2. Ernest
Hemingway
1899-1961
Oneof themost influential
American writersof the
twentieth century.
American author and journalist.
Hiswide-ranging travelsare
reflected in his
work.
5. It wasvery lateand
everyonehad left thecafe
except an old man who sat in
theshadow theleavesof the
treemadeagainst theelectric
light. In theday timethe
street wasdusty, but at night
thedew settled thedust and
theold man liked to sit late
becausehewasdeaf and now
at night it wasquiet and he
felt thedifference.
Part
1
Part
1
6. Thetwo waitersinsidethe
cafeknew that theold man
wasalittledrunk, and
whilehewasagood client
they knew that if hebecame
too drunk hewould leave
without paying, so they
kept watch on him.
Part
1
Part
1
7. Part
1
Part
1
"Last week hetried to commit
suicide," onewaiter said.
"Why?"
"Hewasin despair."
"What about?"
"Nothing."
"How do you know it was
nothing?"
"Hehasplenty of money."
8. They sat together at atable
that wascloseagainst the
wall near thedoor of thecafe
and looked at theterrace
wherethetableswereall
empty except wheretheold
man sat in theshadow of the
leavesof thetreethat moved
slightly in thewind.
Part
1
Part
1
9. A girl and asoldier went by in
thestreet. Thestreet light shone
on thebrassnumber on his
collar. Thegirl woreno head
covering and hurried besidehim.
"Theguard will pick him up,"
onewaiter said.
"What doesit matter if hegets
what he'safter?"
"Hehad better get off thestreet
now. Theguard will get him.
They went by fiveminutesago.“
Part
1
Part
1
10. Part
2
Part
2 Theold man sitting in the
shadow rapped on hissaucer
with hisglass. Theyounger
waiter went over to him.
“What do you want?”
Theold man looked at him.
“Another brandy,” hesaid.
“You‘ll bedrunk,” thewaiter
said. Theold man looked at
him. Thewaiter went away.
11. Part
2
Part
2
“He’ll stay all night,” hesaid
to hiscolleague. “I‘m sleepy
now. I never get into bed
beforethreeo’clock. Heshould
havekilled himself last week.”
Thewaiter took thebrandy
bottleand another saucer from
thecounter insidethecafeand
marched out to theold man‘s
table. Heput down thesaucer
and poured theglassfull of
brandy.
12. Part
2
Part
2
“You should havekilled
yourself last week,” hesaid to
thedeaf man. Theold man
motioned with hisfinger. “A
littlemore,” hesaid. Thewaiter
poured on into theglassso that
thebrandy slopped over and
ran down thestem into thetop
saucer of thepile.“Thank you,”
theold man said. Thewaiter
took thebottleback insidethe
cafe. Hesat down at thetable
with hiscolleagueagain.
13. “He‘sdrunk now,” hesaid.
“He’sdrunk every night.”
“What did hewant to kill
himself for?”
“How should I know.”
“How did hedo it?”
“Hehung himself with arope.“
Part
3
Part
3
14. Part
3
Part
3
"Who cut him down?"
"Hisniece."
"Why did they do it?"
"Fear for hissoul."
"How much money hashegot?"
"He'sgot plenty."
"Hemust beeighty yearsold."
"Anyway I should say hewas
eighty."
15. Part
4
Part
4
“I wish hewould go home. I never
get to bed beforethreeo‘clock.
What kind of hour isthat to go to
bed?”
“Hestaysup becausehelikesit.”
“He’slonely. I‘m not lonely. I
haveawifewaiting in bed for me.”
“Hehad awifeoncetoo.”
“A wifewould beno good to him
now.”
“You can’t tell. Hemight bebetter
with awife.”
16. Part
4
Part
4
“Hisniecelooksafter him.”
“I know. You said shecut him
down.”
“I wouldn‘t want to bethat old.
An old man isanasty thing.”
“Not always. Thisold man is
clean. Hedrinkswithout spilling.
Even now, drunk. Look at him.”
“I don’t want to look at him. I
wish hewould go home. Hehas
no regard for thosewho must
work.“
17. Part
5
Part
5
Theold man looked from his
glassacrossthesquare, then
over at thewaiters.
"Another brandy," hesaid,
pointing to hisglass. The
waiter who wasin ahurry
cameover.
"Finished," hesaid, speaking
with that omission of syntax
stupid peopleemploy when
talking to drunken peopleor
foreigners. "No moretonight.
Closenow."
18. "Another," said theold man.
"No. Finished." Thewaiter wiped
theedgeof thetablewith atowel
and shook hishead.
Theold man stood up, slowly
counted thesaucers, took aleather
coin pursefrom hispocket and
paid for thedrinks, leaving half a
pesetatip.
Thewaiter watched him go
down thestreet, avery old man
walking unsteadily but with
dignity.
Part
5
Part
5
19. Part
6
Part
6
“Why didn‘t you let him stay and
drink?” theunhurried waiter asked.
They wereputting up theshutters.
“It isnot half-past two.”
“I want to go hometo bed.”
“What isan hour?”
“Moreto methan to him.”
“An hour isthesame.”
“You talk likean old man yourself.
Hecan buy abottleand drink at
home.”
“It’snot thesame.”
20. Part
6
Part
6
“No, it isnot,” agreed thewaiter
with awife. Hedid not wish to be
unjust. Hewasonly in ahurry.
“And you?You haveno fear of
going homebeforeyour usual
hour?”
“Areyou trying to insult me?”
“No, hombre, only to makea
joke.”
“No,” thewaiter who wasin a
hurry said, rising from pulling
down themetal shutters. “I have
confidence. I am all confidence.“
21. Part
7
Part
7
"You haveyouth, confidence, and a
job," theolder waiter said."You
haveeverything."
"And what do you lack?"
"Everything but work."
"You haveeverything I have."
"No. I havenever had confidence
and I am not young."
"Comeon. Stop talking nonsense
and lock up.“
22. Part
7
Part
7
"I am of thosewho liketo stay late
at thecafe," theolder waiter said.
"With all thosewho do not want to
go to bed. With all thosewho need
alight for thenight."
"I want to go homeand into bed."
"Weareof two different kinds," the
older waiter said. Hewasnow
dressed to go home. "It isnot only
aquestion of youth and confidence
although thosethingsarevery
beautiful. Each night I am reluctant
to closeup becausetheremay be
someonewho needsthecafe."
23. Part
7
Part
7
"Hombre, therearebodegas
open all night long."
"You do not understand. This
isaclean and pleasant cafe. It
iswell lighted. Thelight is
very good and also, now, there
areshadowsof theleaves."
"Good night," said theyounger
waiter.
"Good night," theother said.
24. Part
8
Part
8 Turning off theelectric light he
continued theconversation
with himself, It wasthelight of
coursebut it isnecessary that
theplacebeclean and pleasant.
You do not want music.
Certainly you do not want
music. Nor can you stand
beforeabar with dignity
although that isall that is
provided for thesehours.
25. What did hefear?It wasnot a
fear or dread, It wasanothing
that heknew too well. It was
all anothing and aman wasa
nothing too. It wasonly that
and light wasall it needed and
acertain cleannessand order.
Somelived in it and never felt
it but heknew it all wasnada y
pues nada y nada y pues nada.
Part
8
Part
8
26. Our nada who art in nada,
nada bethy name.
thy kingdom nada,
thy will benada in nada
asit isin nada.
Giveusthisnada our daily
nada,
and nada usour nada,
aswenada our nadas
and nada usnot into nada
but deliver usfrom nada; pues
nada.
Part
8
Part
8
The Lord’s
Prayer
The Lord’s
Prayer
27. Hail nothing full of nothing,
nothing iswith thee. He
smiled and stood beforea
bar with ashining steam
pressurecoffeemachine.
Part
8
Part
8
28. Part
9
Part
9
"What'syours?" asked the
barman.
"Nada."
"Otro lo co mas," said thebarman
and turned away.
"A littlecup," said thewaiter.
Thebarman poured it for him.
"Thelight isvery bright and
pleasant but thebar is
unpolished,” thewaiter said.
29. Part
9
Part
9
Thebarman looked at him but did
not answer. It wastoo lateat
night for conversation.
"You want another co pita?" the
barman asked.
"No, thank you," said thewaiter
and went out. Hedisliked bars
and bodegas. A clean, well-
lighted cafewasavery different
thing. Now, without thinking
further, hewould go hometo his
room. Hewould liein thebed and
finally, with daylight, hewould
go to sleep. After all, hesaid to
himself, it'sprobably only
insomnia. Many must haveit.
