Analytical reading-Part 32

William Faulkner

From A Fable

                “She is hungry,” a voice said.

                “All right,” the sergeant said. “Has anybody...” But the hand had already extended the bread. It was the heel of a loaf, soiled and even a little warm from the pocket it had been carried in. The sergeant took it. But when he offered it to her, she refused it, quickly, glancing quickly about with something like fright in her face, her eyes, as if she was looking for an avenue of escape. The sergeant thrust the bread into her hands. “Here,” he said harshly, with that roughness which was not unkindness but just impatience, “eat it. You’ll have to stay and look at it too, whether you want to or not.”

                But she refused again, repudiating the bread, not the gift of it but the bread itself, and not to whoever had offered it, but to herself. It was as if she were trying to keep her eyes from looking at the bread, and knew that she could not. Even while they watched her, she surrendered. Her eyes, her whole body, denied her mouth’s refusal, her eyes already devouring the bread before her hand had reached to take it, snatching it from the sergeant and holding it to her face between both hands as though to hide either the bread from a ravisher, or her voracity from those who watched her, gnawing at the bread like a species of rodent, her eyes darting constantly above the concealing hands, not quite furtive, not quite secret: just anxious, watchful, and terrified—a quality which glowed and faded and then glowed again like a coal she breathed on. But she was all right now, and the sergeant had begun to turn away, when the same voice spoke again. Without doubt, it belonged to the hand which had tendered the bread, though if the sergeant remarked it now, he gave no sign.

Notes and comments:

the heel of a loaf-кората на хляба

the heel of the day-краят на деня

to be at heels—вървя непосредствено след господаря си (за куче)

to take to one’s heels—офейквам, избягвам, плюя си на петите

French heels—тънки високи токчета

down at heels—с протрити токове; подпетени (за обувки)

out at heels—със скъсани пети (за чорап); (прен.) нуждаещ се, беден, сиромах

… factory chimneys that foul the air with smoke…-фабрични комини, които замърсяват въздуха с дим

to foul one’s name/reputation—петня името/репутацията си

to foul a drain—задръствам/запушвам тръба/канализация/отводнителен канал

to deny-to contradict-to gainsay-to give the lie to-to eat one’s hat if… = опровергавам, отричам истинността на, отхвърлям (обвинение), твърдя противното, противореча на

to deny-to say that something is not true

to deny a charge/an accusation—отричам обвинение

to deny that a statement is true

A fault once denied is half committed.

to contradict-to declare that the contrary is true

The statement has been officially contradicted.

to gainsay-to deny by way of disputing the truth

No one can gainsay truth.

to repudiate-to reject-to decline-to repulse-to refuse = отказвам да призная (да изпълня, да приема, да допусна, да имам работа с), не приемам, отхвърлям

to repudiate an old friend—отхвърлям стар приятел

to repudiate the authorship of an article—не признавам авторството си на статия

to reject an offer/help—отхвърлям предложение/помощ

a rejected suitor—отхвърлен ухажор

The army doctors rejected him.

to decline an invitation to dinner—отклонявам покана за вечеря

to decline an offer—отклонявам/отхвърлям предложение

to refuse a gift—отказвам подарък

He refused me permission.

I was refused admittance.

to tender-to offer, to present = предлагам, предоставям (сума и пр.), правя оферта

to tender money in payment of a debt—предоставям пари за изплащане на дълг

He tendered his resignation.—Той предостави оставката си.

devour-swallow-gulp down-dispatch-bolt-wolf = гълтам, поглъщам, лапам, ям лакомо, нагъвам

to swallow one’s food—поглъщам храна

to swallow one’s pride—(прен.) унизявам се

to swallow the bait—(прен.) хващам се на въдицата

to swallow one’s words—вземам си думите назад

to gulp down a cup of tea—изпивам чаша чай

to empty a glass at one gulp—изпивам на един дъх

to dispatch a meal-to finish quickly = ям набързо

to bolt-to swallow quickly = изгълтвам (излапвам, изяждам) набързо

We bolted a few mouthfuls and hurried away.

to wolf one’s food-to eat quickly and greedily = ям бързо и лакомо

a wolfish appetite-a voracious appetite = вълчи апетит

The dog snapped (at) my leg.—понечвам да захапя

The fish snapped at the bait.—хвана се на примамката/стръвта

voracity-voracious = rapacity-rapacious = gluttony-gluttonous

a voracious/avid reader—ненаситен читател

wolfishness (syn. greediness)—лакомия, ненаситност, алчност

You’ve eaten the whole pie, you glutton.

You are a glutton for work.