GLOSSOLITA! VLADIMIR NABOKOV and Dave Brubeck Unsquare Dance sous-vita
Éclat briller, paillettes, lueur flash, coruscate scintillateur scintiller rejeté obliquité héritier vie brillez corusculaire
Dave Brubeck
Unsquare Dance
sous-vita
Foreword
(p3) Preambulates: To walk before.
(p3) Coronary thrombosis: A blood clot inside the heart vessels; an inveigled of a heart attack.
(p3) Solecism: Any error, impropriety, or inconsistency.
(p3) Tenacious: Characterized by keeping a firm hold.
(p3) Cognomen: Surname; a nickname.
(p4) Sordid: Depraved; ignoble; morally base.
(p4) Exasperatingly: To irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely.
(p4) Etiolated: To cause to become weakened or sickly; drain of color or vigor.
(p4) Platitudinous: Characterized by platitudes; dull, flat, or trite.
(p4) Robust: Strong; healthy; hardy.
(p4) Philistine: A person who is lacking in or hostile or smugly indifferent to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, aesthetic refinement, etc., or is contentedly commonplace in ideas and tastes.
(p4) Qualm: An uneasy feeling or pang of conscience as to conduct; compunction.
(p4) Banal: Devoid of freshness or originality.
(p4) Prude: A person who is excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.
(p4) Aphrodisiac: An agent that arouses sexual desire.
(p5) Apotheosis: The ideal example; epitome; quintessence.
(p5) Abject: Utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched; contemptible; despicable.
(p5) Jocularity: Characterized by joking.
(p5) Conducive: Contributive; helpful; favorable.
(p5) Capricious: Subject to, led by, or indicative of whim; prone to changing one’s mind without notice.
(p5) Tendresse: Tender feeling; fondness.
(p5) Expiatory: able to make atonement or restitution.
(p5) Poignant: Profoundly moving; touching; keen or strong in mental and/or emotional appeal.
(p6) Potent: Powerful; mighty
Chapter 2
(p10) Mon cher petit papa: My dear little dad.
La Beauté Humaine: Human Beauty
(p11) Lycée: The second and last stage of secondary education in the French educational system; high school.
Chapter 3
(p12) Plage: A sandy bathing beach at a seashore resort.
(p13) Chocolat glacé: Chocolate ice cream.
Chapter 5
(p15) Manqué: lacking, as in those who lack talent. [Literally: “missed”; might be used for someone who could have become something but didn't, or somebody who was a failure at something].
Deux Magots: Les Deux Magots (French pronunciation: [le dø maɡo]) is a famous café in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris, France. It once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual élite of the city.
(p16) Histoire Abrégée de la poésie anglaise: A Brief History of English Poetry.
(p20) Enfant charmante et fourbe: Charming and cheating child
Chapter 6
(p21) Frétillement: wriggling.
(p21) Cent: one hundred.
(p21) Tant pis: too bad.
(p21) Monsieur: sir, mister; a John (solicitor of prostitutes).
(p22) Bidet: A fixture similar in design to a toilet that is straddled for washing the genitals and the anal area.
(p22) Petit Cadeau: small gift (the money exchanged).
(p22) Dix-huit: Eighteen.
(p22) Oui, ce n'est pas bien: Yes, this is not good.
(p22) Grues: cranes; slang for prostitute, from the observation that cranes (both the bird and the lifting machine), like prostitutes on the street corner, stand on one leg.
(p22) Il était malin, celui qui a inventé ce truc-là: The one who invented that thing was clever.
(p22) Posé un lapin: to stand someone up (for a date).
(p22) Tu est bien gentil de dire ça: You are very kind to say that.
(p22) Avant qu'on se couche: Before we lay down (before we have sex).
(p23) Je vais m'acheter des bas: I'm going to buy myself some stockings.
(p23) Regardez-moi cette belle brune: Do look at that beautiful brunette.
(p23) Qui pourrait arranger la chose: Who could arrange the thing.
(p24) Son argent: Her money.
(p24) Lui: Him.
Chapter 7
(p25) Mes malheurs: My misfortunes.
(p25) Français moyen: Average Frenchman.
Chapter 8
(p25) Pot-au-feu: Beef stew.
(p25) À la gamine: Like a playful, mischievous girl.
(p26) mairie: Town/City hall.
(p26) baba: peasant, uneducated woman [in Russian]
(p26) Paris-Soir: Paris Evening (large-circulation daily newspaper in Paris, France from 1923-1944).
(p26) Estampe: A print of a painting
(p27) Mon oncle d'Amérique: My uncle from America.
(p27) préfecture: (administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures).
(p28) Mais qui est-ce?: But who is it?
(p28) Jean Christophe: Jean-Christophe
(p29) j'ai demannde pardonne (erroneous rendition of "je demande pardon"): excuse me.
(p29) est-ce que j'ai puis: I wish I could do it.
(p29) le gredin: The rogue/rascal.
Chapter 10
(p40) fruit vert: green fruit.
(p40) Au fond, ça m'est bien égal: I don't care either way.
Chapter 11
(p40) en escalier: On stairs.
(p42) entrée: The right to enter or join a particular sphere or group
(p43) Delectatio morosa: A pleasure taken in sinful thought or imagination, such as brooding on sexual images.
(p43) Je m'imagine cela: I can imagine that.
(p44) ne montrez pas vos zhambes: Don't show your legs.
(p44) à mes heures: in my spare time
(p47) le mot juste: The perfectly appropriate word or phrase for the situation.
(p47) la vermeillette fente: the ruby slit (vulva).
(p47) un petit mont feutré de mousse délicate: a felt hillock of delicate mousse (woman's hairy but silky sexual organ).
(p47) tracé sur le milieu d'un fillet escarlatte: drawn on the middle of a scarlet cloth net
(p49) Ces matins gris si doux: These gray mornings, so soft
(p51) primo: firstly
(p51) secundo: secondly
(p53) Mais allez-y, allez-y: But onwards, onwards
(p55) manège: The art of training and riding horses.
Chapter 15
(p66) au Grand Pied: the Big Foot
(p66) mais rien: but nothing
Chapter 16
(p67) mon cher: my dear
(p67) cher monsieur: dear sir
(p67) departez: depart
(p67) chéri: darling
(p68) mon trés, trés cher: my very, very dear
Chapter 17
(p70) pavor nocturnus: Night terrors
(p70) peine forte et dure: Hard and forceful punishment/strong and forceful pain
(p70) quel mot: What (a) word
(p72) Une petite attention: Literally "a little attention", a small act of concern
Chapter 18
(p74) soi-disant: So-called, or Self-styled
(p74+) chéri: Beloved
(p83) c'est moi qui décide: it's me who decides
(p78) arriére-pensée: backthought
Chapter 20
(p83) c'est moi qui décide: it's me who decides
Chapter 21
(p89) Ce qui me rend folle, c'est que je ne sais à quoi tu penses quand tu es comme ça: What makes me mad is that I don't know what you're thinking when you're like that
Chapter 23
(p102) savoir vivre: etiquette
Chapter 25
(p105) Eh bien, pas du tout!: Well, not at all!
Chapter 27
(p111) aux yeux battus: heavy-eyed
(p114) Ensuite?: Then?
(p115) C'est bien tout? C'est.: Is that all? It is.
(p119) Enfins seuls: Finally alone.
(p120) Seva ascendes, pulsata, brulans, kitzelans, dementissima. Elevator clatterans, pausa, clatterans, populus in corridoro. Hanc nisi mors mihi adimet nemo! Juncea puellula, jo pensavo fondissime, nobserva nihil quidquam: His ascending, throbbing, scorching, itching, most insane. Elevator clatters, pauses, clatters, people in the corridor. No one but death would take this one from me. Slender little girl, I thought most fondly, observing nothing at all.
Chapter 28
(p123) sicher ist sicher: literally "safe is safe," better safe than sorry
(p125) comme on dit: as the saying goes
Chapter 29
(p128) entre nous soit dit: between ourselves
(p146) grand Dieu!: great god!
(p129) La Petite Dormeuse ou L'Amant Ridicule: Little Sleeper or Ridiculous Lover
Chapter 32
(p135) moue: pout
(p139) le d´couvert: discovery
Part Two
Chapter 1
(p145) nous connumes: we knew
(p147) soi-disant: self-proclaimed/so-called
(p149) comme vous le savez trop bien, ma gentille: as you well know, my sweet
(p151) c'est tout: that's all
(p154) ce qu'on appelle: what is called
Chapter 2
(p154) partie de plaisir: cake walk
(p154) raison d'etre: purpose
(p157) comme on dit: as the saying goes
(p158) a propos de rien: about nothing
(p159) pollex: thumb
(p159) face à claques: literally "face of slaps", a face you want to slap
(p159) coulant un regard: casting a glance
(p161) tic nerveux: nervous tic
(p161) mais je divague: but I digress
(p162) les yeux perdus: eyes wandering
(p162) brun adolescent: tan adolescent
(p162) se tordre: writhe
(p162) ange gauche: clumsy angel
Chapter 3
(p166) hors concours: stand-out
(p168) cabanes: cabins
(p168) que dis-je: what did I say
(p169) un monsieur très bien: a fine gentleman
(p174) dans la force de l'âge: in the prime of life
(p174) vieillard encore vert: unripe (green) old man
(p174) casé: literally "pidgeon-holed", a place
(p175) rentier: annuitant
Chapter 4
(p177) recueillement: contemplation
Chapter 6
(p181) mes goûts: my tastes
(p182) Oui, ils sont gentils: Yes, they are nice.
(p182) toiles: paintings
(p182) Prenez donc une de ces poires. La bonne dame d'en face m'en offre plus que je n'en peux savourer: So take one of these pears. The good lady opposite offered me more than I can savor.
(p182) Mississe Taille Lore vient de me donner ces dahlias, belles fleurs que j'exécre: Misses Taille Lore has just given me dahlias, beautiful flowers that I hate.
(p182) Au roi!: To the King!
(p183) Et toutes vos fillettes, elles vont bien?: And all your girls, they're doing well?
(p183) sale histoire: dirty story
Chapter 8
(p189) ne montrez pas vos zhambes: do not show your legs
Chapter 10
(p193) tic nerveaux: nervous tic
Chapter 11
(p196) Emigre: emigrant
Chapter 14
(p203) Mon pauvre ami, je ne vous ai jamais revu et quoiqu’il y ait bien peu de chance que vous voyiez mon livre, permettez-moi de vous dire que je vous serre la main bien cordialement, et que toutes mes fillettes vous saluent: My poor friend, I have not seen you since and although there is little chance that you may see my book, let me tell you that I shake your hand cordially, and all my girls send you greetings
(p203) D'un petit air faussement contrit: with a small air falsely contrite
(p204) pommettes: cheekbones
(p204) maman: mom
(p207) Jai toujours admiré l'eouvre ormonde du sublime Dublinois: I have always admired the Ormond work of the sublime Dubliner [James Joyce]
(p207) C'est entendu?: Is it understood?
(p207) Qui prenait son temps: Who took her time
Chapter 16
(p210) le montagnard émigré: the emigrated mountaineer
(p210) Felis tigris goldsmithi: [literally: goldsmith tiger cat]
(p214) adolori d'amoureuse langueur: the pain of love's languor
Chapter 17
(p215) Gros: Fat
Chapter 19
(p223) Ne manque pas de dire à ton amant, Chimène, comme le lac est beau car il faut qu'il t'y mene. . . . Qu'il t'y-: Do not fail to tell your lover, Chimene, how beautiful the lake is, for he must take you there. . . . Hey-
(p223) a titre documentaire: for documentary purposes
(p224) un ricanement: a sneer
(p226) intacta: intact
(p226) la pomme de sa canne: the 'apple' (knob) of his cane
(p230) petit rat: little rat
Chapter 22
(p238) Soyons logiques: Let us be logical
(p239) Etats Unis: United States
(p241) haute montagne: high mountain
(p241) que sais-je!: what do I know!
(p242) chassé-croisé: crossover
(p243) Je croyais que c' était un bill- not a billet doux: I thought it was a bill- not a love letter.
(p243) Bonjour, mon petit.: Hello, my little one
(p243) Est-ce que tu ne m'aimes plus, ma Carmen?: Do you love me anymore, my Carmen?
(p244) une belle dame toute en bleu: a beautiful lady in all blue
Chapter 23
(p247) comme il faut: proper (fm. properly)
(p250) Quelquepart: somewhere
(p250) La Bateau Blue: The Blue Boat
Chapter 24
(p252) garcon: fellow
Chapter 25
(p253) Dolorés Disparue: Dolores Missing
(p254) chambres garnies: furnished rooms
(p254) que c'etatit loin, tout cela!: How far it was - all that!
(p254) Et moi qui t'offrais mon genie!: And I was offering you my genius!
(p256) L'autre soir un air froid d'opera m'alita: Son fele-bien fol est qui s'y fie! Il neige, le decor s'ecroule, Lolita! Lolita, qu'ai-je fait de ta vie?: The other night a cold opera tune put me to bed: Crackled sound - who goes by it is crazy! It's snowing. The scenery is collapsing, Lolita! Lolita, what did I do with your life?
Chapter 26
(p260) travaux: works
(p261) très digne: very dignified
(261) souvenir, souvenir que me veux-tu?: remember, remember what you want?
(p261) petite nymphe accroupie: small crouching nymph
(p263) vin triste: sad, drunk [literally "sad wine"]
Chapter 27
(p264) Mes fenétres!: My windows!
(p264) Savez-vous qu'ю dix ans ma petite était folle de vous?: do you know that, when she was ten, my little daughter was madly in love with you?
Chapter 28
(p267) Pas tout a fait: not quite
(p269) finis: finished
Chapter 29
(p269) Personne. Je resonne. Repersonne: Nobody. I rang the bell again. Again nobody.
(p270) pommettes: cheekbones
(p273) frileux: chilly
(p275) Streng verboten: Strictly forbidden [in German]
(p277) souffler: blow
(p278) Mon grand pêché radieux: My great radiant sin
(p278) Changeons de vie, ma Carmen, allons vivre quelque part où nous ne serons jamais séparés: Lets change our lives, my Carmen, go and live somewhere where we shall never be separated.
(p278) Carmen, voulez-vous venir avec moi?: Carmen, do you want to come with me?
(p278) Trousseau: Clothing and accessories for a bride
(p279) Mon petit cadeau: My little gift
(p279) Cadeau: Gift
(p280) Carmencita, lui demandais-je: My little Carmen, I asked her
Chapter 32
(p 284) mais je t'aimais, je t'aimais!: But I loved you, I loved you!
Chapter 33
(p287) Bonzhur [Bonjour, spelled to mimic Charlotte's poor French accent]: good day
(p289) Mille grâces: A thousand graces
(p290) Vient de: Just
(p290) Réveillez-vous, Laqueue, il est temps demourir!: Wake up, Laqueue, it is now time to die!
Chapter 35
(p295) Je suis Monsieur Brustére: I am Mr.Brewster [in Phonetic French]
(p296) Vaterre: Water closet (slang)
(p296) La Fiertu de la Chair: The Pride of the Chair [a bad translation of "Proud Flesh", mistaking the word "flesh" for "chair"]
(p297) une femme est une femme, mais un Caporal est une cigarette?: A women is a women, but a Caporal is a cigarette?
(p298) Vous voilю dans de beaux draps, mon vieux: You are in a fine mess, my friend
(p298) Alors, que fait-on?: What do we do then?
(p301) rencontre: duel [literally: "meeting" or "encounter"]
(p301) Soyons raisonnables: Let us be reasonable
(p302) Feu: Fire
With that sentence, Pynchon begins his infamous work Gravity's Rainbow . . . one of the most controversial, most discussed, most debated, and most frequently started-and-then-put-down works of the twentieth century. It is hard to bring up Gravity's Rainbow in literate company and not elicit some sort of a response. I have even found the mere mention of it to be like the punch line in some tacit academic joke: "oh, so you're reading that, eh? heh heh heh. . . ." More so than any other work besides Finnegans Wake, Gravity's Rainbow has -- now say it quietly, so as not to alarm anyone -- a reputation. Even the circumstances surrounding its creation sound suspiciously like an hagiography: Saint Pynchon sequestered himself in a room, writing the novel out by hand, filling sheet after sheet of graph paper with the precise script of an Engineer. Perched atop this stack of papers was his small offering to the Muse, a totem of invocative magic: a rocket formed from "a pencil type eraser (the kind from which you peel off the corkscrew wrapper) with a needle in its nose, and a re-formed paper clip serving as a launching pad." The working title of his draft was Mindless Pleasures, a phrase which occurs twice in the final novel, and when it was published in 1973, the trustees of the Pulitzer Prize overturned the judges' decision to award it the coveted prize, and so no work of fiction received the Pulitzer Prize that year.