The Souls of Black Folk — Page 11

English → Pt Full Text Level 8/10

Here at last seemed to have been discovered the mountain path to Canaan; longer than the highway of Emancipation and law, steep and rugged, but straight, leading to heights high enough to overlook life.

Aqui, por fim, parecia ter sido descoberto o caminho de montanha para Canaã; mais longo do que a estrada da Emancipação e da lei, íngreme e acidentado, mas reto, levando a alturas suficientemente elevadas para dominar a vida.

Up the new path the advance guard toiled, slowly, heavily, doggedly; only those who have watched and guided the faltering feet, the misty minds, the dull understandings, of the dark pupils of these schools know how faithfully, how piteously, this people strove to learn.

Pelo novo caminho a vanguarda avançou penosamente, devagar, pesadamente, com obstinação; apenas aqueles que observaram e guiaram os passos vacilantes, as mentes nebulosas, os entendimentos embotados dos alunos de cor dessas escolas sabem com quanta fidelidade, com quanta comiseração, esse povo se esforçou para aprender.

It was weary work.

Era um trabalho extenuante.

The cold statistician wrote down the inches of progress here and there, noted also where here and there a foot had slipped or some one had fallen.

O frio estatístico registrava os palmos de progresso aqui e ali, anotando também onde aqui e ali um pé havia escorregado ou alguém havia caído.

To the tired climbers, the horizon was ever dark, the mists were often cold, the Canaan was always dim and far away.

Para os escaladores cansados, o horizonte estava sempre escuro, as névoas eram frequentemente frias, e Canaã estava sempre distante e turva.

If, however, the vistas disclosed as yet no goal, no resting-place, little but flattery and criticism, the journey at least gave leisure for reflection and self-examination; it changed the child of Emancipation to the youth with dawning self-consciousness, self-realization, self-respect.

Se, no entanto, as perspectivas ainda não revelavam nenhum objetivo, nenhum lugar de descanso, pouco além de lisonjas e críticas, a jornada ao menos proporcionava tempo para a reflexão e o autoexame; ela transformou a criança da Emancipação no jovem com a consciência de si mesmo despertando, a autorrealização, o autorrespeito.

In those sombre forests of his striving his own soul rose before him, and he saw himself,—darkly as through a veil; and yet he saw in himself some faint revelation of his power, of his mission.

Naquelas florestas sombrias de sua luta, sua própria alma se ergueu diante dele, e ele se viu — obscuramente, como através de um véu; e ainda assim viu em si mesmo uma tênue revelação de seu poder, de sua missão.

He began to have a dim feeling that, to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another.

Ele começou a ter uma vaga sensação de que, para conquistar seu lugar no mundo, devia ser ele mesmo, e não outro.

Vocabulary

Aqui: AH-kee — Here; in this place or context.
por: por — By, for, or through; common preposition.
fim: feem — End, conclusion, or final point of something.
parecia: pah-REH-see-ah — Seemed or appeared; past imperfect of parecer.
ter: tehr — To have; auxiliary verb in compound tenses.
sido: SEE-doo — Been; past participle of the verb ser.
descoberto: des-koh-BEHR-too — Discovered or uncovered; past participle of descobrir.
o: oo — The; masculine singular definite article.
caminho: kah-MEE-nyoo — Path, road, or way to a destination.
de: deh — Of, from; very common Portuguese preposition.
montanha: mon-TAN-yah — Mountain; large natural elevation of earth.
para: PAH-rah — For, to, toward; common directional preposition.
mais: mah-ees — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree.
longo: LON-goo — Long; describing extended length or duration.
do: doo — Of the; contraction of preposition de and article o.
que: keh — That, than, which; versatile conjunction or pronoun.
a: ah — The; feminine singular definite article.
estrada: es-TRAH-dah — Road or highway for travel between places.
da: dah — Of the; contraction of de and feminine article a.
Emancipação: eh-man-see-pah-SOW — Emancipation; liberation from slavery or oppression.
e: eh — And; basic coordinating conjunction linking elements.
lei: lay — Law; rule established by authority or government.
íngreme: EEN-greh-meh — Steep; having a sharp or abrupt incline.
acidentado: ah-see-den-TAH-doo — Rugged, uneven, rough terrain or landscape.
mas: mahs — But; conjunction expressing contrast or exception.
reto: HEH-too — Straight; going directly without curves or bends.
levando: leh-VAN-doo — Leading or carrying; present participle of levar.
alturas: al-TOO-rahs — Heights; elevated places or levels above ground.
suficientemente: soo-fee-see-en-teh-MEN-teh — Sufficiently; to an adequate or enough degree.
elevadas: eh-leh-VAH-dahs — Elevated, raised high; feminine plural adjective.
dominar: doh-mee-NAR — To dominate, master, or have command over.
vida: VEE-dah — Life; the state of being alive or existence.
Pelo: PEH-loo — By the; contraction of por and masculine article o.
novo: NOH-voo — New; recently made, discovered, or introduced.
vanguarda: van-GWAR-dah — Vanguard; group leading an advance or movement.
avançou: ah-van-SOH — Advanced, moved forward; past tense of avançar.
penosamente: peh-noh-zah-MEN-teh — Painfully or laboriously; with great difficulty and effort.
devagar: deh-vah-GAR — Slowly; at a reduced or unhurried pace.
pesadamente: peh-zah-dah-MEN-teh — Heavily; with great weight or burden apparent.
com: kon — With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner.
obstinação: ob-stee-nah-SOW — Obstinacy; stubborn persistence in a course of action.
apenas: ah-PEH-nahs — Only, just; limiting adverb indicating sole exception.
aqueles: ah-KEH-lehs — Those; plural demonstrative pronoun referring to others.
observaram: ob-zer-VAH-row — Observed, watched; past tense of observar.
guiaram: ghee-AH-row — Guided, led; past tense of guiar.
os: ohs — The; masculine plural definite article.
passos: PAH-sohs — Steps, paces; movements of the feet while walking.
vacilantes: vah-see-LAN-tehs — Wavering, faltering; unsteady or hesitant in movement.
as: ahs — The; feminine plural definite article.
mentes: MEN-tehs — Minds; faculties of thought and intellectual capacity.
nebulosas: neh-boo-LOH-zahs — Cloudy, hazy, foggy; unclear or confused in thought.
entendimentos: en-ten-dee-MEN-tohs — Understandings; capacities to comprehend or grasp meaning.
embotados: em-boh-TAH-dohs — Dulled, blunted; lacking sharpness of mind or feeling.
dos: dohs — Of the; contraction of de and masculine plural os.
alunos: ah-LOO-nohs — Students, pupils; persons enrolled in a school.
cor: kor — Color; property relating to appearance of objects.
dessas: DEH-sahs — Of those; contraction of de and demonstrative essas.
escolas: es-KOH-lahs — Schools; institutions where students receive education.
sabem: SAH-beng — Know; third person plural present of saber.
quanta: KWAN-tah — How much; feminine interrogative or exclamative adjective.
fidelidade: fee-deh-lee-DAH-deh — Fidelity, faithfulness; loyalty and devotion to a cause.
comiseração: koh-mee-zeh-rah-SOW — Commiseration, compassion; feeling of sympathy for suffering.
esse: EH-seh — That, this; masculine singular demonstrative adjective.
povo: POH-voo — People, folk; a nation or community of persons.
se: seh — Reflexive pronoun or conditional conjunction meaning if.
esforçou: es-for-SOH — Strove, made effort; past tense of esforçar-se.
aprender: ah-pren-DEHR — To learn; to acquire knowledge or a new skill.
Era: EH-rah — Was; past imperfect third person singular of ser.
um: oom — A, one; masculine singular indefinite article.
trabalho: trah-BAH-lyoo — Work, labor; effort expended to accomplish a task.
extenuante: ex-teh-noo-AN-teh — Exhausting, grueling; causing extreme fatigue or weakness.
O: oo — The; masculine singular definite article.
frio: FREE-oo — Cold; low temperature; also means cold in manner.
estatístico: es-tah-TEES-tee-koo — Statistical; relating to the collection of numerical data.
registrava: heh-jees-TRAH-vah — Recorded, registered; past imperfect of registrar.
palmos: PAL-mohs — Handspans; small units of measurement; tiny increments.
progresso: proh-GREH-soo — Progress; forward movement toward improvement or goal.
aqui: ah-KEE — Here; in this place or at this point.
ali: ah-LEE — There; at that place, over there.
anotando: ah-noh-TAN-doo — Noting down, recording; present participle of anotar.
também: tam-BENG — Also, too; adverb indicating addition or agreement.
onde: ON-deh — Where; interrogative or relative adverb of place.
pé: peh — Foot; the lower extremity of the leg.
havia: ah-VEE-ah — Had, there was; past imperfect of haver.
escorregado: es-koh-heh-GAH-doo — Slipped; past participle of escorregar, to slip.
ou: oh — Or; conjunction presenting an alternative option.
alguém: al-GENG — Someone, somebody; indefinite pronoun referring to a person.
caído: kah-EE-doo — Fallen; past participle of cair, to fall.
Para: PAH-rah — For, to; preposition indicating purpose or direction.
escaladores: es-kah-lah-DOH-rehs — Climbers; persons who scale mountains or heights.
cansados: kan-SAH-dohs — Tired, weary; experiencing fatigue from exertion.
horizonte: oh-ree-ZON-teh — Horizon; line where earth and sky appear to meet.
estava: es-TAH-vah — Was; past imperfect of estar, temporary state.
sempre: SEM-preh — Always; at all times without exception.
escuro: es-KOO-roo — Dark; lacking light or clear visibility.
névoas: NEH-voh-ahs — Mists, fogs; light clouds of water vapor near ground.
eram: EH-rong — Were; past imperfect third person plural of ser.
frequentemente: freh-kwen-teh-MEN-teh — Frequently, often; happening many times regularly.
frias: FREE-ahs — Cold; feminine plural adjective describing low temperature.
distante: dees-TAN-teh — Distant, far away; located at a great remove.
turva: TOO-vah — Murky, turbid, unclear; lacking clarity or transparency.
Se: seh — If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical clause.
no: noo — In the; contraction of em and masculine article o.
entanto: en-TAN-too — However; used in no entanto meaning nevertheless.
perspectivas: pers-pek-TEE-vahs — Perspectives, prospects; outlooks or future possibilities.
ainda: ah-EEN-dah — Still, yet; adverb indicating continuity or persistence.
não: now — No, not; primary word of negation in Portuguese.
revelavam: heh-veh-LAH-vong — Revealed, showed; past imperfect of revelar.
nenhum: neh-NYOOM — No, none, not any; negative indefinite adjective.
objetivo: ob-jeh-TEE-voo — Objective, goal; an aim or intended outcome.
lugar: loo-GAR — Place, location; a particular spot or position.
descanso: des-KAN-soo — Rest, repose; a period of relaxation from effort.
pouco: POH-koo — Little, few; a small amount or degree.
além: ah-LENG — Beyond, furthermore; further in space or addition.
lisonjas: lee-ZON-zhahs — Flatteries, compliments; excessive or insincere praises.
críticas: KREE-tee-kahs — Criticisms; evaluations identifying faults or shortcomings.
jornada: zhor-NAH-dah — Journey, trek; a long or arduous trip or course.
ao: ow — To the; contraction of a and masculine article o.
menos: MEH-nohs — Less, at least; comparative adverb of small degree.
proporcionava: proh-por-see-oh-NAH-vah — Provided, afforded; past imperfect of proporcionar.
tempo: TEM-poo — Time; the ongoing sequence of events or duration.
reflexão: heh-flex-SOW — Reflection; deep or careful thought about something.
autoexame: ow-toh-eg-ZAH-meh — Self-examination; careful introspective review of oneself.
ela: EH-lah — She, it; feminine third person singular pronoun.
transformou: trans-for-MOH — Transformed, changed; past tense of transformar.
criança: kree-AN-sah — Child; a young human being, boy or girl.
jovem: ZHO-veng — Young person, youth; someone in early stages of life.
consciência: kon-see-EN-see-ah — Conscience, consciousness; moral awareness of right and wrong.
si: see — Himself, herself, itself; reflexive pronoun after preposition.
mesmo: MEZ-moo — Same, himself, even; used for emphasis or identity.
despertando: des-per-TAN-doo — Awakening, arousing; present participle of despertar.
autorrealização: ow-toh-heh-ah-lee-zah-SOW — Self-realization; achieving one's full personal potential.
autorrespeito: ow-toh-hes-PAY-too — Self-respect; proper regard for one's own dignity.
Naquelas: nah-KEH-lahs — In those; contraction of em and demonstrative aquelas.
florestas: flo-RES-tahs — Forests; large areas densely covered with trees.
sombrias: som-BREE-ahs — Dark, gloomy, shadowy; lacking light and cheerfulness.
sua: SOO-ah — His, her, its, your; third person possessive adjective.
luta: LOO-tah — Struggle, fight; a strenuous effort or conflict.
própria: PROH-pree-ah — Own, proper; belonging exclusively to oneself.
alma: AL-mah — Soul; the spiritual or immaterial essence of a person.
ergueu: er-GEH-oo — Rose, raised; past tense of erguer, to lift.
diante: dee-AN-teh — Before, in front of; positioned ahead of something.
dele: DEH-leh — Of him, his; contraction of de and pronoun ele.
ele: EH-leh — He; masculine third person singular subject pronoun.
viu: vee-OO — Saw; past tense of ver, to see.
obscuramente: obs-koo-rah-MEN-teh — Obscurely, dimly; in an unclear or indistinct manner.
como: KOH-moo — As, like, how; conjunction or adverb of comparison.
através: ah-trah-VESH — Through, across; passing from one side to another.
véu: VEH-oo — Veil; thin fabric covering obscuring sight or truth.
assim: ah-SEENG — Thus, so, this way; adverb of manner or consequence.
em: eng — In, at, on; basic preposition of location or state.
uma: OO-mah — A, one; feminine singular indefinite article.
tênue: TEH-nweh — Faint, tenuous; very slight, delicate, or barely perceptible.
revelação: heh-veh-lah-SOW — Revelation; a surprising or divine disclosure of truth.
seu: SEH-oo — His, her, its, your; possessive adjective masculine singular.
poder: poh-DEHR — Power, ability; capacity or authority to act or influence.
missão: mee-SOW — Mission; an important task or calling one must fulfill.
Ele: EH-leh — He; masculine third person singular subject pronoun.
começou: koh-meh-SOH — Began, started; past tense of começar.
vaga: VAH-gah — Vague, faint; not clearly defined or expressed.
sensação: sen-sah-SOW — Sensation, feeling; a physical or emotional impression.
conquistar: kon-kees-TAR — To conquer, win over; to gain control or victory.
mundo: World; the earth and all living things upon it.
devia: deh-VEE-ah — Should, ought to; past imperfect of dever.
ser: sehr — To be; fundamental verb expressing identity or essence.
outro: OH-troo — Other, another; a different or additional person or thing.

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