From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. Laval
Part 1 – Magnificent Stories, Stories of Animals, Anecdotes (Cuentos maravillosos, Cuentos de animales, Anécdotas)
024. Gallarín And The Giant (Gallarín Y El Gigante)
(Told in February of 1923 by the master carpenter Tránsito González, 57-year old, resident of Peñaflor.)
Once, there were three brothers who lived in a [certain] village. The two older ones, Juan and Pedro, were full of envy; on the other hand, Gallarín, the youngest, had everyone’s affection due to his appealing appearance and thoughtful manners.
One day on a whim the two older brothers decided to leave the village and travel the lands, and they did not want the youngest to come with them; but as a result of [much] begging he managed to [convince them to] take him along.
They walked the entire day, and at night arrived at a castle where they were given lodging.
This castle belonged to a giant who had three daughters, and as there was only one bed for each occupant in the house, they had each brother sleeping in the same bed with one of the daughters of the Giant.
Gallarín noticed that each of the girls wore a hat while sleeping, and as he was very clever and somewhat mischievous, he got up on tiptoe, took the girls’ hats off, put one on his head and the other two on his brothers’, then put out the light.
Gallarín, who feared that they would play a dirty trick on them, did not sleep, and thus he could hear the Giant said to his wife:
Now is the time to kill them and make a delicious stew [out of them], which we’ll get to eat tomorrow. They are very plump and their meat is [very] tender; we will have excellent food for the whole day!
And entering the bedroom, he approached the beds, and the heads without hats, zas!, fell to the ground, severed by the Giant’s machete, a huge and very sharp machete.
Once this task was completed, the Giant retired to his room to sleep, and when Gallarín heard the snore -he snored so loudly that it seemed like thunders were coming out of his mouth- he took off his brothers’ hats, woke them up and said to them:
Brothers, we need to run away immediately, because if the Giant catches us when he gets up, he will kill us and eat us for his stew.
He was explaining the situation where Juan and Pedro could see the severed heads of the Giant’s three daughters, and they could barely move from the shock that they had, because their legs were trembling; but Gallarín encouraged them and made them see what awaited them if they did not run away soon. They left following Gallarín, and they had just crossed a large circle of marvelous plants which surrounded the castle and which was as far as the Giant’s power could reach, when the latter saw them from his window.
Ah, Gallarín you rogue -he shouted out-
My daughters you murdered,
and my three hats you robbed!
Ah, you despicable bastard!
I’ll devour you when caught!
The Giant felt the death of his daughters almost as much as the theft of his three hats; these were magical items: he who put them on backwards would obtain everything that he wanted.
The three brothers left and after walking for a few hours they arrived at the capital of the kingdom. They managed to find jobs in the King’s palace: the two older ones as day-workers and Gallarín as the turkey keeper.
The King’s daughter, who was very beautiful, fell in love with Gallarín, and this made Juan and Pedro very jealous of their brother. To get rid of him, they went to the King and told him:
Sir, your turkey keeper, Gallarín, said that just as he had killed the Giant’s daughters and robbed him of his three hats, he is capable of stealing the Divining Parrot that the same Giant has in his castle.
Did Gallarín say that?
Yes, sir, he said that.
The King called for Gallarín, and he told him:
Gallarín, you have said that just as you had killed the Giant’s three daughters and brought back the hats, you are capable of bringing back the Divining Parrot that the Giant stole from me a long time ago…
No, my Lord, I did not say such a thing.
Yes, you said it; and if you don’t bring me the bird, I’ll cut your head off.
Gallarín withdrew to the end of the garden and sat down to cry by a tree that was there. At that moment the Princess passed by and asked him why he was in such great distress.
How can I not be, my Princess -Gallarín answered him- when the King told me that just as I had killed the Giant’s three daughters and brought back the three hats, I have to [also] bring him the Divining Parrot [as well].
Don’t you worry about anything -the Princess told him;- take this loaf of bread and this flask of wine and say to the Parrot:-“Look, Little Parrot, this is the bread you ate and the wine you drank in your former owner’s reign.” -“Give it to me?”, he will say to you. -“I will not give it to you”, you will reply. -“Give me a little, if nothing else!” he will again say to you. -And then you will give him the bread soaked in wine, and when he is drunk, you will seize him; and don’t you worry, it will happen what needs to happen. I must warn you that the Giant, when he has his eyes open, is sleeping, and if he has his eyes closed, he is awake.
Gallarín left for the castle and found the Giant there with his eyes open; he went on tiptoe past the Giant so as to not wake him up, and got to where the Parrot was, to whom he showed the bread and wine that he was carrying.
Look, Little Parrot, this wine is what you used to drink and this bread is what you used to eat before, in the reign of your former owner.
Aye! How delicious they are! Will you give them to me?
No, I’m not going to give them to you.
Give me just a little, if only so I can have a taste.
Then Gallarín dipped a piece of bread in the wine, which was very old, and handed it over to the Parrot, who ate it eagerly; and he fed him more and more until the bread and wine were gone and the Parrot was completely drunk. Then Gallarín grabbed him and fled; but as soon as the Parrot realized that he was being seized, he began to scream wildly:
Owner! Owner! They are taking me away!
The Giant woke up from the noise, grabbed Gallarín and tied his hands and feet to a post in the last courtyard of the castle, so as to eat him later on.
The Giant was overjoyed at having caught Gallarín, so he went out to invite another giant, his friend, “to [come and] eat a tender lamb,” -or so he told him.
While the Giant was away, his wife was preparing the stove in which they were going to cook poor Gallarín, and with an ax she began to split firewood to light up the fire. Gallarín, not at all calm, watched how the wife toiled to cut a thick trunk that was too hard, and suddenly an idea occurred to him and he said:
It gives me no pleasure, ma’am, to see you working so hard! If you’d let go of my hands, I’d help you split the firewood.
The Giant’s wife believed him, freed his hands and handed him the ax.
Bring the trunk closer to me, because I can’t get to it as I am now with my feet being tied down.
The Giant’s wife brought the tree trunk close to him.
Now hold it tight for me so it won’t move.
And as soon as the wife bent down to hold the tree trunk tight, my friend Gallarín dealt her such a ferocious blow to the neck that left her lying dead. With the same ax he cut off the rope which she had tied his feet, the immediately carved her up and threw her into the pot, which was boiling with the potatoes, corn, beans, pumpkin squash, garlic and onions; afterwards he took the head and arranged it on the bed that she slept in, leaving her braids hanging, and in place of the body he placed a pillow beneath the sheets, grabbed the Parrot and shot off at full speed.
When the two giants arrived, they went [directly] to the last courtyard.
How delicious this stew must be, my friend! Don’t you smell the aroma coming from the pot?
How can I not, my friend! One must be licking his mustaches right now!
And Micaela, where would she be?
He went to search for her and saw that she was lying in bed.
Poor Micaela! How she must have worked, sleeping in bed now due to how tired she was. Let us eat and save her portion for her; we’ll let her rest. -And they went away and began to eat.
D*mn, this is one delicious stew! as the little lamb was so tender, how could it not turn out delicious!
And the Giant put the ladle in the pot for the fifth time and served himself a piece of lamb and passed another piece to his friend. The other giant observed the piece of meat that he had just been served with and became all afraid, exclaiming thus…
Friend! you invited me to come eat a young lamb and it turns out that we we are eating is a sheep! look at this mark! -and he showed him the piece that he had in his hand.
What is this?… -the Giant shouted out- and he ran off like a condemned man to see his wife, because a terrible suspicion had crossed his mind.
He got to his wife’s bed, threw the sheets on the floor and saw only Micaela’s head and a pillow. The Giant, who loved his wife dearly, began to shriek and scream:
Ah, Gallarín you rogue!
My daughters you murdered,
and my three hats you robbed!
My wife you slaughtered
and my Parrot is lost!
Ah, you despicable bastard!
I’ll devour you when caught!
Gallarín arrived at the palace and handed the Parrot to the King, who was overjoyed on seeing this marvelous bird [back] in his possession, which had once been his and had been snatched away from him by the Giant.
Some time passed by, and Juan and Pedro, who were boiling with envy on seeing the Princess’s predilection for Gallarín, returned to see the King and told him:
Does Your Majesty know that your turkey keeper Gallarín had said that as he had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and stole the Divining Parrot from him, he is [also] capable of taking the Horse with the golden bells from him, which is being kept under seven layers of locks.
Gallarín said that?
Yes sir, that’s what he said.
The King sent for Gallarín.
Gallarín, you said that just as you had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and took back the Divining Parrot, you are capable of bringing me the Horse with the golden bells, which the Giant is keeping under seven layers of lock?
No sir, I did not say such a thing.
Yes you did; and if you don’t bring it to me, I’ll cut off your head.
Gallarín went away sad and crestfallen, and sat crying bitterly on a rock that was in the back of the garden. At that moment the Princess passed by the very same place.
Why are you crying, Gallarín?
How can I not cry, my Princess, when my brothers, who are wishing for my death, had gone to the King and told him that I said just as I had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and stole back the Divining Parrot, I am capable of bringing back the Horse with the golden bells, which he is keeping under seven layers of lock!
Don’t you worry about a thing, Gallarín; just go ahead and you will do just as well as you have done previously. Take this bit of cotton and this little magical sword; touch the tip of the sword on the lock of each door and all seven would open as soon as you touch them. Then you’ll approach the horse, stuff the seven golden bells with cotton so they will not make any sound and secure the cotton with twines so it does not come off; then you will put on the spurs that you will find hanging behind the seventh door; immediately you [should] take off the saddle on the horse, ride on it bareback, spur it on with all your strength and the horse will leave the castle at full speed. But don’t forget to look first to see if the Giant is sleeping, and you already know that he sleeps when he has his eyes open, and is awake when he has them closed.
Gallarín arrived at the castle while the Giant was sleeping, so he was able to do everything the Princess had instructed without any difficulty, although he felt a crazy desire to ride [the horse] back using the saddle [already mounted on it], which [, we must say,] was very stylish: but, luckily for him, he left it off and rode the horse bareback for his return.
The Giant came to realize the theft [of his horse] when Gallarín had left the circle of marvelous plants, and being unable to do anything else, he began to scream out wildly:
Ah, Gallarín you rogue!
My daughters you murdered,
and my three hats you robbed!
My wife you slaughtered
and my Parrot is lost!
And now my Horse you stole
Together with bells made of gold!
Ah, you despicable bastard!
I’ll devour you when caught!
The Horse took off at full speed and did not stop until it reached the very steps of the throne with its rider.
Great was the King’s joy on seeing the Horse with the golden bells and he wanted to reward Gallarín, but the latter told him that he was content as the caretaker of his turkeys for the time being, and that in due time he would ask for the reward which he believed was befitting him.
Time never stopped in its march and continued to pass by, and a month had not yet gone by when Juan and Pedro, whose envy grew with [successive] triumphs of Gallarín, hatched up [yet] another lie against the brother who had saved them from death, for that is how the Devil awards those who serve him well; and they presented themselves to the King.
Sir -they said to him- Your Majesty should know that your turkey keeper Gallarín had said that as he had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and stole the Divining Parrot and the Horse with the golden bells from him, he is [also] capable of capturing and delivering the Giant himself.
Gallarín had said that?
Yes, sir; he said that.
Ah! how good it’d be if he brings back the Giant as prisoner, for the Giant is the only enemy that I have, and once free from that menace, I will rule [the kingdom] in peace! Tell Gallarín to come.
Poor Gallarín came [to the King].
What gives you the confidence to say that just as you had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and stole the Divining Parrot and the Horse with the golden bells from him, you are capable of delivering the Giant himself as prisoner to me?
No sir, I did not say such a thing.
Yes you did say it; and if you don’t bring him to me, I’ll cut off your head.
Gallarín left in great distress due to the King’s demand and he went to sit at the back of the garden, at the same time which the Princess was passing by.
Why are you crying, Gallarín?
How can I not cry, my Princess, when the King, instigated by my brothers, who are wishing for my death, has told me just as I had killed the Giant’s three daughters, brought back the three hats, killed his wife and stole the Divining Parrot and the Horse with the golden bells, that I was also capable of [capturing and] delivering the Giant himself as prisoner!
Don’t you worry about a thing, Gallarín, for in this task you will do just as well as you have done previously. Ask the King, my father, to make a large iron cage for you, one with thick [, sturdy] bars, with wheels and two compartments: one from which you will control the carriage, and the other which will be completely independent [from the first], with a door that you can close by means of a spring and in which you will carry all kinds of merchandise. You will disguise yourself as a French merchant and will pass in front of the castle offering your goods. The Giant will come out, will want to buy some of the items that you are selling, when you will [then] have him come into the compartment to choose, and as soon as he is inside, you will use the spring to close the door and bring him back without paying attention to his screams and curses.
Gallarín followed exactly what the Princess had advised him to do. The King sent orders to make the cage for him, and once it was delivered, he arranged to have in the compartment that the Giant would occupy a good number of valuable fabrics and truly strange objects of ornament, and the cart was pulled by ten yokes of oxen which Gallarín steered from the compartment assigned to him. He then headed to the Giant’s castle, adorning his face with long mustaches and a handsome, fake chin, proclaiming with a feigned French accent: -“Quelq chos de tiend! necesit quelq chos de tiend!” The Giant, who was standing by the window, bade him to stop and went down to buy some things from him. Gallarín invited him to enter [the compartment] to choose more to his liking, and the Giant, without the slightest suspicion, agreed, and Gallarín, as soon as he saw him entered, pulled the spring and the the door slammed shut. The Giant, on seeing himself being trapped, bellowed like a wounded bull and with his big hands he grabbed the bars and shook them in an effort to break free, but all was for nought.
[Nguyen: I’m not sure what he meant by the “quelq chos…”. Perhaps it is something along the line of “choose something from the store! you need these items from the store!”]
Hours later, Gallarín triumphantly entered the city with the caged Giant, and it was a sight to see how the people crowded the streets cheering for our hero, who, with the capture of the Giant, had freed the kingdom from its most terrible enemy.
Gallarín, before arriving at the palace, put on one of the hats belonging to the Giant’s daughters in reverse, and immediately he was transformed into an elegant young man, but always retaining his good looks and charming features.
The King and the Princess, who were waiting for him, rose from their seats to receive him.
I believe, Gallarín -the Monarch said- that the time has come for you to ask for the reward of your feats.
The Giant’s daughters you slew,
The three hats you stole!
His wife you slaughtered
And his Parrot you pilfered!
Then you brought back the Horse
With golden bells jingling forth,
And finally, to top it all off, now you have captured and delivered the Giant himself as prisoner. Ask me whatever you want, and if it is within my power, I will grant it to you.
Sir -replied Gallarín- may I be so bold in expressing my aspirations to Your Highness, but if I dare to bring them up it is because I see myself encouraged by someone who is very dear to Your Majesty; -and he looked at the Princess, who was signaling to him to cast aside all his fear and to speak immediately and clearly.
And what is it that you want, Gallarín? If your aspirations are great, also great are the tasks that you have undertaken; go on and tell me about them, speak up without fear.
Your Majesty, what I seek is what you love most: I ask for the hand of your daughter.
The King, who thought that Gallarín would ask him for riches and honors, or perhaps a noble title in the kingdom, but on hearing his petition, his heart skipped a beat and he almost fell from the throne.
But how dare you look up so high? think for a moment on who you are and who my daughter is, measure the distance between the two of you and see if such a union is possible!
It is true, Your Majesty, that a princess should only marry a prince at a minimum; but it is in Your Majesty’s hands to make me a prince, and then neither she would lower herself nor I would over-reach myself when we get married, for we will then be equals.
The Princess could not contain herself and clapped her hands, exclaiming thus:
Good, Gallarín, very good! -With which she unexpectedly made known her feelings towards her suitor, so the King had no choice but to agree to the wishes of the two youngsters.
Gallarín was made a prince and married the Princess amid the enthusiasm of all the citizens, who loved and respected them. And they were happy during their long life [together], as they were deservedly so for their virtues.
—– VOCABULARY —–
Antojo – (strong desire) craving; (sudden desire) whim; (mark on skin) birthmark
Antojarse – (to have a strong desire for) to feel like, to have a craving for, to want; (to appear to be) to seem
Alojamiento – (place to stay) accommodations, lodging, lodgings
Con sendos – with, with a, with two, each with a, with individual
Gorro – (clothing) hat, cap, bonnet (for babies)
De puntillas – on tiptoes, on the tips of one’s toes; tiptoe; tiptoeing; on tiptoe; tiptoe around
Cazuela – (earthenware dish) casserole dish; (metal pan) saucepan, pot; (culinary) stew, casserole
Roncar – (to breathe heavily while asleep) to snore; (to be domineering) (Chile) to be bossy
Aclarar – (to make clear) to clarify, to explain, to make clear, to clear up; (to dilute) to thin; (to decrease the density of) to clear; (to wash) (Spain) to rinse; (to bleach) to lighten, to make lighter; (to dissipate) to clear, to clear up; (to grow light) to get light, to dawn
Impresión – (feeling) impression; (opinion) view; (distress) shock; (mark) impression, imprint
Al revés – (inverted) upside down; (with the inner part on the outside) inside out; (with the front facing to the back) backward, back to front; (the opposite way around) the other way around, reverse
Prendarse – (to become smitten; used with “de”) to fall in love, to be captivated, to be enchanted
Replicar – (to say brusquely) to retort; (to counter) to respond to; (to respond) to reply; (to talk back) to argue, to answer back
Sopear – (Chile) (Mexico) to dip, to dunk
Curado – (culinary) cured; (prepared) tanned; (intoxicated) drunk
Agarrar – (to grasp with the hands) to grab, to take, to take hold of, to grip (with force), to grasp (with force), to seize (by force), to catch (a projectile), to hold on to, to hold; (to capture) to catch; (to take possession of) to get hold of; (to understand) to get; (to become sick with) to catch; (to surprise) to catch
Mojar – (to cover with liquid) to get wet, to wet, to dampen, to moisten, to drench, to soak; (to submerge) to dip, to dunk; (to offer money or inducement) to bribe; (to celebrate) to celebrate with a drink; (to urinate in) to wet
Añejo – (ripe) mature, aged; (ancient) old; (musty) stale
Ansias – (medicine) (Colombia) (Venezuela) nausea
Ansia – (strong desire) yearning, longing, thirst, lust; (nervousness) anxiety; (dread) fear; (angst) anguish; (gluttony)
Borracho – (intoxicated) drunk; (feeling) drunk
Desaforadamente – wildly, outrageously, like crazy
Asir – (to seize) to grab, to take hold of, to grasp
Asirse – (to seize) to grab hold of, to cling, to grab
Amarrar – (to fasten) to tie, to tie up, to moor (nautical); (to secure) to clinch, to tie up
Amarrarse – (to lace) to tie
Poste – (upright structure) post, stake, pole (cylindrical); (sports) post, upright, goalpost
Fondo – (lowest part) bottom, bed (of a river or stream); (backdrop) background; (farthest part) back (room), end (alley, street); (essence) heart, bottom; (monetary organization) fund; (catalog) collection; (dimension) depth; (fitness) stamina
Siquiera – (if only) even if; (at least) at least; (in negative phrases) even
Sujetar – (to grasp) to hold; (to fix in place) to fasten, to hold in place; (to restrain) to hold down, to subdue, to conquer
Agacharse – (to lower oneself) to crouch down, to bend down, to duck, to squat; (to give in) to submit
Agachar – (to move down) to lower, to bend, to bow, to hang, to duck
Asestar – (to inflict) to deal, to deliver; (to shoot) to fire
Cogote – (anatomy) nape of the neck, scruff of the neck, back of the neck
Despresar – (Southern Cone) to carve, to cut up
Choclo – (botany) corn, maize; (kernels) corn, sweetcorn; (cob) corncob; (footwear) (Mexico) brogue, shoe; (lengthy discourse) (Argentina) screed
Poroto – (culinary) bean
Zapallo – (fruit) pumpkin
Ajo – garlic
Chape – (hairstyle) (Chile) braid, plait; (animal) (Chile) keyhold limpet
Almohada – (for bed) pillow
Cobija – (bedding) blanket; (clothing) shawl; (roof of palm leaves) (Caribbean) roof
Cobijas – (bedclothes) (Latin America) bedding
Chuparse – (to suction with the mouth) to suck; (to get thinner) to waste away; (to suffer) to put up with, to stomach
Chupar – (to suction with the mouth) to suck; (to touch with the tongue) to lick; (to smoke) to puff on, to puff at, to suck on; (to take in) to absorb, to suck up, to soak up; (to take) to bleed of; (to drink alcohol) to drink
Bigotes – (facial hair) mustache; (animal anatomy) whisker, feeler (shrimp); (fantastic; used with “de”) (Spain) wonderful
Guardar – (to place) to put away, to put; (to reserve) to save, to keep, to hold, to put aside; (to conserve) to keep, to hang on to, to store; (computing) to save; (to maintain) to keep, to have, to bear; (to watch over) to guard, to protect; (to comply) to observe; (to demonstrate) to show
Cucharón – (culinary) ladle
Presa – (culinary) (S.A.) piece (of chicken); (hunted animal) prey (of a predator), catch (of a hunter); (structure that controls water flow) dam, weir; (incarcerated) imprisoned; (seized by; used with “de”) gripped by
Entrañablemente – fondly, deeply, dearly
Alarido – (cry) shriek, howl, yell
Arrebatar – (to take violently) to snatch; (to stir)to captivate
Arrebatarse – (to get annoyed) to become furious, to get worked up, to get carried away; (culinary) to burn on the outside
Predilección – predilection; preference
Campanilla – (hollow metal instrument) bell, small bell, handbell (musical instrument); (anatomy) uvula; (botany) bellflower, campanula
Amargamente – bitterly
Chisme – (idle talk) gossip, piece of gossip, rumor; (small item) thing, thingy, thingamajig, jawn
Espadita – small sword
Chapa – (material) sheet, plate (piece of metal), panel (flat piece of wood), veneer (thin layer of wood or plastic); (automobile) bodywork; (insignia) badge; (decoration) badge; (bottle lid) cap, top; (door fastener) (Latin America) lock
Cáñamo – (botany) hemp; (string) (Latin America) hemp rope, twine; (material) hemp cloth
Desprender – (to remove something attached) to detach; (to emit) to give off
Desprenderse – (to be removed) to come off, to become detached, to come away; (to dispose of) to get rid of; (to distance oneself); (to be concluded)
Espuela – (horseback riding) spur; (business) (Latin America) skill in business, acumen
Desaforadamente – wildly, outrageously, like crazy (phrase)
Gradas – (staircase) flight of stairs; (set of seats) stands, terraces
Grada – (rung of a staircase) step, stair; (tier of seats) row; (religious) predella; (nautical) slip, slipway; (agriculture) harrow
Galardón – (honor) award, prize; (recompense) reward
Fraguar – (metallurgy) to forge; (to fabricate) to conceive, to think up, to hatch; (to become hard) to harden, to set
Sumamente – (greatly) extremely, exceedingly, highly
Fierro – (metal) iron; (instrument) tool; (weapon) gun (firearm), shooter (firearm), iron bar (length of metal), knife (blade); (cent) penny, dime; (coins) change
Ruedas – wheels
Resorte – (coil) spring; (stretchy material) elastic; (mechanism) means, influence; (burden) concern, responsibility
Mercadería – (commerce) merchandise, goods
Arreglar – (to restore) to fix, to repair, to mend; (to organize) to arrange; (to clean) to tidy, to tidy up; (to solve) to settle, to sort out; (to agree) to arrange; (music) to arrange
Yunta – (pair of animals) yoke, team; (couple of people) pair, couple; (accessory) cufflink; (good friend) close friend
Dirigir – (to be in charge of) to manage (business), to run (business), to lead (organization), to oversee (activity, operation); (to guide) to direct (film, show), to conduct (musical group); (education) to supervise; (to guide a vehicle) to steer (car, ship); (to write an address) to address; (to aim) to direct
Corresponder – (to give in return) to repay, to return; (to be incumbent) to concern, to be one’s job, to be for one to; (to requite love) to love back, to return one’s love, to feel the same way; (to befit) to be fitting, to be right, to be appropriate; (to be equivalent to) to correspond to (mathematics); (to receive) to get, to go to
Pera – (fruit) pear; (illuminating device) light bulb; (electronics) switch
Postiza – dentures, denture, false, fake, artificial
Machote – (pejorative) (rowdy) tough; (rowdy person) tough guy, macho man, butch lady
Manaza – (hand) filthy hand, dirty hand, big hand; (uncoordinated person) clumsy oaf, clumsy idiot
Barrote – (rod) bar; (carpentry) rung, crosspiece
Estremecer – (to make tremble) to shake (a building or object), to make shudder (a person); (to tremble) to shudder (a person)
Agolpar – to cram
Facciones – (looks) features
Hazaña – (achievement) feat, exploit, deed
Osadía – (courageousness) boldness, daring; (imprudence) audacity, temerity
Pretensión – (ambition) aspiration; (intention) aim; (legal) claim
Alentado – (inspired) encouraged; (recovered) better; (intelligent) (Chile) bright
Desechar – (to eliminate) to throw away, to throw out, to get rid of, to discard; (to decline) to reject, to cast aside; (to abandon) to drop
Acometer – (to assault) to attack, to charge against; (to overwhelm) to overcome, to take hold of, to seize, to assail (doubts); (to take on) to undertake, to tackle
Tal vez – (possibly) maybe, perhaps, may, may wish
Meditar – (to practice meditation) to meditate; (to consider) to ponder, to meditate on, to think about, to think out
Rebajar – (to decrease an amount) to reduce, to bring the price down, to lower, to cut; (to decrease the time) to reduce (sentence), to lower (age); (to decrease the height) to lower (land), to depress (an arc); (to weaken) to dilute, to thin (paint), to tone down (a color), to cut (a drug); (to reduce weight) to lose; (to lower in rank) to relegate; (to put down) to humilate; (military) to exempt
Rebajarse – (to humiliate oneself) to lower oneself, to humble oneself, to stoop; (to have cut in layers) to layer; (military) to be exempt
Enaltecer – to praise, to extoll, to enhance
Impensadamente – unexpectedly; at random; by chance; thoughtlessly