Sowohl sie als Baptiste, der ganz verblaßt in der Ecke stand und, vor Angst und Beklommenheit die Nachtmütze in den Händen knetend, kaum sprechen konnte, baten das Fräulein auf das wehmütigste um aller Heiligen willen, doch nur mit möglichster Behutsamkeit das Kästchen zu öffnen.
1
Both she and Baptiste, who, kneading his nightcap in his hands out of fear and trepidation, stood rather pale in the corner and could hardly speak, asked the mistress most wistfully for the sake of all the saints to open the box but only with the utmost caution.
Translated by
3Bn37Arty • 14424
7 years, 7 months ago
Discussion
Hallo Tom - some suggestions for this sentence, which I have been toying with for the past week - I suggest replacing 'kneading' with perhaps 'crushing', as 'kneading' either evokes the image of someone 'needing' something, or 'kneading' dough.
by Merlin57 7 years, 6 months agoI also suggest 'piteously' as a possible translation for 'wehmütig', as 'wistfully' is, I think, not strong enough, considering that he is suffering from fear and trepidation.
I also feel that in the last sentence they are asking her 'only to open the box with the utmost caution.'
What do you think ???
'Both she, as well as Baptiste, who stood in the corner crushing his nightcap between his hands, barely able to speak out of fear and trepidation, begged the mistress piteously, for the sake of all the saints, to only open the box with the utmost caution.'