Mandorlinfiore And The Dragons Of Zonza ( French: Mandorlinfiore Et Les Dragons De Zonza ) - Translation Example 6

————— Original English Text —————

The merchant took up the boy and bore him home to his wife. She was agog at the story her husband had to tell and gave thanks to the Lord for the gift of a baby at last.

‘But Cut-Neck is the name for a brigand or a pirate,’ said his wife, ‘and I should never want to call such a man my son.’

‘But his neck?’ said the merchant,

‘Silly man,’ said his wife, ‘you said you found the boy in an almond grove with swine?’

‘I’ll not call him Pig-Boy,’

‘Indeed not,’

‘Then what?’

‘He must be called Mandorlinfiore, for the Almond-Blossom, to match the light in his eyes.’

‘Wife, you are a romantic indeed. It is a handsome name. Let us tell the priest and gather our families for the christening!’

Now this act of charity was swiftly rewarded by the angels and not more than a year later the merchant and his wife had a son between them whom they called Sylvan, and the merchant of Solenzara, by the grace of God, grew richer every day.

————— Translated French Text —————

Le marchand prit le garçon et le ramena chez lui. Sa femme était impatiente d'entendre l'histoire que son mari avait à raconter et remercia le Seigneur pour le don d'un bébé enfin.

"Pour autant, Coupe-Gorge est le nom d'un brigand ou d'un pirate," dit sa femme, "et je ne voudrais jamais appeler un tel homme mon fils."

"Et pourtant, son cou ?" dit le marchand.

"Homme stupide," dit sa femme, "tu as dit avoir trouvé le garçon dans un verger d'amandiers avec des porcs?"

"Je ne l'appellerai pas Garçon-Porc,"

"En effet,"

"Alors quoi ?"

"Il doit s'appeler Mandorlinfiore, comme l'Amandier en fleurs, pour correspondre à la lumière dans ses yeux."

"Épouse, tu es vraiment romantique. C'est un beau nom. Disons-le au prêtre et rassemblons nos familles pour le baptême!"

Ce geste de charité fut rapidement récompensé par les anges et, pas plus d'un an plus tard, le marchand et sa femme eurent ensemble un fils qu'ils appelèrent Sylvain, et le marchand de Solenzara, par la grâce de Dieu, s'enrichissait chaque jour.