à nous deux, together

19. Le roi dit nous voulons. Sovereigns in addressing their people use the ist person plural. The phrase "je veux" (I will, I command) being a very strong expression of authority (see p. 13, 1. 24), children are usually corrected for using it, and the above phrase is often addressed to them on such occasions, to remind them that even kings refrain from saying je veux. To express the wish for a thing over which we hâve no control, the conditional must be used: "Je voudrais qu'il fît beau temps ".

24. son grand lever, the king's "levée", the morning audience at which the king received his court. There were also a " petit lever" and a "petit coucher", at which specially favoured courtiers were received.

26, 27. un pas . . . pas. Two identical words may rhyme if they are used with a différent meaning. Note, however, that the négative pas is the same word as the noun pas (passus, a step) and was used originally with verbs of motion. "Je ne marche pas", I do not walk a step.

28. penser, masculine noun, used in poetry, for la pensée. Page 25, 1. 3. Amboise. See " Historical Notes", 2. 9. le Rosier des guerres. A code of military and civil policy which Louis had compiled for the benefit of his son.

17. messire, a title originally given only to lords of the highest nobility : afterwards assumed by priests, doctors, lawyers, &c.

19. Mon oncle d'Orléans. See "Historical Notes", 12. Louis was not really his uncle, but what the French call "un oncle à la mode de Bretagne", i.e. his father's cousin, not brother.

Page 27, 1. 3. pour cause, for a good reason.

4. Dunois, &c. See " Historical Notes ", 14. il. Reprenons, i.e. notre lecture.