The Ballad of the White Horse — Page 3

English → Pt Preface Level 7/10

It is enough for me to maintain two things: that they are popular traditions; and that without these popular traditions we should have bothered about Alfred about as much as we bother about Eadwig.

É suficiente para mim sustentar duas coisas: que são tradições populares; e que sem essas tradições populares nos teríamos preocupado com Alfredo tanto quanto nos preocupamos com Eadwig.

One other consideration needs a note.

Uma outra consideração precisa de uma nota.

Alfred has come down to us in the best way (that is, by national legends) solely for the same reason as Arthur and Roland and the other giants of that darkness, because he fought for the Christian civilization against the heathen nihilism.

Alfredo chegou até nós da melhor maneira (isto é, por meio de lendas nacionais) apenas pela mesma razão que Artur e Rolando e os outros gigantes daquela escuridão, porque ele lutou pela civilização cristã contra o niilismo pagão.

But since this work was really done by generation after generation, by the Romans before they withdrew, and by the Britons while they remained, I have summarised this first crusade in a triple symbol, and given to a fictitious Roman, Celt, and Saxon, a part in the glory of Ethandune.

Mas como este trabalho foi realmente feito por geração após geração, pelos romanos antes de se retirarem, e pelos bretões enquanto permaneceram, resumi esta primeira cruzada num símbolo triplo, e dei a um romano fictício, a um celta e a um saxão, uma parte na glória de Ethandune.

I fancy that in fact Alfred's Wessex was of very mixed bloods; but in any case, it is the chief value of legend to mix up the centuries while preserving the sentiment; to see all ages in a sort of splendid foreshortening.

Imagino que, de fato, o Wessex de Alfredo era de sangues muito misturados; mas em todo caso, é o principal valor da lenda misturar os séculos enquanto preserva o sentimento; ver todas as épocas numa espécie de esplêndido escorço.

That is the use of tradition: it telescopes history.

Esse é o uso da tradição: ela telescopia a história.

G.K.C.

DEDICATION

DEDICATÓRIA

Of great limbs gone to chaos, A great face turned to night-- Why bend above a shapeless shroud Seeking in such archaic cloud Sight of strong lords and light?

De grandes membros entregues ao caos, Um grande rosto voltado para a noite-- Por que se curvar sobre uma mortalha informe Buscando em tão arcaica névoa A visão de senhores poderosos e luz?

Where seven sunken Englands Lie buried one by one, Why should one idle spade, I wonder, Shake up the dust of thanes like thunder To smoke and choke the sun?

Onde sete Inglaterras submersas Jazem enterradas uma a uma, Por que uma pá ociosa, me pergunto, Sacudiria a poeira dos thanes como trovão Para fumaçar e sufocar o sol?

Vocabulary

É: eh — Third person singular of 'ser'; means 'is'
suficiente: soo-fee-see-EN-chee — Enough or adequate in quantity or quality
para: PAH-rah — Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'
mim: meem — First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'
sustentar: soos-ten-TAR — To sustain, support, or maintain something or someone
duas: DOO-ahs — Feminine form of the number two
coisas: KOY-zahs — Things or objects in a general sense
que: keh — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'
são: sowng — Third person plural of 'ser'; means 'are'
tradições: trah-dee-SOYNGSH — Traditions or long-established customs passed down generations
populares: poh-poo-LAH-rehs — Popular or belonging to the common people
e: ee — Conjunction meaning 'and'
sem: seng — Preposition meaning 'without'
essas: EH-sahs — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' (feminine)
nos: noos — First person plural pronoun meaning 'us' or 'ourselves'
teríamos: teh-REE-ah-moos — Conditional first person plural of 'ter'; would have
preocupado: preh-oh-koo-PAH-doo — Worried or concerned about something
com: kong — Preposition meaning 'with'
tanto: TAN-too — As much or so much; indicates degree or quantity
quanto: KWAN-too — As much as; used in comparisons of quantity
preocupamos: preh-oh-koo-PAH-moos — First person plural of 'preocupar'; we worry
Uma: OO-mah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
outra: OH-trah — Feminine form of 'other' or 'another'
consideração: kon-see-deh-rah-SOWNG — Consideration or careful thought about something
precisa: preh-SEE-zah — Needs or requires; third person singular of 'precisar'
de: dee — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'
uma: OO-mah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
nota: NOH-tah — A note or short written observation
chegou: sheh-GOH — Past tense of 'chegar'; arrived or reached
até: ah-TEH — Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'
nós: nosh — First person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'
da: dah — Contraction of 'de' and 'a'; meaning 'of the'
melhor: meh-LYOR — Better or best; comparative adjective
maneira: mah-NAY-rah — Manner, way, or method of doing something
isto: EES-too — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (neutral)
é: eh — Third person singular of 'ser'; means 'is'
por: por — Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'for'
meio: MAY-oo — Middle or means; also 'half'
lendas: LEN-dahs — Legends or traditional stories passed through generations
nacionais: nah-see-oh-NAISH — Relating to a nation; national in character
apenas: ah-PEH-nahs — Only or just; limiting adverb
pela: PEH-lah — Contraction of 'por' and 'a'; meaning 'by the'
mesma: MEZ-mah — Feminine form of 'same'; identical
razão: hah-ZOWNG — Reason or rationale for something
os: oosh — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
outros: OH-troos — Others; masculine plural of 'outro'
gigantes: zhee-GAN-chehs — Giants; mythological or legendary large beings
daquela: dah-KEH-lah — Contraction meaning 'of that' (feminine)
escuridão: esh-koo-ree-DOWNG — Darkness or obscurity; absence of light
porque: por-KEH — Conjunction meaning 'because'
ele: EH-lee — Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'
lutou: loo-TOH — Past tense of 'lutar'; fought or struggled
civilização: see-vee-lee-zah-SOWNG — Civilization; organized advanced human society
cristã: krees-TAH — Feminine form of Christian; relating to Christianity
contra: KON-trah — Preposition meaning 'against'
o: oo — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
pagão: pah-GOWNG — Pagan; relating to pre-Christian or non-Christian belief
Mas: mahs — Conjunction meaning 'but'
como: KOH-moo — How or as; comparative or interrogative word
este: EHS-chee — Masculine demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'
trabalho: trah-BAH-lyoo — Work, labor, or a piece of work
foi: foy — Past tense of 'ser/ir'; was or went
realmente: heh-al-MEN-chee — Really or truly; adverb emphasizing reality
feito: FAY-too — Done or made; past participle of 'fazer'
geração: zheh-rah-SOWNG — Generation; a group of people born in same period
após: ah-POSH — Preposition meaning 'after'
pelos: PEH-loosh — Contraction of 'por' and 'os'; meaning 'by the'
romanos: hoh-MAH-noos — Romans; people from ancient Rome
antes: AN-chehs — Adverb meaning 'before' or 'previously'
se: see — Reflexive pronoun or conjunction meaning 'if'
retirarem: heh-chee-RAH-reng — To withdraw or retreat; infinitive plural form
enquanto: en-KWAN-too — While or whereas; temporal conjunction
permaneceram: per-mah-neh-SEH-rowng — They remained or stayed; past tense plural
resumi: heh-zoo-MEE — I summarized; first person past of 'resumir'
esta: EHS-tah — Feminine demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'
primeira: pree-MAY-rah — Feminine form of 'first'
cruzada: kroo-ZAH-dah — Crusade; medieval Christian military campaign
num: noom — Contraction of 'em' and 'um'; meaning 'in a'
símbolo: SEEM-boo-loo — Symbol or emblem representing something else
triplo: TREE-ploo — Triple or threefold; consisting of three parts
dei: DAY-ee — I gave; first person past tense of 'dar'
a: ah — Feminine definite article meaning 'the'
romano: hoh-MAH-noo — Roman; relating to or from ancient Rome
fictício: feek-TEE-see-oo — Fictional or imaginary; not real
celta: SEL-tah — Celtic; relating to ancient Celtic peoples or culture
parte: PAR-chee — Part or portion of a whole
na: nah — Contraction of 'em' and 'a'; meaning 'in the'
glória: GLOH-ree-ah — Glory or great honor and fame
Imagino: ee-mah-ZHEE-noo — I imagine; first person singular of 'imaginar'
fato: FAH-too — Fact; something known to be true
era: EH-rah — Past tense of 'ser'; was (imperfect)
sangues: SAN-gehs — Plural of blood; bloodlines or lineages
muito: MWEE-too — Very or much; indicates high degree
misturados: mees-too-RAH-doos — Mixed or blended together
mas: mahs — Conjunction meaning 'but'
em: eng — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'at'
todo: TOH-doo — All or every; refers to entirety
caso: KAH-zoo — Case or situation; instance or circumstance
principal: preen-see-PAL — Main or principal; most important
valor: vah-LOR — Value or worth; importance of something
lenda: LEN-dah — Legend; traditional story often with historical basis
misturar: mees-too-RAR — To mix or blend different elements together
séculos: SEH-koo-loosh — Centuries; periods of one hundred years
preserva: preh-ZER-vah — Preserves or maintains; third person singular
sentimento: sen-chee-MEN-too — Feeling or sentiment; emotional state
ver: vehr — To see; infinitive of the verb of sight
todas: TOH-dahs — All; feminine plural of 'todo'
as: ahs — Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'
épocas: EH-poh-kahs — Epochs or eras; distinct historical periods
numa: NOO-mah — Contraction of 'em' and 'uma'; meaning 'in a'
espécie: esh-PEH-see-eh — Species or kind; type or sort of something
esplêndido: esh-PLEN-dee-doo — Splendid or magnificent; impressively beautiful
Esse: EH-see — Masculine demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that'
uso: OO-zoo — Use or usage; the act of using something
tradição: trah-dee-SOWNG — Tradition; custom passed down through generations
ela: EH-lah — Third person singular feminine pronoun meaning 'she'
história: ees-TOH-ree-ah — History or story; narrative of past events
DEDICATÓRIA: deh-dee-kah-TOH-ree-ah — Dedication; an inscription dedicating a work to someone
De: dee — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'
grandes: GRAN-dehs — Great or large; plural adjective
membros: MEM-broos — Members or limbs; parts of a body or group
entregues: en-TREH-gehs — Surrendered or handed over; delivered to something
ao: ow — Contraction of 'a' and 'o'; meaning 'to the'
caos: KAH-oos — Chaos; complete disorder and confusion
Um: oom — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
grande: GRAN-dee — Great or large; impressive in size or importance
rosto: HOSH-too — Face; the front part of the head
voltado: vol-TAH-doo — Turned or facing; directed toward something
noite: NOY-chee — Night; the period of darkness
Por: por — Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'for'
curvar: koor-VAR — To bend or curve; to lean over something
sobre: SOH-breh — Preposition meaning 'over' or 'about'
Buscando: boos-KAN-doo — Searching or seeking; present participle of 'buscar'
tão: towng — So or such; intensifying adverb of degree
arcaica: ar-KAH-ee-kah — Archaic or ancient; belonging to an earlier period
névoa: NEH-voh-ah — Mist or fog; light atmospheric water vapor
A: ah — Feminine definite article meaning 'the'
visão: vee-ZOWNG — Vision or sight; the ability to see or a dream
senhores: seh-NYOH-rehs — Lords or gentlemen; plural of 'senhor'
poderosos: poh-deh-ROH-zoos — Powerful or mighty; having great power
luz: loosh — Light; electromagnetic radiation visible to the eye
Onde: ON-dee — Where; interrogative or relative adverb of place
sete: SEH-chee — The number seven
submersas: soob-MER-zahs — Submerged or underwater; sunken beneath a surface
enterradas: en-teh-HAH-dahs — Buried; placed underground or hidden away
pá: pah — Spade or shovel; tool used for digging
ociosa: oh-see-OH-zah — Idle or lazy; not being used or active
me: mee — First person singular reflexive or object pronoun
pergunto: per-GOON-too — I ask or wonder; first person of 'perguntar'
Sacudiria: sah-koo-dee-REE-ah — Would shake; conditional of 'sacudir'
poeira: poh-AY-rah — Dust; fine dry particles of matter
dos: doosh — Contraction of 'de' and 'os'; meaning 'of the'
trovão: troh-VOWNG — Thunder; loud sound accompanying lightning
Para: PAH-rah — Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'
sufocar: soo-foh-KAR — To suffocate or smother; deprive of air
sol: sol — Sun; the star at the center of our solar system

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