The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 6
Some time after she is brought home to her husband, and then another feast is made, to which the relations of both parties are invited: her parents then deliver her to the bridegroom, accompanied with a number of blessings, and at the same time they tie round her waist a cotton string of the thickness of a goose-quill, which none but married women are permitted to wear: she is now considered as completely his wife; and at this time the dowry is given to the new married pair, which generally consists of portions of land, slaves, and cattle, household goods, and implements of husbandry.
Algún tiempo después ella es llevada a casa de su esposo, y entonces se celebra otro banquete, al que son invitados los parientes de ambas partes: sus padres la entregan entonces al novio, acompañada de una serie de bendiciones, y al mismo tiempo le atan alrededor de la cintura un cordón de algodón del grosor de una pluma de ganso, que solo las mujeres casadas tienen permitido llevar: ella es considerada ahora completamente su esposa; y en este momento se entrega la dote a la nueva pareja, que generalmente consiste en porciones de tierra, esclavos y ganado, bienes domésticos e instrumentos de labranza.
These are offered by the friends of both parties; besides which the parents of the bridegroom present gifts to those of the bride, whose property she is looked upon before marriage; but after it she is esteemed the sole property of her husband.
Estos son ofrecidos por los amigos de ambas partes; además de lo cual, los padres del novio presentan regalos a los de la novia, cuya propiedad se considera que ella es antes del matrimonio; pero después de este se la estima como propiedad exclusiva de su esposo.
The ceremony being now ended the festival begins, which is celebrated with bonefires, and loud acclamations of joy, accompanied with music and dancing.
Concluida la ceremonia comienza el festival, que se celebra con hogueras y ruidosas aclamaciones de alegría, acompañadas de música y baile.
We are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets.
Somos casi una nación de bailarines, músicos y poetas.
Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion.
Así, todo gran acontecimiento, como un regreso triunfal de la batalla u otra causa de regocijo público, se celebra con danzas públicas, que van acompañadas de canciones y música apropiadas para la ocasión.
The assembly is separated into four divisions, which dance either apart or in succession, and each with a character peculiar to itself.
La asamblea se divide en cuatro grupos, que bailan por separado o en sucesión, y cada uno con un carácter que le es propio.
Vocabulary
- Algún
- Some or any (indefinite adjective, masculine singular)
- tiempo
- Time or weather, a common noun
- después
- After or afterward, indicating later time
- ella
- She, third-person singular feminine pronoun
- es
- Is, third-person singular present of ser
- llevada
- Taken or brought, past participle of llevar
- a
- To or at, a basic preposition
- casa
- House or home, a dwelling place
- de
- Of or from, indicating possession or origin
- su
- His, her, its, or their possessive adjective
- esposo
- Husband, a married male partner
- y
- And, a basic coordinating conjunction
- entonces
- Then or at that time, temporal adverb
- se
- Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive verbs
- celebra
- Celebrates, third-person singular of celebrar
- otro
- Another or other, indicating a different one
- banquete
- Banquet, a large formal celebratory meal
- al
- To the, contraction of a and el
- que
- That or which, relative or conjunction word
- son
- Are, third-person plural present of ser
- invitados
- Guests or invited people, plural noun
- los
- The, masculine plural definite article
- parientes
- Relatives or family members, plural noun
- ambas
- Both, feminine plural adjective meaning both sides
- partes
- Parts or sides, referring to groups involved
- sus
- Their or his/her, plural possessive adjective
- padres
- Parents or fathers, plural noun
- la
- Her or the, feminine singular article or pronoun
- entregan
- Hand over or deliver, third-person plural present
- novio
- Groom or boyfriend, male partner in relationship
- acompañada
- Accompanied, past participle of acompañar feminine
- una
- A or one, feminine singular indefinite article
- serie
- Series or sequence of related things
- bendiciones
- Blessings, plural of bendición, religious good wishes
- mismo
- Same or himself, emphasizing identity or sameness
- le
- Him or her, indirect object pronoun
- atan
- They tie or bind, third-person plural of atar
- alrededor
- Around, indicating surrounding something or someone
- cintura
- Waist, the middle part of the body
- cordón
- Cord or string, a thin rope or band
- algodón
- Cotton, a natural fiber used in textiles
- del
- Of the, contraction of de and el
- grosor
- Thickness, the measure of how thick something is
- pluma
- Feather or pen, a bird's feather
- ganso
- Goose, a large water bird
- solo
- Only or alone, indicating exclusivity or solitude
- las
- The, feminine plural definite article
- mujeres
- Women, plural of mujer, adult female humans
- casadas
- Married women, feminine plural adjective
- tienen
- Have, third-person plural present of tener
- permitido
- Permitted or allowed, past participle of permitir
- llevar
- To carry or wear, a common everyday verb
- considerada
- Considered, feminine past participle of considerar
- ahora
- Now, indicating the present moment in time
- completamente
- Completely or fully, an adverb of degree
- esposa
- Wife, a married female partner
- en
- In or on, a basic locative preposition
- este
- This, masculine singular demonstrative adjective
- momento
- Moment, a brief point in time
- entrega
- Delivers or hands over, from entregar
- dote
- Dowry, property given at time of marriage
- nueva
- New, feminine adjective indicating something recent
- pareja
- Couple or partner, two people together
- generalmente
- Generally or usually, indicating common occurrence
- consiste
- Consists of, third-person singular of consistir
- porciones
- Portions or shares, divided amounts of something
- tierra
- Land or earth, ground or territory
- esclavos
- Slaves, people forced into servitude
- ganado
- Livestock or cattle, farm animals collectively
- bienes
- Goods or assets, material possessions or property
- domésticos
- Domestic, relating to the home or household
- e
- And, used before words starting with i or hi
- instrumentos
- Instruments or tools, devices for work or music
- labranza
- Farming or tillage, cultivating the land
- Estos
- These, masculine plural demonstrative pronoun
- ofrecidos
- Offered, masculine plural past participle of ofrecer
- por
- By or for, indicating agent or reason
- amigos
- Friends, plural of amigo, male companions
- además
- Furthermore or in addition, additive adverb
- lo
- It or him, masculine singular direct object pronoun
- cual
- Which, relative pronoun used in formal contexts
- presentan
- Present or give, third-person plural of presentar
- regalos
- Gifts or presents, items given to someone
- novia
- Bride or girlfriend, female partner in relationship
- cuya
- Whose, feminine singular relative possessive pronoun
- propiedad
- Property or ownership, something one possesses
- considera
- Considers, third-person singular of considerar
- antes
- Before, indicating prior time or position
- matrimonio
- Marriage or matrimony, legal union of partners
- pero
- But, a basic adversative conjunction
- estima
- Esteems or considers, from estimar, to value
- como
- As or like, used for comparison or manner
- exclusiva
- Exclusive, belonging solely to one person
- Concluida
- Concluded or finished, feminine past participle
- ceremonia
- Ceremony, a formal ritual or celebratory event
- comienza
- Begins, third-person singular of comenzar
- el
- The, masculine singular definite article
- festival
- Festival, a celebratory event or celebration
- con
- With, indicating accompaniment or means
- hogueras
- Bonfires, large outdoor fires for celebration
- ruidosas
- Noisy or loud, feminine plural adjective
- aclamaciones
- Acclamations or cheers, shouts of approval
- alegría
- Joy or happiness, a feeling of delight
- acompañadas
- Accompanied, feminine plural past participle
- música
- Music, organized sound for artistic expression
- baile
- Dance or ball, rhythmic movement to music
- Somos
- We are, first-person plural present of ser
- casi
- Almost or nearly, indicating close approximation
- nación
- Nation, a country or people sharing culture
- bailarines
- Dancers, plural of bailarín, people who dance
- músicos
- Musicians, people who play or perform music
- poetas
- Poets, people who write poetry
- Así
- Thus or so, indicating manner or consequence
- todo
- All or every, indicating totality or completeness
- gran
- Great or big, adjective indicating importance or size
- acontecimiento
- Event or occurrence, a significant happening
- regreso
- Return, coming back to a place
- triunfal
- Triumphal, relating to a victory or triumph
- batalla
- Battle, a fight between armed forces
- u
- Or, used before words starting with o or ho
- otra
- Other or another, feminine singular adjective
- causa
- Cause or reason, what produces an effect
- regocijo
- Rejoicing or great joy, festive celebration
- público
- Public, relating to people or community generally
- danzas
- Dances, plural of danza, formal dance forms
- públicas
- Public, feminine plural adjective for open events
- van
- Go, third-person plural present of ir
- canciones
- Songs, plural of canción, musical vocal pieces
- apropiadas
- Appropriate or suitable, feminine plural adjective
- para
- For or in order to, indicating purpose or recipient
- ocasión
- Occasion or event, a particular time or opportunity
- La
- The, feminine singular definite article
- asamblea
- Assembly or gathering, a group meeting together
- divide
- Divides, third-person singular of dividir
- cuatro
- Four, the number 4
- grupos
- Groups, plural of grupo, sets of people
- bailan
- Dance, third-person plural present of bailar
- separado
- Separately or apart, indicating individual performance
- o
- Or, a basic disjunctive conjunction
- sucesión
- Succession, following one after another in order
- cada
- Each or every, indicating individual members
- uno
- One, masculine singular number or pronoun
- carácter
- Character or nature, distinctive quality or trait
- propio
- Own or proper, belonging specifically to someone
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