la mort de V Empereur, 5 May

1. 26. instances, 'entreaties.' In this sense it is used almost exclusively in the plural. In the singular it is a legal term, like our 'plea,' especially in such phrases as juge de première instance, the first judge before whom a case is tried, as distinguished from a higher court. It is practically the noun answering to insister.

1. 38. ses yeux. This is a clear case for the use of the possessive adjective rather than the article. Gloomy, squinting eyes were a known characteristic of Poirier ; had les been put for ses, it would have meant that his eyes on this occasion were gloomy and squinting.

Page 56.

1. 11. un autre état, as De Vigny himself gave up the army for literature.

1. 13. tout est calme, a touch of 'tragic irony.' Renaud was to receive his death-wound next day.

1. 20. Polybe (B.C. 204 — 122 about). Polybius was a Greek who played an important part in the Achaean league. With many of his countrymen, he was compelled to leave his country in B.c. 167. An acquaintance with ^îmilius Paulus or his sons secured him the privilege of residing in their house in Rome. He became a devoted friend of the one who, by adoption, took the name of Scipio Africanus (Minor), and was a conspicuous member of the remarkable society known as the Scipionic circle. His history, covering the period from 220 to 146, was written mainly to show how Rome conquered the world, and contains the best information we possess as to the Roman military system.

i2o LA CANNE DE JONC.

1. 21. Folard (1669 — 1752), a famous writer on military subjects. Among his works are copious notes on Polybius. Frederic the Great admired him sufficiently to publish an abridged edition of his works.

Vauban (1633 — 1707) was Louis XIV.'s great engineer officer. Before his time, in a siege of a fortress, the advantage was generally on the side of the defence ; Vauban so perfected the methods of attack as to put the advantage distinctly on the side of the assailants.

1. 22. la Grande-Armée, i.e. the army which invaded Russia in 18 \i.

1. 23. il y a longtemps, E.B. 298. Literally, ' there is a long time during which I chat no longer (have ceased to chat).'

L 32. gardez-moi. Ethic dative, E.B. 149.