← The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete

The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete — Page 9

English → Spanish Preface Level 8/10

In the second of these, we saw Smollett beginning to understand the use of incident to indicate consistent development of character.

En el segundo de estos, vimos a Smollett comenzando a comprender el uso del incidente para indicar un desarrollo coherente del carácter.

In Count Fathom, he seems fully to understand this principle of art, though he has not learned to apply it successfully.

En el Conde Fathom, parece comprender plenamente este principio del arte, aunque no ha aprendido a aplicarlo con éxito.

And so, in spite of an excellent conception, Fathom, as I have said, is unreal.

Y así, a pesar de una excelente concepción, Fathom, como he dicho, es irreal.

After all his villainies, which he perpetrates without any apparent qualms of conscience, it is incredible that he should honestly repent of his crimes.

Después de todas sus villanías, que perpetra sin ningún remordimiento aparente de conciencia, es increíble que se arrepienta honestamente de sus crímenes.

We are much inclined to doubt when we read that "his vice and ambition was now quite mortified within him," the subsequent testimony of Matthew Bramble, Esq., in Humphry Clinker, to the contrary, notwithstanding.

Estamos muy inclinados a dudar cuando leemos que «su vicio y su ambición estaban ahora completamente mortificados en él», no obstante el testimonio posterior de Matthew Bramble, Esq., en Humphry Clinker, en sentido contrario.

Yet Fathom up to this point is consistently drawn, and drawn for a purpose:—to show that cold-blooded roguery, though successful for a while, will come to grief in the end.

Sin embargo, Fathom hasta este punto está trazado de manera coherente, y trazado con un propósito: mostrar que la picaresca a sangre fría, aunque exitosa por un tiempo, acabará en desgracia.

To heighten the effect of his scoundrel, Smollett develops parallel with him the virtuous Count de Melvil.

Para intensificar el efecto de su villano, Smollett desarrolla en paralelo con él al virtuoso Conde de Melvil.

The author's scheme of thus using one character as the foil of another, though not conspicuous for its originality, shows a decided advance in the theory of constructive technique.

El plan del autor de usar así a un personaje como contraste de otro, aunque no destaca por su originalidad, muestra un decidido avance en la teoría de la técnica constructiva.

Only, as I have said, Smollett's execution is now defective.

Solo que, como he dicho, la ejecución de Smollett es ahora defectuosa.

"But," one will naturally ask, "if Fathom lacks the amusing, and not infrequently stimulating, hurly-burly of Smollett's former novels; if its characters, though well-conceived, are seldom divertingly fantastic and never thoroughly animate; what makes the book interesting?

«Pero», se preguntará uno naturalmente, «si Fathom carece del divertido, y no pocas veces estimulante, alboroto de las anteriores novelas de Smollett; si sus personajes, aunque bien concebidos, rara vez son fantásticos de manera entretenida y nunca están completamente animados; ¿qué hace interesante al libro?

Vocabulary

En
In; at; on (preposition indicating location or time)
el
The (definite article, masculine singular)
segundo
Second; occurring after the first in sequence
de
Of; from; indicating possession or origin
estos
These; plural masculine demonstrative pronoun
vimos
We saw; past tense first person plural of ver
comenzando
Beginning; starting; present participle of comenzar
comprender
To understand; to comprehend or grasp meaning
uso
Use; utilization; the act of employing something
incidente
Incident; event or occurrence of some importance
para
For; in order to; indicating purpose or direction
indicar
To indicate; to point out or show
un
A; an (indefinite article, masculine singular)
desarrollo
Development; growth or progressive advancement of something
coherente
Coherent; logically consistent and understandable throughout
carácter
Character; personality traits or moral qualities
parece
Seems; appears; third person singular of parecer
plenamente
Fully; completely; in a thorough manner
principio
Principle; fundamental rule or basic truth
arte
Art; creative work expressing skill or imagination
aunque
Although; even though; expressing contrast or concession
no
No; not (negation or denial)
ha
Has; third person singular present perfect of haber
aprendido
Learned; acquired knowledge or skill through study
aplicarlo
To apply it; put into practical use or effect
con
With; indicating accompaniment or association
éxito
Success; achievement of desired goal or outcome
así
Thus; so; in this manner or way
pesar
Despite; in spite of; regret or sorrow
excelente
Excellent; of very high quality or merit
concepción
Conception; idea or understanding of something
como
As; like; in the manner of something
he
I have; first person singular present perfect of haber
dicho
Said; past participle of decir meaning stated
es
Is; third person singular present of ser
Después
After; afterwards; following in time or sequence
todas
All; every one (feminine plural)
sus
His; her; their (possessive adjective)
sin
Without; lacking or deprived of something
ningún
No; not any; absence of (before masculine noun)
aparente
Apparent; seeming or appearing to be something
conciencia
Conscience; moral sense of right and wrong
increíble
Unbelievable; amazing or hard to believe truly
se
Reflexive pronoun; indicates action done to oneself
honestamente
Honestly; truthfully; in a sincere manner
crímenes
Crimes; serious illegal acts or wrongdoings
Estamos
We are; first person plural present of estar
muy
Very; to a great degree or extent
inclinados
Inclined; tending or disposed toward something
dudar
To doubt; to question or lack confidence
cuando
When; at the time that; introducing condition
leemos
We read; first person plural present of leer
vicio
Vice; immoral conduct or bad habit
ambición
Ambition; strong desire for success or power
estaban
Were; third person plural imperfect of estar
ahora
Now; at the present time or moment
completamente
Completely; totally; in every way or respect
testimonio
Testimony; evidence or statement of witness
posterior
Posterior; later; following in time or sequence
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