I translated to English a little story of one of the biggest names in Brazilian literature, is a text from 1878, of Machado de Assis. Probably have some mistakes in English. And it will not be as interesting as in Portuguese for being impossible to translate the rhymes and accents, but I hope you enjoy: O Bote do Rapé(The Snuff Tin) TOMÉ: I’m sending to the city Chico or José. ELISA: To… ? TOMÉ: To buy a snuff tin. ELISA: I’ll go. TOMÉ: You? ELISA: Yeah, I need to choose one cambric, The income, grosgrain and fabric ribbons for the skirt, Five roses from China in the Malte House, A pair of gloves, a peignoir and a plissé, See the blue dress and a veil … What else? Nothing more. TOMÉ (laughing): Just say you’ll get Everything they have at the Ouvidor street… I accept, my angel, this huge favor. ELISA: Nothing else? A hat? A cane? A morning coat? Take you a message to Dr. Burlamaque? Cigars? A book? Enjoy, Tomé! TOMÉ: Nothing, just need the snuff tin. ELISA: A snuff tin! Thou knowest that thy Elisa… TOMÉ: I’m sick and can not go to the street. This infernal asthma that haunts me… See? Better kill it off and die at once, Than live like this. And worse than that! Worse than asthma: My head is empty. ELISA: (Laughing) Oh! If it could be empty forever, and eventually, end up This so ugly addiction! Better if you smoke. There’s ugly addictions and elegant addictions. The cigar is a good mode, aromatize, influences In digestion, and even say that restores Peace to the heart and gives brighter aspect. TOMÉ: The snuff addiction is a circumspect addiction. Immediately indicates a man of reason; Have input in the palace, and reigns in the lounge. Governs the sacristy and enters the church. A good pinch airs the ideas. Dispels bad mood. How many times I am Able to bring down the whole house! I go To my holy snuff; open the box and take A thick pinch and without delay I aspire; With the handkerchief I shake the rest of the powder And only then I have the meekness of Jacob. ELISA: I do not doubt. TOMÉ: And more: even love increases With the snuff portion which receives the nostril. ELISA: Maybe you’re right, I think you’re more Loving now, I think you… TOMÉ: My flower, If you want to see me loving you, If you want to relive that old love. Go quickly. ELISA: Where is it? TOMÉ: In Casa do Real; Tell him to send me the usual brand. ELISA: Paulo Cordeiro, right? TOMÉ: Paulo Cordeiro. ELISA: To calm the cough one or two tablespoons TOMÉ: Of syrup? I’ll see. ELISA: Goodbye Tomé. TOMÉ: Do not forget. ELISA: I know: One tin of snuff. NOSE: I ask your grace, console me, inserting a little bit of tobacco. I’m fasting for three hours, and I feel weak, Nervous, impertinent, stupid. TOMÉ: An unhappy consoles another unhappy; I’m also a little upset. And I moan, like you, waiting for the pinch. NOSE: The nose without snuff is the soul without love. TOMÉ: Look, you can smell this little flower. NOSE: Flowers; Never! Ever! They say that the world has people who like to smell this unclean product. A nose that respects itself hates these scents. Other are the pleasures of nasal caves. Who first breathes that divine dust, Let the roses to the boy’s nose. TOMÉ: (To himself) I think this nose is quite sublime, Dignity, discretion, commitment and reflection. Respects up, not down to sniff essences, Eau de toilette and other things. NOSE: Come on, a pinch! TOMÉ: One moment, miserly! I go to sleep to see if I can calm down the nose. (Sleeps some time and wakes up) What a dream, ah! What time is it? THE CLOCK: (Ringing) One, two. TOMÉ: Two! And my Elisa’s walking in the streets. Poor woman! With all this hot weather. Seemed to me, I dont know, is she, is she, yes… This brisk pace… It is you, Elisa? ELISA: Finally! Come here; put this whole mess here. You can go. (Exits the shop assistant) How have you been? TOMÉ: The damn asthma Calmed a little after I sleep. ELISA: Let’s see everything I bought. TOMÉ: But first you rest. Look the wind at your back. Let’s go there, today the sun seems cruel. Let’s see what comes here in this paper. ELISA: Beware! is the hat. What did you think? TOMÉ: Excellent. Try it on. ELISA: (Puts her hat) Should fall slightly forward. Looks good? TOMÉ: I never saw a more dressy hat. ELISA: It’s funny this little blue flower. Look the cambric now, it is linen. I bought eight meters of lace. The best you can find. At Casa da Creten bought a peignoir. TOMÉ: (impatient) In Casa da Natté ELISA: Five roses from China. One, three, five. Are they pretty? TOMÉ: Graceful. ELISA: Bought couleur tilleul gloves, brown; Ten buttons; Look this grosgrain, that fabric! I don’t know if I will fit in the skirt of the dress. TOMÉ: You will. ELISA: I bought the fabric ribbons, a fichu, and this veil. And more, this hat. TOMÉ: You already showed the hat. ELISA: I have also been at Godinho, See the silk stockings and a linen dress. Not one, two, were two. TOMÉ: Two more dresses? ELISA: Two… I bought this hand fan and these hairpins. Then, I tried the dress on Clemence’s house. Ah! If you could see how it looked good on me! Just imagine… TOMÉ: I imagine, I imagine. Look, you make me dizzy Only with the description; I rather see it done. Will look better on your body. ELISA You will see, you will see that it is a masterpiece. NOSE: (Whispering) Sir, a pinch! TOMÉ: (Looking in the shopping box) But there’s still have some packages… ELISA: Soap; Now I’ll show you a beautiful sun hat It was the best of the Casa do Godinho. TOMÉ: Flowers, a peignoir, lace and veil. Gloves and grosgrain, fichu, hat, Two linen dresses, fabric ribbons for the skirt, Sun hat, two meters of chambray (Taking his fingers to his nose) Now let’s see Tomé’s purchase. ELISA: (Shouting) Oh Jesus! I forgot the snuff tin!
I knew she’d forget the snuff. Very amusing; good job @Rabelo.
“The nose without snuff is the soul without love” 
@Xander Yeah, poor Tomé… Thanks! 
“The nose without snuff is the soul without love”
I love this quote…
The Tomé’s usual brand, Paulo Cordeiro: 
“Imperial snuff factory Paulo Cordeiro”
I am studying Machado de Assis in the university. He was a great writer!