Spanish

approaching: acercamiento, acercar,

siga, venir después.

parecemos, parecéis, parece, pareced.

aproximado, acercarse, aproximar,

forward: adelante, delantero, reenviar, shame: vergüenza, verguenza, pudor, aproximarse, dirigirse a uno,

hacia delante, enviar, remitir, hacia

oprobio, avergonzar.

venidero, tocar un tema, semejante,

adelante.

window: ventana, taquilla, la ventana,

que se acerca.

haven't: no tener.

ventanilla.

cough: toser, tos, la tos.

looks: mira.

couldn't: no fue posible.

notice: cartel, aviso, anuncio, notar,

don't: no.

advertir, nota, notificación, noticias,

eating: comiendo.

noticia, percibir, publicación.

effrontery: descaro.

repentance: arrepentimiento.

follow: seguir, seguid, sigues, siguen, seem: parecer, parezca, parecen, sigue, sigo, sigan, seguís, seguimos,

parezcan, pareces, parezco,

82

The Importance of Being Earnest

GWENDOLEN.

Let us preserve a dignified silence.%

CECILY.

Certainly. It's the only thing to do now. [Enter JACK followed by

ALGERNON.

They whistle some dreadful popular air from a British Opera.]

GWENDOLEN.

This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect.

CECILY.

A most distasteful one.

GWENDOLEN.

But we will not be the first to speak.

CECILY.

Certainly not.

GWENDOLEN.

Mr. Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends

on your reply.

CECILY.

Gwendolen, your common sense is invaluable. Mr. Moncrieff, kindly answer me the following question. Why did you pretend to be my guardian's

brother?

ALGERNON.

In order that I might have an opportunity of meeting you.

CECILY.

[To GWENDOLEN.] That certainly seems a satisfactory explanation, does it

not?

GWENDOLEN.

Yes, dear, if you can believe him.

Spanish

brother: hermano, el hermano,

kindly: amablemente,

reply: respuesta, responder,

cofrade.

bondadosamente, amable.

contestación, contestar.

dear: caro, querido, estimado.

popular: popular.

satisfactory: satisfactorio.

depends: depende.

preserve: conservar, guardar,

silence: silencio, acallar, hacer callar,

dignified: dignificado, digno.

preservar, confitura, conserva.

el silencio.

distasteful: desagradable.

pretend: fingir, fingimos, finjo, fingís, unpleasant: desagradable, bronco, dreadful: terrible, espantoso.

fingid, finges, fingen, finge, finjan,

brusco.

enter: entrar, entro, entra, entrad,

finja, pretender.

whistle: silbar, silbato, silbido, pito.

entráis, entramos, entran, entras,

produce: producir, producid,

entren, entre, inscribir.

produzco, produzcan, produzca,

explanation: explicación.

producimos, produces, producen,

invaluable: inapreciable, inestimable.

produce, producís, realizar.

Oscar Wilde

83

CECILY.

I don't. But that does not affect the wonderful beauty of his answer.%

GWENDOLEN.

True. In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing.

Mr. Worthing, what explanation can you offer to me for pretending to have a

brother? Was it in order that you might have an opportunity of coming up to

town to see me as often as possible?

JACK.

Can you doubt it, Miss Fairfax?

GWENDOLEN.

I have the gravest doubts upon the subject. But I intend to crush them. This is not the moment for German scepticism. [Moving to CECILY.] Their

explanations appear to be quite satisfactory, especially Mr. Worthing's. That

seems to me to have the stamp of truth upon it.

CECILY.

I am more than content with what Mr. Moncrieff said. His voice alone

inspires one with absolute credulity.

GWENDOLEN.

Then you think we should forgive them?

CECILY.

Yes. I mean no.

GWENDOLEN.

True! I had forgotten. There are principles at stake that one cannot surrender. Which of us should tell them? The task is not a pleasant one.

CECILY.

Could we not both speak at the same time?

GWENDOLEN.

An excellent idea! I nearly always speak at the same time as other people.

Will you take the time from me?