The Cask of Amontillado

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat.

He soportado lo mejor que he podido las mil injurias de Fortunato; pero cuando se atrevió a insultarme, juré vengarme. Usted, que conoce tan bien la naturaleza de mi alma, no supondrá, sin embargo, que pronuncié amenaza alguna.

_At length_ I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.

_Al fin_ me vengaría; este era un punto resuelto definitivamente, pero la misma definitividad con la que fue resuelto excluía la idea de riesgo. No solo debía castigar, sino castigar con impunidad.

A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

Un agravio no está reparado cuando la retribución alcanza a quien lo repara. Tampoco está reparado cuando el vengador no logra hacerse sentir como tal ante quien cometió el agravio.

It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile _now_ was at the thought of his immolation.

Debe entenderse que ni de palabra ni de obra había dado a Fortunato motivo para dudar de mi buena voluntad. Continué, como era mi costumbre, sonriéndole en la cara, y él no percibió que mi sonrisa _ahora_ era ante la idea de su inmolación.

He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit.

Tenía un punto débil, este Fortunato, aunque en otros aspectos era un hombre respetable e incluso temido. Se enorgullecía de su conocimiento en vinos. Pocos italianos poseen el verdadero espíritu de virtuoso.

For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity—to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian _millionaires_.

En su mayor parte, su entusiasmo es adoptado para adaptarse al momento y la oportunidad: para practicar la impostura con los _millonarios_ británicos y austriacos.

In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack—but in the matter of old wines he was sincere.

En pintura y gemología, Fortunato, como sus compatriotas, era un charlatán, pero en materia de vinos antiguos era sincero.

In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

En este aspecto, no difería materialmente de él: yo mismo era hábil en las cosechas italianas y compraba mucho siempre que podía.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley.

Era casi el anochecer, una tarde durante la locura suprema de la temporada de carnaval, cuando encontré a mi amigo. Me abordó con excesiva calidez, pues había estado bebiendo mucho. El hombre vestía un traje de arlequín.

He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.

Llevaba un traje ajustado de rayas de colores, y su cabeza estaba coronada por el gorro cónico con cascabeles. Me dio tanto gusto verlo que pensé que nunca terminaría de estrechar su mano.

I said to him: “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.”

Le dije: “Mi querido Fortunato, qué suerte encontrarlo. ¡Qué extraordinariamente bien se ve hoy! Pero he recibido una barrica de lo que pasa por amontillado, y tengo mis dudas”.

“How?” said he. “Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”

“¿Cómo?”, dijo él. “¿Amontillado? ¿Una barrica? ¡Imposible! ¡Y en pleno carnaval!”

“I have my doubts,” I replied; “and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.”

“Tengo mis dudas”, repliqué; “y fui tan tonto como para pagar el precio total del amontillado sin consultarlo con usted. No lo encontré por ninguna parte y temía perder la ganga”.

“Amontillado!”

“¡Amontillado!”