The Souls of Black Folk — Page 4
they say, I know an excellent colored man in my town;
eles dizem, eu conheço um excelente homem de cor na minha cidade;
or, I fought at Mechanicsville; or, Do not these Southern outrages make your blood boil?
ou, eu lutei em Mechanicsville; ou, Esses ultrajes do Sul não fazem seu sangue ferver?
At these I smile, or am interested, or reduce the boiling to a simmer, as the occasion may require.
A isso eu sorrio, ou me mostro interessado, ou reduzo a fervura a um lento cozinhar, conforme a ocasião exija.
To the real question, How does it feel to be a problem? I answer seldom a word.
À pergunta real, Como é ser um problema? Eu raramente respondo uma palavra.
And yet, being a problem is a strange experience,—peculiar even for one who has never been anything else, save perhaps in babyhood and in Europe.
E no entanto, ser um problema é uma experiência estranha — peculiar até mesmo para alguém que nunca foi outra coisa, salvo talvez na primeira infância e na Europa.
It is in the early days of rollicking boyhood that the revelation first bursts upon one, all in a day, as it were.
É nos primeiros dias de uma infância animada que a revelação irrompe pela primeira vez sobre alguém, tudo de uma vez, por assim dizer.
I remember well when the shadow swept across me.
Lembro-me bem de quando a sombra passou sobre mim.
I was a little thing, away up in the hills of New England, where the dark Housatonic winds between Hoosac and Taghkanic to the sea.
Eu era uma criança pequena, lá no alto das colinas de Nova Inglaterra, onde o sombrio Housatonic serpenteia entre Hoosac e Taghkanic até o mar.
In a wee wooden schoolhouse, something put it into the boys' and girls' heads to buy gorgeous visiting-cards—ten cents a package—and exchange.
Em uma pequena escola de madeira, algo colocou na cabeça dos meninos e das meninas a ideia de comprar lindos cartões de visita — dez centavos o pacote — e trocá-los.
The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card,—refused it peremptorily, with a glance.
A troca foi alegre, até que uma menina, uma recém-chegada alta, recusou meu cartão — recusou-o peremptoriamente, com um olhar.
Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil.
Então me ocorreu com uma certa subitaneidade que eu era diferente dos outros; ou semelhante, talvez, no coração e na vida e no anseio, mas excluído do mundo deles por um vasto véu.
Vocabulary
- eles
- EH-lesh — Third person plural pronoun meaning 'they'
- dizem
- DEE-zeng — Third person plural present tense of 'to say'
- eu
- EH-oo — First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'
- conheço
- koh-NYEH-soo — First person singular present tense of 'to know (a person)'
- um
- oong — Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'
- excelente
- esh-seh-LEHN-teh — Adjective meaning outstanding or of very high quality
- homem
- OH-meng — Noun meaning an adult male person
- de
- deh — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'
- cor
- kohr — Noun meaning color or skin color
- na
- nah — Contraction of 'em' and 'a' meaning 'in the'
- minha
- MEEN-yah — First person singular feminine possessive meaning 'my'
- cidade
- see-DAH-deh — Noun meaning an urban settlement or city
- ou
- oh — Conjunction meaning 'or' offering an alternative
- lutei
- loo-TEH-ee — First person singular past tense of 'to fight'
- em
- eng — Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'on'
- Esses
- EH-sehs — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'those' or 'these'
- ultrajes
- ool-TRAH-zhesh — Noun meaning outrages, grave offenses, or atrocities
- do
- doo — Contraction of 'de' and 'o' meaning 'of the'
- Sul
- sool — Noun meaning the southern direction or region
- não
- nowng — Adverb or particle meaning 'no' or 'not'
- fazem
- FAH-zeng — Third person plural present tense of 'to do' or 'to make'
- seu
- seh-oo — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'your'
- sangue
- SANG-geh — Noun meaning the red fluid circulating in the body
- ferver
- fehr-VEHR — Verb meaning to boil or to bubble with heat
- A
- ah — Definite article meaning 'the' in feminine singular
- isso
- EE-soo — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'
- sorrio
- soh-RREE-oo — First person singular past tense of 'to smile'
- me
- meh — First person singular reflexive or object pronoun 'me'
- mostro
- MOHS-troo — First person singular present tense of 'to show'
- interessado
- een-teh-reh-SAH-doo — Adjective meaning engaged, curious, or showing interest
- reduzo
- heh-DOO-zoo — First person singular present tense of 'to reduce'
- a
- ah — Feminine definite article or preposition meaning 'to'
- fervura
- fehr-VOO-rah — Noun meaning the act or state of boiling
- lento
- LEHN-too — Adjective or adverb meaning slow or at low pace
- cozinhar
- koh-zeen-YAHR — Verb meaning to prepare food using heat
- conforme
- kohn-FOHR-meh — Conjunction or preposition meaning 'according to' or 'as'
- ocasião
- oh-kah-zee-OWng — Noun meaning a particular time, event, or opportunity
- exija
- eh-ZHEE-zhah — Third person singular present subjunctive of 'to require'
- À
- ah — Contraction of 'a' and 'a' meaning 'to the' feminine
- pergunta
- pehr-GOON-tah — Noun meaning a question or inquiry posed to someone
- real
- heh-AHL — Adjective meaning actual, genuine, or truly existing
- Como
- KOH-moo — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how' or 'as'
- é
- eh — Third person singular present tense of 'to be'
- ser
- sehr — Verb meaning to be in a permanent or essential state
- problema
- proh-BLEH-mah — Noun meaning a difficulty, issue, or challenge
- Eu
- EH-oo — First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'
- raramente
- hah-rah-MEHN-teh — Adverb meaning seldom or not very often
- respondo
- heh-SPOHN-doo — First person singular present tense of 'to answer'
- uma
- OO-mah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
- palavra
- pah-LAH-vrah — Noun meaning a single unit of spoken or written language
- E
- ee — Conjunction meaning 'and' connecting words or clauses
- no
- noo — Contraction of 'em' and 'o' meaning 'in the'
- entanto
- ehn-TAHN-too — Used in 'no entanto' meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'
- experiência
- esh-peh-ree-EHN-see-ah — Noun meaning knowledge or feeling gained through living
- estranha
- esh-TRAH-nyah — Adjective meaning strange, odd, or unfamiliar
- peculiar
- peh-koo-lee-AHR — Adjective meaning unusual, distinctive, or strange
- até
- ah-TEH — Preposition or adverb meaning 'until', 'up to', or 'even'
- mesmo
- MEH-zmoo — Adjective or adverb meaning 'same', 'even', or 'itself'
- para
- PAH-rah — Preposition meaning 'for', 'to', or 'in order to'
- alguém
- ahl-GEHNG — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'someone' or 'somebody'
- que
- keh — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'who'
- nunca
- NOON-kah — Adverb meaning 'never' at no point in time
- foi
- foy — Third person singular simple past of 'to be' or 'to go'
- outra
- OH-trah — Feminine adjective or pronoun meaning 'another' or 'other'
- coisa
- KOY-zah — Noun meaning a thing, object, or matter
- salvo
- SAHL-voo — Preposition meaning 'except' or 'save for'
- talvez
- tahl-VEHSH — Adverb meaning perhaps or possibly
- primeira
- pree-MEH-rah — Feminine ordinal adjective meaning 'first'
- infância
- een-FAHN-see-ah — Noun meaning early childhood or the period of being young
- e
- ee — Conjunction meaning 'and' linking elements together
- É
- eh — Third person singular present of 'to be', meaning 'it is'
- nos
- noosh — Contraction of 'em' and 'os' meaning 'in the' plural
- primeiros
- pree-MEH-roosh — Masculine plural ordinal adjective meaning 'first'
- dias
- DEE-ash — Noun meaning days, plural of 'dia'
- animada
- ah-nee-MAH-dah — Adjective meaning lively, animated, or spirited
- revelação
- heh-veh-lah-SOWNG — Noun meaning a surprising or meaningful disclosure of truth
- irrompe
- ee-HOHM-peh — Third person singular present tense of 'to burst forth'
- pela
- PEH-lah — Contraction of 'por' and 'a' meaning 'through the'
- vez
- vehsh — Noun meaning 'time' as in an instance or occasion
- sobre
- SOH-breh — Preposition meaning 'about', 'over', or 'on top of'
- tudo
- TOO-doo — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'everything' or 'all'
- por
- pohr — Preposition meaning 'by', 'for', or 'through'
- assim
- ah-SEENG — Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'in this way'
- dizer
- dee-ZEHR — Verb meaning to say, speak, or express in words
- Lembro-me
- LEHM-broo meh — Reflexive first person singular of 'to remember'
- bem
- beng — Adverb meaning 'well' or 'correctly'
- quando
- KWAHN-doo — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'
- sombra
- SOHM-brah — Noun meaning shadow, shade, or darkness
- passou
- pah-SOH — Third person singular simple past of 'to pass'
- mim
- meeng — First person singular prepositional object pronoun 'me'
- era
- EH-rah — First or third person singular imperfect of 'to be'
- criança
- kree-AHN-sah — Noun meaning a young child or infant
- pequena
- peh-KEH-nah — Feminine adjective meaning small or little in size
- lá
- lah — Adverb meaning 'there', indicating a distant place
- alto
- AHL-too — Adjective or adverb meaning tall, high, or loudly
- das
- dahsh — Contraction of 'de' and 'as' meaning 'of the' feminine plural
- colinas
- koh-LEE-nahsh — Noun meaning hills or small elevated landforms
- Nova
- NOH-vah — Feminine adjective meaning 'new', used in proper names
- onde
- OHN-deh — Adverb or relative pronoun meaning 'where'
- o
- oo — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- sombrio
- sohm-BREE-oo — Adjective meaning gloomy, dark, or somber
- serpenteia
- sehr-pehn-TEH-yah — Third person singular present of 'to wind' or 'to meander'
- entre
- EHN-treh — Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'
- mar
- mahr — Noun meaning the sea or a large body of saltwater
- Em
- eng — Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'on'
- escola
- esh-KOH-lah — Noun meaning a place of education or learning
- madeira
- mah-DEH-rah — Noun meaning wood or timber as a material
- algo
- AHL-goo — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something'
- colocou
- koh-loh-KOH — Third person singular simple past of 'to place' or 'to put'
- cabeça
- kah-BEH-sah — Noun meaning head, the uppermost body part
- dos
- doosh — Contraction of 'de' and 'os' meaning 'of the' masculine plural
- meninos
- meh-NEE-noosh — Noun meaning boys or young male children
- meninas
- meh-NEE-nahsh — Noun meaning girls or young female children
- ideia
- ee-DEH-yah — Noun meaning a thought, concept, or mental plan
- comprar
- kohm-PRAHR — Verb meaning to purchase or buy something
- lindos
- LEEN-doosh — Masculine plural adjective meaning beautiful or lovely
- cartões
- kahr-TOYNGSH — Noun meaning cards, plural of 'cartão'
- visita
- vee-ZEE-tah — Noun meaning a visit or the act of visiting someone
- dez
- dehsh — Cardinal number meaning ten
- centavos
- sehn-TAH-voosh — Noun meaning cents, small monetary units
- pacote
- pah-KOH-teh — Noun meaning a packet, package, or bundle
- trocá-los
- troh-KAH-loosh — Infinitive plus pronoun meaning 'to exchange them'
- troca
- TROH-kah — Noun meaning an exchange or swap between parties
- alegre
- ah-LEH-greh — Adjective meaning happy, cheerful, or joyful
- menina
- meh-NEE-nah — Noun meaning a girl or young female child
- recém-chegada
- heh-SENG sheh-GAH-dah — Adjective phrase meaning newly arrived or just come
- alta
- AHL-tah — Feminine adjective meaning tall or high
- recusou
- heh-koo-ZOH — Third person singular simple past of 'to refuse'
- meu
- MEH-oo — First person singular masculine possessive meaning 'my'
- cartão
- kahr-TOWNG — Noun meaning a card, such as a greeting or business card
- recusou-o
- heh-koo-ZOH oo — Past tense 'refused it' with clitic pronoun attached
- peremptoriamente
- peh-rehmp-toh-ree-ah-MEHN-teh — Adverb meaning in a peremptory, decisive, or abrupt manner
- com
- kohng — Preposition meaning 'with' indicating accompaniment
- olhar
- oh-LYAHR — Noun or verb meaning a look, gaze, or to look at
- Então
- ehn-TOWNG — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'then', 'so', or 'therefore'
- ocorreu
- oh-koh-HEH-oo — Third person singular past of 'to occur' or 'to happen'
- certa
- SEHR-tah — Feminine adjective meaning 'certain', 'sure', or 'a certain'
- subitaneidade
- soo-bee-tah-neh-ee-DAH-deh — Noun meaning suddenness or the quality of being abrupt
- diferente
- dee-feh-REHN-teh — Adjective meaning different or distinct from something else
- outros
- OH-troosh — Masculine plural pronoun or adjective meaning 'others'
- semelhante
- seh-meh-LYAHN-teh — Adjective meaning similar or resembling another thing
- coração
- koh-rah-SOWNG — Noun meaning the heart as organ or emotional center
- vida
- VEE-dah — Noun meaning life or one's existence
- anseio
- ahn-SEH-yoo — Noun or verb meaning a longing, yearning, or deep desire
- mas
- mahsh — Conjunction meaning 'but' indicating contrast
- excluído
- esh-kloo-EE-doo — Adjective meaning excluded, shut out, or left out
- mundo
- MOON-doo — Noun meaning the world or all of human society
- deles
- DEH-lesh — Third person plural masculine possessive meaning 'their'
- vasto
- VAHSH-too — Adjective meaning vast, immense, or very large in extent
- véu
- VEH-oo — Noun meaning a veil or thin concealing covering
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