LESSON XXIX

A quien se apresta a luchar no le abaten pesares.[29]

—EDUARDO MARQUINA.

88. English self used reflexively is rendered by the Spanish reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se. Used as an emphatic modifier self is rendered mismo for all persons, changing only for number and gender. Mismo may be used with a reflexive to emphasize it.

I hurt myself, as you yourself can see.

Me he lastimado, como usted mismo puede ver.

Give the letter to him himself.

Entregue la carta a él mismo.—JOSÉ MÁRMOL.

I am inclined to believe that the widow loves herself above all.

Inclino a creer que la viuda ama a sí misma sobre todo.

—JUAN VALERA.

He hurts himself in order to annoy the rest.

Es que se hace daño a sí mismo para dar un disgusto a los demás.—ECHEGARAY.

Note.—Mismo may take the emphatic ending -ísimo. So él mismísmo ..., the very ... himself.

89. Last, meaning the most recent of a series, or the final one of a series, is translated último. Meaning the one just past, it is translated pasado.

The last French invasion proves how difficult it is to attack our independence.

La última irrupción francesa prueba cuán difícil es atacar nuestra independencia.—EMILIO CASTELAR.

We ourselves were there last week.

Nosotros mismos estábamos allí la semana pasada.

I said to myself, "This will be the last time."

Dije para mí—Esta será la última vez.

(a) The verb to last is translated durar.

Come! Be patient, for this will not last long.

¡Vamos! Tenga usted paciencia, que esto no durará mucho.

—PALACIO VALDÉS.

(b) Last night is rendered anoche or ayer por la noche.

They must have stolen them from me last night.

Debieron de robármelas anoche.—ALARCÓN.

(c) At last is translated al fin or, more emphatically, al fin y al cabo.

At last! I was beginning to think that you were lost.

¡Al fin y al cabo! Yo empezaba a creer que se había perdido usted.

90. The verb to tell has three common translations. Meaning simply to say to it is rendered decir. Meaning to relate it is contar. Meaning to be effective it is rendered producir efecto.

Tell me, grandfather, what is the name of the queen in your story?

Dime, abuelito, ¿cómo se llama la reina de tu cuento?

—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.

I told them the terrible story of the miner.

Les conté la espantosa narración del minero.—ALARCÓN.

It was a telling narrative.

Fué una narración que produjo efecto.

91. EXERCISES

(a) 1. Me dice que está lloviendo en este mismo momento. 2. Contaba a los niños las aventuras de los conquistadores. 3. María se cortó hace poco con ese cuchillo. 4. Lo hemos comprado para nosotros mismos, no para ellos. 5. Bien podía ver que sus palabras habían producido efecto. 6. Esta es la última obra del insigne autor español Pérez Galdós. 7. Murió el mes pasado. 8. Al fin han venido a contarme lo ocurrido. 9. La mismísima madre de la niña no hubiera podido hacer más para salvarla. 10. Respeto a la inteligencia de las hormigas se cuentan muchas anécdotas.

(b) 1. Please tell them that this is not the book that I need. 2. I like to hear him tell how he learned to play the piano. 3. He knows how to tell it in such a way that every word tells. 4. I myself had forgotten all my troubles. 5. I was just saying to myself that it is time to go. 6. The very general himself could not have done more. 7. This is the last story that I am going to tell you. Last night you went to bed too late. 8. I was just wondering (say, asking myself) whether I was dreaming or not. 9. I'm going to take her the roses. I myself like the lilies best. 10. At last, last week, I was able to buy the last one that I needed.