The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Portuguese B2 Books

The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Portuguese B2 Books

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I
InmyyoungerandmorevulnerableyearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellike
criticar
criticizing
anyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
invulgarmente
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
Inconsequence,I’minclinedto
reservar
reserve
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.
The
anormal
abnormal
mindisquickto
detectar
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustly
acusado
accused
ofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
hostil
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatanintimate
revelação
revelation
wasquiveringonthe
horizonte
horizon
;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservar
Reserving
judgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
fundamental
fundamental
decenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,after
gabar
boasting
thiswayofmy
tolerância
tolerance
,Icometothe
admissão
admission
thatithasa
limite
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlast
outono
autumn
IfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
moral
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
representava
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
desprezo
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
sensibilidade
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,what
suja
foul
dustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthat
temporariamente
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeen
proeminente
prominent
,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddle
Oeste
Western
cityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
clã
clan
,andwehavea
tradição
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthe
verdadeiro
actual
founderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,senta
substituto
substitute
totheCivilWar,andstartedthe
atacado
wholesale
hardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
referência
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
I
formei
graduated
fromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
participei
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonic
migração
migration
knownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
inquieto
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarm
centro
centre
oftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
financiar
finance
meforayear,andafter
vários
various
delaysIcameEast,
permanentemente
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
Thepracticalthingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
papelão
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
Dodge
andaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
sabedoria
wisdom
toherselfoverthe
elétrico
electric
stove.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehad
casualmente
casually
conferredonmethefreedomofthe
bairro
neighbourhood
.
Andsowiththe
sol
sunshine
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliar
convicção
conviction
thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dúzia
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditand
investimento
investment
securities,andtheystoodonmy
prateleira
shelf
inredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehigh
intenção
intention
ofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
literário
literary
incollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofverysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
limitado
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmore
bem-sucedida
successfully
lookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
Itwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhich
estende
extends
itselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybya
cortesia
courtesy
bay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterinthe
Ocidental
Western
hemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyarebothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
semelhança
resemblance
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenômeno
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
elegante
fashionable
ofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
superficial
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
bizarro
bizarre
andnotalittle
sinistro
sinister
contrastbetweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,and
apertado
squeezed
betweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
colossal
colossal
affairbyanystandard—itwasafactual
imitação
imitation
ofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
barba
beard
ofrawivy,anda
mármore
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresof
gramado
lawn
andgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
mansão
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
mansão
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
parcial
partial
viewofmyneighbour’s
gramado
lawn
,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthe
cortesia
courtesy
baythewhitepalacesof
elegante
fashionable
EastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisy
Daisy
wasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,amongvariousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
aguda
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
exemplo
instance
,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
rico
wealthy
enoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanente
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthedramatic
turbulência
turbulence
ofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
AndsoithappenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomI
mal
scarcely
knewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,a
alegre
cheerful
red-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthe
baía
bay
.
Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsandbrickwalksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthe
ímpeto
momentum
ofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,
brilhando
glowing
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmwindyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefront
varanda
porch
.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robusto
sturdy
straw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
maneira
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
estabelecido
established
dominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimthe
aparência
appearance
ofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorme
enormous
powerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableof
enorme
enormous
leverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtothe
impressão
impression
offractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
desprezo
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewereneverintimateIalwayshadthe
impressão
impression
thatheapprovedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthesunny
varanda
porch
.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemovedabroadflathandalongthefrontvista,includinginits
varredura
sweep
asunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
acre
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthe
maré
tide
offshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
educadamente
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahigh
corredor
hallway
intoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
brisa
breeze
blewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,
torcendo
twisting
themuptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeofthe
teto
ceiling
,andthenrippledoverthewine-coloured
tapete
rug
,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorme
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponan
ancorado
anchored
balloon.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothe
chicote
whip
andsnapofthecurtainsandthe
gemido
groan
ofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewasextendedfull
comprimento
length
atherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
queixo
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringan
desculpas
apology
forhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.
Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy
,madeanattempttorise—sheleaned
ligeiramente
slightly
forwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,an
absurdo
absurd
,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
Shehintedinamurmurthatthe
sobrenome
surname
ofthebalancinggirlwas
Baker
Baker
.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeopleleantowardher;
an
irrelevante
irrelevant
criticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
susto
fright
.
Againasortof
desculpas
apology
arosetomylips.
Almostany
exibição
exhibition
ofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsa
atordoado
stunned
tributefromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisan
arranjo
arrangement
ofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabrightpassionatemouth,buttherewasan
excitação
excitement
inhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,a
sussurro
whispered
“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dúzia
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownisdesolate.
Allthecarshavetheleft
traseira
rear
wheelpaintedblackasa
luto
mourning
wreath,andthere’sa
persistente
persistent
wailallnightalongthenorthshore.”
“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
irritou
annoyed
me.
“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisy
andthenbackatme,asifhewere
alerta
alert
forsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Baker
said:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Evidentemente
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”she
queixou
complained
,“I’vebeenlyingonthat
sofá
sofa
foraslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisy
retorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Baker
tothefourcocktailsjustinfromthe
despensa
pantry
.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
anfitrião
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker
,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
esbelta
slender
,small-breastedgirl,withan
ereta
erect
carriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
cadete
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewithpolitereciprocal
curiosidade
curiosity
outofawan,charming,discontentedface.
ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
exigiu
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
responder
reply
thathewasmy
vizinho
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghis
tenso
tense
armimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandsset
levemente
lightly
ontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
varanda
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy
,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
longo
longest
dayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
longo
longest
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthe
longo
longest
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker
,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy
.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
expressão
expression
onherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
she
queixou
complained
;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryinga
bruto
brute
ofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
espécime
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insistiu
insisted
Daisy.
SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Baker
talkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
ausência
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
educado
polite
pleasantefforttoentertainortobe
entreter
entertained
.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverand
casualmente
casually
putaway.
ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointed
antecipação
anticipation
orelseinsheernervous
medo
dread
ofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
confessei
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythis
observação
remark
,butitwastakenupinanunexpectedway.
“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
violentamente
violently
.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbe
completamente
utterly
submerged.
It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”