A Tale of Two Cities — Chapter 23 in French
By Charles Dickens
Jamais le soleil ne s’était couché plus radieux sur le coin paisible de Soho, jamais la lune, en se levant, ne répandit un éclat plus doux sur la ville de Londres, qu’un soir où, à travers la feuillée, elle éclaira le visage du docteur et de sa fille, assis l’un près de l’autre sous leur arbre favori. Never did the sun go down with a brighter glory on the quiet corner in Soho, than one memorable evening when the Doctor and his daughter sat under the plane-tree together. Never did the moon rise with a milder radiance over great London, than on that night when it found them still seated under the tree, and shone upon their faces through its leaves.
Lucie devait se marier le lendemain. Lucie was to be married to-morrow. Miss Manette devait se marier le lendemain ; elle avait consacré ce dernier soir à son père, et ils étaient seuls sous le platane. She had reserved this last evening for her father, and they sat alone under the plane-tree.
« Père chéri, tu es heureux, n’est-ce pas ? "You are happy, my dear father?"
Bien qu’ils fussent là depuis longtemps, ils s’étaient dit peu de chose. They had said little, though they had been there a long time. Même à l’heure où elle aurait pu lire ou travailler, Lucie n’avait pas songé à prendre son ouvrage, ou à faire la lecture à son père, ainsi qu’il lui arrivait toujours en pareille occasion ; ce soir-là ne ressemblait à aucun autre, et rien ne pouvait lui enlever ce cachet exceptionnel. When it was yet light enough to work and read, she had neither engaged herself in her usual work, nor had she read to him. She had employed herself in both ways, at his side under the tree, many and many a time; but, this time was not quite like any other, and nothing could make it so.