← The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments

The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments — Page 15

English → Spanish Preface Level 7/10

This is a point which I deem of much importance to set the work in its proper light before my countrymen.

Este es un punto que considero de gran importancia para presentar la obra bajo su verdadera luz ante mis compatriotas.

I have resided in a land where genii are still firmly believed to obey the summons of the magician or the owner of a talisman, and to act in occurrences of every day;

He residido en una tierra donde se cree firmemente que los genios obedecen todavía la llamada del mago o del dueño de un talismán, y que intervienen en los sucesos de cada día;

and I have listened to stories of their deeds related as facts by persons of the highest respectability, and by some who would not condescend to read the tales of 'The Thousand and One Nights,' merely because they are fictions, and not written in the usual polished style of literary compositions."

y he escuchado historias de sus hazañas relatadas como hechos reales por personas de la más alta respetabilidad, y por algunas que no se dignarían leer los cuentos de 'Las Mil y una Noches,' simplemente porque son ficciones y no están escritos en el estilo pulido habitual de las composiciones literarias."

I have already mentioned that the literary history of "The Thousand and One Nights" is discussed in Mr. Lane's Review appended to this translation.

Ya he mencionado que la historia literaria de «Las Mil y una Noches» se examina en la Reseña del Sr. Lane adjunta a esta traducción.

In the course of my Arabic studies, and more especially since I have been occupied in editing the present work, I have endeavoured to form an unbiassed judgment on this difficult question;

En el transcurso de mis estudios de árabe, y más especialmente desde que me he ocupado en editar la presente obra, he procurado formarme un juicio imparcial sobre esta difícil cuestión;

and all my researches have confirmed me in agreeing with the opinions there expressed.

y todas mis investigaciones me han confirmado en mi acuerdo con las opiniones allí expresadas.

Von Hammer was inclined to lay too much stress on the supposed Persian or Indian origin of these Tales;

Von Hammer tendía a dar demasiada importancia al supuesto origen persa o indio de estos Cuentos;

while De Sacy, on the other hand, rejected the belief in any connection between the old work and the more modern; contending that the latter was an independent production.

mientras que De Sacy, por otro lado, rechazaba la creencia en cualquier conexión entre la obra antigua y la más moderna, sosteniendo que esta última era una producción independiente.

The discovery, however, of a passage in an Arabic author, by Von Hammer, since the publication of De Sacy's Essay and Mr.

El descubrimiento, sin embargo, de un pasaje en un autor árabe, por parte de Von Hammer, tras la publicación del Ensayo de De Sacy y del Sr.

Vocabulary

Este
Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this'
es
Third person singular present tense of 'ser' (to be)
un
Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
punto
Point, dot, or specific matter under discussion
que
Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'
considero
First person singular of 'considerar'; I consider or regard
de
Preposition indicating origin, possession, or description
gran
Adjective meaning great or large in importance
importancia
Noun meaning importance or significance of something
para
Preposition meaning for, in order to, or by
presentar
To present, introduce, or show something to someone
la
Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular)
obra
Work, literary or artistic creation, or labor
bajo
Preposition meaning under or beneath; also adjective low
su
Possessive adjective meaning his, her, its, or their
verdadera
Adjective meaning true, genuine, or real (feminine)
luz
Noun meaning light, illumination, or clarity
ante
Preposition meaning before, in front of, or faced with
mis
Possessive adjective meaning my (plural form)
compatriotas
Fellow countrymen or people sharing the same nationality
He
First person singular auxiliary verb; I have (done something)
residido
Past participle of 'residir'; having resided or lived somewhere
en
Preposition meaning in, on, or at a place
una
Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine)
tierra
Land, earth, ground, or native country
donde
Relative adverb meaning where or in which place
se
Reflexive or impersonal pronoun used in various constructions
cree
Third person singular of 'creer'; one believes or thinks
firmemente
Adverb meaning firmly, strongly, or with conviction
los
Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine plural)
genios
Genies or supernatural spirits in folklore and mythology
obedecen
Third person plural of 'obedecer'; they obey or comply
todavía
Adverb meaning still, yet, or even now
llamada
Call, summons, or the act of calling someone
del
Contraction of 'de' and 'el' meaning 'of the'
mago
Magician, wizard, or sorcerer with supernatural powers
o
Conjunction meaning 'or' indicating an alternative
dueño
Owner, master, or possessor of something or someone
talismán
Talisman or charm believed to have magical protective powers
y
Conjunction meaning 'and' connecting words or clauses
intervienen
Third person plural of 'intervenir'; they intervene or participate
sucesos
Events, happenings, or occurrences in a narrative
cada
Adjective meaning each or every individual item
día
Noun meaning day or daytime period
escuchado
Past participle of 'escuchar'; having listened to or heard
historias
Stories, histories, or narrative accounts of events
sus
Possessive adjective meaning his, her, its, or their (plural)
hazañas
Feats, exploits, or remarkable deeds accomplished by someone
relatadas
Past participle of 'relatar'; narrated or recounted (feminine plural)
como
Conjunction or adverb meaning as, like, or how
hechos
Facts, deeds, or events that actually occurred
reales
Adjective meaning real, true, or actual (plural)
por
Preposition meaning by, through, for, or because of
personas
People or individuals as members of society
más
Adverb or adjective meaning more or most
alta
Adjective meaning high, tall, or elevated (feminine)
respetabilidad
Respectability or quality of being worthy of respect
algunas
Adjective or pronoun meaning some or a few (feminine)
no
Negation adverb meaning no or not
leer
To read written text or literary material
cuentos
Short stories, tales, or fictional narrative accounts
Las
Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine plural)
Mil
One thousand; numeral used in titles and counting
Noches
Nights; periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise
simplemente
Adverb meaning simply, merely, or just plainly
porque
Conjunction meaning because or for the reason that
son
Third person plural present of 'ser'; they are
ficciones
Fictions or invented literary narratives not based on fact
están
Third person plural of 'estar'; they are (state/location)
escritos
Writings or texts; past participle of 'escribir' (plural)
el
Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular)
estilo
Style, manner, or characteristic form of expression
pulido
Polished, refined, or elegantly finished in style
habitual
Adjective meaning usual, habitual, or customary
composiciones
Compositions or literary and artistic works created
literarias
Adjective meaning literary or relating to literature (feminine plural)
Ya
Adverb meaning already, now, or at this point
mencionado
Past participle of 'mencionar'; mentioned or referred to previously
historia
History or story; narrative of past or fictional events
literaria
Adjective meaning literary or pertaining to literature (feminine)
examina
Third person singular of 'examinar'; examines or studies carefully
Reseña
Review, summary, or critical account of a work
Sr
Abbreviation for 'señor'; title meaning Mr. or sir
adjunta
Adjective meaning attached, enclosed, or appended (feminine)
a
Preposition meaning to, at, or toward something
esta
Demonstrative adjective meaning this (feminine singular)
traducción
Translation; a text converted from one language to another
En
Preposition meaning in, on, or at (beginning of phrase)
transcurso
Course or passage of time during a period
estudios
Studies or academic investigations into a subject
árabe
Adjective or noun relating to Arab culture or language
especialmente
Adverb meaning especially, particularly, or above all
desde
Preposition meaning since, from, or starting at a point
me
First person singular reflexive or object pronoun meaning me
ocupado
Past participle of 'ocupar'; been busy or engaged with
editar
To edit or prepare a text or work for publication
presente
Adjective or noun meaning present, current, or this very work
procurado
Past participle of 'procurar'; tried or endeavored to achieve
formarme
Reflexive infinitive meaning to form or develop for myself
juicio
Judgment, opinion, or assessment of a matter
imparcial
Adjective meaning impartial, unbiased, or fair in judgment
sobre
Preposition meaning on, about, or concerning a topic
difícil
Adjective meaning difficult, hard, or challenging
cuestión
Question, issue, or matter under debate or discussion
todas
Adjective or pronoun meaning all or every (feminine plural)
investigaciones
Investigations, research efforts, or scholarly inquiries
han
Third person plural auxiliary 'haber'; they have (done something)
confirmado
Past participle of 'confirmar'; confirmed or verified as true
mi
Possessive adjective meaning my (singular)
acuerdo
Agreement or accord with another's position or view
con
Preposition meaning with or together with someone
opiniones
Opinions, views, or personal judgments on a subject
allí
Adverb meaning there or in that place
expresadas
Past participle of 'expresar'; expressed or stated (feminine plural)
tendía
Imperfect of 'tender'; used to tend or incline toward
dar
To give or grant something to someone
demasiada
Adjective meaning too much or excessive (feminine singular)
al
Contraction of 'a' and 'el' meaning 'to the'
supuesto
Supposed, assumed, or alleged without full proof
origen
Origin or source from which something comes
persa
Adjective or noun meaning Persian or relating to Persia
indio
Adjective or noun meaning Indian or relating to India
estos
Demonstrative adjective meaning these (masculine plural)
Cuentos
Tales or short stories; narrative fictional works
mientras
Conjunction meaning while or whereas, contrasting two situations
De
Preposition meaning of or from; also part of surnames
otro
Adjective or pronoun meaning another or other
lado
Side or aspect of something; position relative to something
rechazaba
Imperfect of 'rechazar'; used to reject or refuse something
creencia
Belief or conviction held about something
cualquier
Adjective meaning any or whichever before a noun
conexión
Connection or link between two things or ideas
entre
Preposition meaning between or among multiple things
antigua
Adjective meaning ancient, old, or from a past era (feminine)
moderna
Adjective meaning modern, current, or contemporary (feminine)
sosteniendo
Gerund of 'sostener'; maintaining or arguing a position
última
Adjective meaning last, latest, or most recent (feminine)
era
Imperfect of 'ser'; it was or used to be
producción
Production or output; something independently created or made
independiente
Adjective meaning independent or not derived from another source
El
Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular)
descubrimiento
Discovery or finding of something previously unknown
sin
Preposition meaning without or lacking something
embargo
Used in 'sin embargo' meaning however or nevertheless
pasaje
Passage or excerpt from a text or literary work
autor
Author or writer who created a literary work
parte
Part, portion, or section of a whole
tras
Preposition meaning after or behind in sequence
publicación
Publication; the act of issuing a work publicly
Ensayo
Essay or scholarly piece of nonfiction writing
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