n’ai presque plus de, have hardly any other

Page 93. — 6. sous lesquels disparaissait la terre, entirely covering the earthen floor.

8. cadavres. In the action the French lost from 4,000 to 5,000 men, the Russians 7,000 to 8,000.

25. le général C. . . . Jean-Dominique, count Compans (1769- 1845), a general of Napoleon’s, who called him “ the terrible.” His fellow-soldiers in Italy called him “ le preneur de redoutes.” He commanded a division of infantry during the attack on the redoubt of Schwardino.

28. la redoute est prise. According to Ségur, on the day after the battle Napoleon reviewed the 61st regiment, which had heavy losses in the attack, so that it was reduced to two battalions. “ Where is the third battalion ? ” asked Napoleon. “ In the redoubt, sire,” replied the colonel.

LA VÉNUS D’lLLE

La Vénus d’llle was first published in 1837; it is based on a medieval legend, as well as on memories of a visit to Roussillon in 1834, which Mérimée undertook as Inspector of Historical Monuments. The idea of the statue was suggested by a visit he paid in 1835 to the Venus of Quinipily, in Brittany, a famous figure, discovered in the sixteenth century, which aroused much controversy.

Mérimée began the story with a quotation from The Liar, a dialogue by Lucian of Samosata (about 125-about 200), meaning:

“ ‘ I implore the favor of the statue,’ I cried; * may it be as merciful as it is mighty.’ ” Lucian is speaking of a statue which flogged a thief every night. Mérimée said this dialogue gave him a suggestion for the present story; in it Lucian describes the Discus Thrower, a famous statue of Myron (see page 102, line 8; page hi, line 31).

Page 94.-2. je distinguais, I was able to see.

7. Peyrehorade, name of a small town in the department of the Landes, on the road from Bayonne to Pau.

8. Si je le sais! Do I know it! This use of si involves an omission, ( You ask ) if I know it being the complete idea.

11. il marie son fils. Note that marier means only ‘ to perform a marriage ceremony ’ or (as here) ‘ to marry off, give in marriage.’ ‘ To marry ’ = 4 to take in marriage ’ is expressed by épouser (see below, line 18) or se marier avec. — à plus riche . . . encore, to a girl even richer . . .