next page>Halvard JohnsonParadeBarely two nights ago, I went to a banquet with three large Spaniards. Prosperous and celebrated though they were, I would later see their heads arranged in a row on a pike. And beneath them, those of the CNN correspondents who helped them on their way. Some academics, some traditionalists, and some radicals, who themselves invite poets, novelists, and visiting Albanians to dinner, had come to thank them for their thoughtfulness-a dinner served by maids in "maigres francais uniformes." Our hosts were two kind, gifted Americans I knew from seminary. They, above all, wanted to do good deeds and to know, like characters from E. M. Forster or Henry James. At eight o'clock on the evening of the party, an Indian dignitary arose to toast a porpoise. The senior senator of an American midwestern state and an Italian tenor were at the banquet to meet a cross-section of American public opinion. They met it, but at first they failed to recognize it. The first course was aspic, one dignitary thought. Somebody attacked the Indian for her educational policies in Kerala. No one else knew anything about India at all. She bristled at the affront. The rest of us relaxed and grew bored. The senator wanted to meet one of the young maids and learn all about her. He and I were probably among the last three people in the room who still believed in due process. He said, "Thanks, sweetheart," and exactly at that moment the band began to play-"The Washington Post March," I think it may have been. Selections from Rhapsodiefor Lynda Rapsodie Espagnole is a found prose poem. Its sentences are taken, without exception, from Advanced Spanish Course by K. L. J. Mason, part of the Pergamon Oxford Spanish Series (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1967. The sentences are all from Part II: "Practice Sentences for Translation into Spanish."2. The old woman moved with surprising agility. They entered a high-class hairdresser's. His father is a Frenchman, but his mother is English. He writes with considerable difficulty. His father, who was a navel officer in the last war, later became an admiral. His grandfather was a very famous surgeon. He is a good Catholic, and moreover he is a good friend of mine. Poor man! He thinks his son is a hero, and really he is a coward. He is playing the guitar, an instrument I find truly delightful. They haven't got a vacuum cleaner. If I am not mistaken, he earns a thousand pounds a year. What a surprise! I should never have believed such a thing. He has gone out without an umbrella. He works as a window cleaner in his spare time. They took him for a spy. He escaped half an hour later dressed as a priest. The book was called An Anthology of German Verse. The schoolboys went at a snail's pace to school. He's no fool, that lad! The maid could not go out because her mistress was in a bad mood. I could not help wondering whether he had a girlfriend. After taking a nap they set off for the bullfight at a little after four. While he was on holiday in Naples, he unfortunately got sunstroke. It is a question of putting an end to the rumors. 3. In the north of Spain, the Cantabrian mountains overlook the Atlantic. The fir trees and the pinetrees of Canada reach an extraordinary height. She was worried about what people would say. The model stretched out her hand and switched off the radio. The woman bought a cabbage, a cauliflower and some salt. A "C" in the catalogue refers to the Canary Islands. The trams run every day, including Sundays. The poet Rafael Alberti and the artist Picasso are both communists. Do you like doing crosswords? The guests were having tea on the lawn. Chess strikes me as a very intellectual pursuit. The lorry was transporting an enormous dynamo. Do you know Ib . ez's The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? What is the cure for cholera. I would willingly give all my capital for those earrings. The saying is on the tip of my tongue. Shortly after setting sail, the crew threw the victims overboard. The duchess has sold all her rubies. If our dads can put their feet on the sofas, why can't we? The shops close early on Thursdays. They are staying with the Orna family. Please remember me to your mother and father. Voices; gardens; shorelines; countries. On the eve of his wedding, he crossed from Algiers to Marseilles. For dessert we only had custard. The gypsy woman was telling fortunes while her husband asked for alms. The climber died because no one knew how to give him first aid. He begins his breakfast every morning with porridge. Why do the rich hate the poor? He failed to open the tin with the tin-opener but eventually did it with a penknife! We cannot use the car in this storm because the windscreen wipers are not working. I know his father very well. When will the Great Powers renounce their nuclear weapons? She treats her little poodle like a child. Adjectives sometimes precede nouns. They will visit France in the spring. I have got no one. 6. I am only fifteen years old. The Brazilians won by two goals to none. I was born in 1949. There are a hundred and one reasons why you should not leave her now. Is it true that Spain has thirty-one million inhabitants? Charles the Fifth; James the Third; Louis the Fourteenth; Go up to the fourth floor and knock at the second door on the right. The peasant woman returned from the market with a couple of hens and a dozen eggs. If ten and four are fourteen, what do eleven and four make? He seems to spend three-quarters of his time drinking coffee and telling jokes. We have rehearsed the first two acts. In the first place, we must decide on the correct number. They study about twenty hours a week. At about 9:30, there were only twenty-odd students at the lecture. The price of this bookcase is fifteen pounds, madam. Our school is about five miles from the city center. How tall is your boyfriend? He is six feet two inches tall. We were taught that Mount Everest is 29,141 feet high. A brick is 9 inches long, 4 3/8 inches wide and 2 5/8 inches thick. We were conducted around the museum by a guide in his late sixties. On Wednesdays there are no classes in the afternoon. Term ends on Thursday, December 15th. Hitler came to power on January 30th, 1933. Heavens! It is nearly a quarter past ten. It is time for supper. We arranged to meet at one o'clock promptly, but the majority arrived a little after one. What time do you make it? I make it twenty-five to four but my watch is slow. How long have you been in Spain? I have been here for two months. We shall set out early in the morning. They met each other for the first time the day before yesterday and they are going to the theatre together next Saturday. On the following day at daybreak they caught sight of the enemy patrol. 7. If I were you, I should decline the offer. She wanted to go shopping, but he preferred to read the paper. Where do you spend the summer? Who is it? It is they. The fact is that there is not enough for the two of you. Before sitting down, I wiped the chair. On thinking it over, we have decided he is not suitable. Put them there, don't give them to me. How brown you are getting! I am going to tell you the truth. It was as if the monkey were human. Whenever I see him I give him a small coin. Where is the chocolate? We have eaten it. There are Peter and Philip, let's go and invite them. We offered it to her. He entertains his friends a great deal. He handed the list to the inspector. They took out the necklaces and beads and showed them to the natives. They showed them to them. She was so scared that her hair stood on end. The nurse put a thermometer in his mouth and took his temperature. He promised his wife he would buy her a new washing machine. He promised it to her. In order to pay for it he borrowed the money from his bank manager. It is impossible for us to accept this ultimatum. They were shot at dawn. Why go on talking about it? He thinks he's handsome, but he isn't. He is so kind-hearted! I told you so. You cannot rely on him, believe me! We think it opportune to sell all our shares in that company. I am surprised there are foreign tourists here. They are everywhere. He thought he was so clever! 9. Whose records are these? What sort of journey did you have? What's the matter with you? Are you angry? What did you think of his Japanese camera? They would not confess whose overcoat they had stolen. Who unpacked my trunk? What instruments can you play? Which boy threw that? What is truth? What is your motive? For a long time they did not know what to reply. What an ugly face! What! And you dare to remain in this house! He thought nostalgically of that evening so many years ago. Gregory and David are both intelligent, but the latter is more intellectual. The question of language laboratories will have to be decided sooner or later. They have not learned to speak Polish fluently, and yet they have excellent teachers. This is all your fault. Listen, my friend, I am going to give you a piece of advice. We need it for a client of ours. It's their responsiblity. What's yours is mine, what's mine is ours. Which of these umbrellas is yours? I don't know who this belongs to; it is not mine. You can put your car in the garage. We have left ours in front of the house. I had the pleasure of serving in Germany with your brother. The house is his, but the furniture is hers. Which climate do you prefer, Spain's or England's? His cup is empty, but hers is full. 29. This collar is very fashionable. I am very cold. I am very pleased to meet you. It was really getting dark now. She will not welcome you. I know. It is late, don't you think? Have they weighed it yet? He could not stand her bad temper any longer. She still wonders why he left her. Even her best friends won't tell her. We usually go to Italy in May. It is not so hot then. You have seen it? You will know what I mean then. First he caught a bus, then he hired a taxi. Let's see what we can do then. Have you met the newlyweds? I am afraid I cannot make such a promise. There has been a very unpleasant atmosphere lately. At the present time, the government is achieving little. He always wanted to travel, and sure enough he is now in Greece. It could well be that he is not coming today. Lucky you got here before the storm broke. He cannot pronounce the word, much less spell it. And they will say of him when he is gone, "There was a man. " Now she is really pretty. They write to one another frequently. We were a little disconcerted. Our Spanish teacher regularly contributes articles. It always rains on Sunday. 30. They never fight. Nobody uses that nowadays. They parted without solving the problem. I cannot find my cufflinks anywhere. None of them was disappointed. Not one of them offered her a seat. He agreed, not without hesitating. He has no talent whatever. This subject does not interest me much. Is there anything so absurd? She needs a holiday more than anything. It would be better to stay there than here. It's a long time since I saw them. All day long I have not been able to find you. He is neither tall nor short. His stories are not even funny. She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either. He only goes to observe. The gypsies live in caves, don't they? They are wasting their time. Are you? I will buy you a new sewing machine, but not today. That is irrelevant. We knocked at the door, but there was no one in. 31. His novels are long and interesting. They will be back in September or October. The mountainside was not only steep but rocky. Both electricity and gas are expensive. They had scarcely dug the trench when the enemy charged. We all know it is not fair. But it's all the same to me. At the time of my last visit, she was still a little girl. As it is getting late, we had better go in. As they approached the village, they met many farmworkers. As the clock struck twelve, she started to eat the grapes. While she was ironing the shirts, she listened to her transistor radio. As we grow older, we grow more and more tolerant. While there's no cause for alarm, there is no room for complacency. Since the bookshop is closed, let's go to the library. Since he joined the army, he has not been the same. Good heavens! Are you mad? Ooh, I'm falling! Shut up, for goodness' sake! And now she won't help me to wash the dishes. Honestly! He is a one-eyed Jewish Negro. So what? What the devil are you doing? 32. The column marched by at a slow pace. She sat down at the organ. The motorcyclist came down the hill at full speed. He stretched himself out in the sun. I arrived in Valencia at daybreak. In their opinion, Spain will lose in the long run. Little by little, the flames reached the top storey. Machine-made lace is not so fine. A few went on horseback, but most of them went on foot. On the following morning, he made his way to the station. We bought the television set on credit. He threw the receipt onto the fire. A few days later they set fire to the factory. They hang out their washing on the flat roof. On that occasion the shop was crowded. On the corner stood a butcher's shop. We waited more than one hour at the bus stop. This is the greatest problem confronting mankind at the present time. At Easter time they like to watch the processions. From time to time, she cast a glance at her husband. He went by train as far as the frontier. He was highly esteemed by his colleagues. I know him by sight, not by name. By day he leads a normal life. She was a thin girl with dark hair and green eyes. They were eating cakes filled with cream. On seeing Father Christmas, the children jumped for joy. The skyscraper was almost a thousand feet tall. The beggar was blind in one eye. They drew near to a house painted white. We met them on the way to Edinburgh. 33. She married him for his money. It was nothing but talking for the sake of talking. Let's go to the opera tomorrow night. They passed through the Customs. He has hitchhiked all over Europe. He offered me sixpence for the orange. He mistook the margarine for butter. They heard the news on the wireless by chance. He receives a twenty percent profit. He has gone out for a newspaper. They feel for him an instinctive affection. I struggled to avoid his gaze. I caught a fish for my supper. He handed me a bag for my apples. He is a good for nothing. It is good for your health. He writes well for a child. You are never too old to learn. You promised to have it finished by today. When I went in, he was muttering to himself. The prisoner escaped from the prison, only to give himself up two days later. Is this a suitable time to call him? 34. I have never seen this man before. This street used to have another name. Before surrendering, they burned their crops. I must tell you before I forget. It is not a chore to perform this task; rather it is a privilege. He bowed his head before those insults. A large dish of beans was placed before them. He worked afterwards for the Red Cross. After the war, several millions were homeless. All the other guests arrived after me. Several rows of people were sitting behind us. For mile after mile, they trudged through the jungle. Under the eaves, the swallows built their nests. He preached under the threat of excommunication. Over the door could be seen the family's coat-of-arms. Above all, remember he is the president. He is writing a thesis on some Norwegian dramatist. They are calling for us about 8:3O. As for his rivals, he ignores them. Visitors came from the four corners of the earth. Since the 14th, they have sent no messages. From Monday to Friday, he scarcely sleeps. I don't think you will get as far as Santander in that car. And now he even dreams in Spanish. We hastened toward the square. Her indifference to him was absolute. I stuck a five-peseta stamp on the envelope. next page> |