m'en imposent, E.B

1. 10. Charles XII. The story referred to is told by Voltaire. After the disastrous battle of Pultowa, Charles XII. took refuge at Bender in the Turkish dominions. He there did his best to embroil the Porte with the Czar. As it happened, war did break out between the two powers, but after a few days' campaign on the Pruth, peace was

concluded. Charles hurried from Bender to the scene of action, swam the Pruth, and presenting himself to the Grand Vizier, reproached him with not having taken the Czar prisoner. The Turk gave an evasive answer; Charles, in a passion, flung himself down on the sofa, kicked at the vizier so as to entangle his foot in his robe, and tore it with his spurs.

1. 13. sa voix tonnante. Compare the epithet fulminant, or the quotation in the note to p. 23, 1. 5.

1. 14. Le même calme. Sentences without a verb are much commoner in French than in English.