VGE2E12 – semaine 11 Marguerite DURAS, Moderato Cantabile (1958) : proposition de corrigé

L’heure était creuse, le café encore désert. Seul, l’homme était là, au bout
du bar. La patronne, aussitôt qu’elle entra, se leva et alla vers Anne
Desbaresdes. L’homme ne bougea pas.
It was the quiet time of the day [It was quiet at this time of the day] Commentaire [1]: « off-peak » is used in
more precise, technical contexts - for public
and the café was still empty. The man was there, alone at the end of the transport (off-peak travel) or power (off-peak
bar. As soon as she walked in/ entered/ came in/ , the proprietress got up and electricity) for example
came[went] over to her. The man didn’t move. Commentaire [2]: Keep it simple !
Commentaire [3]: Changing the word
order really helps here
— Ce sera ?
Commentaire [4]: Proprietor/ proprietress
‘What can I get you ?’ / ‘What’ll it be ?’ are terms typically used in the service sector –
bars, restaurants etc.

— Je voudrais un verre de vin.

‘I’d like a glass of wine.’

Elle le but aussitôt servi. Le tremblement état encore plus fort que trois
jours auparavant.
She drank it as soon as it was [had been] served. The/her shaking was
even worse than it had been three days before/ She was shaking even more
violently than (she had been) three days earlier

— Vous vous étonnez peut-être de me revoir ?

‘Maybe/ Perhaps you are surprised to see me (back) again’ Commentaire [5]: No inversion after
perhaps (unlike French)

— Dans mon métier …, dit la patronne.

‘In my line of work…’ the proprietress said

Elle lorgna l’homme à la dérobée — lui aussi avait pâli —, se rassit, puis
se ravisant, se retourna sur elle-même, et d’un geste décent, alluma la radio.
She glanced at the man surreptitiously/ on the sly/ furtively/ covertly—he
too had grown/ gone pale—sat down and then changing her mind turned Commentaire [6]: Better to say ‘to go
pale/ grow pale’ rather than ‘to pale’
around and switched on the radio out of decency.

— Comme je vous le disais, mon petit garçon prend des leçons de piano
chez Mademoiselle Giraud. Vous devez la connaître.
‘As I was saying, my little boy has piano lessons at Mme Giraud’s. You Commentaire [7]: Presumably AD had
mentioned this on a previous visit – that’s why
must know her.’ a V+ing for mis being used here

— Je la connais. Il y a plus d’un an que je vous passer, une fois par

semaine, le vendredi, n’est-ce pas ?
‘I do. I’ve seen you going/ walking past for over a year now, on Fridays, Commentaire [8]: You can go past or
walk past (also run past, rush past etc. but they
isn’t it ?’ are not quite right here of course).

—Le vendredi, oui. Je voudrais un autre verre de vin.

‘Yes, on Fridays. I’d like another glass of wine.’
 VGE2E12 – semaine 11 Marguerite DURAS, Moderato Cantabile (1958) : proposition de corrigé

L’enfant avait trouvé un compagnon. Immobiles sur l’avancée du quai,

ils regardaient décharger le sable d’une grande péniche […]
The child had found a playmate. They were standing motionless/ quite Commentaire [9]: It’s a good idea to add a
verb here.
still on the jetty, watching sand being unloaded from a large barge.
Commentaire [10]: Passive form in
English.
—C’est un enfant qui est toujours seul, dit-elle, en regardant vers le quai.
‘That child is always on his own,’ she said, looking towards the quay. Commentaire [11]: ‘That’ emphasizes the
fact she is looking at him from a distance.

La patronne reprit son tricot rouge, elle jugea inutile de répondre.

Seeing no need to reply/ no point in replying, the proprietress went back
to her knitting/ picked up her knitting again.

Marguerite DURAS, Moderato Cantabile (1958).