Depuis deux ans, c’est . . . commandature. Notice

NOTES

that the first clause is used for emphasis and may be omitted in translation; (2) that the construction of the second is inverted because of the many subjects; (3) that the past participle venues agréés in gender with the first subject nouvelles , because it suins up the others; (4) that the word commandature is not French, but intended for the German word Kommandanture , military quarters. Translate as if the text were as follows: Depuis (For) deux ans , toutes les mauvaises nouvelles ( les batailles perdues , les réquisitions , les ordres de la commandature) nous sont venues de là.

4. 1. The adverb encore has various meanings according to the context. Translate here: “ what is the matter now? ”

5. Tu y arriveras ... F is here redundant and anticipâtes à ton école. Omit in translation. This construction is somewhat colloquial in French and is very common in Daudet’s short stories. This frequency may be explained by the fact that Daudet was an exubérant Southerner who knew Provençal, a language in which such construction is expected. Cf. the Spanish language.

6. toujours usually means always; here, “ anyhow ”. — ton école, “ that school of yours.” The use of ton expresses the feeling of disgust and scorn experienced by the patriotic blacksmith while reading the poster announcing the substitution of the German language for the French.

8. la . . . cour de M. Hamel. In many French villages the living quarters of the schoolmaster or schoolmistress are adjoining to or above the schoolroom. We shall see on page 9, line 14, that Mr. Hamel and his sister were living upstairs.

9. il se faisait un grand tapage, an impersonal construction for un grand tapage se faisait. Notice the reflexive form instead of the passive voice in English.