Wednesday 19 February 2020

English Translations of French in Villette by Charlotte Brontë (Ch 15-41)

English Translations of French in Villette by Charlotte Brontë (Ch 15-41)
I have also added a few allusions the author made reference to.

Chapter 15: The Long Vacation
Annèe scolaire

School year
amour-propre
Self-esteem
l’allée défendue
The forbidden alley
Paletôt
A loose cloak
“Ainisi,” he began abruptly, “vous allez trôner
comme une reine; demain— trôner à mes côtés? Sans doute vous savourez
d’avance les délices de l’autorité. Je crois voir en je ne saïs quoi de
rayonnante, petite ambitieuse!”
So, you’re going to enthrall like a queen; tomorrow to sit at my side? No doubt you are savouring in advance the delights of authority. I think I know what to do, radiant little ambitious!”
une de ses beauties
One of his beauties
Que vous êtes dur, Monsieur
How hard you are, Sir
Donnez-moi la main
Give me your hand
Pauvrette
Poor thing
Chapter 17: La Terrasse
Carafe

Pitcher, flagon
Chapter 19: The Cleopatra
une pièce magnifique

A magnificent piece
tellement dignes, aimables, et respectables
So dignified, kind and respectable
madame sa mère, la digne châtelaine
madame his mother, the worthy chatelaine
chef-d’oeuvres

“Que faîtes-vous ici?” said a voice.
“Mais, Monsieur, je m’amuse.”
“Vous vous amusez! et à quoi, s’il vous plait? Mais d’abord, faîtes-moi lé plaisir de vous lever; preñez mon bras, et allons de l’autre côté.”
“What are you doing here?” said a voice.
"But, Sir, I am having fun.”
"You're having fun! and to what, please? But first, give me the pleasure of getting up; take my arm, and let's go to the other side.”
“Singulières femmes que ces Anglaises!”
"Singular women than these English women!”

Garcon
Boy
Taisez-vous, et asseyez-vous là— là!”
Shut up and sit over there!”
Cadres
Managerial
“Mais, Mademoiselle, asseyez-vous, et ne bougez pas— entendez-vous?— jusqu’à ce qu’on vienne vous chercher, où que je vous donne la permission.”
"But, Miss, sit down, and don't move— Do you hear?- until you're picked up, wherever I give you permission.”
“Quel triste coin!” cried I, “et quelles laids tableaux!” And “laids,” indeed, they were; being a set of four, denominated in the
catalogue “La vie d’une femme.”
"What a sad room!" I wept," and organically ugly paintings!" And" ugly, " indeed, they were, a set of four, catalogue of “The life of a woman.”
prie-dieu
Pray to God
Jeune Mère
Young mother
“Cela ne vaut rien,” he responded. “Une femme superbe— une taille d’impératrice, des formes de Junon, maïs une personne dont je ne voudrais ni pour femme, ni pour fille, ni pour soeur. Aussi vous ne jeterez plus un seul
coup d’oeil de sa côté.”
"It's worth nothing," he responded. "A beautiful woman-a size of Empress, forms of Juno, corn a person I would not want for wife, daughter or sister. So you won't throw one more look at his side.”
lé voluptueux
the voluptuous
Chapter 20: The Concert

au bénéfice des pauvres
for the benefit of the poor
Chaussée
Floor
rose et blanche
pink and white
second déjeuner
second lunch
vis-à-vis
With regard to
Chapter 21: Reaction

réveillée
wake
Carré
Square
“Mademoiselle, vous êtes triste.”
“Monsieur, j’en aï bien lé droit.”
“Vous êtes malade de coeur et d’humeur,” he pursued.
"Miss, you're sad.”
“Sir, I’ve got it right.”
“You are sick with your heart and your mood," he pursued.
“Que mademoiselle est appliquée!”
"How diligent is mademoiselle!”
Timon of Athens
(pronounced Ty-mun) was a citizen of Athens whose reputation for misanthropy grew to legendary status. According to the historian Plutarch, Timon lived during the era of the Peloponnesian War
bas-bleu
bottom-blue
Pas de Géant
No giant
Tailleuse
Tailor
ourse Britannique
British bear
“Voilà! pour vous,
"That's it! for you,
Esau
Esau is the elder brother of Jacob.
la Grande Bretagne
Great Britain
“Est-ce que vous avez l’intention de m’insulter?”
"Do you intend to insult me?”
“Allons, allons!”
Come on, come on!
la jeunesse n’a qu’un temps.’
youth only has a time.
Je conçois, je conçois: on sait ce que c’est qu’un ami. Bonjour, Mademoiselle!
I know, I know, we know what it's like to be a friend. Hello, Miss!
Chapter 22: The Letter

salle-à-manger
dining room
“Mais certainement, chou-chou, vous en aurez deux, si vous voulez;”
"But certainly, chou-chou, you will have two, if you want;”
“figure chiffonnée”
"ciphered figure”
Chapter 23: Vashti

Vashti
was Queen of Persia and the first wife of Persian King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, (in Hebrew Bible). She was banished for her refusal to appear at the king's banquet to show her beauty as the king wished, and Esther was chosen to succeed her as queen. In the Midrash, Vashti is described as wicked and vain. She is viewed as an independent-minded heroine.
on est là pour vous au salon
we're here for you in the living room.
Chapter 24: M. de Bassompierre

Coquelicot
Poppy
à l’endroit du gros Jean
at the place of the big jeans
Chapter 25: The Little Countess

pas de fée, où de fantaisie,
No fairy, no fantasy
Chapter 26: A Burial

“Oui, oui, ma bonne amie: je vous donne la permission de coeur et de gré. Vôtre travail dans ma maison a toujours été admirable, rempli de zèle et de discrétion: vous avez bien lé droit de vous amuser. Sortez donc tant que vous voudrez. Quant à vôtre choix de connaissances, j’en suis contente; c’est sage,
digne, laudable.”
"Yes, yes, my good friend: I give you permission in heart and willingly. Your work in my house has always been admirable, filled with zeal and discretion: you have every right to have fun. Why don't you come out as long as you like? As for your choice of knowledge, I'm glad; it's wise, worthy, laudable.”
“Il y a,” said she, “quelquechose de bien remarquable dans lé caractère Anglais.”
” There is, "said she," something quite remarkable in English character.”
“Je ne saurais vous dire ‘how;’ maïs, enfin, les Anglais ont des idées à eux, en amitié, en amour, en tout. Mais au moins il n’est pas besoin de les surveiller,” she added.
"I cannot tell you ‘how;’ but, finally, the English have ideas of their own, in friendship, in love, in everything. But at least he doesn't need to watch them,” she added.
Berceau
Cradle
c’est-ce que je ferai.
that's what I'll do.
Sacré
Sacred
Mille
Mile
Du Heilige, rufe dein Kind zurück,
Ich habe genössen das irdische Glück,
Ich habe gelebt und geliebet!
You saint, call back your child,
I have enjoyed earthly happiness,
I have lived and loved!
Chapter 27: The Hotel Crecy

Athénée
Athenaeum
“Qu’en dites vous?”
“What do you say?”
“gros-bonnets”
“gros-bonnets”
ce grand fat d’Anglais”
this great fat of English”
‘Mon ami, je vous pardonne.’
'My friend, I forgive you.’
“Voilà que lé jour va poindre! Dites donc, mon ami.”
"The day is coming! Say, my friend.”
Chapter 28: The Watchguard

“Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!” cried she. “Que vais-je devenir? Monsieur va me tuer, je suis sûre; car il est d’une colère!”
“Mademoiselle La Malle au piano!” was her cry. Ere she could make good her retreat, or quite close the door, this voice uttered itself:—
“Dès ce moment!— la classe est défendue. La première qui ouvrira cette porte, où passerà par cette division, sera pendue— fût-ce Madame Beck ellemême!”
“My God! Jesus Christ!” cried she. "What will become of me? He will kill me, I am sure; for he is angry!”
"Miss piano trunk!” was her cry. Ere she could make good her retreat, or quite close the door, this voice uttered itself:—
“From this moment on!- the class is defended. The first one who opens this door, where to go through this division, will be hanged— even Mrs Beck herself!”
Lunettes
Glasses
“Que me voulez-vous?”
“What do you want from me?”
“Monsieur,” I said, “je veux
l’impossible, des choses inouïes;”
"Sir," I said, " I want the impossible, unheard of”
Douche
Shower
“Là!” said he: “me voilà veuf de mes lunettes!”
"There!"said he:" here I am widower of my glasses!”
“une forte femme— une Anglaise terrible —une petite casse-tout”
"a strong woman-a terrible Englishwoman-a little junkyard-all”
bonnet-grec
Greek cap
à l’improviste
unannounced
“Ne bougez pas”
Don’t move
Jericho
is a Palestinian city in the West Bank
“Vous ne voulez pas de moi pour voisin,” he growled: “vous vous donnez des airs de caste; vous me traitez en paria;” he scowled. “Soit! je vais arranger la chose!” And he set to work. “Levez vous toutes, Mesdemoiselles!” cried he.
” You don't want me to be your neighbor, “he growled:” You Make yourself look like a caste; you treat me like a pariah; " he scowled. "So be it! I'll fix it!” And he set to work. "All rise, ladies!”
“Est ce assez de distance?” he demanded.
“Monsieur en est l’arbitre,” said I.
“Vous savez bien que non. C’est vous qui avez crée ce vide immense: moi je n’y aï pas mis la main.”
"Is that enough distance?"he asked.
"Sir is the referee," said I.
“You know I don't. It was you who created this immense void: me. I didn't get my hands on it.”
“un drame de Williams Shackspire; lé faux dieu,” he further announced, “de
ces sots païens, les Anglais.”
"a Williams Shakespeare drama; The False God," he further announced, " by these heathen fools, the British.”
“caractère intraitable,”
"uncompromising character,”
Fougue
Feisty
“Chut! à l’instant! There! there I went— vive comme la poudre!”
"Hush! just now! There! there I went-live like gunpowder!”
“emportement,”
"outburst,”
“chaleur”
“heat”
“en l’air,” less “coquette,”
“in the air,” less “coquette,”
“des couleurs de poupée,” “un nez plus où moins bien fait,”
"doll's colors, "" a nose more or less well made,”
‘des cols brodés,’
Embroidered collars
‘colifichet de plus.’
More trinkets
‘babioles,’
‘trinket,’
‘des façons mondaines,’
’worldly ways,'
‘bure,’
‘bure,’
‘gris de poussière.’
‘grey dust.’
Va pour lé ruban!
Go for the ribbon!
Chapter 29: Monsieur's Fête

robe de soie
silk dress
coiffeur
hairdresser
goûter un peu les plaisirs
taste a little the pleasures
Paletôt
Cloak
Bon jour, mes amies
Good day, my friends
Est-ce là tout?
Is that all?
mappe-monde
maps-world
Vive l’Angleterre, l’Histoire et les Héros! A bas la France, la Fiction et les Faquins!
Long Live England, history and Heroes! Down with France, Fiction and the Faquins!
“Donc je n’y serai pas,” declared I.
“Soit!”
” So I won't be there, " declared I.
"So be it!”
je te déteste, mon garçon!’
I hate you, boy!’
Dieu vous en garde!
God forbid!
Dragées
Sugar confectionery
Brioche
French bread
A présent c’est un fait accompli
Now it is a done deal
Asphyxiée
Asphyxiated
Chapter 30: M.Paul

bonne et pas trop faible
good and not too weak
“Qu’il est vraiment beau, Mademoiselle, ce jeune docteur! Quels yeux— quel regard! Tenez! J’en aï lé coeur tout ému!”
"What a handsome young doctor! What eyes-What eyes! Hold! I was moved with my heart!”
“Elle ne dit que la vérité,” I said.
“Ah! vous trouvez?”
“Mais, sans doute.”
"She only tells the truth," I said.
“Ah! you find?”
"But, no doubt.”
Hymettus
is a mountain range in the Athens area of Attica,
lusus naturae
A freak of nature
Cela ne me regarde pas:
je ne m’en soucie pas;
It's none of my business:
I don’t care
Déjeuner
Breakfast
Petite gourmande
Sweet tooth
orgueil de diable
pride of the devil
je vous vois d’ici
I see you here
Chut!
Shh!
Chapter 33: M. Paul keeps his promise

Je vous conseille de vous faire prier
I advise you to pray
Qu’est-ce que c’est? Vous me jouez des tours?
What is it?what is it? Are you playing tricks on me?
c’est la robe rose!
It’s the pink dress!
Et Mademoiselle Lucy est coquette comme dix Parisiennes,” he answered. “A-t-on jamais vu une Anglaise pareille. Regardez plutôt son chapeau, et ses gants, et ses brodequins!”
"And Mademoiselle Lucy is as pretty as ten Parisiennes," he answered. “Have you ever seen an Englishwoman like that? Look at his hat, and his gloves, and this embroidery!”
à vrai dire je ne suis pas fâché, peut-être même
suis je content qu’on s’est fait si belle pour ma petite fête.
actually I'm not angry, maybe I’m even glad we got so pretty for my little party.
“Mais ma robe n’est pas belle, Monsieur— elle n’est que propre.”
“J’aime la propreté,” said he.
"But my dress is not beautiful, Sir-it's only clean.”
"I like cleanliness," said he.
les bois et les petits sentiers.
the woods and the little trails.
Fermière
Farmer
jambon” and “confitures”
Ham and jams
des ménagères avares
stingy Housewives
Donnez-moi la main!
Give me your hand!
Petite soeur
Little sister
Pourtant j’ai été pour vous bien dur, bien exigeant
Yet I've been very hard on you, very demanding
Chausses
Footwear
Elle est au lit
She’s in bed
Chapter 34: Malevola

Tripotage
Fiddling
Cunegonde
is a fictional character in Voltaire's novel Candide. She is the title character's aristocratic cousin and love interest.
Que me voulez-vous?
What do you want from me?
et quant à ses félicitations, je m’en moque!
and as for his congratulations, I don't care!
prie-dieu
pray to God
Donc, vous devez connaître mon noble élève, mon Paul?
So, you must know my noble pupil, My Paul?
pax vobiscum
Peace be with you
Elle est drôle, n’est-ce pas
She's funny, isn't she?
Oh la singulière petite bossue!” laughed she. “Et figurez-vous qu’elle me déteste, parcequ’elle me croit amoureuse de mon cousin Paul; ce petit dévot qui n’ose pas bouger, à moins que son confesseur ne lui donne la permission! Au reste”
Oh, the singular little Hunchback!” laughed she. "And imagine that she hates me, because she thinks I'm in love with my cousin Paul; that little devotee who dares not move, unless her confessor gives her permission! The rest”
soit moi, soit une autre
either me or someone else.
assez niaise à ce que je pense
pretty dumb of me to think
omme un lis, à ce qu’il dit
as a lily, he said
oubliez les anges, les bossues, et surtout, les Professeurs— et bon soir!
forget the Angels, the hunchbacks, and above all, the teachers-and good night!
Chapter 35: Fraternity

Oubliez les Professeurs
Forget the teachers
In propriâ personâ
In his/her own person
Je n’en saïs rien
I don’t know
Nous agissons dans l’intérêt de la vérité. Nous ne voulons pas vous blesser
We are acting in the interest of the truth. We don't want to hurt you
Et vous, Mademoiselle? vous êtes proprette et douillette, et affreusement insensible, par-dessus lé marché
What About You, Miss? you are neat and cozy, and terribly insensitive, on top of the market
Je vis dans un trou
I live in a hole
Les voilà
Here
Je fais mon lit et mon ménage
I make my bed and my household
Et puis?
And then?
Qu’est-ce donc?
What is it?
n’est-il pas vrai?
isn't that right?
Chapter 36: The apple of discord

Petite exigeante
Demanding little girl
Dites donc, petite soeur
Say, little sister.
O Dieu, sois appaisé envers moi qui suis pécheur!
O God, be appeased to me Who am a sinner!
Chapter 37: Sunshine

pétrie d’esprit et de graces
full of spirit and Grace
Chapter 38: Cloud

Il est doux, lé repos! Il est précieux lé calme Bonheur
He’s sweet, rest! He is precious the calm, Bonheur
douce consolatrice
sweet consolation
Dévot
Devotee
Que vous êtes pâle! Vous êtes donc bien malade, Mademoiselle!
How pale you are! You're very sick, Miss!
Chapter 39: Old and New Acquaintance

voilà Justine Marie qui arrive!
Here Comes Justine Marie!
La petite va m’aider— n’est-ce pas?
The little one will help me, won't she?
Mais oui, je vous aiderai de tout mon coeur. Vous ferez de moi tout ce que vous voudrez, mon parrain.
But yes, I will help you with all my heart. You can do whatever you want with me, godfather.
merrie companie
merrie company
nuit blanche
White Night
Chapter 40: The Happy Pair

détournement de mineur
statutory rape
Chapter 41: Fauburg Clotide

Laissez-moi
Let me
Sortez d’ici
Get out of here
Femme! sortez à l’instant!
Woman! get out right now!
Voici!
Here it is!
Externat de demoiselles. Numéro 7, Faubourg Clotilde, Directrice,
Ladies ' Day School. Number 7, Faubourg Clotilde, Director