White nights, and other stories — Page 7
If I chanced to meet a long procession of waggoners walking lazily with the reins in their hands beside waggons loaded with regular mountains of furniture, tables, chairs, ottomans and sofas and domestic utensils of all sorts, frequently with a decrepit cook sitting on the top of it all, guarding her master's property as though it were the apple of her eye; or if I saw boats heavily loaded with household goods crawling along the Neva or Fontanka to the Black River or the Islands--the waggons and the boats were multiplied tenfold, a hundredfold, in my eyes.
Se por acaso eu encontrava uma longa procissão de carroceiros caminhando preguiçosamente com as rédeas nas mãos ao lado de carroças carregadas com verdadeiras montanhas de móveis, mesas, cadeiras, divãs e sofás e utensílios domésticos de toda espécie, frequentemente com uma cozinheira decrépita sentada no alto de tudo, guardando a propriedade de seu amo como se fosse a menina dos seus olhos; ou se eu via barcos pesadamente carregados com pertences domésticos deslizando pelo Neva ou pelo Fontanka em direção ao Rio Negro ou às Ilhas — as carroças e os barcos se multiplicavam dez vezes, cem vezes, aos meus olhos.
I fancied that everything was astir and moving, everything was going in regular caravans to the summer villas.
Eu imaginava que tudo estava em movimento e agitação, que tudo partia em verdadeiras caravanas rumo às vilas de verão.
It seemed as though Petersburg threatened to become a wilderness, so that at last I felt ashamed, mortified and sad that I had nowhere to go for the holidays and no reason to go away.
Parecia que Petersburgo ameaçava tornar-se um deserto, de modo que por fim me senti envergonhado, mortificado e triste por não ter nenhum lugar para ir nas férias e nenhum motivo para partir.
I was ready to go away with every waggon, to drive off with every gentleman of respectable appearance who took a cab; but no one--absolutely no one--invited me; it seemed they had forgotten me, as though really I were a stranger to them!
Eu estava pronto para partir com cada carroça, para me afastar com cada cavalheiro de aparência respeitável que tomava uma carruagem; mas ninguém — absolutamente ninguém — me convidava; parecia que tinham me esquecido, como se eu fosse de fato um estranho para eles!
I took long walks, succeeding, as I usually did, in quite forgetting where I was, when I suddenly found myself at the city gates.
Eu fazia longas caminhadas, conseguindo, como de costume, esquecer completamente onde estava, quando de repente me vi diante dos portões da cidade.
Instantly I felt lighthearted, and I passed the barrier and walked between cultivated fields and meadows, unconscious of fatigue, and feeling only all over as though a burden were falling off my soul.
Imediatamente me senti com o coração leve, e atravessei a barreira e caminhei entre campos cultivados e prados, sem sentir o cansaço, experimentando apenas por todo o ser a sensação de que um fardo se desprendia da minha alma.
Vocabulary
- Se
- se — Reflexive or conditional pronoun meaning 'if' or 'oneself'
- por
- por — Preposition meaning 'by,' 'for,' or 'through'
- acaso
- ah-KAH-zoo — By chance, accidentally, or perhaps
- eu
- eh-oo — First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'
- encontrava
- en-kon-TRAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'encontrar'; was encountering or finding
- uma
- OO-mah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
- longa
- LON-gah — Feminine adjective meaning 'long' in length or duration
- procissão
- pro-see-SOWNG — A slow ceremonial parade or procession of people
- de
- de — Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about'
- carroceiros
- kah-ho-SAY-roosh — Cart drivers who transport goods by horse-drawn cart
- caminhando
- kah-mee-NYAN-doo — Present participle of 'caminhar'; walking or proceeding on foot
- preguiçosamente
- pre-gee-SO-zah-MEN-te — Adverb meaning lazily or in a slow, sluggish manner
- com
- kong — Preposition meaning 'with,' indicating accompaniment or instrument
- as
- ahsh — Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- rédeas
- HEH-de-ahsh — Reins used to guide and control a horse
- nas
- nahsh — Contraction of 'em' and 'as' meaning 'in the' (feminine plural)
- mãos
- mowngsh — Plural of 'mão'; hands as body parts
- ao
- ow — Contraction of 'a' and 'o' meaning 'to the' (masculine singular)
- lado
- LAH-doo — Side or flank; beside something or someone
- carroças
- kah-HOH-sahsh — Plural of 'carroça'; horse-drawn carts for hauling goods
- carregadas
- kah-he-GAH-dahsh — Feminine plural adjective meaning loaded or heavily laden
- verdadeiras
- ver-dah-DAY-rahsh — Feminine plural adjective meaning true, real, or genuine
- montanhas
- mon-TAH-nyahsh — Plural of 'montanha'; mountains or large heaps of things
- móveis
- MOH-vaysh — Plural noun meaning furniture or movable household items
- mesas
- MEH-zahsh — Plural of 'mesa'; tables used for dining or work
- cadeiras
- kah-DAY-rahsh — Plural of 'cadeira'; chairs used for sitting
- divãs
- dee-VANGSH — Plural of 'divã'; cushioned sofas or chaise longues
- sofás
- so-FAHSH — Plural of 'sofá'; upholstered couches for sitting or reclining
- utensílios
- oo-ten-SEE-lee-oosh — Plural noun meaning utensils or practical household implements
- domésticos
- do-MESH-tee-koosh — Adjective meaning domestic, relating to the home or household
- toda
- TOH-dah — Feminine adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'every'
- espécie
- esh-PEH-see-e — Noun meaning species, kind, or type of something
- frequentemente
- fre-kwen-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning frequently or often, on many occasions
- cozinheira
- ko-zee-NYAY-rah — Feminine noun meaning a female cook or kitchen worker
- decrépita
- de-KREH-pee-tah — Adjective meaning decrepit, aged, worn out, or feeble
- sentada
- sen-TAH-dah — Past participle of 'sentar'; seated or sitting in a place
- alto
- AHL-too — Adjective or noun meaning high, tall, or the top
- guardando
- gwar-DAN-doo — Present participle of 'guardar'; guarding, keeping, or watching over
- propriedade
- pro-pree-e-DAH-de — Noun meaning property or ownership of belongings
- amo
- AH-moo — Noun meaning master or employer; owner of servants
- fosse
- FOH-se — Past subjunctive of 'ser'; meaning 'were' in hypothetical clauses
- menina
- me-NEE-nah — Noun meaning girl or young female child
- olhos
- OH-lyoosh — Plural of 'olho'; eyes as organs of sight
- via
- VEE-ah — Past imperfect of 'ver'; was seeing or used to see
- barcos
- BAR-koosh — Plural of 'barco'; boats or small watercraft
- pesadamente
- pe-zah-dah-MEN-te — Adverb meaning heavily, in a weighty or burdened manner
- pertences
- per-TEN-sehs — Plural noun meaning belongings or personal possessions
- deslizando
- dez-lee-ZAN-doo — Present participle of 'deslizar'; gliding or sliding smoothly along
- pelo
- PEH-loo — Contraction of 'por' and 'o'; meaning 'along the' or 'through the'
- direção
- dee-re-SOWNG — Noun meaning direction or the course toward a destination
- Rio
- HEE-oo — Noun meaning river; a natural flowing body of water
- Ilhas
- EE-lyahsh — Plural of 'ilha'; islands; here referring to islands near Petersburg
- multiplicavam
- mool-tee-plee-KAH-vowng — Past imperfect of 'multiplicar'; were multiplying or increasing greatly
- dez
- desh — Cardinal number meaning ten
- cem
- seng — Cardinal number meaning one hundred
- meus
- MEH-oosh — Masculine plural possessive pronoun meaning 'my'
- imaginava
- ee-mah-zhee-NAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'imaginar'; was imagining or picturing mentally
- estava
- esh-TAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'estar'; was (in a temporary state or place)
- movimento
- mo-vee-MEN-too — Noun meaning movement, motion, or activity
- agitação
- ah-zhee-tah-SOWNG — Noun meaning agitation, commotion, or restless busy activity
- partia
- par-TEE-ah — Past imperfect of 'partir'; was departing or setting off
- caravanas
- kah-rah-VAH-nahsh — Plural of 'caravana'; caravans or groups traveling together
- rumo
- HOO-moo — Noun or preposition meaning heading toward or in the direction of
- vilas
- VEE-lahsh — Plural of 'vila'; small towns or country villas
- verão
- ve-ROWNG — Noun meaning summer, the warmest season of the year
- Parecia
- pah-re-SEE-ah — Past imperfect of 'parecer'; seemed or appeared to be something
- ameaçava
- ah-me-ah-SAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'ameaçar'; was threatening or seeming likely to become
- tornar-se
- tor-NAR-se — Reflexive verb meaning to become or to turn into something
- deserto
- de-ZER-too — Noun or adjective meaning desert; empty and abandoned place
- modo
- MOH-doo — Noun meaning manner, way, or mode of doing something
- fim
- fing — Noun meaning end, conclusion, or final point
- senti
- sen-TEE — First-person past of 'sentir'; felt an emotion or sensation
- envergonhado
- en-ver-go-NYAH-doo — Past participle adjective meaning ashamed or embarrassed
- mortificado
- mor-tee-fee-KAH-doo — Adjective meaning mortified, deeply humiliated or distressed
- triste
- TREESH-te — Adjective meaning sad or sorrowful in mood or feeling
- nenhum
- ne-NYOONG — Adjective or pronoun meaning no, none, or not any
- lugar
- loo-GAR — Noun meaning place, location, or spot to go
- para
- PAH-rah — Preposition meaning 'for,' 'to,' or 'in order to'
- férias
- FEH-ree-ahsh — Plural noun meaning vacation, holidays, or time off work
- motivo
- mo-TEE-voo — Noun meaning reason, motive, or cause for an action
- partir
- par-TEER — Verb infinitive meaning to leave, depart, or set off
- pronto
- PRON-too — Adjective meaning ready or prepared; also 'done' or 'finished'
- cada
- KAH-dah — Determiner meaning each or every individual item or person
- afastar
- ah-fash-TAR — Verb meaning to move away, distance, or push something aside
- cavalheiro
- kah-vah-LYAY-roo — Noun meaning gentleman; a well-mannered or respectable man
- aparência
- ah-pah-REN-see-ah — Noun meaning appearance or outward look of a person
- respeitável
- hesh-pay-TAH-vel — Adjective meaning respectable or worthy of esteem and regard
- tomava
- to-MAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'tomar'; was taking or boarding (a vehicle)
- carruagem
- kah-hoo-AH-zheng — Noun meaning carriage; a horse-drawn passenger vehicle
- mas
- mahsh — Conjunction meaning 'but,' introducing contrast or exception
- ninguém
- ning-GENG — Pronoun meaning nobody or no one at all
- absolutamente
- ab-so-loo-tah-MEN-te — Adverb meaning absolutely, completely, or without any exception
- convidava
- kon-vee-DAH-vah — Past imperfect of 'convidar'; was inviting or used to invite
- tinham
- TEE-nyowng — Third-person plural past imperfect of 'ter'; they had or possessed
- esquecido
- esh-ke-SEE-doo — Past participle of 'esquecer'; forgotten or overlooked entirely
- fato
- FAH-too — Noun meaning fact, event, or reality of a situation
- estranho
- esh-TRAN-yoo — Adjective meaning strange, odd, or unfamiliar
- fazia
- fah-ZEE-ah — Past imperfect of 'fazer'; was doing or making something habitually
- longas
- LON-gahsh — Feminine plural adjective meaning long in duration or distance
- caminhadas
- kah-mee-NYAH-dahsh — Plural noun meaning walks or hikes taken on foot
- conseguindo
- kon-se-GHIN-doo — Present participle of 'conseguir'; managing or succeeding in doing
- costume
- kosh-TOO-me — Noun meaning habit, custom, or usual practice of behavior
- esquecer
- esh-ke-SER — Verb infinitive meaning to forget something or someone
- completamente
- kom-ple-tah-MEN-te — Adverb meaning completely, entirely, or totally without exception
- onde
- ON-de — Adverb meaning where; indicating location or destination
- repente
- he-PEN-te — Noun used in 'de repente' meaning suddenly or all at once
- vi
- vee — First-person past of 'ver'; I saw or I noticed something
- diante
- dee-AN-te — Adverb or preposition meaning in front of or before
- portões
- por-TOWNGSH — Plural of 'portão'; large gates at the entrance of a city
- cidade
- see-DAH-de — Noun meaning city or large urban settlement
- Imediatamente
- ee-me-dee-ah-tah-MEN-te — Adverb meaning immediately, right away, without any delay
- coração
- ko-rah-SOWNG — Noun meaning heart, the organ or symbol of emotion
- leve
- LEH-ve — Adjective meaning light in weight or free from burden
- atravessei
- ah-trah-ve-SAY — First-person past of 'atravessar'; I crossed or passed through
- barreira
- bah-HAY-rah — Noun meaning barrier, boundary gate, or checkpoint at city's edge
- caminhei
- kah-mee-NYAY — First-person past of 'caminhar'; I walked toward a destination
- entre
- EN-tre — Preposition meaning between or among multiple things or places
- campos
- KAM-poosh — Plural of 'campo'; fields or open rural areas of land
- cultivados
- kool-tee-VAH-doosh — Past participle adjective meaning cultivated or farmed agricultural land
- prados
- PRAH-doosh — Plural of 'prado'; meadows or grassy open fields
- sentir
- sen-TEER — Verb infinitive meaning to feel, sense, or perceive emotionally
- cansaço
- kan-SAH-soo — Noun meaning tiredness, fatigue, or physical exhaustion
- experimentando
- esh-pe-ree-men-TAN-doo — Present participle of 'experimentar'; experiencing or feeling something
- apenas
- ah-PEH-nahsh — Adverb meaning only, just, or merely, limiting a statement
- ser
- ser — Verb meaning 'to be'; also noun meaning being or self
- sensação
- sen-sah-SOWNG — Noun meaning sensation or feeling experienced by the senses
- fardo
- FAR-doo — Noun meaning burden, heavy load, or oppressive weight
- desprendia
- desh-pren-DEE-ah — Past imperfect of 'desprender'; was detaching or releasing itself from
- minha
- MEE-nyah — Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'my' (singular feminine noun)
- alma
- AHL-mah — Noun meaning soul or spirit, the inner essence of a person
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