The girl sometimes wore the same chemise for three weeks together; her stockings fell over her shoes, which were sadly worn down at the heels, and her tattered skirts hung about her like a beggar's rags.

L'enfant gardait parfois la même chemise pendant trois semaines; ses bas, qui tombaient sur ses souliers éculés, n'avaient plus de talons; ses jupes lamentables pendaient comme des loques de mendiante.

Zola, Emile / The Conquest of PlassansZola, Emile / La Conquete des Plassans

La Conquete des Plassans

Zola, Emile

The Conquest of Plassans

Zola, Emile

But now he felt wounded, distressed, shrunken as it were. He again thought of his youth of sordid poverty, and for a moment could almost have fancied that he was wearing his old worn-down shoes once more.

Mais il resta troublé, blessé, rapetissé; c'était sa jeunesse de pauvreté lâche qui revenait; un instant, il crut encore avoir aux pieds ses anciennes savates éculées.

Zola, Emile / His ExcellencyZola, Emile / Son Excellence Eugene Rougon

Son Excellence Eugene Rougon

Zola, Emile

His Excellency

Zola, Emile

A thing like that wears you down."

Une chose comme ça, ça vous flanque par terre.

Dos Passos, John / Manhattan TransferDos Passos, John / Manhattan Transfer

Manhattan Transfer

Dos Passos, John

© Editions Gallimard, 1928, pour la traduction francaise.

Manhattan Transfer

Dos Passos, John

© 1925 by John Dos Passos

© 1953 by Elizabeth Dos Passos

The poor, worn-down, brutalized creatures, at first, could scarce comprehend this; but, when it was continued week after week, and month after month, it began to awaken long-silent chords in their benumbed hearts.

D’abord ces pauvres êtres abrutis pouvaient à peine comprendre; mais, quand les compatissants efforts eurent duré des semaines, des mois, au fond de ces cœurs engourdis, des cordes longtemps muettes commencèrent à vibrer.

Beecher Stowe, Harriet / Uncle Tom's CabinBeecher Stowe, Harriet / La case de l'oncle Tom

La case de l'oncle Tom

Beecher Stowe, Harriet

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Beecher Stowe, Harriet