Notre-Dame de Paris — Page 8

English → De Full Text Level 8/10

If it could be granted to us, the men of 1830, to mingle in thought with those Parisians of the fifteenth century, and to enter with them, jostled, elbowed, pulled about, into that immense hall of the palace, which was so cramped on that sixth of January, 1482, the spectacle would not be devoid of either interest or charm, and we should have about us only things that were so old that they would seem new.

Wenn es uns, den Männern des Jahres 1830, vergönnt wäre, uns in Gedanken mit jenen Parisern des fünfzehnten Jahrhunderts zu vermischen und mit ihnen, gestoßen, gedrängelt, hin- und hergezogen, in jenen ungeheuren Saal des Palastes einzutreten, der an jenem sechsten Januar 1482 so überfüllt war, so wäre das Schauspiel weder des Interesses noch des Reizes entbehrlich, und wir hätten um uns nur Dinge, die so alt wären, dass sie neu erschienen.

With the reader's consent, we will endeavor to retrace in thought, the impression which he would have experienced in company with us on crossing the threshold of that grand hall, in the midst of that tumultuous crowd in surcoats, short, sleeveless jackets, and doublets.

Mit Erlaubnis des Lesers werden wir versuchen, in Gedanken den Eindruck nachzuzeichnen, den er in unserer Gesellschaft beim Überschreiten der Schwelle jenes großen Saales, inmitten jener lärmenden Menge in Surkotten, kurzen ärmellosen Jacken und Wämsern, erlebt hätte.

And, first of all, there is a buzzing in the ears, a dazzlement in the eyes.

Und zunächst ist da ein Summen in den Ohren, ein Blenden in den Augen.

Above our heads is a double ogive vault, panelled with wood carving, painted azure, and sown with golden fleurs-de-lis; beneath our feet a pavement of black and white marble, alternating.

Über unseren Köpfen wölbt sich ein doppeltes Spitzbogengewölbe, mit Holzschnitzereien getäfelt, azurblau bemalt und mit goldenen Lilien besät; unter unseren Füßen ein Pflaster aus abwechselnd schwarzem und weißem Marmor.

A few paces distant, an enormous pillar, then another, then another; seven pillars in all, down the length of the hall, sustaining the spring of the arches of the double vault, in the centre of its width.

Wenige Schritte entfernt ein gewaltiger Pfeiler, dann ein weiterer, dann noch einer; sieben Pfeiler insgesamt, die Länge des Saales entlang, die Ansätze der Bögen des doppelten Gewölbes in der Mitte seiner Breite tragend.

Around four of the pillars, stalls of merchants, all sparkling with glass and tinsel; around the last three, benches of oak, worn and polished by the trunk hose of the litigants, and the robes of the attorneys.

Um vier der Pfeiler herum Kaufmannsbuden, alle funkelnd von Glas und Flitter; um die letzten drei herum Bänke aus Eichenholz, abgenutzt und poliert durch die Pluderhosen der Prozessierenden und die Roben der Anwälte.

Vocabulary

Wenn: Conjunction meaning 'if' or 'when' in German.
es: Neuter pronoun meaning 'it'.
uns: First-person plural pronoun meaning 'us'.
den: Definite article or pronoun in accusative/dative case.
Männern: Dative plural of 'Mann', meaning 'men'.
des: Genitive definite article meaning 'of the'.
Jahres: Genitive form of 'Jahr', meaning 'of the year'.
vergönnt: Granted or permitted to someone as a privilege.
wäre: Subjunctive form of 'sein', meaning 'would be'.
in: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'.
Gedanken: Plural of 'Gedanke', meaning 'thoughts' or 'ideas'.
mit: Preposition meaning 'with'.
jenen: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' in dative form.
Parisern: Dative plural noun meaning 'Parisians', residents of Paris.
fünfzehnten: Ordinal adjective meaning 'fifteenth', as in century.
Jahrhunderts: Genitive of 'Jahrhundert', meaning 'of the century'.
zu: Preposition or particle meaning 'to' or 'too'.
vermischen: To mix or mingle together with others.
und: Coordinating conjunction meaning 'and'.
ihnen: Third-person dative plural pronoun meaning 'them'.
gestoßen: Past participle of 'stoßen', meaning pushed or shoved.
gedrängelt: Jostled or elbowed through a crowd repeatedly.
hin-: Directional prefix meaning motion away from speaker.
hergezogen: Pulled or drawn here; past participle of 'herziehen'.
ungeheuren: Adjective meaning enormous, immense, or tremendous.
Saal: A large hall or room in a building.
Palastes: Genitive of 'Palast', meaning 'of the palace'.
einzutreten: Infinitive meaning 'to enter' a place or room.
der: Definite article or relative pronoun meaning 'the' or 'who'.
an: Preposition meaning 'at', 'on', or 'to'.
jenem: Dative demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' specific thing.
sechsten: Ordinal adjective meaning 'sixth', used for dates.
Januar: The first month of the year, January.
so: Adverb or conjunction meaning 'so' or 'thus'.
überfüllt: Adjective meaning overcrowded or excessively full.
war: Simple past of 'sein', meaning 'was'.
das: Neuter definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'that'.
Schauspiel: A theatrical spectacle or dramatic play performance.
weder: Correlating conjunction meaning 'neither', paired with 'noch'.
Interesses: Genitive of 'Interesse', meaning 'of interest'.
noch: Conjunction meaning 'nor' or adverb meaning 'still'.
Reizes: Genitive of 'Reiz', meaning 'of charm' or 'appeal'.
entbehrlich: Adjective meaning dispensable, lacking, or doing without.
wir: First-person plural pronoun meaning 'we'.
hätten: Subjunctive past of 'haben', meaning 'would have'.
um: Preposition meaning 'around', 'at', or 'in order to'.
nur: Adverb meaning 'only' or 'just'.
Dinge: Plural of 'Ding', meaning 'things' or 'objects'.
die: Definite article or relative pronoun meaning 'the' or 'which'.
alt: Adjective meaning 'old' or 'aged'.
wären: Subjunctive plural of 'sein', meaning 'would be'.
dass: Subordinating conjunction meaning 'that'.
neu: Adjective meaning 'new' or 'fresh'.
erschienen: Past participle of 'erscheinen', meaning appeared or seemed.
Mit: Preposition meaning 'with'.
Erlaubnis: Noun meaning permission or authorization from someone.
Lesers: Genitive of 'Leser', meaning 'of the reader'.
werden: Auxiliary verb meaning 'will' or 'to become'.
versuchen: Verb meaning 'to try' or 'to attempt' something.
Eindruck: Noun meaning 'impression' made by something or someone.
nachzuzeichnen: To retrace or recreate an impression or outline.
er: Third-person masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
unserer: Genitive possessive pronoun meaning 'of our'.
Gesellschaft: Noun meaning 'society', 'company', or 'group'.
beim: Contraction of 'bei dem', meaning 'at the' or 'upon'.
Überschreiten: Noun form of crossing over or stepping across a threshold.
Schwelle: Noun meaning 'threshold' or 'doorstep' of a building.
jenes: Genitive demonstrative meaning 'of that' particular thing.
großen: Declined adjective meaning 'large' or 'great'.
Saales: Genitive of 'Saal', meaning 'of the hall'.
inmitten: Preposition meaning 'in the middle of' or 'amid'.
jener: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'of that' or 'those'.
lärmenden: Adjective meaning noisy or clamoring, describing a crowd.
Menge: Noun meaning 'crowd', 'quantity', or 'multitude'.
kurzen: Declined adjective meaning 'short', describing garments.
ärmellosen: Adjective meaning 'sleeveless', describing a type of jacket.
Jacken: Plural of 'Jacke', meaning 'jackets' or 'short coats'.
erlebt: Past participle of 'erleben', meaning experienced or witnessed.
hätte: Subjunctive singular of 'haben', meaning 'would have'.
Und: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting clauses or words.
zunächst: Adverb meaning 'first of all' or 'initially'.
ist: Third-person singular of 'sein', meaning 'is'.
da: Adverb meaning 'there' or 'here'; also 'since'.
ein: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
Summen: Noun meaning 'humming' or 'buzzing' sound of a crowd.
Ohren: Plural of 'Ohr', meaning 'ears'.
Blenden: Noun or verb meaning 'dazzling' or 'blinding' the eyes.
Augen: Plural of 'Auge', meaning 'eyes'.
Über: Preposition meaning 'over', 'above', or 'about'.
unseren: Accusative possessive pronoun meaning 'our'.
Köpfen: Dative plural of 'Kopf', meaning 'heads'.
wölbt: Third-person singular of 'wölben', meaning 'arches' or 'vaults'.
sich: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'itself', 'himself', 'herself'.
doppeltes: Adjective meaning 'double' or 'twofold', describing a vault.
Holzschnitzereien: Plural noun meaning 'wood carvings' or 'woodwork decorations'.
getäfelt: Past participle meaning paneled or lined with decorative boards.
azurblau: Compound adjective meaning 'azure blue', a vivid sky color.
bemalt: Past participle of 'bemalen', meaning painted or decorated.
goldenen: Declined adjective meaning 'golden' or 'made of gold'.
Lilien: Plural of 'Lilie', meaning 'lilies', floral heraldic symbols.
besät: Past participle of 'besäen', meaning strewn or scattered with.
unter: Preposition meaning 'under', 'below', or 'among'.
Füßen: Dative plural of 'Fuß', meaning 'feet' or 'underfoot'.
Pflaster: Noun meaning 'pavement', 'paving', or 'plaster'.
aus: Preposition meaning 'out of', 'from', or 'made of'.
abwechselnd: Adverb or adjective meaning 'alternating' or 'alternately'.
schwarzem: Dative declined adjective meaning 'black'.
weißem: Dative declined adjective meaning 'white'.
Marmor: Noun meaning 'marble', a stone used in flooring.
Wenige: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'few' or 'a few'.
Schritte: Plural of 'Schritt', meaning 'steps' or 'paces'.
entfernt: Adjective or past participle meaning 'away' or 'distant'.
gewaltiger: Comparative adjective meaning 'massive', 'mighty', or 'powerful'.
Pfeiler: Noun meaning 'pillar' or 'column' supporting a structure.
dann: Adverb meaning 'then' indicating sequence or consequence.
weiterer: Adjective meaning 'further' or 'another' of the same.
einer: Numeral or article meaning 'one' or 'a certain'.
sieben: Cardinal number meaning 'seven'.
insgesamt: Adverb meaning 'in total' or 'altogether'.
Länge: Noun meaning 'length' as a measurement dimension.
entlang: Preposition or adverb meaning 'along' a path or edge.
Ansätze: Plural of 'Ansatz', meaning 'beginnings', 'bases', or 'supports'.
Bögen: Plural of 'Bogen', meaning 'arches' or 'bows'.
doppelten: Declined adjective meaning 'double', describing the vault.
Gewölbes: Genitive of 'Gewölbe', meaning 'of the vault' or 'ceiling'.
Mitte: Noun meaning 'middle' or 'center' of a space.
seiner: Genitive possessive pronoun meaning 'of its' or 'his'.
Breite: Noun meaning 'width' or 'breadth' as a measurement.
tragend: Present participle of 'tragen', meaning 'bearing' or 'supporting'.
Um: Preposition meaning 'around' or 'at' a time or place.
vier: Cardinal number meaning 'four'.
herum: Adverb meaning 'around' used with 'um' for encirclement.
alle: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'all' or 'every'.
funkelnd: Present participle of 'funkeln', meaning 'sparkling' or 'glittering'.
von: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'.
Glas: Noun meaning 'glass' as a material or container.
Flitter: Noun meaning 'tinsel', 'glitter', or 'cheap ornaments'.
letzten: Declined superlative adjective meaning 'last' or 'final'.
drei: Cardinal number meaning 'three'.
Bänke: Plural of 'Bank', meaning 'benches' used for seating.
Eichenholz: Compound noun meaning 'oak wood' used for furniture.
abgenutzt: Past participle meaning worn out or worn down through use.
poliert: Past participle of 'polieren', meaning polished or buffed smooth.
durch: Preposition meaning 'through' or 'by means of'.
Roben: Plural of 'Robe', meaning 'robes' worn by lawyers or judges.
Anwälte: Plural of 'Anwalt', meaning 'lawyers' or 'attorneys'.

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