The Confessions of St. Augustine — Page 15

English → Fr BOOK I Level 9/10

For we feared not our torments less; nor prayed we less to Thee to escape them.

Car nous ne craignions pas moins nos tourments ; et nous ne Te priions pas moins pour y échapper.

And yet we sinned, in writing or reading or studying less than was exacted of us.

Et pourtant nous péchinons, en écrivant ou lisant ou étudiant moins que ce qui nous était exigé.

For we wanted not, O Lord, memory or capacity, whereof Thy will gave enough for our age; but our sole delight was play; and for this we were punished by those who yet themselves were doing the like.

Car nous ne manquions pas, ô Seigneur, de mémoire ou de capacité, dont Ta volonté nous avait suffisamment pourvus pour notre âge ; mais notre seul plaisir était le jeu ; et pour cela nous étions punis par ceux qui faisaient eux-mêmes la même chose.

But elder folks' idleness is called "business"; that of boys, being really the same, is punished by those elders; and none commiserates either boys or men.

Mais l'oisiveté des gens âgés est appelée « affaires » ; celle des garçons, étant réellement la même, est punie par ces mêmes aînés ; et personne ne plaint ni les garçons ni les hommes.

For will any of sound discretion approve of my being beaten as a boy, because, by playing a ball, I made less progress in studies which I was to learn, only that, as a man, I might play more unbeseemingly?

Car quelqu'un de bon sens approuvera-t-il que j'aie été battu étant enfant, parce qu'en jouant à la balle, je progressais moins dans les études que je devais apprendre, seulement pour qu'en tant qu'homme, je pusse jouer de façon encore plus inconvenante ?

and what else did he who beat me? who, if worsted in some trifling discussion with his fellow-tutor, was more embittered and jealous than I when beaten at ball by a play-fellow?

et qu'a fait d'autre celui qui me battait ? lui qui, s'il était vaincu dans quelque discussion futile avec son collègue, était plus aigri et jaloux que moi lorsque j'étais battu à la balle par un camarade de jeu ?

And yet, I sinned herein, O Lord God, the Creator and Disposer of all things in nature, of sin the Disposer only, O Lord my God, I sinned in transgressing the commands of my parents and those of my masters.

Et pourtant, j'ai péché en cela, ô Seigneur Dieu, le Créateur et l'Ordonnateur de toutes choses dans la nature, de le péché l'Ordonnateur seulement, ô Seigneur mon Dieu, j'ai péché en transgressant les commandements de mes parents et ceux de mes maîtres.

For what they, with whatever motive, would have me learn, I might afterwards have put to good use.

Car ce qu'ils voulaient que j'apprisse, quel que fût leur motif, j'aurais pu en faire bon usage par la suite.

Vocabulary

Car: kar — Because; conjunction introducing a reason or cause.
nous: noo — We; first-person plural subject or object pronoun.
ne: nuh — Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
craignions: kreh-nyohn — We feared; imperfect tense of 'craindre' (to fear).
pas: pah — Not; negative particle paired with 'ne'.
moins: mwan — Less; comparative adverb indicating lesser degree.
nos: noh — Our; first-person plural possessive adjective.
tourments: toor-mahn — Torments; sufferings or great pains endured.
et: ay — And; basic coordinating conjunction linking elements.
Te: tuh — You; second-person singular object pronoun (formal/divine).
priions: pree-yohn — We prayed; imperfect tense of 'prier' (to pray).
pour: poor — For; preposition indicating purpose or destination.
y: ee — There; pronoun replacing a previously mentioned place or thing.
échapper: ay-sha-pay — To escape; to flee or get away from something.
Et: ay — And; coordinating conjunction linking clauses or words.
pourtant: poor-tahn — Yet; nevertheless; contrasting what was just stated.
en: ahn — While; preposition or gerund marker indicating manner or simultaneity.
écrivant: ay-kree-vahn — Writing; present participle of 'écrire' (to write).
ou: oo — Or; coordinating conjunction presenting an alternative.
lisant: lee-zahn — Reading; present participle of 'lire' (to read).
étudiant: ay-tü-dyahn — Studying; present participle of 'étudier' (to study).
que: kuh — That; subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
ce: suh — This/that; demonstrative pronoun or adjective.
qui: kee — Who/which; relative or interrogative pronoun.
était: ay-teh — Was; third-person singular imperfect of 'être' (to be).
exigé: eg-zee-zhay — Required; past participle of 'exiger' (to demand/require).
manquions: mahn-kyohn — We lacked; imperfect tense of 'manquer' (to lack/miss).
ô: oh — Oh; interjection used in solemn or poetic address.
Seigneur: seh-nyur — Lord; title used to address God or a noble figure.
de: duh — Of/from; very common French preposition.
mémoire: may-mwar — Memory; the ability to retain and recall information.
capacité: ka-pa-see-tay — Capacity; ability or skill to do something.
dont: dohn — Of which/whose; relative pronoun replacing 'de + noun'.
Ta: tah — Your; second-person singular possessive adjective (informal/divine).
volonté: vo-lohn-tay — Will; one's desire, intention, or determination.
avait: a-veh — Had; third-person singular imperfect of 'avoir' (to have).
suffisamment: sü-fee-za-mahn — Sufficiently; in enough quantity or degree.
pourvus: poor-vü — Provided; past participle of 'pourvoir' (to provide/equip).
notre: noh-truh — Our; first-person plural possessive adjective (singular noun).
âge: ahzh — Age; the length of time a person has lived.
mais: meh — But; conjunction indicating contrast or exception.
seul: sul — Only/alone; indicating singularity or solitude.
plaisir: pleh-zeer — Pleasure; a feeling of enjoyment or satisfaction.
le: luh — The; masculine singular definite article.
jeu: zhuh — Game/play; an activity done for fun or competition.
cela: suh-la — That; demonstrative pronoun referring to something previously mentioned.
étions: ay-tyohn — We were; first-person plural imperfect of 'être' (to be).
punis: pü-nee — Punished; past participle of 'punir' (to punish).
par: par — By; preposition indicating agent, means, or manner.
ceux: suh — Those; masculine plural demonstrative pronoun.
faisaient: fuh-zeh — Were doing; third-person plural imperfect of 'faire'.
eux-mêmes: uh-mem — Themselves; emphatic third-person masculine plural reflexive pronoun.
la: la — The; feminine singular definite article.
même: mem — Same; adjective or adverb indicating identity or similarity.
chose: shohz — Thing; a general word for an object or matter.
Mais: meh — But; coordinating conjunction introducing a contrast.
l': l — The; elided definite article before a vowel sound.
oisiveté: wa-zeev-tay — Idleness; the state of being unoccupied or lazy.
des: day — Of the/some; plural indefinite or partitive article.
gens: zhahn — People; a general term for a group of persons.
âgés: ah-zhay — Aged/elderly; adjective describing older people.
est: eh — Is; third-person singular present of 'être' (to be).
appelée: a-puh-lay — Called/named; feminine past participle of 'appeler'.
affaires: a-fair — Business/affairs; matters of commerce or importance.
celle: sel — That one; feminine singular demonstrative pronoun.
garçons: gar-sohn — Boys; young male children or youths.
étant: ay-tahn — Being; present participle of 'être' (to be).
réellement: ray-el-mahn — Really; truly; in a real or genuine manner.
punie: pü-nee — Punished; feminine past participle of 'punir'.
ces: say — These/those; plural demonstrative adjective.
mêmes: mem — Same; plural adjective emphasizing identity or similarity.
aînés: ay-nay — Elders/seniors; older people in a group or family.
personne: pair-son — Nobody; negative pronoun, or 'person' as a noun.
plaint: plan — Complains/pities; third-person singular of 'plaindre'.
ni: nee — Nor/neither; negative conjunction linking two negated elements.
les: lay — The; plural definite article for masculine or feminine nouns.
hommes: om — Men; adult male humans or people in general.
quelqu': kel-kuh — Someone; indefinite pronoun before a vowel (quelqu'un).
un: uhn — One/a; masculine singular indefinite article or numeral.
bon: bohn — Good; adjective describing positive quality or virtue.
sens: sahn — Sense; meaning, direction, or good judgment.
approuvera-t-il: a-proov-ra-teel — Will he approve; inverted future tense of 'approuver'.
j': zh — I; first-person singular subject pronoun elided before vowel.
aie: ay — Have; first-person singular present subjunctive of 'avoir'.
été: ay-tay — Been; past participle of 'être' (to be).
battu: ba-tü — Beaten; past participle of 'battre' (to beat/hit).
enfant: ahn-fahn — Child; a young person, boy or girl.
parce: par-suh — Because; part of 'parce que' introducing a causal clause.
qu': k — That; elided form of 'que' before a vowel.
jouant: zhoo-ahn — Playing; present participle of 'jouer' (to play).
à: ah — At/to; very common French preposition of location or direction.
balle: bal — Ball; a round object used in games and sports.
je: zhuh — I; first-person singular subject pronoun.
progressais: pro-greh-seh — I was progressing; imperfect of 'progresser' (to progress).
dans: dahn — In/inside; preposition indicating location within something.
études: ay-tüd — Studies; academic work or courses of learning.
devais: duh-veh — Had to; imperfect of 'devoir' (must/to have to).
apprendre: a-prahn-druh — To learn; to acquire knowledge or a skill.
seulement: sul-mahn — Only; adverb restricting to a single element or condition.
tant: tahn — So much/as much; adverb of quantity or degree.
homme: om — Man; an adult male human being.
jouer: zhoo-ay — To play; to engage in a game or recreational activity.
façon: fa-sohn — Way/manner; the style or method of doing something.
encore: ahn-kor — Still/yet/again; adverb indicating continuation or repetition.
plus: plü — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree or quantity.
inconvenante: an-kon-vuh-naht — Inappropriate; not suitable or proper in conduct.
a: a — Has; third-person singular present of 'avoir' (to have).
fait: feh — Done/made; past participle of 'faire' (to do/make).
d': d — Of; elided preposition 'de' before a vowel sound.
autre: oh-truh — Other; adjective or pronoun indicating a different one.
celui: suh-lwee — The one/he who; masculine singular demonstrative pronoun.
me: muh — Me; first-person singular direct or indirect object pronoun.
battait: ba-teh — Was beating; imperfect tense of 'battre' (to beat).
lui: lwee — Him/to him; third-person singular stressed or indirect pronoun.
s': s — Himself/herself; elided reflexive pronoun before a vowel.
il: eel — He/it; third-person masculine singular subject pronoun.
vaincu: van-kü — Defeated; past participle of 'vaincre' (to defeat).
quelque: kel-kuh — Some; indefinite adjective indicating an unspecified quantity.
discussion: dees-kü-syohn — Discussion; a conversation or debate about a topic.
futile: fü-teel — Futile; pointless, trivial, or serving no useful purpose.
avec: a-vek — With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means.
son: sohn — His/her/its; third-person singular possessive adjective.
collègue: ko-leg — Colleague; a fellow worker or professional associate.
aigri: ay-gree — Embittered; made sour or resentful by circumstances.
jaloux: zha-loo — Jealous; feeling envy or possessiveness toward another.
moi: mwa — Me/I; first-person singular stressed pronoun.
lorsque: lors-kuh — When; subordinating conjunction indicating a point in time.
étais: ay-teh — Was; first-person singular imperfect of 'être' (to be).
camarade: ka-ma-rad — Comrade/classmate; a companion or fellow member of a group.
ai: ay — Have; first-person singular present of 'avoir' (to have).
péché: pay-shay — Sinned; past participle of 'pécher' (to sin).
Dieu: dyuh — God; the supreme being in monotheistic religions.
Créateur: kray-a-tur — Creator; one who creates, especially God as creator.
toutes: toot — All; feminine plural adjective or pronoun meaning all/every.
choses: shohz — Things; plural of 'chose', general objects or matters.
nature: na-tür — Nature; the physical world or innate character of something.
mon: mohn — My; first-person singular masculine possessive adjective.
transgressant: trans-greh-sahn — Transgressing; violating or going beyond established rules.
commandements: ko-mahnd-mahn — Commandments; divine or authoritative orders or rules.
mes: may — My; first-person plural possessive adjective.
parents: pa-rahn — Parents; one's father and mother.
maîtres: may-truh — Masters/teachers; those with authority or instructional roles.
ils: eel — They; third-person masculine plural subject pronoun.
voulaient: voo-leh — Wanted; imperfect tense of 'vouloir' (to want).
quel: kel — What/which; interrogative or exclamative adjective.
leur: lur — Their; third-person plural possessive adjective.
motif: mo-teef — Motive; a reason or cause behind an action.
aurais: o-reh — Would have; conditional of 'avoir' (to have).
pu: pü — Been able; past participle of 'pouvoir' (to be able).
faire: fair — To do/make; fundamental French infinitive verb.
usage: ü-zahzh — Use; the act of using something for a purpose.
suite: sweet — Continuation/sequence; what follows or comes next.

← Previous

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →