70. AT TABLE Some soup, madam? -If you please. What shall I help you to, Robert? Oh! I'll take a little soup, if you please. - Very good; do you take* wine? - I do. Claret or Burgundy? A glass of Claret. What bread have we? White and brown. New or stale? Both. - Oh! absolutely nothing. Shall I help you to a bit of this beef? - I'll trouble you for a very small slice. Won't you have some vegetables? - Won't you try this cauliflower with a little gravy? · Rather not. I should prefer a few French beans and some more meat. - Well; I think* I can recommend them. - They are indeed good. Take* away, John, and bring* in the dessert. 71. A WINTER AFTERNOON The day is ending: The night is descending; The marsh is frozen*, the river dead. Through clouds like ashes, The red sun flashes On village windows, that glimmer red. The snow recommences; The buried fences Mark no longer the road o'er the plain. While through the meadows, Like fearful shadows, Slowly passes a funeral train. The bell is pealing, And every feeling Within me responds to the dismal knell; Shadows are trailing, My heart is bewailing, And tolling within like a funeral bell. LONGFELLOW. Ash, cendre Bell, cloche Bewail (to), gémir Bury (to), enterrer Fence, palissade Glimmer (to), luire Red, rouge Shadow, ombre Trail (to), ici : flot ter, passer Train, cortège Window, fenêtre Within, au dedans de 72. THE SHOE-BLACK'S ASSISTANT Le Chien du Décrotteur A British officer, passing one of the bridges across the Seine, had his boots dirtied by a poodle dog rubbing against them. He, in consequence, went to a man who was stationed on the bridge, and had them cleaned. The same circumstance having occurred more than once, his curiosity was excited, and he watched the dog. He saw* him roll himself in the mud of the river, and then watch for a person with well polished boots, against which he contrived to rub himself. Finding* that the shoe-black was the owner of the dog, he taxed him with the artifice; and, after a little hesitation, the man confessed that he had taught* the dog the trick, in order to procure customers for himself. Boot, botte, bottine Dirty (to), salir Tax (to) with, accu- Watch (to), surveil- DEUXIÈME PARTIE 1. WHAT THE DRUNKARD ANSWERED THE GHOST A drunkard's relatives thought* to frighten him into better ways. During a fit of intoxication, he was laid* in a coffin, and a friend remained near at hand waiting until the drunken stupor should pass off. By and by the occupant of the coffin awakes*, sits* up, and, rubbing his eyes, "Where am I?" he inquires. “You are dead," replies his friend, in a sepulchral voice. "Dear me ! and how long have I been - you dead, too?" "Yes." "And how long have you been dead?" says* the poor fellow after a pause. "Three weeks, "Dear me ! — then you have been dead longer than I have tell me where I can get* a drink." (1) Early to bed and early to rise* Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. At hand, tout près Dear me! mon Dieu Frighten into (to), a- Get a drink (to), se Intoxication,ébriété Poor fellow, pauvre (1) Cf. la fable de Lafontaine : L'Ivrogne et sa Femme. 2. THE WONDERFUL DOG Un chien savant A gentleman residing in the country had a wonderful dog, and though he never tried to get* any money by the exhibition, he was very proud of showing* off the tricks to such persons as might happen to call upon him. The dog would go* at his bidding* into the dressing-room of his master, and fetch therefrom any article which was named to him. "Go* and fetch my left slipper, " said the master; and the dog would fetch the left slipper. "Go* and fetch me a pocket handkerchief." And the article was forthcoming. “No, not that one a silk one with blue spots", and back(1) went* the dog to return with the proper handkerchief. This was certainly very astonishing, and all doubters were convinced by the evidence of their own eyes. One day, however, the astonishment of everybody was considerably modified by the discovery of the fact that whenever the dog showed* off, there was a maid-servant Bidding, ordre Call upon (to), faire visite Convince (to); con vaincre Doubter, personne net de toilette (1) Back went pour went back. La postposition placée ainsi avant le verbe donne plus de mouvement à la phrase; on peut traduire en français par: voilà que... |