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"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (full novel), Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 7

Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 7

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.

“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again. “At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!”

Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly.

“Hear me!” cried the Ghost. “My time is nearly gone.”

“I will,” said Scrooge. “But don't be hard upon me! Don't be flowery, Jacob! Pray!”

“How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell. I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day.”

It was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge shivered, and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

“That is no light part of my penance,” pursued the Ghost. “I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.”

“You were always a good friend to me,” said Scrooge. “Thank'ee!” “You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.”

Scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost's had done. “Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?” he demanded, in a faltering voice.

“It is.”

“I—I think I'd rather not,” said Scrooge. “Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell tolls One.”

“Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?” hinted Scrooge. “Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!”

When it had said these words, the spectre took its wrapper from the table, and bound it round its head, as before. Scrooge knew this, by the smart sound its teeth made, when the jaws were brought together by the bandage. He ventured to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitor confronting him in an erect attitude, with its chain wound over and about its arm.

The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open.

It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley's Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.

Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear: for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.

Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. He looked out.

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, upon a door-step. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.

Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home.

Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable. And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose; went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.


Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 7 Pentagrama Uno. El fantasma de Marley - Parte 7 Primeira pauta. O fantasma de Marley - Parte 7 木板一号。马利的幽灵 - 第 7 部分

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself. "Mais tu as toujours été un bon homme d'affaires, Jacob", hésita Scrooge, qui commençait maintenant à appliquer cela à lui-même. "Mas você sempre foi um bom homem de negócios, Jacob", vacilou Scrooge, que agora começou a aplicar isso a si mesmo.

“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "O negócio!" gritou o fantasma, torcendo as mãos novamente. “Mankind was my business. “A humanidade era da minha conta. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. Le bien commun était mon affaire ; la charité, la miséricorde, la tolérance et la bienveillance étaient, toutes, mes affaires. O bem-estar comum era da minha conta; caridade, misericórdia, paciência e benevolência eram, todos, meus negócios. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” Les transactions de mon commerce n'étaient qu'une goutte d'eau dans l'océan global de mes affaires ! » As negociações do meu comércio eram apenas uma gota de água no oceano abrangente do meu negócio! ”

It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again. Il leva sa chaîne à bout de bras, comme si c'était la cause de toute sa peine inutile, et la jeta lourdement à terre. Segurou a corrente no comprimento do braço, como se essa fosse a causa de toda a sua dor inesgotável, e a jogou pesadamente no chão novamente. “At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. « En cette période de l'année mobile, dit le spectre, c'est moi qui souffre le plus. “Nesta época do ano rotativo”, disse o espectro, “eu sofro mais. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Pourquoi ai-je traversé des foules d'êtres semblables les yeux baissés, et ne les ai-je jamais élevés vers cette étoile bénie qui a conduit les mages dans une pauvre demeure ! Por que eu atravessei multidões de seres humanos com os olhos virados para baixo, e nunca os levei àquela Estrela abençoada que levou os Reis Magos a uma morada pobre! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!” N'y avait-il pas de pauvres maisons où sa lumière m'eût conduit ! Não havia casas pobres para as quais sua luz me conduzisse!

Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly. Scrooge a été très consterné d'entendre le spectre continuer à ce rythme, et a commencé à trembler excessivement. Scrooge ficou muito consternado ao ouvir o espectro prosseguir nesse ritmo e começou a tremer bastante.

“Hear me!” cried the Ghost. "Me ouça!" chorou o fantasma. “My time is nearly gone.” "Mon temps est presque écoulé." "Meu tempo está quase acabando."

“I will,” said Scrooge. "Eu vou", disse Scrooge. “But don't be hard upon me! « Mais ne sois pas dur avec moi ! “Mas não seja duro comigo! Don't be flowery, Jacob! Ne sois pas fleuri, Jacob ! Não seja florido, Jacob! Pray!” Prier!" Orar!"

“How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell. « Comment se fait-il que j'apparaisse devant vous sous une forme que vous pouvez voir, je ne peux pas le dire. “Como é que eu apareço diante de você de uma forma que você pode ver, eu posso não dizer. I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day.” Je me suis assis invisible à côté de vous plusieurs et plusieurs jours. Sentei-me invisível ao seu lado muitas e muitas por dia.

It was not an agreeable idea. Ce n'était pas une idée agréable. Não foi uma ideia agradável. Scrooge shivered, and wiped the perspiration from his brow. Scrooge frissonna et essuya la sueur de son front. Scrooge estremeceu e limpou a transpiração da testa.

“That is no light part of my penance,” pursued the Ghost. "Ce n'est pas une partie légère de ma pénitence", a poursuivi le fantôme. "Isso não é parte da minha penitência", perseguiu o Fantasma. “I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. “Estou aqui esta noite para avisar que você ainda tem uma chance e esperança de escapar do meu destino. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.” Une chance et un espoir de me procurer, Ebenezer. Uma chance e esperança de minha aquisição, Ebenezer.

“You were always a good friend to me,” said Scrooge. "Você sempre foi um bom amigo para mim", disse Scrooge. “Thank'ee!” “You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.” "Você será assombrado", retomou o Fantasma, "por Três Espíritos."

Scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost's had done. Le visage de Scrooge tomba presque aussi bas que celui du Ghost. O semblante de Scrooge caiu quase tão baixo quanto o do Fantasma. “Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?” he demanded, in a faltering voice. « Est-ce la chance et l'espoir que vous avez mentionnés, Jacob ? » demanda-t-il d'une voix défaillante. "Essa é a chance e a esperança que você mencionou, Jacob?" ele exigiu, com uma voz vacilante.

“It is.” "Isto é."

“I—I think I'd rather not,” said Scrooge. Acho que prefiro não disse Scrooge. “Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. « Sans leurs visites, dit le Fantôme, vous ne pouvez pas espérer éviter le chemin que je marche. “Sem as visitas deles”, disse o Fantasma, “você não pode esperar evitar o caminho que trilho. Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell tolls One.” Espere o primeiro amanhã, quando a campainha tocar Um.

“Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?” hinted Scrooge. « Est-ce que je ne pourrais pas les prendre tous en même temps et en finir, Jacob ? » suggéra Scrooge. "Eu não poderia pegá-los de uma só vez e acabar com isso, Jacob?" sugeriu Scrooge. “Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. “Espere o segundo na noite seguinte, na mesma hora. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. La troisième la nuit suivante, lorsque le dernier coup de Douze a cessé de vibrer. A terceira na noite seguinte, quando o último golpe dos Doze deixou de vibrar. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!” Ne me vois plus ; et regarde que, pour ton bien, tu te souviens de ce qui s'est passé entre nous ! Olhe para não me ver mais; e veja que, para seu próprio bem, você se lembra do que aconteceu entre nós! ”

When it had said these words, the spectre took its wrapper from the table, and bound it round its head, as before. Lorsqu'il eut dit ces mots, le spectre sortit son emballage de la table et l'enroula autour de sa tête, comme auparavant. Quando disse essas palavras, o espectro pegou o embrulho da mesa e amarrou-o na cabeça, como antes. Scrooge knew this, by the smart sound its teeth made, when the jaws were brought together by the bandage. Scrooge le savait, au bruit sec de ses dents, lorsque les mâchoires étaient rapprochées par le bandage. Scrooge sabia disso, pelo som inteligente que seus dentes faziam, quando as mandíbulas foram unidas pelo curativo. He ventured to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitor confronting him in an erect attitude, with its chain wound over and about its arm. Il osa à nouveau lever les yeux, et trouva son visiteur surnaturel face à lui dans une attitude droite, avec sa chaîne enroulée sur et autour de son bras. Ele se aventurou a erguer os olhos novamente e encontrou seu visitante sobrenatural confrontando-o em uma atitude ereta, com a corrente enrolada em torno do braço.

The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open. L'apparition s'éloigna de lui à reculons ; et à chaque pas qu'elle faisait, la fenêtre se soulevait un peu, de sorte que lorsque le spectre l'atteignait, elle était grande ouverte. A aparição se afastou dele; e a cada passo que se dava, a janela se erguia um pouco, de modo que, quando o espectro a alcançava, estava totalmente aberta.

It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. Cela fit signe à Scrooge de s'approcher, ce qu'il fit. Convocou Scrooge a se aproximar, o que ele fez. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley's Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Quand ils furent à deux pas l'un de l'autre, Marley's Ghost leva la main, l'avertissant de ne pas s'approcher. Quando estavam a dois passos um do outro, o Marley's Ghost levantou a mão, avisando-o para não se aproximar. Scrooge stopped.

Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear: for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. Moins dans l'obéissance que dans la surprise et la peur : car, en levant la main, il sentit dans l'air des bruits confus ; sons incohérents de lamentations et de regrets ; des lamentations inexprimablement douloureuses et auto-accusatrices. Não tanto em obediência, como em surpresa e medo: pois ao levantar a mão, ele se tornou sensível a barulhos confusos no ar; sons incoerentes de lamentação e arrependimento; lamentos inexprimivelmente tristes e auto-acusadores. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night. Le spectre, après avoir écouté un instant, se joignit au chant funèbre ; et flottait sur la nuit sombre et sombre. O espectro, depois de ouvir por um momento, juntou-se à tristeza; e flutuou sobre a noite sombria e sombria.

Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. Scrooge le suivit jusqu'à la fenêtre : désespéré dans sa curiosité. Scrooge seguiu até a janela: desesperado em sua curiosidade. He looked out. Ele olhou para fora.

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. L'air était rempli de fantômes, errant çà et là dans une hâte agitée, et gémissant au passage. O ar estava cheio de fantasmas, vagando de um lado para o outro com pressa inquieta e gemendo à medida que avançavam. Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Chacun d'eux portait des chaînes comme le Marley's Ghost ; quelques-uns (ils pouvaient être des gouvernements coupables) étaient liés entre eux ; aucun n'était gratuit. Cada um deles usava correntes como o Marley's Ghost; alguns poucos (eles podem ser governos culpados) estavam ligados; nenhum era livre. Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. Muitos haviam sido pessoalmente conhecidos por Scrooge em suas vidas. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, upon a door-step. Il avait connu un vieux fantôme, en gilet blanc, avec un monstrueux coffre-fort en fer attaché à sa cheville, qui pleurait piteusement de ne pouvoir secourir une misérable femme avec un enfant, qu'il vit en bas, sur le seuil d'une porte. . Ele conhecia bem um velho fantasma, de colete branco, com um monstruoso cofre de ferro preso ao tornozelo, que chorava por ter sido incapaz de ajudar uma mulher miserável com um bebê, que ele via embaixo, no degrau da porta . The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever. La misère avec eux tous était, clairement, qu'ils cherchaient à s'immiscer, pour de bon, dans les affaires humaines, et avaient perdu le pouvoir pour toujours. A miséria com todos eles era, claramente, que eles procuravam interferir, para sempre, nos assuntos humanos, e haviam perdido o poder para sempre.

Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. Si ces créatures se sont évanouies dans la brume, ou si la brume les a enveloppées, il ne pouvait pas le dire. Se essas criaturas desapareceram na névoa, ou a névoa as envolveu, ele não sabia. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home. Mais eux et leurs voix spirituelles s'évanouirent ensemble ; et la nuit redevint comme quand il rentrait chez lui. Mas eles e suas vozes espirituais desapareceram juntos; e a noite se tornou como quando ele voltou para casa.

Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered. Scrooge fechou a janela e examinou a porta pela qual o Fantasma havia entrado. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. Estava com trava dupla, como ele a trancara com as próprias mãos, e os ferrolhos não eram perturbados. He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable. Ele tentou dizer "Farsa!" mas parou na primeira sílaba. And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose; went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant. Et étant, à cause de l'émotion qu'il avait subie, ou des fatigues de la journée, ou de son aperçu du Monde Invisible, ou de la sourde conversation du Fantôme, ou de l'heure tardive, beaucoup besoin de repos ; alla se coucher tout de suite, sans se déshabiller, et s'endormit à l'instant. E sendo, pela emoção que ele havia sofrido, ou pelas fadigas do dia, ou seu vislumbre do Mundo Invisível, ou a conversa tediosa do Fantasma, ou o atraso da hora, muito necessitada de repouso; foi direto para a cama, sem se despir, e adormeceu no instante.