The Scarlet Letter — Page 5

English → Fr Full Text Level 8/10

But, as thoughts are frozen and utterance benumbed, unless the speaker stand in some true relation with his audience, it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive, though not the closest friend, is listening to our talk; and then, a native reserve being thawed by this genial consciousness, we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us, and even of ourself, but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil.

Mais, comme les pensées se figent et que la parole s'engourdit, à moins que l'orateur n'entretienne quelque véritable relation avec son auditoire, il peut être pardonnable d'imaginer qu'un ami, un ami bienveillant et compréhensif, bien que non le plus proche, écoute notre conversation ; et alors, une réserve naturelle étant dégelée par cette conscience cordiale, nous pouvons bavarder des circonstances qui nous entourent, et même de nous-même, mais en gardant toujours le Moi le plus intime derrière son voile.

To this extent, and within these limits, an author, methinks, may be autobiographical, without violating either the reader's rights or his own.

Dans cette mesure, et dans ces limites, un auteur, me semble-t-il, peut être autobiographique, sans violer ni les droits du lecteur ni les siens propres.

It will be seen, likewise, that this Custom-House sketch has a certain propriety, of a kind always recognized in literature, as explaining how a large portion of the following pages came into my possession, and as offering proofs of the authenticity of a narrative therein contained.

On verra également que cette esquisse de la Douane possède une certaine légitimité, d'un genre toujours reconnu en littérature, en ce qu'elle explique comment une grande partie des pages suivantes est entrée en ma possession, et en ce qu'elle offre des preuves de l'authenticité d'un récit qui y est contenu.

This, in fact,—a desire to put myself in my true position as editor, or very little more, of the most prolix among the tales that make up my volume,—this, and no other, is my true reason for assuming a personal relation with the public.

Ceci, en fait, — le désir de me placer dans ma véritable position d'éditeur, ou guère plus, du plus prolixe des récits qui composent mon volume, — ceci, et rien d'autre, est ma véritable raison d'assumer une relation personnelle avec le public.

In accomplishing the main purpose, it has appeared allowable, by a few extra touches, to give a faint representation of a mode of life not heretofore described, together with some of the characters that move in it, among whom the author happened to make one.

En accomplissant cet objectif principal, il a semblé permis, par quelques touches supplémentaires, de donner une légère représentation d'un mode de vie non encore décrit jusqu'alors, ainsi que de quelques-uns des personnages qui y évoluent, parmi lesquels l'auteur s'est trouvé être l'un d'eux.

Vocabulary

Mais: mɛ — Conjunction meaning 'but,' used to contrast ideas.
comme: kɔm — Conjunction or preposition meaning 'as' or 'like.'
les: le — Definite plural article meaning 'the.'
pensées: pɑ̃se — Noun meaning 'thoughts' or 'ideas' in the mind.
se: sə — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'themselves.'
figent: fiʒ — Verb 'figer' meaning to freeze, solidify, or congeal.
et: e — Conjunction meaning 'and,' linking words or clauses.
que: kə — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that,' 'which,' or 'than.'
la: la — Definite feminine singular article meaning 'the.'
parole: paʁɔl — Noun meaning 'speech' or 'spoken word.'
s': s — Contracted reflexive pronoun used before a vowel sound.
engourdit: ɑ̃ɡuʁdi — Verb 'engourdir' meaning to numb or make sluggish.
à: a — Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in.'
moins: mwɛ̃ — Adverb meaning 'less' or 'fewer.'
l': l — Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before a vowel.
orateur: ɔʁatœʁ — Noun meaning 'orator' or 'public speaker.'
n': n — Contracted negative particle used before a vowel sound.
entretienne: ɑ̃tʁətjɛn — Verb 'entretenir' meaning to maintain or keep up a relationship.
quelque: kɛlkə — Adjective or adverb meaning 'some' or 'a certain.'
véritable: veʁitabl — Adjective meaning 'true,' 'genuine,' or 'real.'
relation: ʁəlasjɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'relationship' or 'connection' between people.
avec: avɛk — Preposition meaning 'with,' indicating accompaniment or association.
son: sɔ̃ — Possessive adjective meaning 'his,' 'her,' or 'its.'
auditoire: oditwaʁ — Noun meaning 'audience' or 'listeners' of a speech.
il: il — Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it.'
peut: pø — Verb 'pouvoir' meaning 'can' or 'is able to.'
être: ɛtʁ — Infinitive verb meaning 'to be.'
pardonnable: paʁdɔnabl — Adjective meaning 'forgivable' or 'excusable.'
d': d — Contracted preposition 'de' meaning 'of' or 'from.'
imaginer: imaʒine — Verb meaning 'to imagine' or 'to picture mentally.'
qu': k — Contracted conjunction 'que' meaning 'that.'
un: œ̃ — Indefinite masculine article meaning 'a' or 'an.'
ami: ami — Noun meaning 'friend,' a close companion.
bienveillant: bjɛ̃vɛjɑ̃ — Adjective meaning 'benevolent,' 'kind,' or 'well-meaning.'
compréhensif: kɔ̃pʁeɑ̃sif — Adjective meaning 'understanding' or 'sympathetic.'
bien: bjɛ̃ — Adverb or noun meaning 'well' or 'good.'
non: nɔ̃ — Adverb meaning 'no' or 'not.'
le: lə — Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the.'
plus: ply — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most.'
proche: pʁɔʃ — Adjective meaning 'close' or 'near' in distance or relation.
écoute: ekut — Verb 'écouter' meaning 'listens' or 'is listening.'
notre: nɔtʁ — Possessive adjective meaning 'our.'
conversation: kɔ̃vɛʁsasjɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'conversation' or 'spoken exchange between people.'
alors: alɔʁ — Adverb meaning 'then,' 'so,' or 'at that time.'
une: yn — Indefinite feminine article meaning 'a' or 'an.'
réserve: ʁezɛʁv — Noun meaning 'reserve,' 'restraint,' or 'shyness.'
naturelle: natyʁɛl — Adjective meaning 'natural' or 'innate.'
étant: etɑ̃ — Present participle of 'être,' meaning 'being.'
dégelée: deʒle — Adjective meaning 'thawed' or 'unfrozen.'
par: paʁ — Preposition meaning 'by,' 'through,' or 'per.'
cette: sɛt — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that' (feminine).
conscience: kɔ̃sjɑ̃s — Noun meaning 'consciousness,' 'awareness,' or 'conscience.'
cordiale: kɔʁdjal — Adjective meaning 'cordial,' 'warm,' or 'friendly.'
nous: nu — Personal pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us.'
pouvons: puvɔ̃ — Verb 'pouvoir' meaning 'we can' or 'we are able to.'
bavarder: bavaʁde — Verb meaning 'to chat' or 'to gossip informally.'
des: de — Partitive or plural article meaning 'some' or 'of the.'
circonstances: siʁkɔ̃stɑ̃s — Noun meaning 'circumstances' or 'surrounding conditions.'
qui: ki — Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which.'
entourent: ɑ̃tuʁ — Verb 'entourer' meaning 'surround' or 'encircle.'
même: mɛm — Adjective or adverb meaning 'same,' 'even,' or 'very.'
de: də — Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'
nous-même: nu mɛm — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'ourselves.'
mais: mɛ — Conjunction meaning 'but,' expressing contrast or exception.
en: ɑ̃ — Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in,' 'by,' or 'of it.'
gardant: ɡaʁdɑ̃ — Present participle of 'garder,' meaning 'keeping' or 'maintaining.'
toujours: tuʒuʁ — Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still.'
Moi: mwa — Emphatic pronoun meaning 'me' or 'I,' the self.
intime: ɛ̃tim — Adjective meaning 'intimate,' 'private,' or 'innermost.'
derrière: dɛʁjɛʁ — Preposition meaning 'behind' or 'at the back of.'
voile: vwal — Noun meaning 'veil,' a covering concealing something.
Dans: dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within' a space or context.
mesure: məzyʁ — Noun meaning 'measure,' 'extent,' or 'degree.'
dans: dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within.'
ces: se — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those.'
limites: limit — Noun meaning 'limits' or 'boundaries.'
auteur: otœʁ — Noun meaning 'author' or 'writer' of a text.
me: mə — Personal pronoun meaning 'me' or 'to me.'
semble-t-il: sɑ̃bl t il — Expression meaning 'it seems' or 'apparently.'
autobiographique: otobjoɡʁafik — Adjective meaning 'autobiographical,' relating to one's own life.
sans: sɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'without.'
violer: vjɔle — Verb meaning 'to violate' or 'to infringe upon.'
ni: ni — Conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor.'
droits: dʁwa — Noun meaning 'rights' or 'entitlements.'
du: dy — Contracted article meaning 'of the' (masculine singular).
lecteur: lɛktœʁ — Noun meaning 'reader,' a person who reads.
siens: sjɛ̃ — Possessive pronoun meaning 'his own' or 'one's own.'
propres: pʁɔpʁ — Adjective meaning 'own,' 'proper,' or 'clean.'
On: ɔ̃ — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one,' 'we,' or 'people.'
verra: vɛʁa — Future tense of 'voir,' meaning 'will see.'
également: eɡaləmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'also,' 'equally,' or 'likewise.'
esquisse: eskis — Noun meaning 'sketch' or 'outline' of something.
Douane: dwan — Noun meaning 'customs,' referring to the customs office.
possède: pɔsɛd — Verb 'posséder' meaning 'possesses' or 'owns.'
certaine: sɛʁtɛn — Adjective meaning 'certain' or 'a particular' (feminine).
légitimité: leʒitimite — Noun meaning 'legitimacy' or 'lawfulness.'
genre: ʒɑ̃ʁ — Noun meaning 'genre,' 'type,' or 'kind.'
reconnu: ʁəkɔny — Adjective meaning 'recognized' or 'acknowledged.'
littérature: liteʁatyʁ — Noun meaning 'literature,' written artistic works.
ce: sə — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'it.'
elle: ɛl — Personal pronoun meaning 'she' or 'it' (feminine).
explique: ɛksplik — Verb 'expliquer' meaning 'explains' or 'makes clear.'
comment: kɔmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'how' or 'in what way.'
grande: ɡʁɑ̃d — Adjective meaning 'large,' 'great,' or 'big' (feminine).
partie: paʁti — Noun meaning 'part' or 'portion' of something.
pages: paʒ — Noun meaning 'pages' of a book or document.
suivantes: sɥivɑ̃t — Adjective meaning 'following' or 'next' (feminine plural).
est: ɛ — Verb 'être,' third person singular meaning 'is.'
entrée: ɑ̃tʁe — Noun or past participle meaning 'entry' or 'entered.'
ma: ma — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine singular).
possession: pɔsɛsjɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'possession' or 'ownership' of something.
offre: ɔfʁ — Verb 'offrir' meaning 'offers' or 'provides.'
preuves: pʁœv — Noun meaning 'proofs' or 'evidence.'
authenticité: otɑ̃tisite — Noun meaning 'authenticity' or 'genuineness.'
récit: ʁesi — Noun meaning 'account,' 'narrative,' or 'story.'
y: i — Pronoun meaning 'there' or 'in it.'
contenu: kɔ̃təny — Noun or adjective meaning 'content' or 'contained.'
Ceci: səsi — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'this thing.'
fait: fɛ — Noun or verb meaning 'fact' or 'does/did.'
désir: deziʁ — Noun meaning 'desire' or 'wish' for something.
placer: plase — Verb meaning 'to place' or 'to position.'
position: pozɪsjɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'position,' 'stance,' or 'place.'
éditeur: editœʁ — Noun meaning 'editor' or 'publisher' of a text.
ou: u — Conjunction meaning 'or,' offering an alternative.
guère: ɡɛʁ — Adverb meaning 'hardly,' 'scarcely,' or 'barely.'
prolixe: pʁɔliks — Adjective meaning 'verbose,' 'wordy,' or 'long-winded.'
récits: ʁesi — Noun meaning 'narratives,' 'accounts,' or 'stories.'
composent: kɔ̃poz — Verb 'composer' meaning 'compose' or 'make up.'
mon: mɔ̃ — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine singular).
volume: vɔlym — Noun meaning 'volume' or 'book.'
ceci: səsi — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this.'
rien: ʁjɛ̃ — Pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'not anything.'
autre: otʁ — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another.'
raison: ʁɛzɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'reason' or 'rationale.'
assumer: asyme — Verb meaning 'to assume' or 'to take on responsibility.
personnelle: pɛʁsɔnɛl — Adjective meaning 'personal' or 'individual' (feminine).
public: pyblik — Noun or adjective meaning 'public' or 'audience.'
En: ɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in,' 'by,' or 'while.'
accomplissant: akɔ̃plisɑ̃ — Present participle of 'accomplir,' meaning 'accomplishing.'
cet: sɛt — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' before a vowel (masculine).
objectif: ɔbʒɛktif — Noun meaning 'objective,' 'goal,' or 'aim.'
principal: pʁɛ̃sipal — Adjective meaning 'main,' 'principal,' or 'primary.'
a: a — Verb 'avoir,' third person singular meaning 'has.'
semblé: sɑ̃ble — Past participle of 'sembler,' meaning 'seemed.'
permis: pɛʁmi — Adjective or past participle meaning 'permitted' or 'allowed.'
quelques: kɛlkə — Adjective meaning 'a few' or 'some' (plural).
touches: tuʃ — Noun meaning 'touches' or 'strokes' of detail.
supplémentaires: syplementɛʁ — Adjective meaning 'additional' or 'extra.'
donner: dɔne — Verb meaning 'to give' or 'to provide.'
légère: leʒɛʁ — Adjective meaning 'light,' 'slight,' or 'delicate' (feminine).
représentation: ʁəpʁezɑ̃tasjɔ̃ — Noun meaning 'representation' or 'depiction.'
mode: mɔd — Noun meaning 'mode,' 'manner,' or 'fashion.'
vie: vi — Noun meaning 'life.'
encore: ɑ̃kɔʁ — Adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.'
décrit: dekʁi — Verb 'décrire' meaning 'described' or 'describes.'
jusqu': ʒysk — Preposition meaning 'until' or 'as far as.'
ainsi: ɛ̃si — Adverb meaning 'thus,' 'so,' or 'in this way.'
quelques-uns: kɛlkəz œ̃ — Pronoun meaning 'some' or 'a few' people or things.
personnages: pɛʁsɔnaʒ — Noun meaning 'characters' or 'figures' in a narrative.
évoluent: evɔly — Verb 'évoluer' meaning 'evolve,' 'move,' or 'develop.'
parmi: paʁmi — Preposition meaning 'among' or 'amongst.'
lesquels: lekɛl — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'among whom.'
trouvé: tʁuve — Past participle of 'trouver,' meaning 'found.'
eux: ø — Personal pronoun meaning 'them' (masculine plural).

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