← The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 1

English → Pt CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

_The author's account of his country, and their manners and customs--Administration of justice--Embrenche--Marriage ceremony, and public entertainments--Mode of living--Dress--Manufactures Buildings--Commerce--Agriculture--War and religion--Superstition of the natives--Funeral ceremonies of the priests or magicians--Curious mode of discovering poison--Some hints concerning the origin of the author's countrymen, with the opinions of different writers on that subject._

_O relato do autor sobre seu país, e seus modos e costumes--Administração da justiça--Embrenche--Cerimônia de casamento e entretenimentos públicos--Modo de vida--Vestuário--Manufaturas--Edifícios--Comércio--Agricultura--Guerra e religião--Superstição dos nativos--Cerimônias fúnebres dos sacerdotes ou magos--Curioso modo de descobrir veneno--Algumas observações sobre a origem dos compatriotas do autor, com as opiniões de diferentes escritores sobre o assunto._

I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage under which they labour: it is also their misfortune, that what is uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed, and what is obvious we are apt to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence.

Creio que é difícil para aqueles que publicam suas próprias memórias escapar da imputação de vaidade; nem é esta a única desvantagem sob a qual trabalham: é também sua infelicidade que o que é incomum raramente, se é que alguma vez, é acreditado, e o que é óbvio tendemos a rejeitar com repulsa, e a acusar o escritor de impertinência.

People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity: all others they consign to contempt and oblivion.

As pessoas geralmente consideram dignas de serem lidas ou lembradas apenas aquelas memórias que abundam em grandes ou marcantes acontecimentos, aquelas, em suma, que em alto grau despertam admiração ou piedade: todas as outras elas relegam ao desprezo e ao esquecimento.

It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public; especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant.

É, portanto, confesso, não pouco arriscado para um indivíduo particular e obscuro, e ainda estrangeiro, solicitar assim a indulgente atenção do público; especialmente quando admito que ofereço aqui a história de nenhum santo, herói ou tirano.

Vocabulary

O: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
relato: Account or narrative report of events.
do: Contraction of 'de' and 'o', meaning 'of the'.
autor: Person who writes or creates a work.
sobre: Preposition meaning 'about' or 'on'.
seu: Possessive pronoun meaning 'his', 'her', or 'your'.
país: Nation or country where people live.
e: Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
seus: Plural possessive pronoun meaning 'his', 'her', 'their'.
modos: Ways, manners, or customs of behavior.
costumes: Traditional customs or habitual practices of a people.
Administração: Administration or management of an organization or system.
da: Contraction of 'de' and 'a', meaning 'of the'.
justiça: Justice or fairness in legal or moral contexts.
Cerimônia: Formal ceremony or ritual occasion observed traditionally.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'.
casamento: Marriage or wedding ceremony between two people.
entretenimentos: Forms of public entertainment or amusement activities.
públicos: Relating to the public or open to everyone.
Modo: Way or manner of doing something.
vida: Life or the manner in which one lives.
Vestuário: Clothing or garments worn by people.
Manufaturas: Goods produced by hand or manufacturing processes.
Edifícios: Buildings or structures constructed for habitation or use.
Comércio: Commerce or trade of goods and services.
Agricultura: Farming or cultivation of land for food production.
Guerra: War or armed conflict between groups or nations.
religião: Religion or system of spiritual beliefs and practices.
Superstição: Superstition or irrational belief in supernatural influences.
dos: Contraction of 'de' and 'os', meaning 'of the'.
nativos: Native or indigenous people of a particular region.
Cerimônias: Plural of ceremony; formal rituals or observances.
fúnebres: Funerary; relating to death rites or burial ceremonies.
sacerdotes: Priests or religious officiants in a spiritual community.
ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative.
magos: Sorcerers, magicians, or wise men with mystical powers.
Curioso: Curious or unusual; something that arouses interest.
modo: Way or manner of doing or experiencing something.
descobrir: To discover or uncover something previously unknown.
veneno: Poison or toxic substance harmful to living beings.
Algumas: Some or a few; indefinite quantity of things.
observações: Observations or remarks made after careful examination.
a: Feminine definite article or preposition meaning 'the'/'to'.
origem: Origin or source from which something comes.
compatriotas: Fellow countrymen or people from the same nation.
com: Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment.
as: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
opiniões: Opinions or personal views held on a subject.
diferentes: Different or varying; not the same as others.
escritores: Writers or authors who produce literary works.
o: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
assunto: Subject or topic being discussed or addressed.
Creio: First-person singular of 'crer'; I believe or think.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
é: Third-person singular of 'ser'; means 'is'.
difícil: Difficult or hard; requiring effort or skill.
para: Preposition meaning 'for', 'to', or 'in order to'.
aqueles: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' referring to distant things.
publicam: Third-person plural of 'publicar'; they publish or release.
suas: Feminine plural possessive pronoun meaning 'their' or 'your'.
próprias: Own; belonging specifically to the subject mentioned.
memórias: Memoirs or personal recollections of past experiences.
escapar: To escape or avoid something undesirable or threatening.
vaidade: Vanity or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements.
nem: Nor or neither; used in negative constructions.
esta: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' for feminine nouns.
única: Only or sole; the single one of its kind.
desvantagem: Disadvantage or unfavorable condition affecting someone.
sob: Preposition meaning 'under' or 'beneath' something.
qual: Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who'.
trabalham: Third-person plural of 'trabalhar'; they work or labor.
também: Adverb meaning 'also' or 'too', adding information.
sua: Possessive pronoun meaning 'his', 'her', 'your', or 'its'.
infelicidade: Unhappiness or misfortune experienced by someone.
incomum: Uncommon or unusual; not frequently seen or experienced.
raramente: Rarely or seldom; not happening very often.
se: Reflexive pronoun or conjunction meaning 'if' or 'oneself'.
alguma: Some or any; referring to an unspecified feminine noun.
vez: Time or instance; used in expressions like 'sometimes'.
acreditado: Believed or trusted; past participle of 'acreditar'.
óbvio: Obvious or evident; easily understood or recognized.
tendemos: First-person plural of 'tender'; we tend or incline.
rejeitar: To reject or refuse to accept something offered.
repulsa: Repulsion or strong feeling of disgust and rejection.
acusar: To accuse or charge someone with wrongdoing.
escritor: Writer or author who produces texts and literature.
As: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
pessoas: People or persons; human beings in general.
geralmente: Generally or usually; in most cases or typically.
consideram: They consider or regard something in a particular way.
dignas: Worthy or deserving; meriting respect or attention.
serem: Infinitive plural of 'ser'; to be, used with subjects.
lidas: Past participle of 'ler'; read, as in texts read.
lembradas: Past participle of 'lembrar'; remembered or recalled by someone.
apenas: Only or merely; used to limit or restrict meaning.
aquelas: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' for feminine nouns.
abundam: They abound or are full of something in abundance.
em: Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'on'.
grandes: Great or large; impressive in size or importance.
marcantes: Striking or remarkable; leaving a strong impression.
acontecimentos: Events or occurrences that happen in the world.
suma: Sum or in short; used in phrase 'em suma' meaning 'in summary'.
alto: High or tall; elevated in degree or position.
grau: Degree or level of something measured or ranked.
despertam: They awaken or arouse a feeling or reaction.
admiração: Admiration or wonder felt toward something impressive.
piedade: Pity or compassion felt toward someone suffering.
todas: All or every; referring to the entirety of a group.
outras: Others or the rest; different ones from those mentioned.
elas: Third-person feminine plural pronoun meaning 'they'.
relegam: They relegate or consign something to an inferior position.
ao: Contraction of 'a' and 'o', meaning 'to the'.
desprezo: Contempt or disdain; lack of respect for something.
esquecimento: Oblivion or forgetfulness; state of being forgotten.
É: Third-person singular of 'ser'; means 'is'.
portanto: Therefore or thus; indicating a logical conclusion.
confesso: I confess or admit; acknowledging something openly.
não: No or not; used to negate statements or requests.
pouco: Little or few; a small amount of something.
arriscado: Risky or dangerous; involving potential harm or failure.
um: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
indivíduo: Individual or person considered as a single entity.
particular: Private or particular; relating to a specific individual.
obscuro: Obscure or unknown; not famous or widely recognized.
ainda: Still or yet; indicating continuation or additional emphasis.
estrangeiro: Foreigner or stranger; person from another country.
solicitar: To request or solicit something from someone formally.
assim: Thus or so; in this way or manner.
indulgente: Indulgent or lenient; tolerant and forgiving toward others.
atenção: Attention or focus directed toward something or someone.
público: Public or audience; people in general or spectators.
especialmente: Especially or particularly; more than in other cases.
quando: When; conjunction indicating time or condition.
admito: I admit or acknowledge something as true or valid.
ofereço: I offer or present something to someone.
aqui: Here; indicating a nearby place or current location.
história: History or story; an account of past or fictional events.
nenhum: No or none; indicating the absence of something.
santo: Saint or holy person revered for spiritual virtue.
herói: Hero; person admired for bravery and noble qualities.
tirano: Tyrant; cruel ruler who exercises absolute oppressive power.

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