le moindre jour

19:22 Jun 9, 2013 

Okay Tony, but from personal experience (oh dear) when one wishes to be 'skin to skin' the slightest space leaves a cold draught, which is not nice - so I stick to my idea howling tempest or not ;-)

19:14 Jun 9, 2013 

Not too sure, maybe that's extrapolating too far? For all we know, it might be blowing a howling gale... Or the stench of the Minotaur's hot breath may be wafting over him...
I think the idea is that he was huddled up for comfort/warmth, but perhaps rather 'needily' closer than was strictly necessary...

19:11 Jun 9, 2013 

Good thinking Tony, so maybe the 'breeze' idea as in cold air against hot skin?

19:08 Jun 9, 2013 

No doubt about it; but do also remember that if they are lying down to sleep, then it may well be night, and even if the pun works in FR, it doesn't in EN. Here, I think the spatial sense is more important, and is the one that needs to be rendered in EN as a priority.

Surely the idea is simply 'huddled up as close as possible'? — whence the author's sexual idea creeping in.

19:08 Jun 9, 2013 

slightest breeze?

19:06 Jun 9, 2013 

not the least breathe of air? glimmer of light, ....

19:04 Jun 9, 2013 

Tony, I agree, but remember that in French there is the idea of 'jour' being 'space' but also 'light' I think we are dealing with a literary 'jeu de mots' at the end of the day being closely moulded together thus preventing light or space?

19:04 Jun 9, 2013 

Yes, a "not a chink of daylight" or some such!

19:02 Jun 9, 2013 

space

I think this is not so much about light, but the idea of 'jour' as being '(clear) space', a 'gap' — so he wanted to get every inch of his body in close contact with the M., with no gaps or spaces.

18:58 Jun 9, 2013 

Thanks Lori. Yes, that fits well with what follows! "daylight" rather than "day".

18:56 Jun 9, 2013 

Something like being entirely protected, shrouded by the
Minotaur's body, with no parts of his body showing