ses déclarations peuvent donc facilement être réfutées, si elles sont fausses.
Vocabulary
- Comme
- As, since, like; used for comparison or causation.
- il
- He, it; third-person singular masculine pronoun.
- était
- Was; past tense of être (to be).
- moins
- Less; indicates lesser degree or quantity.
- cruel
- Cruel; causing pain or suffering deliberately.
- de
- Of, from; preposition indicating possession or origin.
- réduire
- To reduce, diminish; make something smaller or less.
- un
- A, an; indefinite article or the number one.
- être
- Being, creature; also fundamental verb to be.
- humain
- Human; relating to people or mankind.
- la
- The; feminine singular definite article.
- condition
- Condition, state; particular situation or circumstance.
- une
- A, an; feminine singular indefinite article.
- chose
- Thing; object or matter of some kind.
- que
- That, which; relative pronoun or conjunction.
- lui
- Him, to him; indirect or direct object pronoun.
- infliger
- To inflict; impose something unwelcome on someone.
- sévère
- Severe, strict; rigorous or harsh in nature.
- ou
- Or; conjunction presenting alternative choices.
- le
- The; masculine singular definite article.
- priver
- To deprive; withhold something necessary from.
- nourriture
- Food, nourishment; sustenance for the body.
- et
- And; conjunction joining words or phrases.
- vêtements
- Clothes, garments; coverings worn on body.
- nécessaires
- Necessary, essential; required for basic needs.
- si
- If; introduces conditional or hypothetical clause.
- les
- The; plural definite article for any gender.
- chaînes
- Chains; linked metal restraints or bonds.
- pouce
- Thumb; digit or inch unit of measurement.
- chiens
- Dogs; canine animals often used for hunting.
- sang
- Blood; fluid circulating through body.
- surveillants
- Overseers, supervisors; those who watch closely.
- conducteurs
- Drivers, conductors; those who lead or guide.
- patrouilles
- Patrols; groups monitoring or securing areas.
- indispensables
- Indispensable, essential; absolutely necessary.
- pour
- For, in order to; preposition of purpose.
- maintenir
- To maintain, keep; preserve in existing state.
- esclaves
- Slaves; persons held in bondage or servitude.
- sous
- Under, beneath; preposition indicating position.
- protéger
- To protect; defend or keep safe from harm.
- oppresseurs
- Oppressors; those who exercise harsh authority.
- lorsque
- When; at the time that something occurs.
- institution
- Institution; established organization or custom.
- du
- Of the; contraction of de and le.
- mariage
- Marriage; legal union between two persons.
- est
- Is; third-person singular present tense of être.
- abolie
- Abolished, eliminated; officially done away with.
- adultère
- Adultery; voluntary sexual relations with non-spouse.
- ne
- Not; negative particle in French conjugation.
- doivent
- Must, have to; third-person plural of devoir.
- droits
- Rights; legal or moral entitlements.
- humanité
- Humanity, mankind; human beings collectively.
- sont
- Are; third-person plural present tense of être.
- reste
- Remains, is left; what is still present.
- barrière
- Barrier, fence; obstacle or boundary.
- victime
- Victim; person harmed or injured deliberately.
- fureur
- Fury, rage; intense and violent anger.
- lorsqu
- When (before vowel); variant of lorsque.
- pouvoir
- Power, ability; capacity or authority.
- absolu
- Absolute, total; unrestricted and complete.
- exercé
- Exercised, practiced; carried out or performed.
- sur
- On, over; preposition indicating position.
- vie
- Life; existence or period of living.
- liberté
- Liberty, freedom; state of being free.
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