The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People — Page 9
Cecily, who addresses me as her uncle from motives of respect that you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country under the charge of her admirable governess, Miss Prism.
Cecily, quien me llama su tío por motivos de respeto que usted no podría apreciar en absoluto, vive en mi propiedad en el campo bajo el cuidado de su admirable institutriz, la señorita Prism.
ALGERNON.
ALGERNON.
Where is that place in the country, by the way?
¿Dónde está esa propiedad en el campo, por cierto?
JACK.
JACK.
That is nothing to you, dear boy. You are not going to be invited . . I may tell you candidly that the place is not in Shropshire.
Eso no es asunto tuyo, querido muchacho. No vas a ser invitado. Puedo decirte con franqueza que el lugar no está en Shropshire.
ALGERNON.
ALGERNON.
I suspected that, my dear fellow! I have Bunburyed all over Shropshire on two separate occasions.
¡Me lo imaginaba, querido amigo! He hecho Bunbury por todo Shropshire en dos ocasiones distintas.
Now, go on. Why are you Ernest in town and Jack in the country?
Ahora, continúa. ¿Por qué eres Ernest en la ciudad y Jack en el campo?
JACK.
JACK.
My dear Algy, I don't know whether you will be able to understand my real motives.
Mi querido Algy, no sé si serás capaz de comprender mis verdaderos motivos.
You are hardly serious enough.
No eres lo suficientemente serio.
When one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects.
Cuando uno se encuentra en la posición de tutor, uno tiene que adoptar un tono moral muy elevado en todos los asuntos.
It's one's duty to do so.
Es el deber de uno hacerlo.
And as a high moral tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one's health or one's happiness, in order to get up to town I have always pretended to have a younger brother of the name of Ernest, who lives in the Albany, and gets into the most dreadful scrapes.
Y como difícilmente puede decirse que un tono moral elevado contribuya mucho ni a la salud ni a la felicidad de uno, para poder subir a la ciudad siempre he fingido tener un hermano menor llamado Ernest, que vive en el Albany y se mete en los líos más espantosos.
That, my dear Algy, is the whole truth pure and simple.
Esa, mi querido Algy, es toda la verdad, pura y simple.
ALGERNON.
ALGERNON.
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
La verdad raramente es pura y nunca es simple.
Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!
La vida moderna sería muy tediosa si lo fuera, ¡y la literatura moderna una imposibilidad absoluta!
JACK.
JACK.
Vocabulary
- quien
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whom'.
- me
- First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
- llama
- Third person singular present of 'llamar'; calls or names.
- su
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'your', or 'their'.
- tío
- Male family member who is a parent's brother; uncle.
- por
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', 'through', or 'because of'.
- motivos
- Plural noun meaning reasons, motives, or grounds for something.
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
- respeto
- Noun meaning respect or regard shown toward someone.
- que
- Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
- usted
- Formal second person singular pronoun meaning 'you'.
- no
- Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'.
- podría
- Conditional form of 'poder'; could or would be able to.
- apreciar
- Verb meaning to appreciate, value, or recognize something's worth.
- en
- Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'.
- absoluto
- Adjective or adverb meaning absolute, total, or completely.
- vive
- Third person singular present of 'vivir'; lives or resides.
- mi
- First person singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
- propiedad
- Noun meaning property, estate, or ownership of something.
- el
- Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
- campo
- Noun meaning countryside, field, or rural area.
- bajo
- Preposition or adjective meaning 'under', 'beneath', or 'low'.
- cuidado
- Noun meaning care, attention, or caution given to someone.
- admirable
- Adjective meaning admirable, worthy of praise or admiration.
- institutriz
- Noun meaning governess, a woman employed to teach children.
- la
- Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
- señorita
- Title for an unmarried woman; Miss or young woman.
- Dónde
- Interrogative adverb meaning 'where', asking about location.
- está
- Third person singular present of 'estar'; is (location or state).
- esa
- Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' near the listener.
- cierto
- Adjective or determiner meaning certain, sure, or a certain.
- Eso
- Neuter demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' referring to an idea.
- es
- Third person singular present of 'ser'; is (identity or essence).
- asunto
- Noun meaning matter, affair, issue, or business concern.
- tuyo
- Second person singular possessive pronoun meaning 'yours'.
- querido
- Adjective meaning dear, beloved, or used as an affectionate address.
- muchacho
- Noun meaning boy, young man, or lad.
- No
- Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'.
- vas
- Second person singular present of 'ir'; you go or are going.
- a
- Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or used before direct objects.
- ser
- Infinitive verb meaning 'to be' expressing identity or essence.
- invitado
- Past participle or noun meaning invited or a guest.
- Puedo
- First person singular present of 'poder'; I can or am able.
- decirte
- Infinitive 'decir' plus 'te'; to tell you something directly.
- con
- Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or means.
- franqueza
- Noun meaning frankness, candor, or openness in communication.
- lugar
- Noun meaning place, location, or spot where something occurs.
- Me
- First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
- lo
- Masculine or neuter object pronoun meaning 'it' or 'him'.
- imaginaba
- First/third person imperfect of 'imaginar'; imagined or pictured.
- amigo
- Noun meaning friend, used as an address between acquaintances.
- He
- First person singular present of 'haber'; I have (auxiliary).
- hecho
- Past participle of 'hacer'; done or made something.
- todo
- Adjective or pronoun meaning all, everything, or the whole.
- dos
- Cardinal number meaning two.
- ocasiones
- Plural noun meaning occasions, times, or opportunities.
- distintas
- Feminine plural adjective meaning different, distinct, or separate.
- Ahora
- Adverb meaning now, at this moment, or at present.
- continúa
- Third person singular or imperative of 'continuar'; continues or continue.
- Por
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', 'through', or 'because of'.
- qué
- Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' or 'why' in questions.
- eres
- Second person singular present of 'ser'; you are (identity).
- ciudad
- Noun meaning city or town, an urban area or settlement.
- y
- Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or phrases.
- Mi
- First person singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
- sé
- First person singular present of 'saber'; I know something.
- si
- Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a conditional clause.
- serás
- Second person singular future of 'ser'; you will be.
- capaz
- Adjective meaning capable, able, or competent to do something.
- comprender
- Infinitive meaning to understand, comprehend, or grasp something.
- mis
- First person plural possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural).
- verdaderos
- Masculine plural adjective meaning true, real, or genuine.
- suficientemente
- Adverb meaning sufficiently, enough, or adequately for a purpose.
- serio
- Adjective meaning serious, grave, or earnest in manner.
- Cuando
- Conjunction meaning 'when', introducing a temporal clause.
- uno
- Pronoun or number meaning 'one' or the impersonal 'one'.
- se
- Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or impersonal constructions.
- encuentra
- Third person singular of 'encontrar'; finds, meets, or is in.
- posición
- Noun meaning position, role, or standing in a situation.
- tutor
- Noun meaning tutor or guardian responsible for someone's education.
- tiene
- Third person singular present of 'tener'; has or must do.
- adoptar
- Infinitive meaning to adopt, take on, or assume a stance.
- un
- Masculine singular indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
- tono
- Noun meaning tone, attitude, or manner of expression.
- moral
- Adjective or noun meaning moral, ethical, or relating to morality.
- muy
- Adverb meaning very, used to intensify adjectives or adverbs.
- elevado
- Adjective meaning elevated, high, or lofty in standard or position.
- todos
- Masculine plural pronoun or adjective meaning all or everyone.
- los
- Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
- asuntos
- Plural noun meaning matters, affairs, or issues of concern.
- Es
- Third person singular present of 'ser'; is (identity or essence).
- deber
- Noun or verb meaning duty, obligation, or to owe something.
- hacerlo
- Infinitive 'hacer' plus 'lo'; to do it or carry it out.
- Y
- Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'since'.
- difícilmente
- Adverb meaning hardly, scarcely, or with great difficulty.
- puede
- Third person singular present of 'poder'; can or is able to.
- decirse
- Reflexive infinitive of 'decir'; to be said or to say oneself.
- contribuya
- Subjunctive form of 'contribuir'; may contribute or adds to something.
- mucho
- Adjective or adverb meaning much, a lot, or greatly.
- ni
- Conjunction meaning 'nor' or 'neither', used in negations.
- salud
- Noun meaning health, wellbeing, or used as a toast.
- felicidad
- Noun meaning happiness, joy, or a state of being content.
- para
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'by' a deadline.
- poder
- Infinitive meaning to be able to, or noun meaning power.
- subir
- Infinitive meaning to go up, climb, rise, or increase.
- siempre
- Adverb meaning always, at all times, or on every occasion.
- he
- First person singular present of 'haber'; I have (auxiliary).
- fingido
- Past participle of 'fingir'; pretended, faked, or feigned.
- tener
- Infinitive meaning to have, hold, or possess something.
- hermano
- Noun meaning brother, a male sibling in one's family.
- menor
- Adjective meaning younger, lesser, or smaller in comparison.
- llamado
- Past participle of 'llamar'; called, named, or known as.
- mete
- Third person singular of 'meter'; puts in, causes, or gets into.
- líos
- Plural noun meaning troubles, messes, or complicated situations.
- más
- Adverb or adjective meaning more or most, used for comparison.
- espantosos
- Masculine plural adjective meaning dreadful, frightful, or terrible.
- Esa
- Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' near the listener.
- toda
- Feminine adjective meaning all, entire, or the whole of something.
- verdad
- Noun meaning truth, reality, or a true statement or fact.
- pura
- Feminine adjective meaning pure, clean, or unmixed in nature.
- simple
- Adjective meaning simple, plain, or uncomplicated in character.
- La
- Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
- raramente
- Adverb meaning rarely, seldom, or not very often occurring.
- nunca
- Adverb meaning never, at no time, or not ever.
- vida
- Noun meaning life, existence, or the course of living.
- moderna
- Feminine adjective meaning modern, contemporary, or of current times.
- sería
- Conditional form of 'ser'; would be in a hypothetical situation.
- tediosa
- Feminine adjective meaning tedious, boring, or tiresome in nature.
- fuera
- Subjunctive or conditional of 'ser/estar'; were, outside, or away.
- literatura
- Noun meaning literature, written works of artistic or intellectual value.
- una
- Feminine singular indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
- imposibilidad
- Noun meaning impossibility, something that cannot be done or achieved.
- absoluta
- Feminine adjective meaning absolute, total, or unconditional in nature.
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