Friday, March 24, 2017

 

Time

Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), "La Chambre Double," final paragraphs (tr. Francis Scarfe):
Ah, yes! Time has returned: Time now governs like a sovereign: and with that hideous old greybeard has returned the whole demoniacal rout of Memories, Regrets, Fits, Fears, Anguishes, Nightmares, Angers, and Neuroses.

I assure you that the Seconds are now strongly and solemnly stressed, and that each one as it jumps from the clock, says: 'I am Life, unbearable, unrelenting Life!'

There is only one Second in human existence whose mission it is to announce good news, the good news, which arouses an inexplicable fear in every man.

Yes, Time reigns, he has resumed his bullying dictatorship. And he drives me on, as if I were a bullock, with his double goad — 'Along with you, you old hack! Sweat, you slave! Live, though you are damned!'



Oh! oui! Le Temps a reparu; Le Temps règne en souverain maintenant; et avec le hideux vieillard est revenu tout son démoniaque cortége de Souvenirs, de Regrets, de Spasmes, de Peurs, d'Angoisses, de Cauchemars, de Colères et de Névroses.

Je vous assure que les secondes maintenant sont fortement et solennellement accentuées, et chacune, en jaillissant de la pendule, dit: — «Je suis la Vie, l'insupportable, l'implacable Vie!»

Il n'y a qu'une Seconde dans la vie humaine qui ait mission d'annoncer une bonne nouvelle, la bonne nouvelle qui cause à chacun une inexplicable peur.

Oui! le Temps règne; il a repris sa brutale dictature. Et il me pousse, comme si j’étais un boeuf, avec son double aiguillon. — «Et hue donc! bourrique! Sue donc, esclave! Vis donc, damné!»



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