Piccolissima — Page 14
It seems that the fly, being only able to take up liquids through his trunk, wetted and dissolved the sugar that he might suck it up.
Il semble que la mouche, n'étant capable d'absorber les liquides que par sa trompe, ait mouillé et dissous le sucre afin de pouvoir l'aspirer.
It was a pleasant thing to see his lips swell out, and press, handle, and knead, as it were, the amber surface of the sugar in order to make it melt sooner, and enable him to draw it up faster.
C'était une chose agréable de voir ses lèvres se gonfler et presser, manier et pétrir, pour ainsi dire, la surface ambrée du sucre afin de le faire fondre plus tôt et de pouvoir l'aspirer plus vite.
After having examined all these proceedings for some time, with great amusement, the little apprentice naturalist cried out, "Well, my little guest has a remarkable talent for eating barley sugar."
Après avoir observé pendant quelque temps tous ces procédés avec un grand amusement, le petit apprenti naturaliste s'écria : « Eh bien, mon petit hôte a un talent remarquable pour manger du sucre d'orge. »
The other fly, timid, wet, and with his wings folded, so that he seemed naked, remained behind upon the frame of the window.
L'autre mouche, timide, mouillée et les ailes repliées, au point qu'elle semblait nue, resta en arrière sur le cadre de la fenêtre.
"Come, poor little wet chicken as thou art," cried the elder fly; "thou wast complaining just now of having found in life only discomfort and cold; dost thou not see these rays of the sun? dost thou not perceive the perfume of this delicious food?"
« Viens, pauvre petit poulet mouillé que tu es, » s'écria la mouche aînée ; « tu te plaignais tout à l'heure de n'avoir trouvé dans la vie que gêne et froid ; ne vois-tu pas ces rayons de soleil ? ne perçois-tu pas le parfum de cette délicieuse nourriture ? »
The young, inexperienced fly was disposed to take Piccolissima, the dictionary, and the barley sugar for a chain of mountains.
La jeune mouche inexpérimentée était disposée à prendre Piccolissima, le dictionnaire et le sucre d'orge pour une chaîne de montagnes.
However, when the little girl turned her gentle, child-like face towards him, the insect felt the pleasant warmth of her breath; it reanimated him, and gave him courage, and with one bound he flew upon the arm of Piccolissima.
Cependant, lorsque la petite fille tourna vers lui son doux visage enfantin, l'insecte sentit la chaleur agréable de son souffle ; cela le ranima et lui donna du courage, et d'un seul bond il vola sur le bras de Piccolissima.
With a sudden familiarity he murmured in a low voice, "Art thou, perhaps, an elder sister of mine? Thou warmest me.
Avec une familiarité soudaine, il murmura à voix basse : « Es-tu, peut-être, une de mes sœurs aînées ? Tu me réchauffes.
Vocabulary
- semble
- sɑ̃bl — Verb 'sembler' meaning it seems or appears.
- mouche
- muʃ — A common housefly or small flying insect.
- étant
- etɑ̃ — Present participle of 'être', meaning 'being'.
- capable
- kapabl — Adjective meaning able or capable of doing something.
- absorber
- absɔʁbe — To absorb, soak up, or take in a substance.
- liquides
- likid — Liquids; substances that flow freely at room temperature.
- trompe
- tʁɔ̃p — A proboscis or trunk used by insects or elephants.
- ait
- ɛ — Subjunctive form of 'avoir', meaning 'has' or 'have'.
- mouillé
- muje — Adjective meaning wet or moistened.
- dissous
- disu — Past participle of 'dissoudre', meaning dissolved.
- sucre
- sykʁ — Sugar; a sweet crystalline substance used in food.
- afin
- afɛ̃ — Preposition used in 'afin de' meaning 'in order to'.
- pouvoir
- puvwaʁ — Modal verb meaning 'to be able to' or 'can'.
- aspirer
- aspiʁe — To suck up, inhale, or aspirate a liquid or gas.
- était
- etɛ — Imperfect tense of 'être', meaning 'was' or 'were'.
- chose
- ʃoz — A thing, object, or matter of some kind.
- agréable
- agʁeabl — Adjective meaning pleasant, enjoyable, or agreeable.
- voir
- vwaʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to see' or 'to watch'.
- lèvres
- lɛvʁ — Lips; the fleshy parts around the mouth.
- gonfler
- gɔ̃fle — To swell, inflate, or puff up.
- presser
- pʁese — To press, squeeze, or push firmly against something.
- manier
- manje — To handle, wield, or manipulate an object skillfully.
- pétrir
- petʁiʁ — To knead, as in working dough with hands.
- ainsi
- ɛ̃si — Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'in this way'.
- dire
- diʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'.
- surface
- syʁfas — The outer or top layer of an object or area.
- ambrée
- ɑ̃bʁe — Adjective meaning amber-colored, a warm golden-brown hue.
- faire
- fɛʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
- fondre
- fɔ̃dʁ — To melt, dissolve, or cause something to liquefy.
- plus
- ply — Adverb meaning 'more' or used in negation 'no more'.
- tôt
- to — Adverb meaning 'early' or 'soon'.
- vite
- vit — Adverb meaning 'quickly' or 'fast'.
- Après
- apʁɛ — Preposition meaning 'after' in time or sequence.
- avoir
- avwaʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to have'.
- observé
- ɔpsɛʁve — Past participle of 'observer', meaning 'observed' or 'watched'.
- pendant
- pɑ̃dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time.
- quelque
- kɛlkə — Adjective meaning 'some' or 'a few'.
- temps
- tɑ̃ — Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'.
- tous
- tu — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'every'.
- ces
- se — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
- procédés
- pʁɔsede — Methods, processes, or procedures used to accomplish something.
- grand
- gʁɑ̃ — Adjective meaning 'big', 'great', or 'tall'.
- amusement
- amyzmɑ̃ — Entertainment, amusement, or the state of being entertained.
- petit
- pəti — Adjective meaning 'small', 'little', or 'young'.
- apprenti
- apʁɑ̃ti — An apprentice or beginner learning a trade or skill.
- naturaliste
- natyʁalist — A naturalist; someone who studies nature and living organisms.
- écria
- ekʁia — Past tense of 's'écrier', meaning 'exclaimed' or 'cried out'.
- Eh
- e — Interjection meaning 'hey' or 'well' to attract attention.
- bien
- bjɛ̃ — Adverb or adjective meaning 'well' or 'good'.
- hôte
- ot — A host or guest; one who entertains or is entertained.
- talent
- talɑ̃ — A natural ability, skill, or gift in a particular area.
- remarquable
- ʁəmaʁkabl — Adjective meaning remarkable, notable, or worthy of attention.
- manger
- mɑ̃ʒe — Infinitive verb meaning 'to eat'.
- orge
- ɔʁʒ — Barley; a cereal grain used in food and brewing.
- autre
- otʁ — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
- timide
- timid — Adjective meaning shy, timid, or lacking confidence.
- mouillée
- muje — Feminine adjective meaning wet or damp.
- ailes
- ɛl — Wings; the limbs used by birds or insects to fly.
- repliées
- ʁəplije — Folded back or tucked in, as wings pressed against a body.
- point
- pwɛ̃ — Noun meaning 'point', 'degree', or 'extent'.
- semblait
- sɑ̃blɛ — Imperfect of 'sembler', meaning 'seemed' or 'appeared'.
- nue
- ny — Adjective meaning naked, bare, or uncovered.
- resta
- ʁɛsta — Past tense of 'rester', meaning 'stayed' or 'remained'.
- arrière
- aʁjɛʁ — Adverb or noun meaning 'behind' or 'at the back'.
- cadre
- kadʁ — A frame, as of a window or picture.
- fenêtre
- fənɛtʁ — A window in a wall of a building or vehicle.
- Viens
- vjɛ̃ — Imperative of 'venir', meaning 'come' or 'come here'.
- pauvre
- povʁ — Adjective meaning 'poor', 'unfortunate', or 'wretched'.
- poulet
- pulɛ — Chicken; a young domestic bird used for food.
- aînée
- ene — Eldest daughter or older sister in a family.
- plaignais
- plɛɲɛ — Imperfect of 'se plaindre', meaning 'were complaining'.
- tout
- tu — Adjective or adverb meaning 'all', 'every', or 'quite'.
- heure
- œʁ — An hour or the time; used in expressions like 'tout à l'heure'.
- trouvé
- tʁuve — Past participle of 'trouver', meaning 'found'.
- vie
- vi — Life; the state of being alive or one's existence.
- gêne
- ʒɛn — Discomfort, embarrassment, or financial difficulty.
- froid
- fʁwa — Adjective or noun meaning 'cold' in temperature.
- vois-
- vwa — Imperative of 'voir', meaning 'see' (in a question here).
- rayons
- ʁɛjɔ̃ — Rays or beams of light, heat, or energy.
- soleil
- sɔlɛj — The sun; the star at the center of our solar system.
- perçois-
- pɛʁswa — Imperative of 'percevoir', meaning 'perceive' or 'sense'.
- parfum
- paʁfœ̃ — A fragrance, scent, or perfume.
- cette
- sɛt — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that' (feminine).
- délicieuse
- delisjoːz — Adjective meaning delicious, extremely pleasant to taste or smell.
- nourriture
- nuʁityʁ — Food or nourishment; sustenance consumed to maintain life.
- jeune
- ʒœn — Adjective meaning 'young' or referring to a young person.
- inexpérimentée
- inɛkspɛʁimɑ̃te — Adjective meaning inexperienced or lacking in practical knowledge.
- disposée
- dispoze — Adjective meaning inclined, willing, or ready to do something.
- prendre
- pʁɑ̃dʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to take' or 'to grab'.
- dictionnaire
- diksjɔnɛʁ — A dictionary; a reference book of words and definitions.
- chaîne
- ʃɛn — A chain or range, as of mountains or linked objects.
- montagnes
- mɔ̃taɲ — Mountains; large natural elevations of the earth's surface.
- Cependant
- səpɑ̃dɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'however', 'yet', or 'nevertheless'.
- lorsque
- lɔʁskə — Conjunction meaning 'when' referring to a specific moment.
- petite
- pətit — Feminine adjective meaning 'small', 'little', or 'young'.
- fille
- fij — A girl or daughter.
- tourna
- tuʁna — Past tense of 'tourner', meaning 'turned'.
- vers
- vɛʁ — Preposition meaning 'towards' or 'around' in time.
- doux
- du — Adjective meaning 'soft', 'gentle', or 'sweet'.
- visage
- vizaʒ — The face; the front part of a person's head.
- enfantin
- ɑ̃fɑ̃tɛ̃ — Adjective meaning childlike, childish, or pertaining to children.
- insecte
- ɛ̃sɛkt — An insect; a small invertebrate animal with six legs.
- sentit
- sɑ̃ti — Past tense of 'sentir', meaning 'felt' or 'sensed'.
- chaleur
- ʃalœʁ — Warmth or heat; a high temperature felt physically.
- souffle
- sufl — Breath or a gentle puff of air exhaled from the mouth.
- cela
- səla — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this' (neutral).
- ranima
- ʁanima — Past tense of 'ranimer', meaning 'revived' or 'brought back to life'.
- donna
- dɔna — Past tense of 'donner', meaning 'gave'.
- courage
- kuʁaʒ — Courage; the ability to face fear or danger bravely.
- seul
- sœl — Adjective or adverb meaning 'alone', 'only', or 'single'.
- bond
- bɔ̃ — A leap or jump; a quick spring forward or upward.
- vola
- vɔla — Past tense of 'voler', meaning 'flew' or 'flew towards'.
- bras
- bʁa — An arm; the upper limb of the human body.
- familiarité
- familjaʁite — Familiarity; informality or closeness in manner or behavior.
- soudaine
- sudɛn — Feminine adjective meaning sudden or abrupt.
- murmura
- myʁmyʁa — Past tense of 'murmurer', meaning 'murmured' or 'whispered'.
- voix
- vwa — Voice; the sound produced through the mouth when speaking.
- basse
- bas — Feminine adjective meaning 'low' in pitch, height, or volume.
- être
- ɛtʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
- sœurs
- sœʁ — Sisters; female siblings sharing the same parents.
- aînées
- ene — Plural of 'aînée'; older or eldest sisters in a family.
- réchauffes
- ʁeʃof — Second person singular of 'réchauffer', meaning 'you warm up'.
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