White nights, and other stories — Page 9

English → Fr Full Text Level 7/10

But the moment passes, and next day you meet, maybe, the same pensive and preoccupied look as before, the same pale face, the same meek and timid movements, and even signs of remorse, traces of a mortal anguish and regret for the fleeting distraction....

Mais le moment passe, et le lendemain vous retrouvez peut-être le même regard pensif et préoccupé qu'auparavant, le même visage pâle, les mêmes mouvements doux et timides, et même des signes de remords, des traces d'une angoisse mortelle et de regrets pour la distraction fugitive....

And you grieve that the momentary beauty has faded so soon never to return, that it flashed upon you so treacherously, so vainly, grieve because you had not even time to love her....

Et vous vous affligez que la beauté passagère se soit si vite évanouie pour ne jamais revenir, qu'elle vous ait apparu si traîtreusement, si vainement, vous affligez de n'avoir même pas eu le temps de l'aimer....

And yet my night was better than my day! This was how it happened.

Et pourtant ma nuit fut meilleure que mon jour ! Voici comment cela se passa.

I came back to the town very late, and it had struck ten as I was going towards my lodgings.

Je rentrai en ville très tard, et dix heures venaient de sonner lorsque je me dirigeais vers mon logement.

My way lay along the canal embankment, where at that hour you never meet a soul.

Mon chemin longeait le quai du canal, où à cette heure-là on ne rencontre jamais âme qui vive.

It is true that I live in a very remote part of the town.

Il est vrai que j'habite dans un quartier très écarté de la ville.

I walked along singing, for when I am happy I am always humming to myself like every happy man who has no friend or acquaintance with whom to share his joy.

Je marchais en chantant, car lorsque je suis heureux je fredonne toujours pour moi-même, comme tout homme heureux qui n'a ni ami ni connaissance avec qui partager sa joie.

Suddenly I had a most unexpected adventure.

Soudain, il m'arriva une aventure des plus inattendues.

Leaning on the canal railing stood a woman with her elbows on the rail, she was apparently looking with great attention at the muddy water of the canal.

Appuyée sur la rambarde du canal, les coudes posés sur le garde-fou, se tenait une femme qui semblait regarder avec une grande attention l'eau bourbeuse du canal.

She was wearing a very charming yellow hat and a jaunty little black mantle.

Elle portait un très charmant chapeau jaune et une petite cape noire élégante.

"She's a girl, and I am sure she is dark," I thought.

« C'est une jeune fille, et je suis sûr qu'elle est brune », pensai-je.

Vocabulary

Mais: mɛ — Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
le: lə — Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
moment: mɔmɑ̃ — A brief period or point in time.
passe: pas — Third person singular of 'passer'; passes or goes by.
et: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
lendemain: lɑ̃dmɛ̃ — The next day or the day after.
vous: vu — Second person plural or formal pronoun meaning 'you'.
retrouvez: rətruве — You find again or rediscover something or someone.
peut-être: pøtɛtr — Adverb meaning 'perhaps' or 'maybe'.
même: mɛm — Adjective or adverb meaning 'same' or 'even'.
regard: rəɡar — A look or gaze directed at someone or something.
pensif: pɑ̃sif — Adjective describing a thoughtful or pensive expression.
préoccupé: preɔkype — Adjective meaning preoccupied, worried, or troubled mentally.
qu'auparavant: koparavɑ̃ — Than before; more so than previously.
visage: vizaʒ — The face of a person.
pâle: pal — Adjective describing a light or pale complexion.
les: le — Definite article 'the' for plural nouns.
mêmes: mɛm — Plural of 'même'; meaning 'the same ones'.
mouvements: muvmɑ̃ — Movements or motions of the body.
doux: du — Adjective meaning gentle, soft, or mild.
timides: timid — Adjective meaning shy, timid, or hesitant.
des: de — Plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'of the'.
signes: siɲ — Signs or gestures indicating feelings or meaning.
de: də — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
remords: rəmɔr — Remorse or deep regret for past actions.
traces: tras — Traces, marks, or signs left behind.
d'une: dyn — Contraction of 'de une'; of a (feminine).
angoisse: ɑ̃ɡwas — Anguish, dread, or intense anxiety.
mortelle: mɔrtɛl — Adjective meaning deadly, mortal, or fatal.
regrets: rəɡrɛ — Feelings of sorrow or regret for something lost.
pour: pur — Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
la: la — Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
distraction: distraksj̃ɔ — A brief diversion or moment of absent-mindedness.
fugitive: fyʒitiv — Adjective meaning fleeting, brief, or passing quickly.
Et: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
affligez: afliʒe — You grieve or are distressed about something.
que: kə — Conjunction meaning 'that' or relative pronoun 'which/who'.
beauté: bote — Beauty; the quality of being aesthetically pleasing.
passagère: pasaʒɛr — Adjective meaning transient, fleeting, or temporary.
se: sə — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'herself', 'himself', or 'itself'.
soit: swa — Subjunctive form of 'être'; be or may be.
si: si — Adverb meaning 'so' or 'such' indicating degree.
vite: vit — Adverb meaning quickly or fast.
évanouie: evanwi — Vanished, disappeared, or faded away completely.
ne: nə — Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
jamais: ʒamɛ — Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'.
revenir: rəvənir — To come back or return to a place.
qu'elle: kɛl — Contraction of 'que elle'; that she.
ait: ɛ — Subjunctive form of 'avoir'; has or may have.
apparu: apary — Past participle of 'apparaître'; appeared or emerged.
traîtreusement: trɛtrøzmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning treacherously or in a deceitful manner.
vainement: vɛnmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning in vain, uselessly, or to no avail.
n'avoir: navwar — Negated infinitive of 'avoir'; not to have.
pas: pa — Negative particle used with 'ne' to negate verbs.
eu: y — Past participle of 'avoir'; had.
temps: tɑ̃ — Time; the period available to do something.
l'aimer: lɛme — To love her or him; infinitive with pronoun.
pourtant: purtɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'yet', 'however', or 'nevertheless'.
ma: ma — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for feminine nouns.
nuit: nɥi — Night; the period of darkness after sunset.
fut: fy — Simple past of 'être'; was.
meilleure: mɛjœr — Adjective meaning better; superior in quality.
mon: mɔ̃ — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for masculine nouns.
jour: ʒur — Day; the period of light between sunrise and sunset.
Voici: vwasi — Here is or here are; used to introduce something.
comment: kɔmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'how'; asking or describing manner.
cela: səla — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this thing'.
passa: pasa — Simple past of 'passer'; passed or happened.
Je: ʒə — First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
rentrai: rɑ̃tre — Simple past of 'rentrer'; I returned or went back.
en: ɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in', 'to', or 'by'.
ville: vil — City or town; an urban settlement.
très: trɛ — Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
tard: tar — Adverb meaning late; after the expected time.
dix: dis — The number ten.
heures: œr — Hours; units of time or o'clock.
venaient: vənɛ — Imperfect of 'venir'; they were coming or approaching.
sonner: sɔne — To ring or strike; as a clock chiming the hour.
lorsque: lɔrskə — Conjunction meaning 'when' or 'at the time that'.
je: ʒə — First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
me: mə — Reflexive or object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
dirigeais: diriʒɛ — Imperfect of 'diriger'; I was heading or making my way.
vers: vɛr — Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'.
logement: lɔʒmɑ̃ — Lodging, housing, or one's place of residence.
Mon: mɔ̃ — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' for masculine nouns.
chemin: ʃmɛ̃ — A path, road, or route to a destination.
longeait: lɔ̃ʒɛ — Imperfect of 'longer'; ran alongside or skirted along.
quai: ke — A quay, embankment, or platform along a waterway.
du: dy — Contraction of 'de le'; of the (masculine).
canal: kanal — A canal; an artificial waterway for boats.
où: u — Relative adverb meaning 'where' or 'in which'.
à: a — Preposition meaning 'at', 'to', or 'in'.
cette: sɛt — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' for feminine nouns.
heure-là: œrla — That particular hour; at that time of night.
on: ɔ̃ — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'we', or 'people'.
rencontre: rɑ̃kɔ̃tr — One meets or encounters someone or something.
âme: am — Soul; the spiritual or inner essence of a person.
qui: ki — Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
vive: viv — Subjunctive of 'vivre'; alive or living (âme qui vive: soul alive).
Il: il — Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
est: ɛ — Third person singular of 'être'; is.
vrai: vrɛ — Adjective meaning true or real.
j'habite: ʒabit — I live or reside in a particular place.
dans: dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'.
un: œ̃ — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for masculine nouns.
quartier: kartje — A neighborhood or district within a city.
écarté: ekarte — Adjective meaning remote, secluded, or out-of-the-way.
marchais: marʃɛ — Imperfect of 'marcher'; I was walking along.
chantant: ʃɑ̃tɑ̃ — Present participle of 'chanter'; singing as one walks.
car: kar — Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'for'.
suis: sɥi — First person singular of 'être'; I am.
heureux: ørø — Adjective meaning happy or joyful.
fredonne: frədɔn — Hums to oneself; sings softly under one's breath.
toujours: tuʒur — Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still'.
moi-même: mwamɛm — Emphatic reflexive pronoun meaning 'myself'.
comme: kɔm — Conjunction or preposition meaning 'like' or 'as'.
tout: tu — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'whole'.
homme: ɔm — A man or human being.
n'a: na — Negated form of 'avoir'; does not have.
ni: ni — Conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor'.
ami: ami — A friend or close companion.
connaissance: kɔnɛsɑ̃s — An acquaintance; someone one knows slightly.
avec: avɛk — Preposition meaning 'with'.
partager: partaʒe — To share something with another person.
sa: sa — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine noun).
joie: ʒwa — Joy; a feeling of great happiness or delight.
Soudain: sudɛ̃ — Adverb meaning suddenly or all at once.
il: il — Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
m'arriva: mariva — Simple past of 'arriver'; happened to me.
une: yn — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.
aventure: avɑ̃tyr — An adventure or unexpected event that occurs.
plus: ply — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'; comparative marker.
inattendues: inatɑ̃dy — Adjective meaning unexpected or unforeseen (plural feminine).
Appuyée: apɥije — Past participle meaning leaning or resting against something.
sur: syr — Preposition meaning 'on' or 'upon'.
rambarde: rɑ̃bard — A railing or guardrail along a bridge or walkway.
coudes: kud — Elbows; the joints in the middle of the arms.
posés: poze — Past participle meaning placed or resting on a surface.
garde-fou: gardfу — A parapet or guardrail preventing falls over an edge.
tenait: tənɛ — Imperfect of 'tenir'; was standing or holding a position.
femme: fam — A woman or wife.
semblait: sɑ̃blɛ — Imperfect of 'sembler'; seemed or appeared to be.
regarder: rəɡarde — To look at or watch something or someone.
grande: ɡrɑ̃d — Adjective meaning great, large, or intense.
attention: atɑ̃sjɔ̃ — Attention; careful observation directed at something.
l'eau: lo — The water; liquid essential for life.
bourbeuse: burböz — Adjective meaning muddy, murky, or turbid water.
Elle: ɛl — Third person singular feminine pronoun meaning 'she'.
portait: pɔrtɛ — Imperfect of 'porter'; was wearing or carrying something.
charmant: ʃarmɑ̃ — Adjective meaning charming, delightful, or attractive.
chapeau: ʃapo — A hat or cap worn on the head.
jaune: ʒon — Adjective meaning yellow in color.
petite: pətit — Adjective meaning small or little (feminine form).
cape: kap — A cape or short cloak worn over the shoulders.
noire: nwar — Adjective meaning black in color (feminine form).
élégante: eleɡɑ̃t — Adjective meaning elegant, stylish, or graceful.
C'est: sɛ — Contraction of 'ce est'; it is or that is.
jeune: ʒœn — Adjective meaning young or youthful.
fille: fij — A girl or young woman.
sûr: syr — Adjective meaning sure, certain, or definite.
brune: bryn — Adjective meaning dark-haired or brunette (feminine form).
pensai-je: pɑ̃seʒ — Inverted form of 'je pensai'; I thought to myself.

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