The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

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I
Inmyyoungerandmore
kwetsbare
vulnerable
yearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellikecriticizinganyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
ongewoon
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
Inconsequence,I’minclinedto
behouden
reserve
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.
The
abnormale
abnormal
mindisquickto
sporen
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustly
beschuldigd
accused
ofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
vijandige
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatan
intieme
intimate
revelationwasquiveringonthe
horizon
horizon
;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservingjudgementsisamatterof
oneindige
infinite
hope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
fundamentele
fundamental
decenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,afterboastingthiswayofmy
verdraagzaamheid
tolerance
,Icometotheadmissionthatithasa
grens
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
morele
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswith
bevoorrechte
privileged
glimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
vertegenwoordigde
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
minachting
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
gevoeligheid
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthat
registreren
register
earthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichis
waardig
dignified
underthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,what
vuil
foul
dustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthat
tijdelijk
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeenprominent,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddle
West
Western
cityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
clan
clan
,andwehavea
traditie
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthe
werkelijke
actual
founderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentasubstitutetotheCivilWar,andstartedthe
groothandel
wholesale
hardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
verwijzing
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
I
studeerde af
graduated
fromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
nam
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonic
migratie
migration
knownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
rusteloos
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarm
centrum
centre
oftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
financieren
finance
meforayear,andafter
verschillende
various
delaysIcameEast,
permanent
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
The
praktische
practical
thingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
kartonnen
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
Dodge
andaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
wijsheid
wisdom
toherselfoverthe
elektrische
electric
stove.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomofthe
buurt
neighbourhood
.
Andsowiththe
zon
sunshine
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliar
overtuiging
conviction
thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dozijn
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditandinvestmentsecurities,andtheystoodonmy
plank
shelf
inredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthe
munt
mint
,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehigh
intentie
intention
ofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
literair
literary
incollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofvery
plechtige
solemn
andobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
beperkte
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
Itwasonthat
slanke
slender
riotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairof
enorme
enormous
eggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybyacourtesy
baai
bay
,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterinthe
Westelijk
Western
hemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyareboth
verpletterd
crushed
flatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
gelijkenis
resemblance
mustbeasourceof
voortdurende
perpetual
wondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenomeen
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
modieuze
fashionable
ofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
oppervlakkige
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
bizarre
bizarre
andnotalittle
sinistere
sinister
contrastbetweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
kolossale
colossal
affairbyanystandard—itwasafactual
imitatie
imitation
ofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
baard
beard
ofrawivy,anda
marmeren
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresof
gazon
lawn
andgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
herenhuis
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
herenhuis
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
gedeeltelijk
partial
viewofmyneighbour’s
gazon
lawn
,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthecourtesybaythewhitepalacesof
modieuze
fashionable
EastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisy
Daisy
wasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
verschillende
various
physicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
acute
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
forinstance,he’dbroughtdowna
reeks
string
ofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
rijk
wealthy
enoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthen
dreef
drifted
hereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanente
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwould
drijven
drift
onforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthe
dramatische
dramatic
turbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
AndsoithappenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomI
nauwelijks
scarcely
knewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonial
herenhuis
mansion
,overlookingthebay.
The
gazon
lawn
startedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
bakstenen
brick
walksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehouse
drijven
drifting
upthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthe
momentum
momentum
ofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,
gloeiend
glowing
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmwindyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
manier
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
gevestigd
established
dominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorme
enormous
powerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableof
enorme
enormous
leverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtothe
indruk
impression
offractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
minachting
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenever
intiem
intimate
Ialwayshadthe
indruk
impression
thatheapprovedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsome
harde
harsh
,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
zonnige
sunny
porch.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
brede
broad
flathandalongthefront
uitzicht
vista
,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
hectare
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthe
getij
tide
offshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
beleefd
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahigh
gang
hallway
intoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
Abreezeblewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlike
bleke
pale
flags,twistingthemup
naar
toward
thefrostedwedding-cakeofthe
plafond
ceiling
,andthenrippledoverthewine-coloured
tapijt
rug
,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorme
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponan
verankerde
anchored
balloon.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothewhipandsnapofthecurtainsandthegroanofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewas
uitgebreid
extended
fulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
kin
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegaveno
hint
hint
ofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhaving
gestoord
disturbed
herbycomingin.
Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy
,madeanattempttorise—sheleaned
licht
slightly
forwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingvery
geestig
witty
,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
Shehintedinamurmurthatthe
achternaam
surname
ofthebalancinggirlwas
Baker
Baker
.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeopleleantowardher;
anirrelevant
kritiek
criticism
thatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,she
knikte
nodded
atmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
schrik
fright
.
Againasortofapologyarosetomylips.
Almostany
tentoonstelling
exhibition
ofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunned
eerbetoon
tribute
fromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabright
gepassioneerde
passionate
mouth,buttherewasan
opwinding
excitement
inhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthings
zweefden
hovering
inthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dozijn
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownis
verlaten
desolate
.
Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourningwreath,andthere’sapersistentwailallnightalongthenorthshore.”
“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghttoseethebaby.”
“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’sthreeyearsold.
Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghttoseeher.
She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyabouttheroom,stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.
“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itoldhim.
“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
This
irriteerde
annoyed
me.
“Youwill,”Ianswered
kort
shortly
.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisy
andthenbackatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Baker
said:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Blijkbaar
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesof
snelle
rapid
,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”she
klaagde
complained
,“I’vebeenlyingonthat
bank
sofa
foraslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisy
retorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Baker
tothefourcocktailsjustinfromthe
voorraadkast
pantry
.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
gastheer
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker
,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
slank
slender
,small-breastedgirl,withanerect
koets
carriage
,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
kadet
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewithpolitereciprocal
nieuwsgierigheid
curiosity
outofawan,charming,discontentedface.
ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
eiste
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
antwoorden
reply
thathewasmy
buurman
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
veranda
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy
,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
langste
longest
dayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
langste
longest
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthe
langste
longest
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker
,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy
.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
uitdrukking
expression
onherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
she
klaagde
complained
;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryinga
brute
brute
ofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
exemplaar
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”insisted
Daisy
Daisy
.
SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Baker
talkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
afwezigheid
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlyapolite
aangename
pleasant
efforttoentertainortobeentertained.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverand
terloops
casually
putaway.
Itwas
scherp
sharply
differentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,ina
voortdurend
continually
disappointedanticipationorelseinsheernervous
angst
dread
ofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
bekende
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythisremark,butitwastakenupinan
onverwachte
unexpected
way.
“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTomviolently.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.
It’sall
wetenschappelijk
scientific
stuff;
it’sbeenproved.”