The Adventures of Roderick Random, T. (Tobias) Smollett

Read in English · with Spanish

Read The Adventures of Roderick Random in English, with Spanish beside it

by T. (Tobias) Smollett · 1721–1771

Start reading, it's freeNo card. No trial. Just an account.

"The Adventures of Roderick Random" by T. Smollett is a picaresque novel published in 1748. Born to a Scottish gentleman and cast out by his family, young Roderick Random must survive by his wits alone in eighteenth-century Britain. From London to the West Indies, he encounters malice, deception, and hypocrisy at every turn while pursuing wealthy women and seeking his rightful place as a gentleman. Drawing on Smollett's own naval experience, this satirical tale exposes the brutality and corruption of its age.

Summary generated automatically by Project Gutenberg.

Read time
858 min
Words
188,667
Chapters
69
Paragraphs
785
Price
Free
  • England -- Fiction
  • Impressment -- Fiction
  • Picaresque literature
  • Rogues and vagabonds -- Fiction
  • Sailors -- Fiction
  • Scots -- England -- Fiction
  • Sea stories
  • Warships -- Fiction
The Adventures of Roderick Random

Next morning I agreed to give the master of the waggon ten shillings for my passage to London, provided Strap should be allowed to take my place when I should be disposed to walk.

A la mañana siguiente, acordé darle al conductor del carruaje diez chelines por mi pasaje hasta Londres, siempre que se permitiera a Strap ocupar mi lugar cuando yo decidiera caminar

At the same time I desired him to appease the incensed captain, who had entered the kitchen with a drawn sword in his hand, and threatened with many oaths to sacrifice the villain who attempted to violate his bed;

. Al mismo tiempo, le pedí que apaciguara al capitán, quien había entrado en la cocina con una espada desenvainada en la mano y había jurado con muchas maldiciones sacrificar al villano que intentara violar su lecho;

but it was to no purpose for the master to explain the mistake, and assure him of the poor lad’s innocence, who stood trembling behind me all the while:

pero fue inútil para el conductor explicar el error y asegurarle la inocencia del pobre muchacho, quien permanecía temblando detrás de mí en todo momento:

the more submission that appeared in Strap, the more implacable seemed the resentment of Weazel, who swore he must either fight him or he would instantly put him to death.

cuanto más sumiso parecía Strap, más implacable se mostraba el resentimiento de Weazel, quien juraba que debía luchar con él o que lo mataría al instante

I was extremely provoked at this insolence, and told him, it could not be supposed that a poor barber lad would engage a man of the sword at his own weapon;

. Me provocó enormemente esta insolencia y le dije que no se podía suponer que un pobre muchacho barbero se enfrentara a un hombre de espada con su propia arma;

but I was persuaded he would wrestle or box with him.

pero estaba persuadido de que lucharía o pelearía a puñetazos con él

To which proposal Strap immediately gave assent, by saying, “he would box with him for a guinea.”

. A esta propuesta, Strap accedió de inmediato diciendo: «pelearé a puñetazos con él por una guinea

Weazel replied with a look of disdain, that it was beneath any gentleman of his character to fight like a porter, or even to put himself on a footing, in any respect, with such a fellow as Strap.

». Weazel respondió con una mirada de desdén que era indigno de cualquier caballero de su carácter luchar como un porteador, o incluso ponerse a su nivel, en ningún aspecto, con un tipo como Strap

“Odds bodikins!”

. «¡Por la sangre de Dios!»,

cries Joey, “sure, coptain, yaw would not commit moorder!

gritó Joey, «seguro, capitán, no cometería un asesinato

Here’s a poor lad that is willing to make atonement for his offence; and an that woan’t satisfie yaw, offers to fight yaw fairly.

. Aquí hay un pobre muchacho que está dispuesto a hacer expiación por su falta; y si eso no lo satisface, ofrece luchar con usted con franqueza

And yaw woan’t box, I dare say, he will coodgel with yaw.

. Y si no quiere pelear a puñetazos, le aseguro que peleará con garrote

Woan’t yaw, my lad?”

. ¿No es así, muchacho

Strap, after some hesitation, answered, “Yes, yes, I’ll cudgel with him.”

?». Strap, tras dudar un momento, respondió: «Sí, sí, pelearé con garrote con él

But this expedient being also rejected by the captain, I began to smell his character, and, tipping Strap the wink, told the captain that I had always heard it said,

». Pero como esta alternativa también fue rechazada por el capitán, comencé a oler su carácter y, guiñándole un ojo a Strap, le dije al capitán que siempre había oído decir que

the person who receives a challenge should have the choice of the weapons; this therefore being the rule in point of honour, I would venture to promise on the head of my companion,

quien recibe un desafío debe tener la elección de las armas; siendo esta la regla en materia de honor, me atrevería a prometer por la cabeza de mi compañero

that he would even fight Captain Weazel at sharps; but it should be with such sharps as Strap was best acquainted with, namely, razors.

que incluso lucharía contra el capitán Weazel con armas blancas; pero serían armas blancas con las que Strap estuviera más familiarizado, es decir, navajas

At my mentioning razors: I could perceive the captain’s colour change while Strap, pulling me by the sleeve, whispered with great eagerness: “No, no, no;

. Al mencionar las navajas, pude percibir cómo cambiaba el color del rostro del capitán, mientras Strap, tirando de mi manga, susurraba con gran ansiedad: «No, no, no;

for the love of God, don’t make any such bargain.”

por el amor de Dios, no hagas tal trato

At length, Weazel, recovering himself, turned towards me, and with a ferocious countenance asked, “Who the devil are you?

». Por fin, Weazel, recuperándose, se volvió hacia mí y, con un rostro feroz, preguntó: «¿Quién diablos eres tú

Will you fight me?”

? ¿Quieres luchar conmigo

With these words, putting himself in a posture, I was grievously alarmed at seeing the point of a sword within half a foot of my breast;

?». Con estas palabras, poniéndose en guardia, me alarmé gravemente al ver la punta de una espada a medio pie de mi pecho;

and, springing to one side, snatched up a spit that stood in the chimney-corner, with which I kept my formidable adversary at bay, who made a great many half-longes, skipping backward at every push,

y, saltando hacia un lado, agarré un asador que estaba en la esquina de la chimenea, con el cual mantuve a mi formidable adversario a raya, quien dio muchas estocadas a medias, retrocediendo saltando con cada empuje,

till at last I pinned him up in a corner, to the no small diversion of the company.

hasta que por fin lo acorralé en una esquina, para gran diversión de la compañía

While he was in this situation his wife entered, and, seeing her husband in these dangerous circumstances, uttered a dreadful scream: in this emergency, Weazel demanded a cessation, which was immediately granted;

. Mientras él estaba en esta situación, entró su esposa y, al ver a su marido en tales circunstancias peligrosas, lanzó un grito espantoso: en esta emergencia, Weazel pidió una cesación, que fue concedida de inmediato;

and at last was contented with the submission of Strap, who, falling on his knees before him, protested the innocence of his intention, and asked pardon for the mistake he had committed.

y por fin se conformó con la sumisión de Strap, quien, arrodillándose ante él, protestó la inocencia de su intención y pidió perdón por el error que había cometido

This affair being ended without bloodshed, we went to breakfast, but missed two of our company, namely, Miss Jenny and the usurer.

. Terminado este asunto sin derramamiento de sangre, fuimos a desayunar, pero faltaban dos de nuestra compañía, a saber, la señorita Jenny y el usurero

As for the first, Mrs. Weazel informed us, that she had kept her awake all night with her groans;

, y fue traído por la fuerza a su presencia. En cuanto apareció, comenzó a llorar y suspirar de manera más compasiva, y nos dijo que, si moría, dejaría su sangre sobre la cabeza de ese violador. El pobre Isaac levantó los ojos y las manos al cielo, oró para que Dios lo librara de las maquinaciones de esa Jezabel; y nos aseguró, con lágrimas en los ojos, que

and that when she rose in the morning, Miss Jenny was so much indisposed that she could not proceed on her journey.

At that instant, a message came from her to the master of the waggon, who immediately went into her chamber, followed by us all.

She told him in a lamentable tone, that she was afraid of a miscarriage, owing to the fright she received last night from the brutality of Isaac; and, as the event was uncertain,

el

desired the usurer might be detained to answer for the consequence.

Accordingly, this ancient Tarquin was found in the waggon, whither he had retired to avoid the shame of last night’s disgrace, and brought by force into her presence.

He no sooner appeared than she began to weep and sigh most piteously, and told us, if she died, she would leave her blood upon the head of that ravisher.

Poor Isaac turned up his eyes and hands to heaven, prayed that God would deliver him from the machinations of that Jezebel;

and assured us, with tears in his eyes, that his being found in bed with her was the result of her own invitation.

haberla encontrado en la cama con él fue resultado de su propia invitación

The waggoner, understanding the case, advised Isaac to make it up, by giving her a sum of money: to which advice he replied with great vehemence, “A sum of money!—a halter for the cockatrice!”

. El conductor, comprendiendo el caso, aconsejó a Isaac que lo arreglara, dándole una suma de dinero; a lo cual él respondió con gran vehemencia: «¡Una suma de dinero! ¡Un lazo

“Oh!

para la víbora!». «¡Oh

’tis very well,” said Miss Jenny; “I see it is in vain to attempt that flinty heart of his by fair means.

! Está muy bien», dijo la señorita Jenny; «veo que es inútil intentar ablandar ese corazón de piedra con medios justos

Joey, be so good as to go to the justice, and tell him there is a sick person here, who wants to see him on an affair of consequence.”

. Joey, tenga la amabilidad de ir ante el juez y decirle que hay una persona enferma aquí que quiere verlo por un asunto de

At the name of justice Isaac trembled, and bidding Joey stay, asked with a quavering voice, “What she would have?

importancia». Al nombre de juez, Isaac tembló, y, pidiendo a Joey que se quedara, preguntó con voz temblorosa: «¿Qué

She told him that, as he had not perpetrated his wicked purpose, she would be satisfied with a small matter.

quiere?». Ella le dijo que, como no había consumado su propósito malvado, se conformaría con una pequeña

And though the damage she might sustain in her health might be irreparable, she would give him a release for a hundred guineas.”

cantidad. Y aunque el daño que pudiera sufrir en su salud pudiera ser irreparable, le daría un libramiento por cien guineas. «¡Cien guineas

“A hundred guineas!”

!

cried he in an ecstacy, “a hundred furies!

», gritó él en éxtasis, «¡cien furias

Where should a poor old wretch like me have a hundred guineas?

! ¿Dónde podría un pobre viejo miserable como yo conseguir cien guineas? Si tuviera tanto

If I had so much money, d’ya think I should be found travelling in a waggon, at this season of the year?”

dinero, ¿cree que me encontraría viajando en un carruaje, en esta época del año

“Come, come,” replied Jenny, “none of your miserly artifice here.

?». «Vamos, vamos», respondió Jenny, «nada de artimañas tacañas aquí

You think I don’t know Isaac Rapine, the money-broker, in the Minories.

. Creo que no conozco a Isaac Rapine, el corredor de dinero, en las Minories

Ah!

. ¡Ah

you old rogue!

, viejo bribón

many a pawn have you had of me and my acquaintance, which was never redeemed.”

! ¡Muchas prendas he tenido de mí y de mis conocidos, que nunca fueron rescatadas

Isaac, finding it was in vain to disguise himself, offered twenty shillings for a discharge, which she absolutely refused under fifty pounds:

!». Isaac, al ver que era inútil disimular, ofreció veinte chelines por su liberación, lo cual ella rechazó absolutamente bajo cincuenta libras:

at last, however, she was brought down to five, which he paid with great reluctancy, rather than be prosecuted for a rape.

por fin, sin embargo, se le rebajó a cinco, las cuales pagó con gran reluctancia, antes que ser procesado por violación

After which accommodation, the sick person made a shift to get into the waggon, and we set forward in great tranquillity; Strap being accommodated with Joey’s horse, the driver himself choosing to walk.

. Tras este arreglo, la persona enferma logró subir al carruaje, y partimos en gran tranquilidad; Strap fue acomodado con el caballo de Joey, eligiendo el propio conductor caminar

The morning and forenoon we were entertained with an account of the valour of Captain Weazel, who told us he had once knocked down a soldier that made game of him;

. La mañana y la mañana temprano nos entretenimos con un relato del valor del capitán Weazel, quien nos dijo que una vez había derribado a un soldado que se burlaba de él;

tweaked a drawer by the nose, who found fault with his picking his teeth with a fork, at another time; and that he had moreover challenged a cheesemonger, who had the presumption to be his rival:

tiró de la nariz a un camarero, quien se quejó de que se limpiaba los dientes con un tenedor, en otra ocasión; y que además había retado a un tendero de quesos, quien tuvo la presunción de ser su rival:

for the truth of which exploits he appealed to his wife.

para la verdad de estas hazañas, apeló a su esposa

She confirmed whatever he said, and observed, “The last affair happened that very day on which I received a love-letter from Squire Gobble, and don’t you remember, my dear,

. Ella confirmó todo lo que él decía, y observó: «El último asunto ocurrió el mismo día en que recibí una carta de amor del señor Gobble, y ¿no recuerda, querido mío,

I was prodigiously sick that very night with eating ortolans, when my Lord Diddle took notice of my complexion’s being altered, and my lady was so alarmed that she had well nigh fainted?”

que estuve prodigiosamente enferma esa misma noche por comer ortolanos, cuando el lord Diddle notó que mi complexión había cambiado, y mi lady estaba tan alarmada que casi se desmaya

“Yes, my dear,” replied the captain, “you know my lord said to me, with a sneer, ‘Billy, Mrs. Weazel is certainly breeding.’

?». «Sí, querida mía», respondió el capitán, «sabe que mi lord me dijo, con una sonrisa burlona: «Billy, la señora Weazel está ciertamente embarazada

And I answered cavalierly, ‘My lord, I wish I could return the compliment.’

». Y le respondí con aire de caballero: «Mi lord, desearía poder devolverle el

Upon which the whole company broke out into an immoderate fit of laughter; and my lord, who loves a repartee dearly, came round and bussed me.”

cumplido». Ante lo cual toda la compañía estalló en una risa descontrolada; y mi lord, que ama mucho un repartee, vino alrededor y me dio

We travelled in this manner five days, without interruption or meeting anything worth notice: Miss Jenny, who soon recovered her spirits, entertaining us every day with diverting songs, of which she could sing a great number;

un beso». Viajamos de esta manera cinco días, sin interrupción ni encuentro de nada digno de mención: la señorita Jenny, que pronto recuperó su buen humor, nos entretenía cada día con canciones divertidas, de las cuales podía cantar un gran número;

and rallying her own gallant, who, notwithstanding, would never be reconciled to her.

y burlándose de su propio galán, quien, no obstante, nunca se reconcilió con ella

On the sixth day, while we were about to sit down to dinner, the innkeeper came and told us, that three gentlemen, just arrived, had ordered the victuals to be carried to their apartment,

. El sexto día, mientras íbamos a sentarnos a cenar, el posadero vino y nos dijo que tres caballeros, acabados de llegar, habían ordenado que la comida se llevara a su habitación,

although he had informed them that they were bespoke by the passengers in the waggon.

aunque les había informado que estaba reservada para los pasajeros del carruaje

To which information they had replied, “the passengers in the waggon might be d—d, their betters must be served before them;

. A esta información, ellos habían respondido: «los pasajeros del carruaje pueden irse al diablo, a los mejores se les debe servir antes que a ellos;

they supposed it would be no hardship on such travellers to dine upon bread and cheese for one day.”

supongo que no sería una molestia para tales viajeros cenar pan y queso durante un día

This was a terrible disappointment to us all; and we laid our heads together how to remedy it;

». Esto fue una terrible decepción para todos nosotros; y conferenciamos sobre cómo remediarlo;

when Miss Jenny observed that Captain Weazel, being by profession a soldier, ought in this case to protect and prevent us from being insulted.

cuando la señorita Jenny observó que el capitán Weazel, siendo de profesión soldado, debía en este caso protegernos y evitar que fuéramos insultados

But the Captain excused himself, saying, he would not for all the world be known to have travelled in a waggon!

. Pero el capitán se excusó, diciendo que no sería conocido por haber viajado en un carruaje por todo el mundo; jurando al

swearing at the same time, that could he appear with honour, they should eat his sword sooner than his provision.

mismo tiempo que, si podía aparecer con honor, comerían su espada antes que su provisiones

Upon this declaration, Miss Jenny, snatching his weapon, drew it, and ran immediately into the kitchen, where she threatened to put the cook to death if he did not send the victuals into our chamber immediately.

. Ante esta declaración, la señorita Jenny, arrebatabo su arma, la desenvainó y corrió inmediatamente a la cocina, donde amenazó con matar al cocinero si no enviaba la comida a nuestra cámara de inmediato

The noise she made brought the three strangers down, one of whom no sooner perceived her than he cried, “Ha!

. El ruido que hizo atrajo a los tres extraños hacia abajo, uno de los cuales, en cuanto la vio, gritó: «¡

Jenny Ramper!

Jenny Ramper

what the devil brought thee hither?”

! ¿Qué diablos te trajo aquí

“My dear Jack Rattle!”

?». «¡Mi querido Jack Rattle

replied she, running into his arms, “is it you?

!», respondió ella, corriendo a sus brazos, «¿eres tú

Then Weazel may go to hell for a dinner—I shall dine with you.”

? Entonces Weazel puede irse al infierno por una cena; cenaré con ustedes».

About the author

T. (Tobias) Smollett1721–1771

Tobias Smollett was a Scottish novelist and poet born in 1721 and died in 1771.

The T. (Tobias) Smollett page, and where to start →

Read it in another language

Questions about The Adventures of Roderick Random

Can I read The Adventures of Roderick Random in English with Spanish side by side online?

Yes, free. Paralelo shows the English original with a Spanish machine translation beside it, aligned phrase by phrase: hover or tap a phrase and its counterpart lights up in the other column. Anyone can read a passage; a free account opens the whole book.

What level do I need to read The Adventures of Roderick Random here?

There is no set level. The Adventures of Roderick Random runs to 188,667 words in 69 chapters, and the translation sits beside it, aligned phrase by phrase, so you can start below the level the original would need on its own and lean on the translation only where you stumble.

Is The Adventures of Roderick Random really free to read?

Yes. The text is in the public domain, and the translation and alignment are ours to give. A free account opens the whole book; the paid tier is for unlimited explanations.

Can I read The Adventures of Roderick Random in another language?

Yes. It is also published in French, and switching keeps your place, because both columns share one paragraph numbering.

How long does The Adventures of Roderick Random take to read?

About 14 hours at a normal pace, longer if you stop to look at the alignment, which is rather the point.

Book details

Original language
English
Translation
Spanish, machine translation
Source text
Project Gutenberg #4085
Licence
Public domain worldwide

Start The Adventures of Roderick Random today.

Free forever, no card. The whole library opens with an account.

Start reading, it's free