LA WEB DE READING COMPREHENSION PREFERIDA POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES

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TWO GALLANTS

James Joyce

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (1882–1941) was an Irish expatriate writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel Ulysses and its controversial successor Finnegans Wake, as well as the short story collection Dubliners, where this story comes from.

 
 

Two Gallants
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Dos Galanes
PAGINA 2/3

She was... a bit of all right," he said regretfully.

 

-Ella estaba... bastante bien -dijo con sentimiento.

He was silent again. Then he added:

 

De nuevo se quedó callado. Luego, añadió:

"She's on the turf now. I saw her driving down Earl Street one night with two fellows with her on a car."

 

-Ahora trabaja la calle. La vi montada en un carro con dos tipos, abajo en la Calle Earl, una noche.

"I suppose that's your doing," said Lenehan.

 

-Supongo que por tu culpa -dijo Lenehan.

"There was others at her before me," said Corley philosophically.

 

-Hubo otros antes que yo -dijo Corley, filosófico.

This time Lenehan was inclined to disbelieve. He shook his head to and fro and smiled.

 

Esta vez Lenehan se sentía inclinado a no creerle. Movió la cabeza de un lado a otro y sonrió.

"You know you can't kid me, Corley," he said.

 

-Tú sabes que tú no me puedes andar a mí con cuentos, Corley -dijo.

"Honest to God!" said Corley. "Didn't she tell me herself?"

 

-¡Por lo más sagrado! -dijo Corley-. ¿No me lo dijo ella misma?

Lenehan made a tragic gesture.

 

Lenehan hizo un gesto trágico.

"Base betrayer!" he said.

 

-¡Triste traidora! -dijo.

As they passed along the railings of Trinity College, Lenehan skipped out into the road and peered up at the clock.

 

Al pasar por las rejas de Trinity College, Lenehan saltó al medio de la calle y miró al reloj arriba.

"Twenty after," he said.

 

-Veinte pasadas -dijo.

"Time enough," said Corley. "She'll be there all right. I always let her wait a bit."

 

-Hay tiempo -dijo Corley-. Ella va a estar allí. Siempre la hago esperar un poco.

Lenehan laughed quietly.

 

Lenehan se rió entre dientes.

'Ecod! Corley, you know how to take them," he said.

 

-¡Anda! Tú sí que sabes cómo manejarlas, Corley -dijo.

"I'm up to all their little tricks," Corley confessed.

 

-Me sé bien todos sus truquitos -confesó Corley.

"But tell me," said Lenehan again, "are you sure you can bring it off all right? You know it's a ticklish job. They're damn close on that point. Eh? ... What?"

 

-Pero dime -dijo Lenehan de nuevo-, ¿estás seguro de que te va a salir bien? No es nada fácil, tú sabes. Tocante a eso son muy cerradas. ¿Eh?... ¿Qué?

His bright, small eyes searched his companion's face for reassurance. Corley swung his head to and fro as if to toss aside an insistent insect, and his brows gathered.

 

Sus pequeños ojos brillantes se dirigieron al rostro de su compañero en busca de consuelo. Corley movió su cabeza de un lado hacia el otro como apartando un insecto molesto y frunció el entrecejo.

"I'll pull it off," he said. "Leave it to me, can't you?"

 

-Le encontraré la vuelta -dijo-, déjalo en mis manos, ¿puedes?

Lenehan said no more. He did not wish to ruffle his friend's temper, to be sent to the devil and told that his advice was not wanted. A little tact was necessary. But Corley's brow was soon smooth again. His thoughts were running another way.

 

Lenehan no dijo más. No quería acabarle la paciencia a su amigo, que lo mandara al demonio y luego le dijera que no necesitaba para nada sus consejos. Hacía falta tener tacto. Pero el ceño de Corley volvió a la calma pronto. Tenía la mente en otra cosa.

"She's a fine decent tart," he said, with appreciation; "that's what she is."

 

-Es una tipa muy decente -dijo, con aprecio-, de veras que lo es.

They walked along Nassau Street and then turned into Kildare Street. Not far from the porch of the club a harpist stood in the roadway, playing to a little ring of listeners. He plucked at the wires heedlessly, glancing quickly from time to time at the face of each new-comer and from time to time, wearily also, at the sky. His harp, too, heedless that her coverings had fallen about her knees, seemed weary alike of the eyes of strangers and of her master's hands. One hand played in the bass the melody of Silent, O Moyle, while the other hand careered in the treble after each group of notes. The notes of the air sounded deep and full.

 

Bajaron por la Calle Nassau y luego doblaron por Kildare. No lejos del portal del club un arpista tocaba sobre la acera ante un corro de oyentes. Tiraba de las cuerdas sin darle importancia, echando de vez en cuando miradas rápidas al rostro de cada recién venido y otras veces, pero con idéntico desgano, al cielo. Su arpa, también, sin darle importancia al forro que le caía por debajo de las rodillas, parecía desentenderse por igual de las miradas ajenas y de las manos de su dueño. Una de estas manos bordeaba la melodía de Silent, O Moyle, mientras la otra, sobre las primas, le caía detrás a cada grupo de notas. Los arpegios de la melodía vibraban hondos y plenos.

The two young men walked up the street without speaking, the mournful music following them. When they reached Stephen's Green they crossed the road. Here the noise of trams, the lights and the crowd released them from their silence.

 

Los dos jóvenes continuaron calle arriba sin hablar, seguidos por la música fúnebre. Cuando llegaron a Stephen's Green atravesaron la calle. En este punto el ruido de los tranvías, las luces y la muchedumbre los libró del silencio. 

"There she is!" said Corley.

 

-¡Allí está! -dijo Corley.

At the corner of Hume Street a young woman was standing. She wore a blue dress and a white sailor hat. She stood on the curbstone, swinging a sunshade in one hand. Lenehan grew lively.

 

Una mujer joven estaba parada en la esquina de la calle Hume. Llevaba un vestido azul y una gorra de marinero blanca. Estaba sobre el contén, balanceando una sombrilla en la mano. Lenehan se avivó.

"Let's have a look at her, Corley," he said.

 

-Vamos a mirarla de cerca, Corley -dijo.

Corley glanced sideways at his friend and an unpleasant grin appeared on his face.

 

Corley miró ladeado a su amigo y una sonrisa desagradable apareció en su cara.

"Are you trying to get inside me?" he asked.

 

-¿Estás tratando de colarte? -le preguntó.

"Damn it!" said Lenehan boldly, "I don't want an introduction. All I want is to have a look at her. I'm not going to eat her."

 

-¡Maldita sea! -dijo Lenehan, osado-. No quiero que me la presentes. Nada más quiero verla. No me la voy a comer...

"O ... A look at her?" said Corley, more amiably. "Well... I'll tell you what. I'll go over and talk to her and you can pass by."

 

-Ah... ¿Verla? -dijo Corley, más amable-. Bueno... atiende. Yo me acerco a hablar con ella y tú pasas de largo.

"Right!" said Lenehan.

 

-¡Muy bien! -dijo Lenehan.

Corley had already thrown one leg over the chains when Lenehan called out:

 

Ya Corley había cruzado una pierna por encima de las cadenas cuando Lenehan lo llamó:

"And after? Where will we meet?"

 

-¿Y luego? ¿Dónde nos encontramos?

"Half ten," answered Corley, bringing over his other leg.

 

-Diez y media -respondió Corley, pasando la otra pierna.

"Where?"

 

-¿Dónde?

"Corner of Merrion Street. We'll be coming back."

 

-En la esquina de la Calle Merrion. Estaremos de regreso.

"Work it all right now," said Lenehan in farewell.

 

-Trabájala bien -dijo Lenehan como despedida.

Corley did not answer. He sauntered across the road swaying his head from side to side. His bulk, his easy pace, and the solid sound of his boots had something of the conqueror in them. He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at once to converse with her. She swung her umbrella more quickly and executed half turns on her heels. Once or twice when he spoke to her at close quarters she laughed and bent her head.

 

Corley no respondió. Cruzó la calle a buen paso, moviendo la cabeza de un lado a otro. Su bulto, su paso cómodo y el sólido sonido de sus botas tenían en sí algo de conquistador. Se acercó a la joven y, sin saludarla, empezó a conversar con ella enseguida. Ella balanceó la sombrilla más rápido y dio vueltas a sus tacones. Una o dos veces que él le habló muy cerca de ella se rió y bajó la cabeza.

Lenehan observed them for a few minutes. Then he walked rapidly along beside the chains at some distance and crossed the road obliquely. As he approached Hume Street corner he found the air heavily scented and his eyes made a swift anxious scrutiny of the young woman's appearance. She had her Sunday finery on. Her blue serge skirt was held at the waist by a belt of black leather. The great silver buckle of her belt seemed to depress the centre of her body, catching the light stuff of her white blouse like a clip. She wore a short black jacket with mother-of-pearl buttons and a ragged black boa. The ends of her tulle collarette had been carefully disordered and a big bunch of red flowers was pinned in her bosom stems upwards. Lenehan's eyes noted approvingly her stout short muscular body. rank rude health glowed in her face, on her fat red cheeks and in her unabashed blue eyes. Her features were blunt. She had broad nostrils, a straggling mouth which lay open in a contented leer, and two projecting front teeth. As he passed Lenehan took off his cap and, after about ten seconds, Corley returned a salute to the air. This he did by raising his hand vaguely and pensively changing the angle of position of his hat.

 

Lenehan los observó por unos minutos. Luego, caminó rápido junto a las cadenas guardando distancia y atravesó la calle en diagonal. Al acercarse a la esquina de la Calle Hume encontró el aire densamente perfumado y rápidos sus ojos escrutaron, ansiosos, el aspecto de la joven. Tenía puesto su vestido dominguero. Su falda de sarga azul estaba sujeta a la cintura por un cinturón de cuero negro. La enorme hebilla del cinto parecía oprimir el centro de su cuerpo, cogiendo como un broche la ligera tela de su blusa blanca. Llevaba una chaqueta negra corta con botones de nácar y una desaliñada boa negra. Las puntas de su cuellito de tul estaban cuidadosamente desarregladas y tenía prendido sobre el busto un gran ramo de rosas rojas con los tallos vueltos hacia arriba. Lenehan notó con aprobación su corto cuerpo macizo. Una franca salud rústica iluminaba su rostro, sus rojos cachetes rollizos y sus atrevidos ojos azules. Sus facciones eran toscas. Tenía una nariz ancha, una boca regada, abierta en una mueca entre socarrona y contenta, y dos dientes botados. Al pasar Lenehan se quitó la gorra y, después de unos diez segundos, Corley devolvió el saludo al aire. Lo hizo levantando su mano vagamente y cambiando, distraído, el ángulo de caída del sombrero.

Lenehan walked as far as the Shelbourne Hotel where he halted and waited. After waiting for a little time he saw them coming towards him and, when they turned to the right, he followed them, stepping lightly in his white shoes, down one side of Merrion Square. As he walked on slowly, timing his pace to theirs, he watched Corley's head which turned at every moment towards the young woman's face like a big ball revolving on a pivot. He kept the pair in view until he had seen them climbing the stairs of the Donnybrook tram; then he turned about and went back the way he had come.

 

Lenehan llegó hasta el hotel Shelbourne, donde se detuvo a la espera. Después de esperar un ratito los vio venir hacia él y cuando doblaron a la derecha, los siguió, apresurándose ligero en sus zapatos blancos, hacia un costado de Merrion Square. Mientras caminaba despacio, ajustando su paso al de ellos, miraba la cabeza de Corley, que se volvía a cada minuto hacia la cara de la joven como un gran balón dando vueltas sobre un pivote. Mantuvo la pareja a la vista hasta que los vio subir la escalera del tranvía a Donnybrook; entonces, dio media vuelta y regresó por donde había venido.

Now that he was alone his face looked older. His gaiety seemed to forsake him and, as he came by the railings of the Duke's Lawn, he allowed his hand to run along them. The air which the harpist had played began to control his movements His softly padded feet played the melody while his fingers swept a scale of variations idly along the railings after each group of notes.

 

Ahora que estaba solo su cara se veía más vieja. Su alegría pareció abandonarlo y al caminar junto a las rejas de Duke's Lawn dejó correr su mano sobre ellas. La música que tocaba el arpista comenzó a controlar sus movimientos. Sus pies, suavemente acolchados, llevaban la melodía, mientras sus dedos hicieron escalas imitativas sobre las rejas, cayéndole detrás a cada grupo de notas.

He walked listlessly round Stephen's Green and then down Grafton Street. Though his eyes took note of many elements of the crowd through which he passed they did so morosely. He found trivial all that was meant to charm him and did not answer the glances which invited him to be bold. He knew that he would have to speak a great deal, to invent and to amuse and his brain and throat were too dry for such a task. The problem of how he could pass the hours till he met Corley again troubled him a little. He could think of no way of passing them but to keep on walking. He turned to the left when he came to the corner of Rutland Square and felt more at ease in the dark quiet street, the sombre look of which suited his mood. He paused at last before the window of a poor-looking shop over which the words Refreshment Bar were printed in white letters. On the glass of the window were two flying inscriptions: Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale. A cut ham was exposed on a great blue dish while near it on a plate lay a segment of very light plum-pudding. He eyed this food earnestly for some time and then, after glancing warily up and down the street, went into the shop quickly.

 

Caminó sin ganas por Stephen's Green y luego a la Calle Grafton abajo. Aunque sus ojos tomaban nota de muchos elementos de la multitud por entre la que pasaba, lo hacían desganadamente. Encontró trivial todo lo que debía encantarle y no tuvo respuesta a las miradas que lo invitaban a ser atrevido. Sabía que tendría que hablar mucho, que inventar y que divertir, y su garganta y su cerebro estaban demasiado secos para semejante tarea. El problema de cómo pasar las horas hasta encontrarse con Corley de nuevo le preocupó. No pudo encontrar mejor manera de pasarlas que caminando. Dobló a la izquierda cuando llegó a la esquina de Rutland Square y se halló más a gusto en la tranquila calle oscura, cuyo aspecto sombrío concordaba con su ánimo. Se detuvo, al fin, ante las vitrinas de un establecimiento de aspecto miserable en que las palabras Bar Refrescos estaban pintadas en letras blancas. Sobre el cristal de las vitrinas había dos letreros volados: Cerveza de Jengibre y Ginger Ale. Un jamón cortado se exhibía sobre una fuente azul, mientras que no lejos, en una bandeja, había un pedazo de pudín de pasas. Miró estos comestibles fijamente por espacio de un rato y, luego, después de echar una mirada vigilante calle arriba y abajo, entró en la fonda, rápido.

GLOSSARY

on the turf (slang): engaged in prostitution.
sent to the devil (slang): told to go to hell.
the club: the Kildare Street Club, a Protestant and Anglo-Irish gentleman’s club.
harp: the symbol of Ireland.
“Silent O Moyle”: an Irish patriotic song.
Stephen’s Green: a large public park in a fashionable south-central Dublin neighborhood.
get inside me (slang): take my place.
the chains: chains that used to separate paths around Stephen’s Green from the streets beyond.
Half ten: 10:30.
tulle: a thin, fine netting of silk used for veils, scarves, and so forth.

 

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