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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
I valued safety at a preposterous rate
Does that mean he thought he would be more safe than he actually ended up being?
The actual sentence: "Two weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate."
The context:
"I am that widely hounded Perion of the Forest. The true vicomte is the wounded rascal over whose delirium we marvelled only last Tuesday. Yes, at the door of your home I attacked him, fought him—hah, but fairly, madame!—and stole his brilliant garments and with them his papers. Then in my desperate necessity I dared to masquerade. For I know enough about dancing to estimate that to dance upon air must necessarily prove to everybody a disgusting performance, but pre-eminently unpleasing to the main actor. Two weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate. To-night, as I have said, the ship lies at anchor off Manneville."
That, too, is from "Domnei" by James Branch Cabell.
Thanks to Clive for responding, and I think solving, my previous question. I'm trying to translate this novel into Finnish, so I will likely be asking more questions like these two.
By the way, I also don't really understand what Cabell means with the dancing metaphor. If someone could explain that as well, would be great.
Thanks.
The actual sentence: "Two weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate."
The context:
"I am that widely hounded Perion of the Forest. The true vicomte is the wounded rascal over whose delirium we marvelled only last Tuesday. Yes, at the door of your home I attacked him, fought him—hah, but fairly, madame!—and stole his brilliant garments and with them his papers. Then in my desperate necessity I dared to masquerade. For I know enough about dancing to estimate that to dance upon air must necessarily prove to everybody a disgusting performance, but pre-eminently unpleasing to the main actor. Two weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate. To-night, as I have said, the ship lies at anchor off Manneville."
That, too, is from "Domnei" by James Branch Cabell.
Thanks to Clive for responding, and I think solving, my previous question. I'm trying to translate this novel into Finnish, so I will likely be asking more questions like these two.
By the way, I also don't really understand what Cabell means with the dancing metaphor. If someone could explain that as well, would be great.
Thanks.
Top answer
I have now thought about it some more, and I think what it means is that his preposterous actions were the result of his trying to remain safe in difficult circumstances until the ship would leave. ) I still don't know what Cabell means by the dance metaphor.
- I have now thought about it some more, and I think what it means is that his preposterous actions were the result of his trying to remain safe in difficult circumstances until the ship would leave.
- ) I still don't know what Cabell means by the dance metaphor.
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6 Answers
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I have now thought about it some more, and I think what it means is that his preposterous actions were the result of his trying to remain safe in difficult circumstances until the ship would leave.
(I don't know what I was thinking with my first guess.)
I still don't know what Cabell means by the dance metaphor.
(I don't know what I was thinking with my first guess.)
I still don't know what Cabell means by the dance metaphor.
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AnonymousTwo weeks of safety till the Tranchemer sailed I therefore valued at a perhaps preposterous rate.= Given these circumstances (referring to the previous text), maybe it was absurd (ridiculous, laughable) the great degree to which I had valued the safety I had felt during the two weeks before the Tranchemer departed from that place (because I p
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Anonymousthe dancing metaphor. If someone could explain that as well, would be great.Edit: Upon further research, I find this interpretation nonsense. Please see my next post on this topic.
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AnonymousFor I know enough about dancing to estimate that to dance upon air must necessarily prove to everybody a disgusting performance, but pre-eminently unpleasing to the main actor.Further research has revealed to me that "to dance upon air" is also used to refer to the motions of the legs of a hanged man. This rings more true, I think, than the interpre
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He has mentioned being hanged before, so you must be right. A very good find, that dancing legs thing!
The book is certainly an effort to translate well, but I happen to be unemployed and I want something I can show for what would otherwise be wasted time when I have to explain a rather long period of seeming inactivity to whoever at some point. And in any case I like a good challenge.
The book is certainly an effort to translate well, but I happen to be unemployed and I want something I can show for what would otherwise be wasted time when I have to explain a rather long period of seeming inactivity to whoever at some point. And in any case I like a good challenge.
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StardrinkI happen to be unemployedThere's a lot of that going around. Blame it on the computers!
CJ
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