Madame Bovary: Compare Translations

We were at preparation, when the headmaster came in, followed by a new boy dressed in ‘civvies’ and a school servant carrying a big desk. Those who were asleep woke up, and everyone got to his feet with an air of being interrupted at work.

Motioning us to sit down, the Head turned to speak to the form-master.

‘Here is a boy for you, Monsieur Roger,’ he said in a quiet voice. I’m putting him in the Second for a start, but if his work and conduct are satisfactory he can go up higher, where he belongs by age.’

In the corner behind the door, only just visible, stood a country lad of about fifteen, taller than any of us, with hair cut square on his forehead like a village chorister; sensible-looking and extremely ill at ease. He had on a short green jacket with black buttons, which must have pinched him under the arms although he was not broad-shouldered, and which revealed at the cuffs a glimpse of red wrists that were used to going bare. His breeches were fawn-coloured and braced up tight, his legs were clad in blue stockings, and on his feet he wore a pair of sturdy, unpolished hobnail boots.

We were studying when the headmaster came in, followed by a new boy, not yet wearing a school uniform, and a monitor carrying a large desk. Those of us who had been sleeping awoke, and we all stood up as if we had been interrupted in our work.

The headmaster motioned to us to sit down again; then, turning toward the teacher, he said in a low voice, Monsieur Roger, here is a student I’m placing in your charge. He is starting in the fifth. If he does well, he will advance into the upper school, where he belongs at his age.”

Keeping himself in the corner behind the door so that you could hardly see him, the new arrival was a country boy, about fifteen years old and taller than any of us. His hair was cut straight across his forehead like a village choirboy’s; he looked sensible and very shy. Although he was not broad shouldered, his black-buttoned green suit seemed tight under the arms, and it revealed through the slits in his cuffs a pair of red wrists accustomed to going bare. His blue-stockinged legs emerged from yellowish trousers held up by suspenders. He wore heavy hobnail shoes, badly polished.

We were at Preparation in the schoolroom when the head master entered, followed by a new boy dressed not in the school uniform but in ordinary plain clothes, and by a school servant bearing a large desk. Those who were asleep woke up, and every one rose as though he had been surprised at his work.

The head master motioned to us to sit down again; then, turning to the usher:

“M. Roger,” said he to him half in an undertone, “here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care; he enters the fifth form. If his work and his conduct are deserving, he shall pass into the upper school, where at his age he ought to be.”

Lingering in the corner, behind the door, so that he could scarcely be seen was the new boy, a country lad about fifteen years of age, and taller than any among us all. He wore his hair cut straight over the forehead, like a village choir-boy, and his manner was at once sensible and very shy. Although he was not broad across the shoulders, his round jacket of green cloth with black buttons seemed to pinch him uncomfortably under the arms, and through the slit of the cuffs it exhibited red wrists accustomed to be bare. His legs, blue stockinged, protruded from a yellowish pair of trousers braced up very high. He was shod with strong shoes, ill polished, and studded with nails.

We were in class when the headmaster came in, followed by a new boy, not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work.

The headmaster made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to the teacher, he said to him in a low voice:

“Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care; he’ll be in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into one of the upper classes, as becomes his age.”

The new boy, standing in the corner behind the door so that he could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead like a village choir boy; he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. Although he was not broad-shouldered, his short jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight about the armholes, and showed at the opening of the cuffs red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellowish trousers, drawn tight by suspenders. He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.

We were at our studies when the headmaster came in, followed by a new boy still dressed in his street clothes, and a student assistant who was carrying a large desk. Those who were sleeping woke up, and everyone stood up as if interrupted in their work.

The headmaster signaled us to be seated; then, turning to the teacher:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said quietly, “here is a pupil I’m putting in your charge; he’ll start at the fifth level. If his work and his conduct are good, he’ll move into the upper grades, where he belongs at his age.”

Keeping back in the corner behind the door, so well concealed we could hardly see him, the new one was a country boy, about fifteen, taller than any of us. His hair was cut in a straight line across his forehead, like a village choirboy; he looked both sensible and completely embarrassed. Although his shoulders weren’t especially broad, his green cloth jacket with its black buttons was clearly too tight under the arms, and it revealed, between the slits of the cuffs, a pair of red wrists accustomed to going bare. His legs, with blue socks, stuck out from a pair of yellowish trousers pulled up high by suspenders. He wore big, hobnail shoes, badly polished.

We were at prep, when the Head came in, followed by a new boy not in uniform and a school-servant carrying a big desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every boy rose to his feet as though surprised in his labours.

The Head motioned us to sit down again; then, turning to the form master:

— Monsieur Roger, he said in a low voice, here is a pupil that I am entrusting to you, he can start off in the Fifth. If his work and his conduct are creditable, he will go up into the top class, appropriate to his age.

Standing in the corner, behind the door, so that we could hardly see him, the new boy was a country lad, about fifteen years old, and much taller than any of us. He had his hair cut square across his forehead, like a village choirboy, looking sensible and extremely embarrassed. Though he was not broad in the shoulders, his short green jacket with the black buttons must have been tight under the arms and revealed, at the cuffs, two red wrists more used to being bare. His legs, in their blue stockings, emerged from yellow-coloured trousers, hitched up very tight by his braces. He was wearing sturdy boots, ineptly polished, with hobnails.

We were at prep when the Headmaster came in, followed by a ‘new boy’ not wearing school uniform, and by a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and we all rose to our feet as though we had been interrupted at our work.

The Headmaster motioned to us to be seated; then, turning to the master on duty:

‘Monsieur Roger,’ he said in a low voice, ‘this is a pupil I’m putting in your hands. He’s starting in the fifth. If his work and his conduct warrant it, he’ll be moved up to the “seniors”, which is where he should be, given his age.’

Still standing well back, in the corner behind the door, so that he was almost invisible, the ‘new boy’ was a country lad of about fifteen who towered over the rest of us. He wore his hair in a straight fringe across his brow, like a village choirboy, and he looked sensible and very ill at case. Although his shoulders were not particularly broad, his green cloth jacket with black buttons seemed tight round the armholes, and revealed, through the slits of his cuffs, sun-reddened wrists unaccustomed to being covered. His legs, clad in blue stockings, stuck out below a pair of yellowish trousers that were hitched up very high by his braces. His shoes were heavy, badly shined, and studded with nails.

We were in study hour, when the Headmaster entered, followed by a new boy dressed in his everyday clothes and by a classroom servant carrying a big desk. Those who were asleep woke up, and each of us rose as if caught working.

The Headmaster nodded at us to resume our seats; then, turning to the usher:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said to him in a near-whisper, “here is a pupil I entrust to you, he will start in the fifth class. If his work and behavior are deserving, he may go up to the seniors, as befits his age.”

Remaining in the corner, behind the door, so much so that we could scarcely make him out, the new boy was a country lad, about fifteen years of age, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut straight across the forehead, like a village cantor, and he looked sound enough and exceedingly embarrassed. He was not broad-shouldered, but his short green woolen coat with its black buttons must have been tight at the armpits and revealed, through the slits in the back of its cuffs, red wrists used to being exposed. His legs, in blue stockings, emerged from yellowish trousers hitched up tight by the braces. He was wearing stout shoes, poorly polished and studded with nails.

We were in class when the head-master came in, followed by a “new fellow,” not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work.

The head-master made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to the class-master, he said to him in a low voice- “Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care; he’ll be in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into one of the upper classes, as becomes his age.”

The “new fellow,” standing in the corner behind the door so that he could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead like a village chorister’s; he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. Although he was not broad-shouldered, his short school jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight about the armholes, and showed at the opening of the cuffs red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellow trousers, drawn tight by braces. He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.

We were in class when the headmaster came in, followed by a new boy, not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work.

The headmaster made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to the teacher, he said to him in a low voice:

“Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom 1 recommend to your care; he’ll be in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into one of the upper classes, as becomes his age.”

The new boy, standing in the corner behind the door so that he could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead like a village choir boy; he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. Although he was not broad-shouldered, his short jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight about the armholes, and showed at the opening of the cuffs red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellowish trousers, drawn tight by suspenders. He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.

We were in study hall when the Headmaster entered, followed by a “new boy” dressed in ordinary clothes and by a classmate who was carrying a large desk. Those who were asleep woke up, and every- one stood up as if taken unawares while at work.

The Headmaster made us a sign to be seated; then, turning toward the master in charge of study hall:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said in a low tone, “here is a student whom I am putting in your charge. He is entering the fifth form. It his work and his conduct warrant it, he will be promoted to the upper forms, as befits his age.”

Standing in the corner behind the door, so far back that one could scarcely see him, the new boy was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any one of us. His hair was cut straight across his forehead like a village chorister’s, his manner ingenuous and highly embarrassed. Although he was not broad in the shoulders, his suit coat of green cloth with black buttons must have been uncomfortable for him around the armholes, and exposed, below the edges of the cuffs, reddened wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, emerged from yellowish breeches pulled up very tight by his braces. He wore heavy shoes, badly polished and ornamented with nails.

We were in the prep.-room when the Head came in, followed by a new boy in ‘mufti’ and a beadle carrying a big desk. The sleepers aroused themselves, and we all stood up, putting on a startled look, as if we had been buried in our work.

The Head motioned to us to sit down.

‘Monsieur Roger,’ said he in a quiet tone to the prep. master, ‘I’ve brought you a new boy. He’s going into the second. If his conduct and progress are satisfactory, he will be put up with the boys of his own age.’

The new boy had kept in the background, in the corner behind the door, almost out of sight. He was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any of us. His hair was clipped straight across the forehead, like a village choir-boy’s. He seemed a decent fellow enough, but horribly nervous. Although he was not broad across the shoulders, his green cloth jacket, with its black buttons, looked as if it pinched him under the arms. Protruding well beyond the cuffs, he displayed a pair of raw, bony wrists, obviously not unaccustomed to exposure. His legs, encased in blue stockings, issued from a pair of drab-coloured breeches, very tightly braced. He had on a pair of thick clumsy shoes, not particularly well cleaned and plentifully fortified with nails.

We were in study hall when the headmaster walked in, followed by a new boy not wearing a school uniform, and by a janitor carrying a large desk. Those who were sleeping awoke, and we all stood up as though interrupting our work.

The headmaster motioned us to sit down, then turned to the teacher and said softly, “Monsieur Roger, I’m placing this pupil in your care. He’ll begin in the eighth grade, but if his work and conduct are good enough, he’ll be promoted to where he ought to be at his age.”

The newcomer hung back in the corner behind the door, so that we could hardly see him. He was a country boy of about fifteen, taller than any of us. He wore his hair cut straight across the forehead, like a cantor in a village church, and he had a gentle, bewildered look. Although his shoulders were not broad, his green jacket with black buttons was apparently too tight under the arms, and the slits of its cuffs revealed red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, sheathed in blue stockings, protruded from his yellowish trousers, which were pulled up tight by a pair of suspenders. He wore heavy, unpolished, hobnailed shoes.

We were in the preparation room when the head came in, followed by a new boy in ordinary day clothes, and by a school servant carrying a large desk. Those of us who were asleep woke up, and we all rose to our feet doing our best to give the impression that we had been interrupted in the midst of our labours.

The head made a sign to us to be seated: then, turning to the master on duty:

‘Monsieur Roger,’ he said in a low voice, ‘I am putting this boy in your charge. He will start in the fifth. Later, should his work and general conduct warrant promotion, he will be moved into the senior class where, at his age, he ought to be.’

The new boy had withdrawn so completely into the corner behind the door as to be scarcely visible. He was a country lad, about fifteen years of age, and a good deal taller than any of the rest of us. He wore his hair cut in a straight fringe on his forehead like a village choirboy. He looked solemn and very shy. Though he was not particularly broad in the shoulders, his green cloth jacket with its black buttons seemed to irk him uncomfortably under the arms, and a pair of red wrists, accustomed to exposure, showed through the openings in his cuffs. His legs, encased in blue stockings, emerged from yellowish trousers braced very high. On his feet he wore heavy, badly- polished shoes, studded with nails.

We were doing prep when the Headmaster came in, followed by a respectably dressed new boy and a porter carrying a large desk. Those who were asleep woke up, and everyone stood up as if caught unawares in the middle of their work.

The Headmaster gestured to us to sit down; then, turning to the head of studies:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said quietly, “I’m putting this pupil here in your charge, he will start in the third form. If his work and be- haviour merit it he can move up to a higher class, as befits his age.”

Standing in the corner behind the door, so we could hardly see him, the new boy was a country lad, about fifteen years old and taller than the rest of us. His hair was cut straight across his fore- head like a village choirboy, he looked well behaved and very self- conscious. Although he wasn’t broad-shouldered his suit jacket, made of green woollen cloth with black buttons, was tight under the arms, and through the slits in the cuff facings you could see red wrists that weren’t used to being covered up. His legs, in long blue socks, appeared from under yellowish trousers that were hiked up by braces. He was wearing stout shoes, unpolished and heavily studded.

We were in Study Hall, when the Headmaster entered, followed by a new boy dressed in regular clothes and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who were sleeping woke up, and every- one rose as though taken by surprise while at work.

The Headmaster motioned us to sit down again; then, turning to the study hall teacher:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said to him in a low voice, “here is a pupil I am entrusting to your care, he is entering the fifth. If his work and his conduct are deserving, he will be moved up to the seniors, as befits his age.”

Still standing in the corner, behind the door, so that one could hardly see him, the new boy was a fellow from the country, about fifteen years old, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut straight across the forehead, like a village choirboy’s, his manner sensible and very ill at ease. Although he was not broad in the shoulders, his suit jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have pinched him around the armholes, and it showed, through the vents of its cuffs, red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, emerged from a pair of yellowish pants pulled tight by his suspenders. He wore stout shoes, badly shined, studded with nails.

We were in study-hall when the headmaster entered, followed by a new boy not yet in school uniform and by the handyman carrying a large desk. Their arrival disturbed the slumbers of some of us, but we all stood up in our places as though rising from our work.

The headmaster motioned us to be seated; then, turning to the teacher:

“Monsieur Roger,” he said in an undertone, “here’s a pupil I’d like you to keep your eye on. I’m putting him in the last year of the lower school. If he does good work and behaves himself we’ll move him up to where he ought to be at his age.”

The newcomer, who was hanging back in the corner so that the door half hid him from view, was a country lad of about fifteen, taller than any of us. He had his hair cut in bangs like a cantor in a village church, and he had a gentle, timid look. He wasn’t broad in the shoulders, but his green jacket with its black buttons seemed tight under the arms; and through the vents of his cuffs we could see red wrists that were clearly unaccustomed to being covered. His yel- lowish breeches were hiked up by his suspenders, and from them emerged a pair of blue-stockinged legs. He wore heavy shoes, hobnailed and badly shined.

Nous étions à l’Étude, quand le Proviseur entra, suivi d’un nouveau habillé en bourgeois et d’un garçon de classe qui portait un grand pupitre. Ceux qui dormaient se réveillèrent, et chacun se leva comme surpris dans son travail.

Le Proviseur nous fit signe de nous rasseoir; puis, se tournant vers le maître d’études:

— Monsieur Roger, lui dit-il à demi-voix, voici un élève que je vous recommande, il entre en cinquième. Si son travail et sa conduite sont méritoires, il passera dans les grands, où l’appelle son âge.

Resté dans l’angle, derrière la porte, si bien qu’on l’apercevait à peine, le nouveau était un gars de la campagne, d’une quinzaine d’années environ, et plus haut de taille qu’aucun de nous tous. Il avait les cheveux coupés droit sur le front, comme un chantre de village, l’air raisonnable et fort embarrassé. Quoiqu’il ne fût pas large des épaules, son habit-veste de drap vert à boutons noirs devait le gêner aux entournures et laissait voir, par la fente des parements, des poignets rouges habitués à être nus. Ses jambes, en bas bleus, sortaient d’un pantalon jaunâtre très tiré par les bretelles. Il était chaussé de souliers forts, mal cirés, garnis de clous.