The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments — Page 15
This is a point which I deem of much importance to set the work in its proper light before my countrymen.
C'est un point que je juge d'une grande importance pour présenter l'œuvre sous son vrai jour à mes compatriotes.
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;
J'ai résidé dans un pays où l'on croit encore fermement que les génies obéissent à l'appel du magicien ou du possesseur d'un talisman, et qu'ils interviennent dans les événements de la vie quotidienne ;
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."
et j'ai écouté des récits de leurs actes rapportés comme des faits réels par des personnes de la plus haute honorabilité, et par certains qui n'auraient pas daigné lire les contes des « Mille et Une Nuits », simplement parce qu'ils sont des fictions et qu'ils ne sont pas écrits dans le style poli habituel des compositions littéraires. »
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.
J'ai déjà mentionné que l'histoire littéraire des « Mille et Une Nuits » est examinée dans la Revue de M. Lane annexée à cette traduction.
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;
Au cours de mes études arabes, et plus particulièrement depuis que je me suis occupé à éditer le présent ouvrage, j'ai cherché à former un jugement impartial sur cette question difficile ;
and all my researches have confirmed me in agreeing with the opinions there expressed.
et toutes mes recherches m'ont confirmé dans mon accord avec les opinions qui y sont exprimées.
Von Hammer was inclined to lay too much stress on the supposed Persian or Indian origin of these Tales;
Von Hammer était enclin à accorder trop d'importance à l'origine supposée persane ou indienne de ces contes ;
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.
tandis que De Sacy, en revanche, rejetait l'idée de tout lien entre l'ancien ouvrage et le plus moderne, soutenant que ce dernier était une production indépendante.
The discovery, however, of a passage in an Arabic author, by Von Hammer, since the publication of De Sacy's Essay and Mr.
La découverte, cependant, d'un passage chez un auteur arabe, par Von Hammer, depuis la publication de l'Essai de De Sacy et de M.
Vocabulary
- C'
- Contraction of 'ce'; used before vowel sounds
- est
- Third person singular of 'être'; means 'is'
- un
- Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'
- point
- A point, matter, or issue under consideration
- que
- Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'
- je
- First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'
- juge
- To judge or consider something; first person singular present
- d'
- Contraction of 'de' before a vowel; meaning 'of'
- une
- Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
- grande
- Feminine adjective meaning great, large, or important
- importance
- The quality of being significant or of great consequence
- pour
- Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'
- présenter
- To present, introduce, or show something to someone
- l'
- Definite article 'le' or 'la' contracted before vowel
- œuvre
- A work, especially a literary or artistic creation
- sous
- Preposition meaning 'under' or 'in' a certain light
- son
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'
- vrai
- Adjective meaning true, real, or genuine
- jour
- Day; also used figuratively to mean light or perspective
- à
- Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'for'
- mes
- Plural possessive adjective meaning 'my'
- compatriotes
- Fellow citizens or people from the same country
- J'
- Contraction of 'je' before a vowel; meaning 'I'
- ai
- First person singular of 'avoir'; means 'have'
- résidé
- Past participle of 'résider'; meaning lived or resided
- dans
- Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside' a place
- pays
- Country, land, or region where people live
- où
- Relative adverb or conjunction meaning 'where'
- on
- Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'people', or 'they'
- croit
- Third person singular of 'croire'; to believe
- encore
- Adverb meaning still, yet, or again
- fermement
- Adverb meaning firmly, strongly, or with conviction
- les
- Plural definite article meaning 'the'
- génies
- Plural of génie; supernatural spirits or genie figures
- obéissent
- Third person plural of 'obéir'; to obey or comply
- appel
- A call, summons, or appeal made to someone
- du
- Contraction of 'de le' meaning 'of the'
- magicien
- A magician or sorcerer who practices magic arts
- ou
- Conjunction meaning 'or', offering an alternative
- possesseur
- A possessor or owner of something valuable
- talisman
- A magical object believed to bring luck or power
- et
- Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses
- qu'
- Contraction of 'que' before a vowel; meaning 'that'
- ils
- Third person plural masculine pronoun meaning 'they'
- interviennent
- Third person plural of 'intervenir'; to intervene or step in
- événements
- Events or occurrences that take place in life
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'
- la
- Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- vie
- Life, existence, or the course of living
- quotidienne
- Feminine adjective meaning daily or everyday
- j'
- Contraction of 'je' before a vowel; meaning 'I'
- écouté
- Past participle of 'écouter'; to have listened
- des
- Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'of the'
- récits
- Accounts, narratives, or stories told by someone
- leurs
- Plural possessive adjective meaning 'their'
- actes
- Acts, deeds, or actions performed by someone
- rapportés
- Reported or recounted as facts by witnesses
- comme
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'
- faits
- Facts or deeds; plural of 'fait'
- réels
- Plural adjective meaning real, actual, or genuine
- par
- Preposition meaning 'by' or 'through'
- personnes
- Persons or individuals, people in general
- plus
- Adverb meaning more or most, used in comparisons
- haute
- Feminine adjective meaning high or elevated in standing
- certains
- Certain ones; some particular people or things
- qui
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'
- n'
- Contraction of 'ne' before a vowel; negation particle
- auraient
- Conditional of 'avoir'; would have, third person plural
- pas
- Negation word used with 'ne' to mean 'not'
- daigné
- Past participle of 'daigner'; condescended or deigned to
- lire
- Infinitive meaning to read a text or book
- contes
- Tales or short stories, often of a fantastic nature
- Mille
- The number one thousand; used in 'Mille et Une Nuits'
- Une
- Feminine form of 'un'; meaning 'one'
- Nuits
- Plural of 'nuit'; nights, as in 'One Thousand and One Nights'
- simplement
- Adverb meaning simply, merely, or just
- parce
- Used in 'parce que' meaning 'because'
- sont
- Third person plural of 'être'; meaning 'are'
- fictions
- Invented stories or narratives not based on fact
- ne
- Negation particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs
- écrits
- Past participle of 'écrire'; written texts or documents
- le
- Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- style
- Style, manner, or way of writing or expression
- poli
- Polished, refined, or polite in manner or language
- habituel
- Usual, habitual, or customary in practice
- compositions
- Written works, compositions, or literary pieces
- littéraires
- Plural adjective relating to literature or literary works
- déjà
- Adverb meaning already or previously
- mentionné
- Past participle of 'mentionner'; mentioned or referred to
- histoire
- History or story; a narrative of past events
- littéraire
- Adjective meaning literary, relating to literature
- examinée
- Past participle of 'examiner'; examined or reviewed carefully
- Revue
- A review or journal publishing scholarly articles
- M.
- Abbreviation for 'Monsieur'; Mr. or a gentleman
- annexée
- Past participle of 'annexer'; appended or attached to
- cette
- Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'
- traduction
- A translation of a text from one language to another
- Au
- Contraction of 'à le' meaning 'at the' or 'in the'
- cours
- Course or progression; 'au cours de' means during
- études
- Studies or academic research undertaken by a person
- arabes
- Plural adjective meaning Arabic or Arab in origin
- particulièrement
- Adverb meaning particularly, especially, or specifically
- depuis
- Preposition meaning since or for a period of time
- me
- First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'
- suis
- First person singular of 'être'; meaning 'am'
- occupé
- Past participle of 'occuper'; engaged or busy with something
- éditer
- To edit or publish a text or literary work
- présent
- Present; current or existing at this time
- ouvrage
- A work, especially a book or literary production
- cherché
- Past participle of 'chercher'; sought or tried to find
- former
- To form or develop an opinion or judgment
- jugement
- A judgment or reasoned opinion about something
- impartial
- Fair and unbiased, not favoring one side
- sur
- Preposition meaning 'on', 'about', or 'concerning'
- question
- A question, issue, or matter under discussion
- difficile
- Adjective meaning difficult, hard, or challenging
- toutes
- Feminine plural of 'tout'; meaning all or every
- recherches
- Research, investigations, or scholarly inquiries
- m'
- Contraction of 'me' before a vowel; meaning 'me'
- ont
- Third person plural of 'avoir'; meaning 'have'
- confirmé
- Past participle of 'confirmer'; confirmed or verified
- mon
- Masculine singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'
- accord
- Agreement or accord with a position or opinion
- avec
- Preposition meaning 'with' another person or thing
- opinions
- Opinions or views expressed on a subject
- y
- Pronoun meaning 'there' or referring to a previously mentioned place
- exprimées
- Past participle of 'exprimer'; expressed or stated clearly
- était
- Imperfect of 'être'; was, third person singular past
- enclin
- Inclined or prone to a particular tendency or view
- accorder
- To grant, give, or accord importance to something
- trop
- Adverb meaning too much or excessively
- origine
- Origin, source, or beginning of something
- supposée
- Supposed or assumed, not confirmed as fact
- persane
- Feminine adjective meaning Persian, relating to Persia
- indienne
- Feminine adjective meaning Indian, relating to India
- ces
- Plural demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'
- tandis
- Used in 'tandis que' meaning 'whereas' or 'while'
- De
- Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'; part of proper name
- en
- Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'by'
- revanche
- Used in 'en revanche' meaning 'on the other hand'
- rejetait
- Imperfect of 'rejeter'; was rejecting or dismissing
- idée
- An idea, notion, or concept held by someone
- tout
- Any, all, or every; used in expressions like 'tout lien'
- lien
- A link, connection, or bond between two things
- entre
- Preposition meaning 'between' two or more things
- ancien
- Adjective meaning old, ancient, or former
- moderne
- Adjective meaning modern, contemporary, or current
- soutenant
- Present participle of 'soutenir'; maintaining or arguing
- ce
- Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'
- dernier
- Adjective meaning last, latter, or most recent
- production
- A production or creation; something produced independently
- indépendante
- Feminine adjective meaning independent or self-contained
- La
- Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- découverte
- A discovery or finding of something previously unknown
- cependant
- Adverb meaning however, nevertheless, or yet
- passage
- A passage or excerpt found in a written text
- chez
- Preposition meaning 'in the work of' or 'at the place of'
- auteur
- An author or writer of a literary work
- arabe
- Adjective meaning Arabic; relating to Arab culture
- publication
- The act of publishing or a published work
- Essai
- An essay or scholarly attempt to examine a topic
- M
- Abbreviation for 'Monsieur'; Mr. or a scholarly gentleman
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