Spanish · Part Two

El látigo

The Whip

204 sentences · 140 notes

Tap a sentence to open its words. The mark beside it plays it.

1
The ploy conceived by Erdosain and carried out by the Astrologer was a success, and the latter decided that on Wednesday the first meeting would be held, at which the "chiefs" would meet one another.
Latheel · determiner, feminine, singulardeterminer of treta
tretaploytreta · noun, feminine, singularsubject of tuvo
ideadaconceivedidear · verb, past, participle, feminine, singularmodifies treta
porbypor · prepositionpreposition marking Erdosain
ErdosainErdosainErdosain · proper nounagent of ideada
yandy · conjunctionlinks the coordination
llevadacarriedllevar · verb, past, participle, feminine, singularcoordinated with ideada
aouta · prepositionpreposition marking cabo
cabocompletioncabo · noun, masculine, singularcompound with llevada
Idiom: llevar a cabo = 'to carry out / accomplish.'
porbypor · prepositionpreposition marking Astrólogo
eltheel · determiner, masculine, singulardeterminer of Astrólogo
AstrólogoAstrologerAstrólogo · proper nounagent of llevada
tuvohadtener · verb, past, indicative, third-person, singularmain verb of the sentence
éxitosuccesséxito · noun, masculine, singulardirect object of tuvo
yandy · conjunctionlinks the coordination
éstethe lattereste · pronoun, masculine, singularsubject of resolvió
resolviódecidedresolver · verb, past, indicative, third-person, singularcoordinated with tuvo
quethatque · subordinating conjunctionintroduces the clause of llevara
eltheel · determiner, masculine, singulardeterminer of día
díadaydía · noun, masculine, singularoblique complement of llevara
miércolesWednesdaymiércoles · noun, masculine, singularcompound with día
seitselfél · pronoun, accusative, reflexivereflexive particle of llevara
llevarawould be heldllevar · verb, imperfect, subjunctive, third-person, singularclausal complement of resolvió
aouta · prepositionpreposition marking cabo
cabocompletioncabo · noun, masculine, singularcompound with llevara
latheel · determiner, feminine, singulardeterminer of reunión
primerafirstprimero · adjective, feminine, singularmodifies reunión
reuniónmeetingreunión · noun, feminine, singularsubject of llevara
enaten · prepositionpreposition marking que
latheel · determiner, feminine, singulardeterminer of que
quewhichque · pronounrelative pronoun referring to reunión, complement of conocerían
seeach otherél · pronoun, accusative, reflexivereflexive particle of conocerían
conoceríanwould meetconocer · verb, conditional, third-person, pluralclause modifying reunión
lostheel · determiner, masculine, pluraldeterminer of jefes
jefeschiefsjefe · noun, masculine, pluralsubject of conocerían
GrammarImperfect subjunctive after «resolver que» «resolvió que… se llevara a cabo» uses the imperfect subjunctive «llevara» because the main verb «resolver» ('to decide / resolve that') imposes a wish or order on what follows. «Llevar a cabo» is a fixed idiom meaning 'to carry out / accomplish'.
2
On Tuesday, at four in the afternoon, Erdosain received a visit from the Astrologer, who told him that on the Wednesday of that week, at nine in the morning, the chiefs would gather in Temperley.
Grammar«quien» as a relative pronoun for people «quien» ('who') introduces a non-restrictive relative clause referring to a person, here the Astrologer. After a comma it adds extra information, much like English 'who' in 'the Astrologer, who told him…'.
3
The Astrologer stayed in Erdosain's company a few minutes, and as Erdosain was going down the stairs, examining his watch with a start, he said to the Astrologer:
Grammar«éste» vs. «aquél» (the latter / the former) Spanish uses «éste» ('this one', the latter — nearer in the text) and «aquél» ('that one', the former — farther back) to keep two people straight. The last-mentioned here is Erdosain, so «éste» is Erdosain going down the stairs, and «aquél» is the Astrologer he speaks to.
4
–Good grief... it's four o'clock, I have to go to a heap of places... I'll expect you tomorrow at nine...
Grammar«tener que» + infinitive (obligation) «tener que» followed by an infinitive expresses necessity or obligation: «tengo que ir» = 'I have to go'. It is the everyday way to say one must do something.
5
Ah! I have thought that the only one who could fill the post of Chief of Industries was you.
Word«desempeñar» — to perform / hold (a post) «desempeñar» means to carry out a role or hold an office: «desempeñar el puesto» = 'to fill / hold the position'. It is the standard verb for occupying a job or playing a part.
6
Well, tomorrow we'll talk... Ah!, don't forget to present... better said, to prepare a project on hydraulic turbines, a model for a mountain power plant, a simple one.
GrammarNegative «usted» command with a pronoun «no se olvide» is a negative formal command of «olvidarse» ('to forget'). In the negative the pronoun «se» comes before the verb: 'don't forget'. The verb uses the subjunctive form «olvide» for the «usted» imperative.
It would be for the colony and the electrometallurgy works.
7
–How many kilowatts?
8
–I don't know... that you must study yourself.
GrammarEnclitic object pronoun on an infinitive In «debe estudiarlo», the object pronoun «lo» ('it') is attached to the end of the infinitive «estudiar». With «deber» + infinitive the pronoun may ride on the infinitive («estudiarlo») or stand before «debe» («lo debe estudiar»).
There will be electric furnaces... anyway, you sort it out yourself.
Word«arreglárselas» — to manage / cope «arreglárselas» is an idiom meaning 'to manage', 'to get by', 'to sort things out for oneself'. The formal command «arrégleselas usted» tells Erdosain to figure it out on his own.
Besides, the Gold Seeker has arrived; tomorrow he'll give you more concrete details.
Get yourself ready so the matter doesn't catch you off guard.
Grammar«para que» + subjunctive (purpose) «para que» ('so that', 'in order that') always takes the subjunctive when the two clauses have different subjects. Here «sorprenda» is the present subjunctive of «sorprender» — 'so that the matter does not surprise you'.
Devil, it's getting late... until tomorrow... –adjusting his top hat, he hailed a passing chauffeur and settled into the automobile.
Grammar«hacerse» — to get / become «hacerse» is a pronominal verb of change: «se hace tarde» = 'it is getting late'. The reflexive «se» turns «hacer» ('to make') into 'to become', describing a state coming on by itself.
9
The next day, Erdosain, walking along the sidewalks of Temperley, noticed in astonishment that it had been a long time since he had felt such a sense of calm.
Word«vereda» — sidewalk (River Plate) In Argentina and Uruguay «vereda» means 'sidewalk / pavement', where most of the Spanish-speaking world says «acera». It is one of the everyday Río de la Plata words that color Arlt's Buenos Aires.
Grammar«hacía… que» for elapsed time «hacía mucho tiempo que no gozaba» = 'it had been a long time since he had enjoyed'. The construction «hacía + time + que» in the imperfect describes how long a situation had been going on in the past.
10
He walked slowly.
Those tunnels of greenery gave him the impression of a titanic, misshapen labor.
Delighted, he looked at the paths of red gravel in the parks, which pushed their scarlet sheets out toward the meadows, green tablecloths enameled with violet, yellow, and red flowers.
GrammarPast participle as a predicate adjective «deleitado» ('delighted') is a past participle used here as an adjective describing the subject as he acts: 'he looked, delighted'. It agrees with the masculine singular subject and adds the manner or mood of the action.
And if he raised his eyes, he met watery pools at the zenith that gave him a vertigo of falling, for all at once the sky vanished in his pupils and left a blackness of blindness in his eyes, the mind clearing in a furtive fluttering of silver atoms that in turn evaporated, turning into terrible harsh, dry blues, now overhead, like caverns of methylene blue.
Word«pues» — for / since (causal) Here «pues» means 'for' or 'since', introducing the reason for what came before: 'a vertigo of falling, for all at once the sky vanished'. In other contexts «pues» can also be a filler ('well…').
And the pleasure the morning stirred in him, the new joy, welded back the pieces of his personality, broken by the earlier sufferings of the disaster, and he felt that his body was nimble for any adventure.
GrammarImperfect for the sustained scene The string of imperfects «suscitaba», «soldaba», «sentía» holds the whole morning open as an ongoing experience rather than a finished event. Arlt favors the imperfect to let these descriptions hover without closing.
11
–Augusto Remo Erdosain –just as if pronouncing his name gave him a physical pleasure, one that doubled the energy infiltrated into his limbs by the motion.
Grammar«como si» + imperfect subjunctive «como si» ('as if') always triggers the imperfect subjunctive, here «produjera». It frames a hypothetical, unreal comparison: 'as if saying his name gave him pleasure'.
12
Through the slanting streets, beneath the cones of sunlight, he advanced, feeling the power of his brand-new identity: Chief of Industries.
Word«flamante» — brand-new «flamante» means 'brand-new', 'fresh', often with a shine of pride. Applied to «personalidad» it suggests Erdosain wears his new title like a gleaming new suit.
The freshness of the botanical path enriched his consciousness with grandeurs.
And this satisfaction steadied him in the streets, the way a lead ballast steadies those celluloid dolls.
Word«aplomar» — to steady / give poise «aplomar» means to make something plumb, steady, or self-assured (the noun «aplomo» = 'composure'). The satisfaction gives Erdosain ballast, like the lead weight that keeps a toy doll upright.
13
He thought he would show himself ironic at the meeting, and a malevolent contempt rose in him for the weak of the world.
The planet belonged to the strong, that's it, to the strong.
Grammar«ser de» for possession «ser de» expresses belonging or ownership: «el planeta era de los fuertes» = 'the planet belonged to the strong'. Literally 'was of the strong', it marks whose the planet is.
They would lay the world waste and present themselves before the rabble who run aground their backsides in the armchairs of every office, armored with grandeur, like solitary and cruel emperors.
Word«la canalla» — the rabble / scum «la canalla» is a collective, contemptuous word for the mob, the riffraff, despicable people. Arlt's narrators hurl it at the timid office-bound multitude they dream of trampling.
They imagined themselves once more in an enormous hall with glassed-in walls, the center of which was taken up by a round table.
Grammar«cuyo» — whose (relative) «cuyo» is the relative possessive 'whose / of which', and it agrees with the thing possessed, not the owner. «cuyo centro» = 'the center of which', agreeing with masculine «centro».
His four secretaries, papers in their hands and pens behind their ears, would come up to consult him, while in a corner, hats in their hands, their gray heads bowed, stood the delegates of the workers.
And Erdosain, turning toward them, would say to them simply: "Either you go back to work tomorrow or we'll shoot you."
Word«o… o…» — either… or… The paired «o… o…» frames an exclusive choice: 'either… or…'. Here it issues an ultimatum — go back to work, or be shot — with no third option.
Word«fusilar» — to shoot (by firing squad) «fusilar» specifically means to execute by firing squad, not merely 'to shoot'. The word recurs through the chapter — «fusilamientos», «fusilamos» — as the keynote of Erdosain's fantasy of revolutionary power.
That was all.
He spoke little and in a low voice, and his arm was weary from signing decrees.
14
What held him upright was the ferocity of the times, which needed the soul of a tiger to adorn the edges of every twilight with sinister executions.
Word«mantener en pie» — to keep standing «mantener en pie» means 'to keep (something or someone) standing / on its feet'. The fronted object «Lo mantenía en pie la ferocidad» = 'the ferocity… kept him standing', with the real subject placed at the end for emphasis.
15
He was now advancing toward the Astrologer's estate, his heart pounding with enthusiasm, repeating to himself Lenin's phrase like a little tune full of voluptuousness:
Word«quinta» — country house / estate A «quinta» is a country house or villa with grounds, on the outskirts of a city. The Astrologer's «quinta» in Temperley, a suburb south of Buenos Aires, is the secret headquarters of the conspiracy.
16
"–What the devil kind of revolution is this if we shoot no one!"
GrammarDouble negative «no… nadie» Spanish requires the double negative: «no fusilamos a nadie» = 'we shoot no one'. When a negative word like «nadie» follows the verb, «no» must precede the verb. The personal «a» appears before «nadie» as the human object.
17
On reaching the estate and pushing one of the doors ajar, he saw the Astrologer coming to meet him, covered in a long gray duster and a straw hat.
Grammar«Al» + infinitive (on doing) «Al» followed by an infinitive means 'on / upon doing something': «al llegar» = 'on arriving'. One «al» can govern two infinitives — «al llegar… y entreabrir» = 'on reaching… and pushing ajar' — compressing a clause of time into a few words.
18
In friendship they shook hands firmly while the Astrologer said:
GrammarReciprocal «se» — to each other «se estrecharon… las manos» uses the reciprocal «se» ('one another'): the two men shake each other's hands. The plural reflexive marks a mutual action between the subjects.
19
Barsut is calm, you know?
I think he won't put up much resistance to signing the check.
Grammar«ir a» + infinitive (near future) «ir a» plus an infinitive expresses the near or intended future: «no va a oponer» = 'he is not going to put up'. It is the colloquial counterpart of the simple future tense.
Those fellows have already arrived, but first we'll see Barsut.
Word«tipo» — guy / fellow «tipo» is informal for 'guy', 'fellow', 'bloke'. «esos tipos» = 'those guys / those characters', a casual, slightly dismissive way to refer to the chiefs who have shown up.
Let them wait, what the devil!
Grammar«Que» + subjunctive as a third-person command «¡Que esperen!» = 'Let them wait!'. «Que» plus the present subjunctive expresses an indirect command or wish toward someone not present — the speaker orders the waiting chiefs at a distance.
Do you realize my situation?
Word«darse cuenta de» — to realize «darse cuenta de» means 'to realize / become aware of'. The formal «¿se da cuenta usted?» = 'do you realize?', addressed with «usted». Do not confuse it with «dar cuenta de» ('to account for'), a different idiom.
With that money the world is ours.
20
By now they had entered the study, and the Astrologer, turning the ring with the violet stone and looking at the map of the United States, went on:
GrammarPluperfect — an action before the past «habían entrado» is the pluperfect (past perfect): 'they had entered'. It places this action before the main past narration that follows, setting the scene that is already in place when the Astrologer speaks.
21
–We will conquer the earth, we will realize our "idea"... we can set up a brothel in San Martín or in Ciudadela, and the colony of the Saints in the mountains.
GrammarThe simple future tense «conquistaremos» and «realizaremos» are simple futures ('we will conquer', 'we will realize'), formed by adding endings (-emos) to the infinitive. The Astrologer uses the grand future to lay out the megalomaniac plan.
Who is more fit to run the brothel than the Melancholy Ruffian?
Word«regentear» — to manage / run «regentear» means to manage or run an establishment, often with a sense of presiding over it. Here it is the brothel that the Melancholy Ruffian (a pimp character) is judged best suited to operate.
We will name him Grand Brothel Patriarch.
22
Erdosain went up to the window...
The rosebushes poured out a most powerful, sharp perfume; the whole space filled with a red fragrance, cool as a flow of water.
GrammarAbsolute superlative «-ísimo» The suffix «-ísimo» forms the absolute superlative: «potentísimo» = 'extremely / most powerful', without comparing to anything else. It intensifies the adjective the way English 'very / utterly' would.
Blowflies with crystal wings fluttered around the scarlet patches of the pomegranate trees.
Erdosain stayed like that for some seconds.
The sight carried him back to that very same afternoon when he had been there, in the same place.
Word«retrotraer» — to carry back (in time) «retrotraer» means to take or carry something back to an earlier point, especially in time or memory. «lo retrotrajo a… aquella tarde» = 'carried him back to that afternoon'. It is irregular like «traer» («retrotrajo» in the preterite).
And yet, he did not imagine that the night awaited him with the surprise of Elsa's departure.
Word«sin embargo» — nevertheless / and yet «sin embargo» is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'however', 'nevertheless', 'and yet'. It introduces a contrast — the calm sight versus the catastrophe the night holds in store.
23
The many-shaped greenery entered through his eyes, but he did not see it.
There in the depths of his existence, her cheek resting on the violet nipples of a square male chest, was his wife, languid, her gaze slack, her lips parted for the obscene mouth of the other man.
Grammar«con» + noun + past participle «con la mejilla apoyada» = 'with her cheek resting / leaning'. This «con» + noun + past participle pattern describes a posture or accompanying state; «apoyada» agrees with feminine «mejilla».
24
A bird passed before his eyes, and Erdosain, turning to the Astrologer, said in a forcedly gentle voice:
25
–Man, do whatever you want.
GrammarSubjunctive after «lo que» (whatever) «lo que quiera» = 'whatever you want'. The present subjunctive «quiera» turns the relative «lo que» into an open, unspecified 'whatever', leaving the choice undetermined.
–Then he sat down, lit a cigarette, and watching the other man, who with a compass was drawing a circle on a blue map, asked–: But what do you intend to do?
GrammarEnclitic pronoun on a finite verb «sentóse» is «se sentó» ('he sat down') with the reflexive pronoun attached to the end of the conjugated verb — a literary inversion Arlt favors. The accent on «sentóse» keeps the original stress.
Will the Melancholy Ruffian be willing to manage the brothels?
Word«prestarse a/para» — to be willing / lend oneself «prestarse a/para» means 'to be willing to', 'to lend oneself to (doing) something'. «¿se prestará para administrar?» asks whether the Ruffian will agree to run the brothels.
26
–Yes, no worry about that, and Barsut won't put up much resistance.
Word«no hay cuidado» — no need to worry «no hay cuidado» is a set phrase meaning 'there's nothing to worry about', 'rest easy'. «de eso no hay cuidado» = 'no worries on that score'.
27
–Is he still in the coach house?
Word«cochera» — coach house / garage A «cochera» is a coach house or garage — the outbuilding where carriages or cars are kept. In this scene it adjoins the stable («caballeriza») where Barsut is held prisoner.
28
–It seemed prudent to me to kidnap him.
I chained him up in the stable.
Word«caballeriza» — stable A «caballeriza» is a stable for horses (from «caballo», 'horse'). The Astrologer chooses it as the one solid place to chain Barsut.
29
–In the stable?
30
–It was the only solid place where I could keep him.
Besides, in a room above the coach house sleeps the Man Who Saw the Midwife...
Word«pieza» — room (River Plate) In River Plate Spanish «pieza» commonly means 'room', especially a bedroom — where Spain would more often say «habitación» or «cuarto». «una pieza arriba de la cochera» = 'a room above the coach house'.
31
–What is that?
32
–Some day I'll tell you.
He saw the midwife and can't sleep at night.
Well, I had thought that you...
33
–What, am I to be the one who...?
34
–Let me speak.
Grammar«dejar» + infinitive (to let) «dejar» + infinitive means 'to let / allow someone do something'. «Déjeme hablar» is the formal «usted» command of «dejar» with «me» attached: 'let me speak'.
That you should see him and try to convince him to sign, in short, that you should lay out our ideas to him...
GrammarA chain of imperfect subjunctives «viera», «tratara», «firmara», «expusiera» are all imperfect subjunctives expressing what the Astrologer wishes Erdosain to do. The wish reaches back through «yo había pensado que…», so every subordinate verb stays in the subjunctive.
35
–We're going to have to make him sign by force...
Grammar«haber que» — impersonal obligation «hay que» / «haber que» + infinitive states an impersonal necessity: 'one must / it is necessary to'. «va a haber que hacerlo firmar» = 'it's going to be necessary to make him sign'. «a la fuerza» = 'by force'.
36
–But how so?
I, naturally, am an enemy of violence, but you understand me.
Our idea stands above all sentimentality; that is what you must make Barsut aware of — in short, that we would not want to find ourselves obliged to roast his feet or something worse... to get him to sign the check for us.
Word«por encima de» — above / over «por encima de» means 'above', 'over', or figuratively 'beyond / superior to': «está por encima de todo sentimentalismo» = 'stands above all sentimentality'.
GrammarImperfect subjunctive as soft conditional «no quisiéramos» ('we would not want') is the imperfect subjunctive of «querer» used to soften a statement, like a conditional. It makes the menace politely hypothetical — 'we wouldn't want to have to roast his feet'.
37
–And are you prepared to?
Word«estar dispuesto a» — to be willing / ready «estar dispuesto (a)» means 'to be willing / ready / prepared (to)'. «¿está dispuesto?» asks whether the Astrologer is ready to go through with the torture.
38
–Yes, we are prepared, because we cannot lose this one and only chance.
I was counting on your invention of the copper rose, but that is slow.
Word«contar con» — to count on / rely on «contar con» means 'to count on', 'to rely on', or 'to have available'. «yo contaba con su invento» = 'I was counting on your invention'. Do not read «contar» here as 'to tell' or 'to count numbers'.
It's not advisable to ask the Melancholy Ruffian for money.
Grammar«convenir» — to be advisable «convenir» here means 'to be advisable / suitable'. Used impersonally, «no conviene pedirle dinero» = 'it is not advisable to ask him for money'. The fronted «Al Rufián Melancólico» marks the indirect object echoed by «le».
39
If he doesn't have it we'll put him in a tight spot, and if he has it and won't give it to us, we'll lose a friend.
Word«apuro» — a tight spot / jam «apuro» means a difficulty, predicament, or jam: «poner en un apuro» = 'to put in a tight spot / embarrass'. In some regions «apuro» also means 'haste', but here it is the bind they would put the Ruffian in.
The fact that he has been generous with you doesn't mean he'll be so with us.
Grammar«el hecho de que» + subjunctive «el hecho de que» ('the fact that') normally takes the subjunctive — «haya sido» (present perfect subjunctive). «no quiere decir que lo sea» again forces the subjunctive «sea» after a negated 'mean that'.
Besides, he's a neurasthenic who doesn't know what he's good for.
Word«dar de sí» — to be capable of / yield «dar de sí» is an idiom meaning 'to yield', 'to stretch', or figuratively 'to be capable of': «no sabe lo que da de sí» = 'doesn't know what he's capable of / what he has in him'.
40
Erdosain looked, through the quadrangles formed by the iron bars of the window, at the scarlet patches in the green crowns of the pomegranate trees.
A yellow band of sun cut across the wall high up in the room.
Word«estancia» — room (here) «estancia» can mean a stay/sojourn, or in Argentina a large ranch, but here it simply means 'room / chamber' — the study where the two men talk. Context decides which sense is meant.
An enormous sadness passed through his heart.
What was it that he had made of his life?
Grammar«¿Qué es lo que…?» — what is it that… «¿Qué es lo que…?» is an emphatic way to ask 'what?', literally 'what is it that…?'. It adds weight to the question. «había hecho» is the pluperfect — 'had made / done'.
41
The Astrologer noticed his silence and said:
Word«reparar en» — to notice «reparar en» means 'to notice', 'to take note of': «reparó en su silencio» = 'he noticed his silence'. Without «en», «reparar» means 'to repair / mend', a quite different verb.
42
–Look here, Erdosain.
Grammar«Vea» — formal command of «ver» «Vea» is the «usted» imperative of «ver» ('to see'), used here as a discourse marker: 'Look', 'Look here', 'See now'. It signals the start of an argument the speaker wants you to attend to.
We have no choice left but to face everything or give up.
Word«no quedar otro remedio que» — no choice but «no quedar otro remedio que» is an idiom: 'to have no other choice / no alternative but to'. «no nos queda otro remedio que afrontar» = 'we have no choice but to face up to it'.
Life is like that, sad... but what do you want us to do?
Grammar«querer que» + subjunctive «querer que» ('to want that') takes the subjunctive in the subordinate clause: «¿qué quiere que hagamos?» = 'what do you want us to do?'. «hagamos» is the present subjunctive of «hacer».
I too know that the pleasant thing would be to do things without sacrifices.
Grammar«lo» + adjective (the … thing) «lo» plus a masculine-singular adjective forms an abstract noun: «lo agradable» = 'the pleasant thing', 'what is pleasant'. Spanish uses this «lo» + adjective pattern constantly to talk about a quality in the abstract.
43
–The thing is, in this case the sacrifice is a different one...
Grammar«Es que» — the thing is / it's that «Es que» introduces an explanation or excuse: 'the thing is', 'it's just that'. It softens the reply and frames what follows as the real reason.
44
–And us, Erdosain, and us who are gambling prison and our freedom for an indefinite time.
Word«jugarse» — to risk / gamble The pronominal «jugarse» means 'to risk', 'to stake', 'to put on the line': «nos jugamos la cárcel y la libertad» = 'we are risking prison and freedom'. Stronger than plain «jugar» ('to play').
Have you not read Plutarch's "Parallel Lives"?
45
–No...
46
–Well, I'm going to give them to you as a gift, so that, reading them, you learn that human life is worth less than a dog's, if to impress a new course on society one must destroy that life.
Grammar«se las» — two object pronouns «se las» combines the indirect object 'to you' and the direct object 'them'. When two third-person pronouns meet, the indirect «le/les» becomes «se», so «le las» → «se las» = 'them to you'.
Do you know how many murders the triumph of a Lenin or a Mussolini costs?
People aren't interested in that.
Grammar«interesar» like «gustar» «interesar» works like «gustar»: the thing that interests is the grammatical subject. «A la gente no le interesa eso» = 'that does not interest people' / 'people aren't interested in that', with «le» referring back to «la gente».
Why aren't they interested?
Because Lenin and Mussolini triumphed.
That is the essential thing, what justifies every cause, unjust or just.
47
–And who is going to murder Barsut?
GrammarRedundant object pronoun River Plate speech often doubles the object: «lo va a asesinar a Barsut» repeats Barsut both as the pronoun «lo» and as the full noun with personal «a». English just says 'murder Barsut'.
48
–Bromberg, the one who saw the midwife...
Grammar«el que» — the one who «el que» means 'the one who / that': «el que vio a la partera» = 'the one who saw the midwife'. It picks out a specific person already known in context, here Bromberg.
49
–You hadn't told me...
50
–There was no point, either, because on that side everything was settled.
Grammar«ni» — not even / nor «ni» negates and adds: 'nor', 'not even'. «Ni había objeto» = 'there wasn't even any point'. It connects to the unspoken idea that there was no reason to tell him.
A gust of perfume spilled into the room.
The sound of the water falling into the cask grew distinct.
Grammar«hacerse» + adjective (to become) «hacerse» + adjective means 'to become / grow': «se hizo nítido el ruido» = 'the sound grew distinct'. The verb-first word order («se hizo nítido el ruido») is a common literary inversion.
51
–So we already know about the matter...
Grammar«así que» — so / therefore «así que» introduces a consequence: 'so', 'therefore'. «Así que el asunto ya lo conocemos» = 'so we already know about the affair', drawing a conclusion from the preceding exchange.
52
–You, I, and Bromberg...
53
–Too many people for a secret...
Grammar«demasiado» agreeing as an adjective Before a noun, «demasiado» behaves as an adjective and agrees in gender and number: «demasiada gente» (feminine) = 'too much / too many people'. As an adverb («demasiado tarde») it stays invariable.
54
–No, because Bromberg is my slave, he is a slave of himself, which is the worst thing.
Grammar«sí mismo» — himself (reflexive) «sí» is the reflexive pronoun after a preposition, reinforced by «mismo»: «esclavo de sí mismo» = 'a slave of himself'. It refers back to the subject, Bromberg.
55
–Very well, but you are going to hand me a signed document in which you and Bromberg confess yourselves the authors of the crime.
GrammarSubjunctive in a relative clause of intent «un documento… en el que… se confiesen» uses the subjunctive «confiesen» because the document does not yet exist — Erdosain describes the kind of paper he requires, not a real one. The reflexive «se confiesen» = 'confess themselves (to be)'.
56
–And what do you want that for?
Grammar«¿para qué?» vs. «¿por qué?» «¿para qué?» asks 'for what purpose / what for?', looking forward to a goal, while «¿por qué?» asks 'why?', looking back to a cause. Here the Astrologer wants Erdosain's purpose in demanding the document.
57
–To be sure you're not deceiving me.
58
With a mechanical gesture the Astrologer adjusted his top hat, took his Mongoloid face between his thick fingers, and walked to the center of the room, like that, his elbow propped in the palm of his other hand, and said:
Word«galera» — top hat (River Plate) In Argentina a «galera» is a top hat — the same head-piece called «chistera» elsewhere in the chapter. Both words name the Astrologer's signature top hat.
59
–I have no objection to giving you what you ask of me, but don't forget this.
Word«tener inconveniente en» — to mind / object «tener inconveniente en» means 'to have an objection to', 'to mind' doing something. «No tengo inconvenientes en darle» = 'I have no objection to giving you', 'I don't mind giving you'.
I live exclusively to realize my idea.
Extraordinary times are coming.
GrammarVerb-before-subject word order «Vienen tiempos extraordinarios» places the verb before the subject — literally 'come extraordinary times'. With verbs of arriving and existing, Spanish often fronts the verb; English needs 'are coming'.
I couldn't explain to you all the wonders that are going to happen, because I have neither the time nor the wish to argue.
Word«ganas» — desire / inclination «ganas» means 'desire', 'the urge / wish' to do something — «tener ganas de» = 'to feel like'. «no tengo tiempo ni ganas» = 'I have neither time nor any wish'.
New times are coming, without a doubt.
Who will know them?
The chosen ones.
GrammarPast participle as a noun «elegidos» is the past participle of «elegir» ('to choose') used as a noun: «los elegidos» = 'the chosen ones', 'the elect'. Spanish freely turns participles into nouns this way.
The day I find a man capable of replacing me and the enterprise is well under way, I will retire to meditate in the mountains.
GrammarSubjunctive for a future time clause After a time expression pointing to the future, Spanish uses the subjunctive: «el día que yo encuentre… y la empresa esté encaminada» = 'the day I find… and the enterprise is under way'. The event hasn't happened yet, so «encuentre» and «esté» stay subjunctive.
In the meantime, all those who surround me owe me absolute obedience.
Word«en tanto» — meanwhile / as long as «en tanto» means 'meanwhile / in the meantime' here. It can also mean 'as long as' (with a verb). The Astrologer demands total obedience until the day he finds a successor.
This you must understand, if you don't want to follow the road of the other man...
GrammarFronted object echoed by «lo» «Esto debe entenderlo usted» fronts the object «esto» for emphasis, then repeats it with the pronoun «lo» attached to the infinitive — 'this you must understand'. The doubling is normal once the object is moved to the front.
60
–That's no way to talk.
61
–Yes, it is a way, because I am going to sign for you the document you ask me for.
62
–I don't need it...
Word«precisar» — to need «precisar» commonly means 'to need' (a synonym of «necesitar»), especially in the River Plate: «no lo preciso» = 'I don't need it'. It can also mean 'to specify' in other contexts.
63
–Are you going to need money?
64
–Yes, about two thousand pesos for...
Word«unos» — approximately Before a number, «unos» (or «unas») means 'about / approximately': «unos dos mil pesos» = 'around two thousand pesos'. It is not the article 'some' here but an approximator.
65
–You don't say... It will be handed to you...
GrammarImpersonal / passive «se» «Se le entregará» uses the impersonal-passive «se»: 'it will be handed over to you', with no stated agent. «le» marks the recipient (you). The construction avoids naming who does the giving.
66
–Besides, I want nothing to do with the business of the brothels...
Word«tener que ver con» — to have to do with «tener que ver con» means 'to have to do with', 'to be connected to': «no quiero tener nada que ver con» = 'I want nothing to do with'. The «nada» reinforces the refusal.
67
–Very well, you'll keep the accounts, but do you know now what we need?
Grammar«hacer falta» — to be needed «hacer falta» means 'to be needed / lacking', and works like «gustar»: «lo que nos hace falta» = 'what we need / what is needed by us', with «nos» as the one who needs.
It's to discover a vulgar symbol to excite the rabble...
Word«populacho» — the mob (pejorative) «populacho» is a contemptuous word for the common crowd, the mob, the rabble. It derives from the Latin stem popul- (as in «popular» / Latin populus) + the pejorative suffix «-acho», not from the Spanish word «pueblo». Note that «pueblo + -acho» produces «pueblacho», an unrelated word for a sorry little village. It fits the Astrologer's scorn for the masses he means to manipulate.
68
–Lucifer.
69
–No, that's a mystical symbol... intellectual... We have to find something coarse and stupid... something that enters through the senses of the multitude like the black shirt...
GrammarSubjunctive after an indefinite antecedent «algo que entre por los sentidos» uses the subjunctive «entre» because «algo» is indefinite — they are still searching for a symbol that does not yet exist. With a known, real antecedent it would be the indicative «entra».
That devil has had talent.
He discovered that the psychology of the Italian people was a psychology of a barber and an operetta tenor...
Anyway, we'll see, I already have a hierarchy worked out, something interesting... we'll talk it over another day... maybe it'll work out...
Grammar«puede que» + subjunctive (maybe) «puede que» means 'it may be that / maybe' and always takes the subjunctive: «puede que resulte» = 'maybe it'll work out'. «tengo pensada una jerarquía» uses «tener» + participle for 'I have a hierarchy thought out'.
70
–The point is that we can keep ourselves going...
Grammar«el caso es que» + subjunctive of need «el caso es que» normally means 'the fact is that' with the indicative, but here it carries a sense of 'what matters is that…', so it takes the subjunctive «podamos» — 'the point is that we should be able to keep going'.
71
–That's a given... the brothels are going to pay... but are you going to go see Barsut?
Word«eso se descuenta» — that goes without saying «descontar» literally means 'to discount / deduct', but «eso se descuenta» is used idiomatically for 'that's taken for granted', 'that goes without saying'. «los prostíbulos van a dar» = 'the brothels are going to yield (a profit)'.
Do you know what you'll say to him?
72
–Yes...
73
Erdosain went out toward the coach house, where the stables were installed.
It was a great rambling house with thick walls and an upper floor where there were numerous empty rooms, overrun with rats.
Word«-ón / -ona» augmentative «casona» is «casa» plus the augmentative «-ona»: a big, rambling old house. The augmentative suffix «-ón/-ona» enlarges a noun the way «-ito/-ita» shrinks it.
74
In one of them lived, or rather slept, the sinister Bromberg, whom Erdosain had seen on the day of the kidnapping.
Grammar«a quien» — whom «a quien» is the object relative for people, 'whom': «a quien Erdosain había visto» = 'whom Erdosain had seen'. The personal «a» marks the human object even inside the relative clause.
75
He understood that he was now on his way toward a collapse from which he could not imagine in what shape his life would come out battered, and this uncertainty, as well as his utter lack of enthusiasm for the Astrologer's projects, gave him the impression that he was acting falsely, gratuitously creating an absurd situation for himself.
GrammarConditional inside an indirect question «no se imaginaba de qué forma saldría maltrecha su vida» = 'he couldn't imagine in what shape his life would come out battered'. The conditional «saldría» reports a future-in-the-past inside the embedded question, and «maltrecha» agrees with feminine «vida».
"Everything had gone bankrupt in me," he would say later; but, overcoming his weariness and indifference, he marched toward the coach house.
Grammar«diríase» — one would say «diríase» is the impersonal «se diría» ('one would say', 'it would be said') with the pronoun attached. «mas» (without accent) is a literary 'but', equivalent to «pero».
His heart beat hard at knowing that he would meet "the enemy".
At moments he furrowed his brow and his rancor was plain.
Word«arrugar / fruncir el ceño» — to frown «arrugar el ceño» (also «fruncir el ceño») means 'to frown / knit one's brow'. «el ceño» is the brow or the space between the eyebrows; wrinkling it signals displeasure.
76
He opened the padlock, drew back the chain, and, suddenly seized with curiosity, pushed one of the leaves of the gate.
Word«hoja» — leaf (of a door) Besides 'leaf' or 'sheet', «hoja» names one of the swinging panels of a double door or gate: «las hojas del portón» = 'the leaves / panels of the gate'.
77
The prisoner was getting ready to eat, his arms bare in the circle of yellow light that the kerosene lamp spread over a pine table.
Word«disponerse a» — to get ready to «disponerse a» means 'to get ready / be about to' do something: «se disponía a comer» = 'he was getting ready to eat'. «desnudos los brazos» = 'his arms bare', an absolute construction with the noun after the adjective.
78
Barsut was sitting beneath the triangle of the metal manger, between the wooden walls of a stall, and on seeing Erdosain frowning, he stopped for a second the oil cruet with which he was drizzling a piece of meat surrounded by potatoes; then, without a word that might reveal his surprise, he plunged back into his nourishing work.
Grammar«al» + infinitive with a doubled object «al verlo a Erdosain» = 'on seeing Erdosain'. «al» + infinitive marks the moment ('on seeing'), and the object is doubled — pronoun «lo» plus the noun «a Erdosain», a River Plate habit.
GrammarSubjunctive in a negated relative «sin decir palabra que revelara su sorpresa» uses the imperfect subjunctive «revelara» because the word is hypothetical and negated — there was no such word. A real, existing word would take the indicative.
Stretching out his arm and taking a pinch of salt between his fingers, he sprinkled the potatoes.
He kept a somber composure despite the fact that a hole in his pink undershirt let his blackened armpit show.
Grammar«a pesar de (que)» — despite / in spite of «a pesar de» + noun, or «a pesar de que» + clause, means 'despite / in spite of (the fact that)'. Here it concedes the undignified detail against Barsut's careful composure.
79
His eyes fixed on the cold cut certified that Barsut gave more importance to his food than to Erdosain, halted three steps away.
Grammar«más… que» — comparison of inequality «más… que» forms the comparison 'more… than': «le daba más importancia a su vianda que a Erdosain» = 'he gave more importance to his food than to Erdosain'. «fiambre» specifically denotes cold cuts or cold cooked food; «vianda» means food or provisions in general, with no inherent sense of 'cold'.
The rest of the stable remained in darkness.
Through the chinks in the walls came slanting arrows of sun that left porous discs of gold in the dust of the floor.
80
Barsut did not deign to look at anything.
Word«dignarse» — to deign / condescend «dignarse» means 'to deign / condescend to' do something: «no se dignaba ver nada» = 'he did not deign to look at anything'. It conveys haughty refusal, fitting Barsut's contempt.
He pressed the bread against the board of the table, energetically cut a slice, served himself soda, not without first shooting a jet against the floor to clean the spout, and then leaned over to read a fat old book beside his plate while he chewed a mix of meat, bread, and potatoes.
Grammar«no sin» — not without «no sin» = 'not without': «no sin previamente lanzar un chorro» = 'not without first shooting a jet'. The double negative quietly adds the careful preliminary action. «libraco» is «libro» plus the pejorative «-aco» — a big shabby book.
81
Erdosain leaned against a pillar that held up the roof, dizzy from the smell of dry hay, and with half-closed eyes made out Barsut, half of whose face was lit by the greenish glow of the shade, while his jaws moved in the raw light cast by the lamp's burner.
Grammar«olor a» — smell of To say what something smells of, Spanish uses «olor a» + noun (no article): «olor a pasto seco» = 'smell of dry hay / grass'. The same «a» appears with «saber a» (to taste of) and «sonar a» (to sound like).
In these circumstances he turned his head and made out a whip hanging on the wall.
Word«látigo» — whip «látigo» is the word in the chapter's title, 'whip'. Later the same object is called «la fusta» (riding crop) and «el rebenque» (the gaucho's lash, here as «rebencazo», a lash-blow) — three names for the lash that suddenly fixes Erdosain's attention.
82
Erdosain gave a start.
It had a long handle and a short lash, and Barsut, who now followed his gaze, curled his lip contemptuously.
Erdosain looked in turn at the man and at the whip and smiled again.
He headed toward the corner and took down the riding crop.
Word«dirigirse hacia/a» — to head toward «dirigirse a/hacia» means 'to head / make one's way toward': «se dirigió hacia el rincón» = 'he headed toward the corner'. The same verb «dirigirse a alguien» can also mean 'to address someone'.
Now Barsut had risen to his feet, and with his eyes terribly fixed on Erdosain, he leaned his body out of the stall.
Word«ponerse de pie» — to stand up «ponerse de pie» means 'to stand up / get to one's feet'. The pluperfect «se había puesto de pie» = 'he had risen to his feet', already standing by the time Erdosain notices.
The veins of his neck swelled extraordinarily.
GrammarDative of possession with body parts Spanish marks whose body part it is with a dative pronoun rather than a possessive: «las venas del cuello se le dilataron» = 'his neck veins swelled (on him)'. The «le» tells us the veins are Barsut's.
He was going to speak, but pride prevented him from uttering a single word.
Grammar«impedir» + infinitive (to prevent) «impedir» means 'to prevent / stop': «el orgullo le impedía pronunciar» = 'pride prevented him from uttering'. It is followed directly by the infinitive, with «le» as the one prevented.
A dry crack rang out.
Erdosain had brought down a lash-stroke on the wood to test the flexibility of the leather; then he shrugged his shoulders, and the slanting sunbeam that cut through the darkness was crossed by a black streak, and the whip fell among the hay.
Word«rebencazo» — a blow with a lash A «rebenque» is the gaucho's short leather whip; «rebencazo» (with the blow-suffix «-azo») is a stroke or lash given with it. «encogerse de hombros» = 'to shrug one's shoulders'.
83
Erdosain paced in silence about the stable.
Grammar«pasearse» — to pace / stroll The pronominal «pasearse» means 'to stroll / pace about' for its own sake: «se paseaba por el establo» = 'he paced about the stable'. The plain «pasear» can also mean 'to take (someone) for a walk'.
He thought that that life was in his hands, that no one could snatch it from him, but this feeling did not make him any happier.
GrammarTwo pronouns on an infinitive «arrebatársela» attaches both «se» (to him) and «la» (it = the life) to the infinitive «arrebatar» ('to snatch'): 'to snatch it from him'. «mas» here is again the literary 'but'.
Barsut, up over the wooden partition, watched the sunlit field through the gap left by the big gate.
84
The times had changed.
That was all.
He looked at Barsut with rancor:
GrammarDoubled object again «Lo miró con rencor a Barsut» repeats the object as both the pronoun «lo» and the full «a Barsut» — the River Plate doubling seen throughout the chapter. English simply says 'he looked at Barsut'.
85
–Are you going to sign the check or not?
Grammar«vos / tú» — the shift to «vas» Here Erdosain switches to the familiar form, «¿Vas a firmar?» ('Are you going to sign?'), dropping the «usted» he uses with the Astrologer. With Barsut, his rival, the tone is intimate and hostile.
86
Barsut shrugged his shoulders and Erdosain did not ask again.
Grammar«volver a» + infinitive (to do again) «volver a» + infinitive means 'to do something again': «no volvió a preguntar» = 'he did not ask again'. Literally 'returned to asking', it is the standard way to say 'again' with a verb.
Perhaps he himself would find himself some day, at that very hour, in a dark cell, while his memory would summon up at that same instant the sight of a court with a floor of brick dust, by the riverbank, and the rackets netting the sky, of some girls playing tennis.
Grammar«quizás» + subjunctive (perhaps) «quizás» ('perhaps / maybe') takes the subjunctive to mark genuine uncertainty: «quizás él se encontrara» = 'perhaps he would find himself'. The imperfect subjunctive «encontrara» projects the doubt into a possible future-in-the-past.
Word«cancha» — court / pitch (River Plate) «cancha» is the general River Plate word for a sports court, field, or pitch: «una cancha con piso de polvo de ladrillo» is a court surfaced in brick dust — the classic clay court. Read the following «de algunas chicas jugando al tenis» with «el espectáculo», not with «cancha»: what memory summons is the sight *of some girls playing tennis*.
And, unable to contain himself, he exclaimed, not so much addressing Barsut as speaking to himself:
Grammar«no tanto… como» — not so much… as «no tanto… como» frames a contrast of degree: 'not so much… as'. «no tanto dirigiéndose a Barsut, como hablándose a sí mismo» = 'not so much addressing Barsut as speaking to himself'.
87
–Do you remember?
Grammar«voseo» — «acordás» for «acuerdas» «acordás» is the «vos» form of «acordarse» ('to remember'), used instead of «tú te acuerdas». The «voseo» — «vos» plus stressed endings like «-ás», «-és», «callate» — is the everyday second-person of Buenos Aires speech.
To you I had the face of a poor wretch.
Grammar«vos» — the River Plate 'you' «vos» replaces «tú» as the familiar 'you' throughout Argentina and Uruguay: «para vos» = 'for you / to you'. «infeliz» literally 'unhappy' here means a poor wretch, a hapless nobody.
Don't talk.
GrammarNegative familiar command A negative «tú/vos» command uses the present subjunctive: «no hables» = 'don't talk'. Note the contrast with the affirmative «voseo» command «callate» ('shut up') two sentences later, which keeps the «vos» stress.
And you didn't know what I was suffering.
Neither you nor she.
Grammar«ni… ni…» — neither… nor… The paired «ni… ni…» means 'neither… nor…': «Ni vos ni ella» = 'neither you nor she'. It bundles two negated subjects — neither Barsut nor Elsa understood his suffering.
Shut up.
Grammar«voseo» command — «callate» «callate» is the affirmative «vos» command of «callarse» ('to be quiet'), stressed on the last-but-one syllable, where «tú» would give «cállate». It is the live Buenos Aires imperative: 'shut up / be quiet'.
Do you think your money interests me?
Grammar«voseo» — «pensás» with reflexive «pensás» is the «vos» form of «pensar» ('to think'). The extra reflexive «te» in «¿Te pensás?» is colloquial River Plate emphasis — roughly 'do you reckon (to yourself)?'.
No, man.
The thing is that I'm sad.
Grammar«lo que hay es que» — the thing is that «lo que hay es que» is a colloquial framing phrase, 'the thing is that / what's going on is that'. It introduces the real explanation: «estoy triste» = 'I'm sad'.
You and she have brought me to all this.
I don't even know why I'm talking.
Grammar«ni» — not even «ni» here means 'not even': «No sé ni por qué hablo» = 'I don't even know why I'm talking'. It heightens the negation, stressing how lost in himself Erdosain has become.
The only thing I know is that I'm tired.
Grammar«lo único que» — the only thing that «lo único que» = 'the only thing that': «lo único que sé» = 'the only thing I know'. The neuter «lo» + «único» + «que» picks out a single fact, much like «lo que» ('what') with «único» added.
But what's the use of talking... –And he was getting ready to leave when the Astrologer came in.
Grammar«para qué» + infinitive — what's the use «para qué» + a bare infinitive asks 'what's the use / point of (doing)?': «¿para qué hablar?» = 'what's the use of talking?'. The infinitive leaves the subject general and weary.
Barsut went over his hands with his gaze, and the Astrologer, shifting the top hat on his head, took the lamp, put it out, and, sitting down on a crate, said:
Word«revisar con la mirada» — to scan «revisar» means 'to check / inspect'; «revisar con la mirada» = 'to look over, scan with the eyes'. Barsut checks the Astrologer's hands by sight, with the dative «le» marking whose hands.
88
–I was coming to see you so that we might settle that matter of the check.
Grammar«para que» + imperfect subjunctive «para que» ('so that') takes the subjunctive; because the main verb «venía» is past, it pulls the imperfect subjunctive «arregláramos» — 'so that we might settle'. The tense agreement is automatic.
You must be aware that that's why we kidnapped you.
GrammarFuture of probability The future «sabrá» here does not state a future fact but a present conjecture: «Usted sabrá» = 'you surely know / you must be aware'. Spanish often uses the future tense to express probability about the present.
Of course I wouldn't be speaking to you this way if, in the notebook we found in your pocket and that Erdosain wanted to burn — I preventing it — I had not read a thought that was quite simply tremendous: "Money turns a man into a god.
GrammarContrary-to-fact conditional This is an unreal conditional: «no le hablaría… si… no hubiera leído» = 'I wouldn't be speaking… if I had not read'. The «si» clause takes the pluperfect subjunctive «hubiera leído» and the main clause the conditional «hablaría».
Therefore Ford is a god.
Word«luego» — therefore (logical) Besides 'then / later', «luego» can be a logical connector, 'therefore / hence', as in syllogisms: 'Money makes a man a god. Therefore Ford is a god.' The mock-logic is Barsut's grandiose joke quoted back at him.
If he is a god he can destroy the moon."
89
That was a lie, but Barsut was not moved.
Word«conmoverse» — to be moved «conmoverse» means 'to be moved / stirred (emotionally)': «no se conmovió» = 'he was not moved'. The plain «conmover» means 'to move (someone) emotionally'; the pronominal form turns it inward.
90
Erdosain watched the impenetrable rhomboid face of the Astrologer.
It was evident that the latter was performing a comedy, and that Barsut did not believe in it, certain that the other man was deceiving him.
GrammarPast progressive «estar» + gerund «estaba ejecutando» is the past progressive, «estar» (imperfect) + gerund: 'was performing'. It frames the Astrologer's act as an ongoing performance, with «éste» ('the latter') pointing back to the Astrologer just named.

The particulars

The text: Los siete locos, Roberto Arlt. Part Two.
Reading aloud: Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
Words: Every word of the text, by letter.
Data: JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents