← The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete

The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete — Page 9

English → Fr 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.

Dans le second de ces romans, nous avons vu Smollett commencer à comprendre l'utilisation de l'incident pour indiquer un développement cohérent du caractère.

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

Dans Fathom le comte, il semble comprendre pleinement ce principe artistique, bien qu'il n'ait pas appris à l'appliquer avec succès.

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

Ainsi, en dépit d'une excellente conception, Fathom, comme je l'ai dit, manque de réalisme.

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

Après toutes ses scélératesses, qu'il perpètre sans le moindre scrupule apparent de conscience, il est incroyable qu'il se repente sincèrement de ses crimes.

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.

Nous sommes fort enclins à douter lorsque nous lisons que « son vice et son ambition étaient désormais tout à fait mortifiés en lui », en dépit du témoignage ultérieur de Matthew Bramble, Esq., dans Humphry Clinker, qui atteste du contraire.

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.

Pourtant, Fathom jusqu'à ce point est dessiné de manière cohérente, et dessiné dans un but précis : montrer que la coquinerie de sang-froid, bien que couronnée de succès pendant un temps, finira par mener au désastre.

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

Pour renforcer l'effet de son scélérat, Smollett développe en parallèle le vertueux comte 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.

Le procédé de l'auteur consistant à utiliser un personnage comme repoussoir d'un autre, bien que peu remarquable par son originalité, témoigne d'un progrès décisif dans la théorie de la technique constructive.

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

Seulement, comme je l'ai dit, l'exécution de Smollett est désormais déficiente.

"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?

« Mais, » demandera-t-on naturellement, « si Fathom manque du tohu-bohu amusant, et non rarement stimulant, des anciens romans de Smollett ; si ses personnages, bien que bien conçus, sont rarement d'une fantaisie divertissante et jamais pleinement animés ; qu'est-ce qui rend le livre intéressant ?

Vocabulary

Dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'.
le: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
second: Adjective meaning 'second' in order or rank.
de: Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
ces: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
romans: Noun meaning 'novels' or 'works of fiction'.
nous: Personal pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
avons: First person plural of 'avoir', meaning 'have'.
vu: Past participle of 'voir', meaning 'seen'.
commencer: Verb meaning 'to begin' or 'to start'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
comprendre: Verb meaning 'to understand' or 'to grasp'.
l': Contraction of 'le' or 'la' before a vowel.
utilisation: Noun meaning 'use' or 'utilization' of something.
incident: Noun meaning 'incident' or 'event' in a narrative.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
indiquer: Verb meaning 'to indicate' or 'to show'.
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
développement: Noun meaning 'development' or 'growth' over time.
cohérent: Adjective meaning 'coherent' or 'logically consistent'.
du: Contracted article meaning 'of the' (masculine singular).
caractère: Noun meaning 'character' or 'personality' of a person.
comte: Noun meaning 'count' or 'earl', a noble title.
il: Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
semble: Verb 'sembler' meaning 'to seem' or 'to appear'.
pleinement: Adverb meaning 'fully' or 'completely' without reservation.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
principe: Noun meaning 'principle' or 'fundamental rule'.
artistique: Adjective meaning 'artistic' or 'related to art'.
bien: Adverb meaning 'well' or adjective meaning 'good'.
qu': Conjunction 'que' elided before vowel, meaning 'that'.
n': Negation particle 'ne' elided, used with 'pas'.
ait: Subjunctive form of 'avoir', meaning 'has' (subjunctive).
pas: Negation particle meaning 'not' in French sentences.
appris: Past participle of 'apprendre', meaning 'learned'.
appliquer: Verb meaning 'to apply' or 'to put into practice'.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with' alongside something or someone.
succès: Noun meaning 'success' or 'positive outcome'.
Ainsi: Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'therefore'.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'by'.
dépit: Noun meaning 'spite'; 'en dépit de' means 'despite'.
d': Elided preposition 'de', meaning 'of' or 'from'.
une: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
excellente: Adjective meaning 'excellent' or 'outstanding' in quality.
conception: Noun meaning 'conception', 'design', or 'idea'.
comme: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as' or 'like'.
je: Personal pronoun meaning 'I' (first person singular).
ai: First person singular of 'avoir', meaning 'have'.
dit: Past participle of 'dire', meaning 'said'.
manque: Noun or verb meaning 'lack' or 'shortage'.
réalisme: Noun meaning 'realism', faithfulness to real life.
Après: Preposition meaning 'after' in time or sequence.
toutes: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' (feminine plural).
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without' something or someone.
moindre: Adjective meaning 'slightest' or 'least' in degree.
scrupule: Noun meaning 'scruple' or 'moral hesitation'.
apparent: Adjective meaning 'apparent' or 'seeming', not necessarily real.
conscience: Noun meaning 'conscience' or 'awareness' of right and wrong.
est: Third person singular of 'être', meaning 'is'.
incroyable: Adjective meaning 'incredible' or 'unbelievable'.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'himself', 'herself'.
repente: Verb 'se repentir' meaning 'to repent' or 'feel remorse'.
sincèrement: Adverb meaning 'sincerely' or 'genuinely' without pretense.
crimes: Noun meaning 'crimes' or 'serious offenses'.
Nous: Personal pronoun meaning 'we' (first person plural).
sommes: First person plural of 'être', meaning 'are'.
fort: Adverb meaning 'very' or 'strongly' intensifying adjectives.
enclins: Adjective meaning 'inclined' or 'prone' to something.
douter: Verb meaning 'to doubt' or 'to question' something.
lorsque: Conjunction meaning 'when' referring to a specific time.
lisons: First person plural of 'lire', meaning 'we read'.
que: Conjunction meaning 'that' connecting clauses.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
vice: Noun meaning 'vice' or 'immoral habit'.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and' connecting words or clauses.
ambition: Noun meaning 'ambition' or 'strong desire to succeed'.
étaient: Third person plural imperfect of 'être', meaning 'were'.
désormais: Adverb meaning 'henceforth' or 'from now on'.
tout: Adjective or adverb meaning 'all', 'every', or 'quite'.
fait: Noun meaning 'fact' or past participle of 'faire'.
mortifiés: Adjective meaning 'mortified' or 'completely subdued'.
lui: Pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him/her'.
témoignage: Noun meaning 'testimony' or 'evidence' from a witness.
ultérieur: Adjective meaning 'subsequent' or 'later' in time.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' a place or time.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'.
atteste: Verb 'attester' meaning 'to attest' or 'to testify'.
contraire: Noun or adjective meaning 'opposite' or 'contrary'.
Pourtant: Conjunction meaning 'yet', 'however', or 'nevertheless'.
jusqu': Preposition 'jusqu'à' meaning 'until' or 'up to'.
point: Noun meaning 'point' or 'degree'; also negation particle.
dessiné: Past participle of 'dessiner', meaning 'drawn' or 'depicted'.
manière: Noun meaning 'manner' or 'way' of doing something.
cohérente: Adjective meaning 'coherent' or 'consistent' (feminine form).
but: Noun meaning 'goal' or 'purpose' or 'aim'.
précis: Adjective meaning 'precise' or 'exact' in detail.
montrer: Verb meaning 'to show' or 'to demonstrate'.
la: Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular).
sang: Noun meaning 'blood'; 'sang-froid' means cold-bloodedness.
froid: Adjective meaning 'cold' in temperature or manner.
couronnée: Past participle of 'couronner', meaning 'crowned' or 'rewarded'.
pendant: Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time.
temps: Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather' depending on context.
finira: Future tense of 'finir', meaning 'will end' eventually.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'.
mener: Verb meaning 'to lead' or 'to bring' somewhere.
au: Contracted article meaning 'to the' (masculine singular).
désastre: Noun meaning 'disaster' or 'catastrophe'.
Pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
renforcer: Verb meaning 'to reinforce' or 'to strengthen'.
effet: Noun meaning 'effect' or 'result' of an action.
développe: Verb 'développer' meaning 'to develop' or 'to elaborate'.
parallèle: Adjective or noun meaning 'parallel' or 'corresponding'.
vertueux: Adjective meaning 'virtuous' or 'morally good'.
Le: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
procédé: Noun meaning 'process', 'technique', or 'method'.
auteur: Noun meaning 'author' or 'writer' of a work.
consistant: Adjective or participle meaning 'consisting' or 'substantial'.
utiliser: Verb meaning 'to use' or 'to employ' something.
personnage: Noun meaning 'character' or 'person' in a story.
autre: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
peu: Adverb meaning 'little' or 'not very' in degree.
remarquable: Adjective meaning 'remarkable' or 'noteworthy'.
originalité: Noun meaning 'originality' or 'quality of being unique.
témoigne: Verb 'témoigner' meaning 'to testify' or 'to show evidence'.
progrès: Noun meaning 'progress' or 'advancement' in a field.
décisif: Adjective meaning 'decisive' or 'determining' in importance.
théorie: Noun meaning 'theory' or 'system of ideas'.
technique: Noun or adjective meaning 'technique' or 'technical'.
constructive: Adjective meaning 'constructive' or 'building toward something'.
Seulement: Adverb meaning 'only' or 'just' limiting a statement.
exécution: Noun meaning 'execution' or 'carrying out' of a plan.
déficiente: Adjective meaning 'deficient' or 'lacking' in quality.
Mais: Conjunction meaning 'but' introducing a contrasting idea.
demandera: Future tense of 'demander', meaning 'will ask'.
on: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', or 'they'.
naturellement: Adverb meaning 'naturally' or 'of course'.
si: Conjunction meaning 'if' or adverb meaning 'so'.
amusant: Adjective meaning 'amusing' or 'entertaining'.
non: Adverb meaning 'no' or 'not' in French.
rarement: Adverb meaning 'rarely' or 'seldom'.
stimulant: Adjective meaning 'stimulating' or 'intellectually engaging'.
des: Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'of the'.
anciens: Adjective or noun meaning 'ancient' or 'former' ones.
personnages: Noun meaning 'characters' or 'figures' in a narrative.
conçus: Past participle of 'concevoir', meaning 'conceived' or 'designed'.
sont: Third person plural of 'être', meaning 'are'.
fantaisie: Noun meaning 'fantasy', 'whimsy', or 'imaginative fancy'.
divertissante: Adjective meaning 'entertaining' or 'diverting' (feminine form).
jamais: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever' depending on context.
animés: Adjective meaning 'animated', 'lively', or 'brought to life'.
rend: Third person singular of 'rendre', meaning 'makes' or 'renders'.
livre: Noun meaning 'book' or 'pound' depending on context.
intéressant: Adjective meaning 'interesting' or 'worth attention'.

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