Difference between revisions of "Volume 3/Book 1/Chapter 4"
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| − | Paris begins with the lounger and ends with the street | + | Paris begins with the lounger and ends with the street urchin, two beings of |
which no other city is capable; the passive acceptance, which contents | which no other city is capable; the passive acceptance, which contents | ||
itself with gazing, and the inexhaustible initiative; Prudhomme and | itself with gazing, and the inexhaustible initiative; Prudhomme and | ||
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that demon which creates the children of chance and the men of destiny, | that demon which creates the children of chance and the men of destiny, | ||
reversing the process of the Latin potter, makes of a jug an amphora. | reversing the process of the Latin potter, makes of a jug an amphora. | ||
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==Translation notes== | ==Translation notes== | ||
Revision as of 16:48, 26 December 2017
Les Misérables, Volume 3: Marius, Book First: Paris Studied in its Atom,Chapter 4: He may be of Use
(Tome 3: Marius, Livre premier: Paris étudié dans son atome, Chapitre 4: Il peut être utile)
Contents
General notes on this chapter
French text
Paris commence au badaud et finit au gamin, deux êtres dont aucune autre ville n'est capable; l'acceptation passive qui se satisfait de regarder, et l'initiative inépuisable; Prudhomme et Fouillou. Paris seul a cela dans son histoire naturelle. Toute la monarchie est dans le badaud. Toute l'anarchie est dans le gamin.
Ce pâle enfant des faubourgs de Paris vit et se développe, se noue et
«se dénoue» dans la souffrance, en présence des réalités sociales et des
choses humaines, témoin pensif. Il se croit lui-même insouciant; il ne
l'est pas. Il regarde, prêt à rire; prêt à autre chose aussi. Qui que
vous soyez qui vous nommez Préjugé, Abus, Ignominie, Oppression,
Iniquité, Despotisme, Injustice, Fanatisme, Tyrannie, prenez garde au
gamin béant.
Ce petit grandira.
De quelle argile est-il fait? de la première fange venue. Une poignée de
boue, un souffle, et voilà Adam. Il suffît qu'un dieu passe. Un dieu a
toujours passé sur le gamin. La fortune travaille à ce petit être. Par
ce mot la fortune, nous entendons un peu l'aventure. Ce pygmée pétri à
même dans la grosse terre commune, ignorant, illettré, ahuri, vulgaire,
populacier, sera-ce un ionien ou un béotien? Attendez, currit rota,
l'esprit de Paris, ce démon qui crée les enfants du hasard et les hommes
du destin, au rebours du potier latin, fait de la cruche une amphore.
English text
Paris begins with the lounger and ends with the street urchin, two beings of which no other city is capable; the passive acceptance, which contents itself with gazing, and the inexhaustible initiative; Prudhomme and Fouillou. Paris alone has this in its natural history. The whole of the monarchy is contained in the lounger; the whole of anarchy in the gamin.
This pale child of the Parisian faubourgs lives and develops, makes
connections, "grows supple" in suffering, in the presence of social
realities and of human things, a thoughtful witness. He thinks himself
heedless; and he is not. He looks and is on the verge of laughter; he is
on the verge of something else also. Whoever you may be, if your name is
Prejudice, Abuse, Ignorance, Oppression, Iniquity, Despotism, Injustice,
Fanaticism, Tyranny, beware of the gaping gamin.
The little fellow will grow up.
Of what clay is he made? Of the first mud that comes to hand. A handful of
dirt, a breath, and behold Adam. It suffices for a God to pass by. A God
has always passed over the street Arab. Fortune labors at this tiny being.
By the word "fortune" we mean chance, to some extent. That pigmy kneaded
out of common earth, ignorant, unlettered, giddy, vulgar, low. Will that
become an Ionian or a Boeotian? Wait, currit rota, the Spirit of Paris,
that demon which creates the children of chance and the men of destiny,
reversing the process of the Latin potter, makes of a jug an amphora.
Translation notes
currit rota
The wheel runs.
