ZIM
5 vêtu de, dressed in.
16 chapeau de feutre, felt hat. Feutre is from a medieval word fiUrum^
which is of German origin. ItaU /e2^o. Genn.i2to. 0,F, feltrtf which hecsLme feutre.
Page 63
18 courrait à perdre haleine, ran out of breath. Brachet deriyes haleine
from the Lat. anhelare. When the h is thus added at the beginning of French words, it is usually caused by the influence of some corresponding German word. This rule was first given by Prof. Max Millier. Littré derives luUeine from the verb halare with the suffix eno.
ss eUa n'avait pas le temps de craindre, she had not any time for feeling afraid.
Page 64
1 unpen tremblée, rather shaky.
8 Oh! si Je pouvais lire I This may be rendered by— if I might read it ! Probably this does not imply that Millotte was incapable of making out any handwriting ; from what follows later on, she seemed to be able to decipher a signature, though possibly not able to read through and understand the whole substance of a letter.
13 gu*yfaia-tu ? what are you doing here?
21 mémoire, the memory. Distinguish between mim4}ire (m.), a memo-
randum and mémoire (f.), memory.
22 en arrière, backwards. Arrière is from Lat. ad-retro. Retro be-
came rière in O.F. The compounds ad-retro and de-retro were used in Merov. Lat. and became arrière and derrière.
Page 66 a à Vinstant, just now.
19 Us nouveaux venus, the new-comers. If one of two adjectives is
used substantively, both take the sign of the plural, as in this case.
Page 66
18 qui se remettait peu à peu de, who gradually recovered from.
89 tout d^aJbord, from the very first.
80 àjpeuprès analogue à, somewhat like.
Page 67
8 celle-ci puisse4-elle vous parvenir ! may this one reach your hands. Note this optative use of the subjunctive mood.
17 un brigadier de chasseurs d'Afrique, a corporal in the African
chasseurs. The chasseurs d'Afrique arc French Algerian cavaJry, and had a high reputation for the brilliant services they rendered in the Algerian war. A brigadier strictly means a corporal in a cavalry regiment, whilst caporal is used to express a corporal
100 PIEBBILLB
Va»
in the line. Note that the English word 'brigadier' is exiMOssed in French by généraZ de brigade; the term 'brigadier general*. Is also used in English.
19 vn cJievalier de la Légion d^honneuVt a knight of the Legion of Honour. This remark of Plaoide's is of course jocular. The 'Legion of Honour' was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 : it was instituted for conferring honours on military men as well as distinguished civilians. Note that the word for a knight in the game of chess is cavaZicTy and not chevalier.
Page 08
M ne pouvait tenir en place, could not keep still. Note that the negative pas is often omitted with pouvoir, savoir, oser, and cesser. Thus je ne puis, I cannot, implies that there are difficulties in the way, but not impossibilities, whilst je ne puis pa^ would mean that the action was one that could not possibly be accomplished.
n pour rien faire de bon, to do anything good ; i,e, to do any real work. Note the use of the preposition de after rien; it is similarly employed after autre chose, quelqu'un, ^personne, and queHgue chose.
81 bonheur de famille, family blessing. Whenever the second of two
nouns is thus used adjectively, the preposition de is employed, and not the par|itive article ; names of countries are often used in this way, as, vin d'Espagne. Observe that the English word family is used adjectively in this case ; the construction is very common in French, but much less so in English.
Page 69 D mal à Vaise, uncomfortable.
10 comme des cailloux roulés, like rolling pebbles. 18 cela. See note on p. i, 1. 25.
21 qu'elle vint fière, that she would have grown handsome. The word fier is often thus employed with an intensive force, and frequent instances of a similar use of the word occur in the course of this tale, but, as the sense is an approach to slang, it must not be imitated by students in writing French prose.
Page 60
10 tiro lo cordo, marinier, haul away. Jack : lit. pull the rope, seaman. 21 poulo. A provincial word equivalent to poule, hen. 31 de votre gîte, for your hospitality. OUe means a sleeping-place or lodging, and comes from the L. Lat. gista.
82 il n'y a pas de quoi, vrai, don't mention it The pronoun quoi is
often used idiomatically with some such force as tMntgh, occasion
for, etc.
Page 61 14 jpostes de soldaJts, soldiers' quarters.
16 tâche de fen arranger comme tu pourras, cry to make yourself aa
comfortable as you can.
N0TB8 un
Pftgees
u ce devait être celle. See note on p. 18, 1. 12.
ir tout dormait, eveiybcdy was Mleep. Note this nee ùl totU, which !• not imcommon.
Pftgees
9 de eùté et d^avJtre, np and down.
WkUy avait en lui beaucoup du sauvage, there wae a good deal of the brutal in his nature ; or more freely— there was a good deal of the brute about him.
S9 malgré ce caractère entier, hrutaZ, despite this obstinate and brutal character. Bntier comes from the Lat. integrum ; Prov. erUeir ; ItaL intero. Its common meaning is whole or entire, but it sometimes has the force of self-willed or obstinate.
9» any pas croire, to an incredible extent.
Page M
1 étàble. See note on p. 61, 1. 8.
ss assez, fairly well.
ST gu*il se trouvait sur pied, when he was astir. S3 je compte me placer, I intend to find a situation. •4 parfait, very good.
Page 66
1 s*iZ veut de moi, if he will engage me.
9 Je me tirerai bien éFaffaire, I shall get out of the difficulty right
enough.
13 un 'tiens* vaut mieux que deux *tu Vauras,' a bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush.
18 le ' tiens ' pour Vautre chose, the bird in the hcknd for the two others.
19 ne saisit pas la portée, did not quite catch the drift.
20 voue avez peut-être raison. Note that personal pronouns are usually
placed after the yerb, although no interrogation is implied, when the verb is preceded by aussi, peut-être, encore, en vain, du moins, au moins, à peine, hence peut-être avee-vous raison would be a more elegant form of expression. This rule, however, as far as peut-être is concerned, is not always observed by good writers. IS €^eat le temps qui fera voir ça, time will prove that. T croi84u qu'on vienne t. do you think that any one can cornel Note the use of the subijunctive vienne. Although there is a feeling of uncertainty implied by croire, penser, espérer, se douter, ffimaginer, etc., these verbs require the indicative, unless used negatively, or with some expression of doubt, in which cases they take the subijunctivc. When verbs are used interrogatively they are generally followed by the sul^junotive, because interrogation commonly implies a certain amount of doubt on the part of the speaker. But when the interrogation is practically used to make an emphatic assertion, the indicative is employed.
182 PIBRRILLB
Pa«e68
Lia*
3 et des eauUtirs an en plus finir, and with no end of colour.
6trowfea-tu paaP don't 'you think sot Among the peasantry and lower classes generally, the use of the negative is often incorrect, as in this instance, and a single negative particle appears. In Bngland, people of a similar social grade are in the habit of using too many negatives, as, * he never says nothing to nobody.' The correct expression in this case would be ne trouves-tu pas f
T n^osait. See note on p. 58^ L 24.
io}deux hewrea éPajffUée, two hours running ; i.e. two consécutive hours. li fiUoune, my dear girL For the form of this word, see note on p. 3, 1. 15.
18 qui appelait See note on p. 13, 1. 20.
19 voUà la soupe réchauffée, now the soup has been warmed up again.
The French peasants are exceedingly economical and careful in their mode of living, and with them waste is never tolerated. The custom of warming up various articles of food is much more usual in France than in England, where the people are decidedly lees thrifty.
Page 67
a que pouvaient Mots is the subject of pouvaient. See note on p. 1,
b iele crois, du moins, at least I think so. See note on p. 10, L IS. IS comme Uadit cela I how strangely he said that t
s boeufs de traoaU, It is usual in France to employ oxen for ploughing; sometimes they are used alone, and sometimes horses work with them.
« son tour de vigne, his turn round the vineyards.
6 au moment de sa qualité, just in their prime.
s une /rétisse d'ail, a clove of garlic. The provincial word frOiase
is sometimes used to express the bread and garlic together. Vt que le chien currêtait avec des yeux ardents, on which the dog fixed
his eyes eagerly.
S8 certain fusU à pierre, dont le père Lorin faisait grand cas, a certain flint-gnn, of which father Lorin thought a great deaL Le oèr« Lorin may be translated by ' old Lorin.'
Page 69
• à relever. Use the present participle in English. 9 de m/O^rlr, from ripening.
16 courbé. See note on p. 43, 1. 30.
IS q^e le voUà encore aux prises avec le dogue, that he Is fighting again with the mastifi*. The word dogue was taken from the Eng. dog many centuries ago; it is only used for large dogs such as mastifib or bull dogs.
Paffe 70
llBt
4 de toutes seafarces, with all his might. .
10 leur avaient coupé la parole, had prevented their speaking. S3 le dévorait des yeux, gazed upon him earnestly.
28 wnr homme fait, taHU en Hercule, a grown-up man, huilt like a
Hercules.
29 U était vêtu de la veste de petite tenue, he was clad in an undress
uniform jacket.
33 sapristi! by Jove I Some authorities regard this word as a corruption of sa>cre-blett, whilst others look upon it as a euphemism for sacristie, sacristy, vestry ; church plate, etc. Other dmilar ejaculations are saprelotte, saprebleu, etc.
Page 71
9 galons, stripes. These are worn on the arm ; they are given to non-commissioned officers as a mark of rank. The same practice is common in the English army and is also used to indicate good conduct of men in police forces and in the postal service. 17 le fin fond de V Atlas, the very midst of the Atlas mountains. Most of N. Africa is a vast plain, and few of the mountains of Africa reach the snow line ; the ranges are remarkable rather for breadth than height Mount Atlas comprises all the mountains between Gape Bojador and the Gulf of Sidra. It is called Great Atlas in Morocco, and Little Atlas from Morocco eastwards.
90 tu no^ts reviens pour tout à fait, you are coming back to us for good. 84 comment cela aA4L marché f how have you been getting on f This is
a familiar expression.
29 notis somanes à Vaise, we a^-e comfortably off.
91 il V a huit jours, a week ago. Note that * this day week,' in siteaking
of a future event, is d*aujourd*hui en huit.
Page 72
4 te reconnais-tu 9 do you know your way f si. See note on p. 23, L 29.
7 pelon (or pelun). See note on p. 1, 1. 8.
u vous. The second person plural is used in polite address, i.e. in speaking to strangers. But when addressing relations, the singnilar is used. Hence the old man's wish that he should be addressed in familiar style, rather than in the stiff mode employed in addressing strangers.
82 comme éUe est grande ! how tall she is I Note this construction carefully.
Page 73
8 haUait à se rompre, was well nigh bursting.
si se faisant un porte-voix de ses deux mains, making his hands into a speaking trumpet Observe the expression ses deux mains ; this is very commonly used in French.
IM PIBRRHiLB
Urn M if est «fi rude gas, he la a smart 'ellow. Rude la used famlllArly
in this sense ; rudement is employed in a slang sense very much
like the English word 'awfully, ss fier. See note on p. fi9, L 21.
Page 74
8ie n'v tiens plus, I cannot stand it any longer: i.e. my feelings are
overcome.
n est-ce que Je te conviens ? do I suit you f Note that convenir to agree
about» takes être, in the formation ^f its compound tenses, whilst
convenir, to suit, takes avoir ; the latter is followed by à and the
former by de.
83 s'y blottit, crouched behind it. Originally this was a term of falconry,
and was used in describing the action of the falcon in gathering
itself up to roost on its perch (blot).
Page 75
8 battoir, beetle. This is a flat piece of wood of a roundish shape used by washerwomen to beat the dirt out of clothes. This mode of washing clothes is usual in France.
16 071 te demande par ici, there is some one here asking for you.
Page 77
10 les gamins, the urchins. This word comes from the German gemein ;
it was introduced in the eighteenth century.
17 Jour de foire, fair-day. Foire comes from the Med. Lat. feria. The
Lat. feriœ, holidays, has taken the sense of a fair, because medieval fairs were held on saints' day^. - 85 son uniforms astiqué, his smart uniform. Astiqué means furbished or polished. Littré derives the word from the German Stich, a point; this harmonises with the force of asticoter, to tease, which is derived from aMiquer, The word astic, a glazing-stiok, is in use, and a^iquer has the meaning of polishing leather with a glazing-stick. Littré says that aMic is a bone of a horse used by cordwainers for the purpose of polishing their leather. The word astiquer is very commonly used by French soldiers in speaking of their belts and other accoutrements.
Page 78 19 les vieux, the old folka 87 â me cède toujours tout, he gives way lo me in everything, or he
always lets me have my r wn way.
31 un cœur droit, an upright fellow.
Page 79 4 fat eu assez de Journées dures à avaler pour que Je savoure ce Jourlà, I bave had enough hard days' work to put up with to make me onjoy that day. See note on p. 46, 1. 34.
11 vêtu dune sorte d'hahit de cadi bleu, dressed in a kind of blue serge
coat. Cadi is a provincial word and means a sort of rough serge cloth, that is often worn by French peasants, mountaineers, eto.
NOTBS 106
Um
u ramaoea. This word was fonnerly need for branches, but is now obsolete in that sense. It is used to express 'branching' as a hunting term, and also, as in this instance, for a kind of textile fabric, on which flowers and leaves are represented. It comos from ramaticum, which is a derivation of ramtui.
u à pomme de cuivre, with a copper handle. The word pomms is used for the handle of sticks, umbrellas, etc., whilst manche (m.) expresses the handle of the tool.
M c'est un dw-àrcuire a'ussi, celui-là, mais de la vieille école, he too is a tough customer, but one of the old schooL
M tu lui parlerai campagne, you will talk to him about military matters. In this case, jtarler campagne is somewhat akin to the Eng. * talk shop.'
28 à bonne place au foiraU, to a good position in the fair. The provincial wordfoirail is equivalent to foire.
32 fe Vai fait avertir par MatJntrin, I have had him informed by Mathurin. Note that when the verb faire is followed by an infinitive, it takes a direct oloect, when the infinitive has no such complement, and an indirect Lol^ject, when the infinitive has a direct object, i.«. when it is a transitive verb, as, je lui ai fait lire cela, I have made him read that.
Page 80
19 qui lui faisait pew, that frightened her.
24 de dioses et d'autres, of one thing and another. 90 et U te sait là, and he knows that you are here. 81 quelque chose de nouveau, something new ; i.e, unusual or out of the common. For use of de, see note on p. 58, 1. 27.
s Je saurai de suite de quoi U en retourne, 1 shall soon know what is going on. This use of retourner is only found in familiar speech ; hence, in this case, such an expression as * what's up' would be admissible. The expression is borrowed from card-playing, and the word retourne means a trump-card ; i.e. the turn-up card. 80 qui le tiennent de Chéry, who heard it from Chéry.
Page 82
9 amblait le pas éUgamment, stepped out in grand style.
u savait, knew how to. Distinguish between cowna/ttre, which means to be acquainted with, to know by the senses, to discern, and savoir, which implies mental knowledge and not personal acquaintance. Savoir may often be expressed by * to be aware of, to understand,' and, as in this case, by 'to know how to.' The negative conditional je ne saurais is often used for 7'e ne puis, but implies want of knowledge rather than physical incapacity.
24 lou nebou dé o pat Lorin, Father Lorin's nephew. See note on p. 68, 1. 23. These words are in the Provençal dialect. The Langue d'Oo or l^rovencal in the twelfth century was the parent of a brilliant
ie6 PIBBRILLB
Lin*
lyrical literature. The rivalry of North and Sonth ended in the Albigensian war and the defeat of the South, and thus Proyencal literature was to a great extent destroyed. The Provençal and Gascon dialects still remain in the south of FrancOt but only as patois; however the fragmentary remains of the * Langue d'Oc,* which was so brilliant for some centuries,- are of great interest to the philologist.
Page 88 9 &e8t un beau gaillard et gui n*a pas Vair d*avoir ^roid aux yeux, he is a fine fellow and looks brave too. The expression n'avoir pas froid aux yeux ia equivalent to being courageous. The idea' is that cold makes one shed tears, and that cowards are in the habit of weeping.
22 une prise, a pinch of snuff.
23 St diable, so intimately.
29 peints à fresque, painted in fresco.
u en règlement de compte, as a settlement of his account.
Page 84 2 la bataiUe d^Isly, The battle of Isly was fought in 1844 ; in this battle the Emperor of Morocco was defeated by the French under Marshal Bugeaud. It was one of the principal battles fought during the Algerian war (1830—1848). The conquest of Algeria occurred shortly before the Revolution of 1848. The capture of la Smala was one of the principal operations in the Algerian campaigrn.
7 U avait cela d^exceUent, there was this good point about him.
14 d'autant gu*U avait réalisé, en outre, un assez beau bénéfice dans la vente et Vachat de ses bestiaux, more especially as he had realised a fairly fi^ood profit, besides, over the sale and purchase of his cattle.
18 grandement temps, high time.
80 qu'ils virent, when they saw. Note this use of que as an equivalent for qvund.
31 cheval de trait, draught-horse.
Page 85
8 Vair égaré, with a wild loolc.
26 poignée de main, shake of the hand.
27 de long en large, up and down.
Page 86
6 Mon onde, uncle. Observe that the French use the possessive adjective in such cases, whilst in English no qualificative word is employed.
26 les fers des chevaux, the horses' shoes. Fer à cheval, means a horse-
shoe.
27 mat, dull. Brachet derives this word from the German m4itt, whilst
Ldttré regards it) as connected with the Persian mat, dead. Distinguish between mat, mast (German mast), and this word.
Page 87
lia*
• U lui fit prendre. See note on p. 79, 1. 32. S8 de Vautre saison, of last sesison.
29 qui avait ouvert à PierrUle, who had opened the door for PierriUeu
Page 88
1 Hen une heure, about an honr.
IS on ne peut. The omission of pas after peut implies difficulty, but not
absolute impossibility, u moi. See note on p. 6, L 28i
Page 89 T Je vous en prie, I entreat you.
30 rouçeàtre, reddish. Note that the termination dire in adjectiyes has
a diminutive force. The Latin ending astrum, whence àtre is derived, often Implies contempt.
Page 90
4 ne reprendra point connaissance et s*en ira ainsi, will not regain
consciousness and will pass away thus.
6 Je demeure. Construe by the future tense and observe that a present
is often used in French to express a future event, if that event be
one that is likely to take place soon.
M un cri gui tenait du sanglot et du rire, a cry that was something
between a sob and a laugh.
38 a^U est, if there is. Note that si is never used with a subjunctive,
whilst in English that mood is still employed after if, although
the English suld^uictive is gradually diminishing.
Page 91
10 étouffer. Construe by the present participle.
IB elle dura. Take prière as the sul^iect of dura and do not translate elle ; also take sanglot (1. IQ) as the sutgect and omit il in translating.
Page 92
• allons, partons, come now, let us start.
Page 93
s licol, haiiei This is an old form ; the present form is licou,
s jument, mare. Lat. jumentum. Note that this is the only feminine
substantive ending in ment. i
10 il y a quelques heures, en passant par ici, a few hours ago, when
passing this way 19 le deuil, mourning. The O. F. form wc» duel ; the u was lengthened into eu and the e became i.
168 PIERRILLB
LiB«
19 de venir comme cela, for coming like this. M Varrêt de là-JiatU, the decree of Proyidenoe
Page M
14 convient. See note on p. 74, L 22.
IT vieillards, old folks.
as qui a'entendaU à panser les blessures, who was skilful In dressing wounds..
Page 96
1 le manteau de la cheminée, the mantel-piece. In rural districts, the mantel-piece is often called a 'chimney'; this use of the word * chimney 'is more common in Scotland than in England. There still exist in Scotland many traces of French influence; these occur in common words, such as 'small bread,' meaning 'rolls,* andtkre evidently taken from the French petits-pains. T toute. See note on p. 5, 1. 7.
10 moments de crise, critical momenta 19 et si petite qu'elle soit, and however small it may be. 81 navrée, distressed. Navrer is a word of Scandinavian origin and derived from ruxfer, a cutting implement. The form nafrer is found In medieval French ; it is an example of a certain weakening or deterioration from the original sense. The tendency in this direction is noticeable in many English words, as, ' conversation,' which originally meant cfynâ;ujct ; ' silly,' which was formerly holy (German feltg, and 'idiot' (Greek t4(«0Ti?vX which onoe meant a pHvaJte individual.
Page 9?
9 U, lendemain. This word was formerly Vendemain ; a compound of en and demain. Other words in which the article became thus joined to the noun are loriot, luette, lors, and lierre, 9 la m^orte, the dead woman. Distinguish between this word and la m^nrt, death.
12 un rameau bénit, a consecrated branch. See note on p. i2, 1. 26.
19 roidi. The form raidi is more usual in modem French. The adjective raide (older form roide), comes from the Lat. riffidus,
so Jais, jet Brachet derives this word from the Lat. gargotes. By loss of medial g and intercalation of euphonic y, the form gayet arose, but no satisfactory explanation is given of the change from the O.F. form jay et into jais,
95 enfants de chanir, altar-boys or servers. In the Anglican dhurch they would be termed choir-boys, but in the Roman Catholic Church, the duty of these boys is to wait on the priest. In advanced Ritualistic Anglican churches, the term acolyte is often employed in speaking of lads who wait on the priest when he is celebrating the Eucharist or Communion Service.
26 la bière, the bier. This word is from tiie O. H. G. hdra and must be distingruished from hièret beer, which comes from the O. H. O. piar.
à travers, through. Note that à travers is never followed by de ; au travers de is used in the same sense as d travers.
Pacre98
1 la fosse, the grave. Distinguish between this word and fossé (m.)» a ditch.
13 apprises, taught. Note that apprendre means both to learn and to teach. The English word * learn ' formerly meant also to * teach/ and instances of this use of the word * learn ' are to be found in the English version of the Bible. Even now, the word ' le€u:n ' is sometimes employed by uneducated people in the sense of ' teach.'
16 pelletée, shovelfuL See note on p. 18, 1. 16.
M eonacription. See note on p. 4C, L 17.
Fa«e99
i s'euseyait d'habUttde, used to be in the habit of sitting, ft le portail de Véglise, the front gate of the church.
Paire 100
• la mousse, moss. The word is from the O. H. G. moe and must be distinguished from mousse (m.), a sea-apprentice or cabin-boy. Cabin-boys were extensively employed in former years, but now-a-days sea-apprentices are engaged in large numbers, and cabin-boys are almost becoming obsolete, as far as sailing-ships are concerned, though they are still engaged as assistants to stewards on passenger-steamers. Nearly all large sailing-vessels carry from four to six apprentices, and the newest * hands ' among these discharge the duties that formerly fell to the cabin-boy. Mousse (m.) is derived from the Italian «iomto. 7 d!outre4ombe, beyond the tomb.
14 vivants, alive. It is important to distinguish between the verbal adjective and the grerund. The verbal adjective denotes condition, or some continued action or habit, whereas the gerund denotes action ; the former is variable and the latter invariable.
14 OH se les représente allant et venant, we picture them to ourselves as going and coming. The expression 'coming and going' is more common in English.
M il était resté. Note that the pronoun il of an impersonal verb is from the Lat Ulud, whilst the pronoun il of an active verb Is derived from ille ; hence the past participle of impersonal verbs is invariable. In this case, the pronoun U can be rendered by there, or the true subject les Lorin may be taken before the verb. Cf. a like use of the German pronoun es, and note the construction carefully.
no PIERRILLE
Page 101
9 Citaient taries, had dried up. Tarir is derived from O. H. O. thartyan,
19 si ee n*est qu'autour du foyer, unless it was that around the hearth.
Note that aviour is followed by de, SI labour, tillagre. Distingruish between this word, which also means ploughing, and Uibeur, meaning work or toiL
94 veste. See note on p. 70, 1. 29.
8S ce brave garçon de brigadier, this worthy corporal
Fa««102
i damasquinés, embossed. Damasquiner literally mecois to inlay with gold and silver, and then comes to be used in the sense of 'emboss'; it is derived from damasquin, an adjective formed from damas. The word was probably introduced in the sixteenth century from the Italian dam^ischino, a Damascus blade. Damascus, the oldest city in the world, was celebrated for the manufacture of swords.
11 roulaient à peu près sur, nearly always turned upon.
96 le père Btigeaud, See note on p. 84, 1. 2. In addition to gaining the battle of Isly, Marshal Bugeaud was victorious at Sickak and Tlemcen; he was also appointed governor of Algeria and succeeded (General Drouet d'Brlon in that position.
95 vrai de vrai! (Test la vérité: render freely by some such expression
as. By Jove, I am ! and That 's the honest truth I ti. dame t See note on p. 50, L 1&
Page 103
s mais UfavJt songer aux mauvais côtés de tout, but you must look at
the dark side of everything. Songer lit. means to think. • pour vous monter un intérieur, to fit up a home for you. Note the
term ministre de IHntérieur, Secretary of State for the Home
Department or Home Secretaiy.
s situ tombais au sort; render freely by— if the drawing for military
service should fall upon you ; literally, if you were to come to grief
in the drawing.
9« notu n*en sommes pas encore, we have not come to that yet
Page 104
10 aubergiste, inn-keeper. The word auberge is from the O. H. O. herberga. The form herherge is found in the Chanson de Roland in the sense of a military station ; the O. F. alherge became auberge*
13 bien se pourrait, it is quite possible.
16 ils n*y entendaient peut-être point raillerie. Distinguish between entendre raillerie, to take a joke and entendre la raillerie, to be a good hand at joking,
20 le sourire aux lèvres, with a smile on his lips.
SI qui ne lui allait point mal, which did not suit him badly.
Page 106
Um T. les laisser dire, let them have their say. •
f le des mauvais gars Jasent sur mon compte^ if some ill-natured lads do chatter about me. Jaser probably comes from the Provençal goMir; the Scandinavian word gassi is used for a prattler, and Ja,ser ia, by some etymologists, derived from IL u on peut lew répondre, you can tell them.
i« à nou3^mêmes, to our faoes.
IB ceci soit dit pour tous ceux qui se mêleraient de mettre leur main à ce gui ne les regarde nullement, this is applicable to all thorn, who are disposed to meddle with what does not concern them in the least.
2s le bon Dieu, Providence.
Page 106
8 ne fait plus son fendant, does not seem very confident Fendant means a * bully,' and faire le fendant is equal to 'playing the bully.' littrô defines fendant as one who wishes to pass himself off as being brave; i.e. a bully or blusterer; but in this case a more free translation is desirable; such a word as 'cocksure' would be admissible. ^
u U n'en est pas encore là, he is not quite so bad as that; literally, he is not yet at that point.
IT les voisins, the people standing near.
18 appelait Jtistem^nt, was calling at the moment.
Page 167
8 Je régale et Je paie bouteille, 1 11 treat you and pay for a bottle !
8 riches à débourser une si forte somme, rich enough to spend so large
a sum. See note on p. 46, L 17. Distinguish between somme, i.
(Latin surnmia), a sum, and somms, m. (Latin somnus), a nap. u le m^yiUe, the mould. Distinguish between moule, f . (Latin musculus),
a mussel (sea-shell), and moule, m. (Latin modulus), a mould. 18 vous prend, will take you. See note on p. 90, 1. 6. io compagnie de discipline. It was a common practice to send the most
unruly men to join the Algerian regiments ; hence companies
were thus termed disciplinary.
21 un vHain, a wretched place.
Pp^e 108
1 rien n'est perdu. Note that when rien is the subject» it is immediately followed by ne, and, when it is the object, the verb comes between ne and rien,
8 fusil, musket. This word comes from the L&tin focile and originally
meant a steel (for striking flints), then the hammer of a gun, and finally, a g^un.
9 Vancien soldat, the old soldier, i,e, of old standing and not advanced
in years. Ancien is often equal to the term 'ex.*
172 PIERRILLB
Um' 10. lui échappait. Note that when échapper means to slip, escape one's
notioe, eto., it takes d, and, when it means to steal away from, or
leave a place, it requires de, lê tuaa quelque chose, there is something the matter with you. 27 une idée comme ça, a fancy, that's alL 13 quel numéro avait amené 3on fiancé, what number her affianced
lover had drawn. Note that numéro is the object and flanoé the
subject. Distinguish between numéro, a number (figure), and
nombre, a number (quantity).
Page 100.
1 U jnauvaia dr&le, the ill-natured rogueu sou, halfpenny. Sou is a softened form of its doublet, the O. F. sol, which comes from the Lat aolidvs. 8ol expressed a penny, but sou is a halfpenny ; it is a fairly common mistake in England to regard the latter word as being equivalent to a penny. The terms gros sou and petit sou are used in speaking of coins representing ten and five centimes respectively.
8 uneportede derrière, a means of escape; literally a back-door.
• c'était, à ses momcTits, un fin matois que le Jeantoux, now and then, Jeantouz was a cunning blade. The word que is not to be translated ; it is employed for emphasis, and this use of the word is a gallicism. Note that fin never means *fine' in the sense of beautiful ; this is expressed by heav^ whilst fin is applied to fineness of texture, quality, etc., and is often used in the sense of * shrewd ' or ' cunning.' IS mener à bien, lead to happy results.
FageUOL
10 d 2a bouche, on his lips ; literally mouth.
18 elle se laissa aUer à une, she allowed herself to drift into one.
Page 111.
10 bien de la peine. See note on p. 32, 1. 2é.
ao vous le haïssez donc toujours, you still hate him, then. Hatr is of German origin; Ang. Sax. hatian; the form hadvr appears in medieval French. Note that the diseresis is not used in the singular of the present indicative and imperative.
Page 112.
1 qui va tout brusquer, comme une brute ; render freely by— to go and spoil everything like an ass, by being too blunt. The word brusquer was introjluced in the sixteenth century from the ItaL brusco; cf. Eng. * brusque.*
t fais-lui patte de velours. The literal meaning of these words is 'stroke her with a velvet paw.' The expression faire patte de velours strictly applies to a cat drawing in its talons when playing with its paw; i.e. playing in such a way as not to poratch the person who may be stroking iu A free rendering »uoh as, ' «uiuuLb
Us*
her down gently' or 'play the hypocrite with her' would be emitable. The word velours, yelyet» comes from the Lat vUlosua, shaggy; afterwards a fabric made of short hair. Some derive vdoura from the ItaL veUvto, 10 huse, blockhead ; literally, buzzard. In English, as well as in French, certain names of animals and birds are often used in this way; as, a mule, for an obstinate person, and a parrot for a talkative one.
23 cinq sous. This term was used by the peasants, and still more by
the children, of the district in speaking of floral or variegated beetles.
Page US
7 papillonner autour de, to dance attendance on ; literally, to flutter
about from one thing to another like a butterfly. 20 o, yes. In Provençal, oe was the word for ' yes.' The peasants in the south of France still pronounce this particle with a guttural sound.
Page 114
7 out bien, , . . et justement U vient d'entrer chez Lambert, yes, cer-
tainly, he has just gone in to Lambert's.
• si vous lui voulez parler. See note on p. 44, 1. 27. 16 gui un pot de piquette, qui de la bière, some a tankard of piquette,
others beer. Piquette is a sourish wine of low price and much
drunk by the commoner classes of the people, u le regard en feu, with his eyes ablaze.
30 (Tim ton de menace, in a threatening tone.
Page 116
4 de remploi de ta matinér. the way you have spent your mommg.
9 diantre t the deuce t This word is a corrupt or rather euphemistic'
form of diable.
16 peste I s'écria PierriUe, tu me fais bouiUir le sang, * confound you, cried PierriUe,' you make my blood boil. Note that the verb bouillir is intransitive when it stands alone, as Veau bout, the water boils, but that the verb faire is placed before it when it is desired to give a transitive force to bouillir, as in this instance.
24 prit à bras le corps, seized around the body. 30 Tie se saurait pas, would not be known.
Pageue
8 <fe8t brave quelqu^ois. Us enfants, children are brave sometimes. IS en pleine fa/oe, full in his face.
28 aux abois. The word aboi, which was formerly used to express the bark of a dog (now expressed by aboiement), remains in the phrase être aux abois, i.e. the moment at which the stag, hard pressed by the hounds barking around him, is brought to bay; hence 'to be at one's wits' end, to be hard pressed, hard up,' etc.
tt à tout prix, at any cost.
m PIBBRILLB
Page m
18 la bèUe »e rend, the ftdr one will glye in.
19 par-devant, in the presence of. The qm of par-devant Is virtoally
restricted to legal phraseology.
Page 118
1 être tout à fait bien avec elle, to be on good terms with her, or to stand well in her eyes.
8 de partir à la place de, to go away instead of ; i.e. to join the army.
9 la petite vermine I the little rascal I 18 sourdement, in a disagreeable tone.
18 ce sont dee choses qu'on ne dit pas, même quand on lea fait, that is
one of those things that are not mentioned, even if they are done.
Page 119
19 une figure amie, a friendly face. Note that the English word figure
(shape), is expressed by forme ; a person's figure is rendered by tournure, and a figure (number) is chiffre. Note the expression faire figure, to cut a figure.
23 U n'y a pas de quoi vraiment, you have no occasion to do so. Qttai is often used idiomatically in such sentences as this ; it bears the meaning of enough, wherewith, occasion for, etc
33 que. For this use of que, see note on p. 109, 1. 9. '
33 Je suis fort chasseur, I am a keen sportsman.
Page 120
T maraudeur, marauder. The etymology of this word is uncertain. Bugge considers it as derived from the Ix>w Latin maraldus, but Littré regards it as a word of historical origin from the name oi a certain Count de Mérode, who was notorious for his habit of plundering. The latter etymology seems the more probable.
8 c'est parler français, hein? that's pretty plain speaking, isn't it! 14 ce2a tombe mal, that was a bad shot ; literally, fell badly.
Page 121
u de temps à autre, now and then.
37 placer un mot, to put in a word.
Page 122 T depuis des temps, for ever so long.
9 qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? what do you mean by that!
29 n'y allons pas par quatre chemins. This expression, which literally means ' don't let us go at it by four ways,' is equivalent to * don't let us have any oirctunlocution'; i.e. let us go directly into the matter.
81 cda ne se peut pas, that must not be.
Fftgel28 Un* 8 est éCun brave et fier garçon, is the mark of a sood and noble fellow. Of. the Latin construction of esse with a genitive case.
11 si, yes. Note that a negative reply is implied in Lorin's question and
see note on p. 23, 1. 29.
12 c'est un projet arrêté, mûri, décidé, it is a plan that has been care-
fully thought out» matured and determined upon. 17 ces /açans-là, those excuses.
19 d^itre mon obligé, of being under an obligation to me.
Fagel24
6 &étaU arrêté là, it was lodged there.
7 de Ven faire sortir, to get it out ; lit. to make it come out of it.
8 fai brusqué la chose avéovard!hui, I have blurted it out to-day.
10 sachefm. This word means an oriental chief. Pladde uses it jocularly in reference to his service in N. Af ric€L
viily aura fête à la cantine, there will be high jinks in the canteen. The word cantine is of Italian origin {cantina), and was introduced in the sixteenth oentury into French.
16 tamrta/m. This is a drum, shaped somewhat like a kettle-drum.
17 le gai tremblement de mon ancienne existence, the gay excitement of
my former life.
19 burnotis. These are long cloaks worn by the Arabs. so Jeudi, on Thursday. Note that the English preposition 'on' is not
trskuslated in French in such cases, and also that small initials
are used in French for days of the week and month, whilst
capital initials are employed in English.
Page 125
8 en ouvrant de grands yeux, staring with his eyes wide open, u les m/mta dans, took them up to. Note that the verb m,(mter la used transitively in this case.
Page 126
1 eJuigrins d*être ainsi forcés, sad at bemg thus compelled. Note that chains is an adjective in this case ; this use of chagrin is fairly common.
u la maisonnée, the whole family. See note on p. 18, 1. 16.
21 qu'U lui faudrait se séparer de Millette, that he would have to part from Millette. Note the construction of lui with, faudrait; the second verb remains in the infinitive, as in English, and the pronoun, which is the real subject, is expressed by an objective pronoun. This construction can only be used if the subject of the sentence is a pronoun ; if the subject be a substantive, the coujunction que and the subjunctive mood must be employed, a.3il faut que votre frère le fasse, your brother must do it. The construction used here is also employed when falloir means to, want, as, U lui faut une plume, he wants a pen.
178 PIERRILLB
Ida*
10 lui ffliêsa dans VoreUXe^ whispered to him.
sft compère gossip. This word has osoallj the meaninsT of godfather, the word gossip is a secondary meaning and aflbrds another example of the tendency of words towards a degeneratiye force. Godfathers and godmothers were counted as the seoond father and mother, and in the Latin ohnrch they were called comrpaler and com-inatert whence the words compère and commère,
M U a*est un peu déboutonné^ he was rather free in his talk. This expression is used in familiar speech.
8 tu teferaê une mauvais affaire^ yon will get yonrself into a mees.
7 par 2d, somewhere or another.
• canaiUtj scoundrel. This word is more commonly used as a coUectiYe
in the sense of rabble, riff-raff, etc It was introdnced in the
sixteenth century from the Italian canaglia. u va toujours, go on.
10 endroit, place. This word is compounded of en and droit. In O. F.
endroit was used adverbially in the sense of *jjJBt before one,' and
later, it was employed as a noun in the sense of *a place right
before one,' and now it means a place generally. 10 qu*il dit, dit-U. See note on p. 7, 1. 21. 28 Oplo, yes, certainly. This inteijection, which is still sometimes used
by south country-folk in France, has its old Provençal form. 919 Je sais à quoi mCen tenir sur son compte, I know what to ''think
with regard to him.
Pa«el29
8 en JU Jouer les chiens et y mit les capsules, pulled back the cooks of
the pistols and put on the caps.
10 sur le midi, at noon.
24 quérir, fetch. This verb is now only used with aUer, envoyer, and venir ; it has virtually been replaced by chercher,
28 qui devait lui succéder bientôt, which wc» soon to follow it Distinguish between réussir, to succeed, in the pense of being suocessfnl, and 8U4icéder, to succeed, in the sense of following.
80 le déjeuner achevé, when breakfast was over.
88 vêtu en paysan et coiffé d^un large chapeau, dressed as a peasant and wore a broad-brimmed hat.
Page ISO
11 que Je vous embrasse. See note on p. 14, 1. U.
16 U lui JU prendre le galop. See note on p. 79, 1. 82.
Paire 181
2 te donnent-Us envie de pleurer, make you feel inclined to cry. 1 tu en es là, toi, you are at it again ; i.e, dwelling on the same topic. 10 que bordaient. Note that ravines is the subject of the verb bordaieMt and that que is the obijeoti.
Uaê
ss champignons ofonges, yellow mushrooms. The orange-aganc, is a mushroom of a light yellowish colour. The word oronge is a corruption of orange, which is of oriental origin.
Fageia
10 que de se mettre en route, than to set out
IS jpièce à deux matelas, room with two mattresses. The word maidas is of oriental origin and oomes from the Arabic aZ matrah. The O. F. form m^tera^ and the Italian materasso reproduce the Arabic substantive without the article, whilst in the Spanish almadraque and the Prov. almatraCy the article al appears.
sa U mit la bride sur le eou de Coco et se laissa guider, he let the reins hang loose on Coco's neck and allowed himself to be guided.
Page 183 IT cela Vamusatt aussi de se resonger à ses impressions d^enfanJt, it amused him too, to dwell once more on the ideas he had as a child. SI Voiseau de la nuit, i,e. the owL
FagelSi
s mais ne se faisant pas faute de prendre, not failing to take. IT gredin, scoundreL This word formerly meant a beggar and is of
Gterman origin ; Gothic gridus, S6 le coquin doit être tapi par là-bas, the rogue must be crouching down there.
Page 189 1 à Vimproviste, unawares. ■ i ^Uneme manque pas, if he does not miss me.
8 pousser à bout, carry out. The word bout properly means that part of the body which pushes or touches first, as in bouton, a bud; t.e. something that makes a knob on plants; boutoir, a buttress; boutade, an attack ; bouterseUe, a signal for cavalry to mount. Note that but means end, in the sense of goal or object in view, and thatyin means end, in the sense of conclusion. IS et Varfna, and cocked it.
80 prit un trot d*allure gaiUarde, started off with a smart trot
Page 186
s au heurt de quelque caillou, on striking against a flint ss tirant au juger, firing at hap-hazard ; ie. where he thought his adversary would be, for it was too dark for him to take a good aim. A more literal rendering would be * firing by judgment'
Page 187
10 à terre. Distingruish between the expressions d terre and par terru The former is used when a thing falls that is raised above che ground, and the latter, when the accident happens to a person or thing standing on the ground. Hence it would be proper to say un arbre tombe par terre et ses fruits tombent à terrCm
m et un moment, and 'or a moment
178 PIERRILLB
Pageiss
Lia«
lUy avaU grande rumeur, there was a great to-da 11 a ouvert, opened the door.
• en ieharpe, in a sling. The word écharpe originally meant a large
purse hung round a pilgrim's neok ; then it oame to be used for the belt from which the purse hung. The word is of Geixnan origin (O. H. G. acherbe).
u qu'eat-ce gu*U y a done 9 what 's the matter!
u lea haUes me cannaiaaent, bullets and I are well acquainted with one another. Note that the ball (of a musket) is haUe ; ball (of a cannon) &ouZe<: baU (at billiards), biUe; baU(a toy). baUe; baU (a dancing entertainment), bal,
n fax tiré aur aon coup de feu— tué ratde, I fired in reply to his shot and killed him on the spot. Baide literally means stifl; and ttU raide thus implies that he was killed and became stark and sUflfl The etymology of the word tuer is interesting ; it comes from the Latin tutari, to defend or to cover for defence, and hence to stifle. In medieval French, the word for 'kill' was ocdre from the Latin occidere, and the O. F. word tuer (Prov. tudar), meant to stifle and gradually grew to be used for killing.
SI aortU, Note that aortU is transitive in this case and means * took or drew out.'
FagtliO
8 se oonatttuer priaonnier^ to give himself into custody,
• Vinstrvction de Vaffalre ne fut paa longue, the inquiiy into the aflOsdr
. was not lengthy. It must be observed that murder trials in France are difl'erent from similar cases in England. It is still customary in France to bring in a plea of extenuating circumstances, and, whenever possible, the prisoner gets the full benefit of such a plea. Hence it happens that executions are events of much more rare occurrence in that country than they are in England. Capital punishment is only meted out in cases of premeditated murder, and when no extenuating circumstances can be brought forward. In English law such a case as this would be a charge of manslaughter, and the pimishment» if any, would be nominal
88 ne valait paa cher, was not of much accounU
81 Ua deux ipoux, the couple.
Pagelil
« vivent tovjoura, are still living.
f Sèba^topol, The English and French fought side by side against the Russians in the Crimea. The siege of Sebastopol commenced on th&20th September 1854, and it was not until nearly twelve months later, that the Allies cap Lured the Russian stronghold and reduced it to a heap of ruinn.
VOCABULARY
Words that are spelt alike in both langua^res are not given in this VOCABULARY, and some words, such as charité, in which the forms are practically identical, have also been omitted. Provincial words are marked with an asterisk. The abbreviation /am, is appended to slang words that they may not be mistaken for expressions of higher diction.
acheter, to buy
tyohQvé, finished
achever, to conclude ; —finish
activement, activelv
admirer, to admire
adossé, bocfc to hack
adosser, to lean the hack against
adoucir, to soften
adresse (f.), skiU
adresser, to address
adresser (s*), to apply
adroit, clever
advenir, to happen
adversaire (m.), opponent
affiedre (f.), affair ; husiness ; case
afESedssé, exhausted
affecter, to affect
affectionner, to like
SLfBle, sJiarp
afliigé, grieved
afEblé, erratic
BffreMx., frightful
afin, in order to, so that
Afrique (f.), Africa
agenouiller (s'), to kneel down
agile, nimble
agir, to<2o
agir (s*), to be a question of
agiter, to shake
aider, to help
aïeule (f.), grajidmother
aigre, sharp
aigu, keen, sharp
aiguille (f.). needle, prickle
ail (m.), garlic
à, to, o^, in, on, hy, vHth abattement (m.), prostration abattre, to puU down ; — depress abattu, Ifrcken; dejected aboiement (m.), harking abois (m. pL) (aux) , at hay,
hardup\ abondant^ plentiful abord (m.), approa^; d* » ot
first aborder, to accost, — broach aboyer, to bark absolument, absolutely absorbé, absorbed absorber (s'), to be absorbed accablé, overcome accabler, to crush ; — overpoufer accepter, to accept accidenté, broken accompagner, to accompany accompli, jterfect accomplir, to complete accomplir (s*), to be a^scomplishcd accorder, to grant accourir, to hasten accoutumé, habittuU accrocher (s*), to lay hold of accroupi, stooping accueil (m.), reception accueillir, to receive a^éhaxné, implacable achat (m.), purchase acheminer (s*), to take oru^s way
PIBBRILLB
aile (£.)b toAV
aiUenn, éUewhere; d' — , more-
tâmajkt, affèctionaie
aimer, to lovei — like
ainsi, thus
air (m.), air; look; le grand ,
the freak air; en plein — , in
the open air aiae (f.), eaee i^onter, to add alarmer (s*), to he alarmed alerte, quick Algrérie (f.), Algeria alléger, to lighten aller (allant, allé, vais, irai), to go ;
allons and allez used as int,,
come, come now I aller (s'en), to go away allongé, elongated allonger, to stretch otU allumer, to light, — kindle allure (f.), conduct tloTB,then alouette (f.), lark amBÀgri, ema.ciated aniandler (m.), almond-tree amasser, to heap up &me (f.), aoul amener, to bring on, — lead; —
draw ami {^), friend amicalement, kindly amiUé (f.), friendship, affection;
pieciaure amonceler, to heap up amonceler (s*), to accumtdate amour (m.), love, affection amoureux, amoureuse (m. and t.),
sweetheart ; (adj.) in love amuser (s'), to amuse oneself an (m.), year analogue, analogous anden, /ormer animé, animaled animer, to urge on année (f.), year annoncer, to give out antique, cKd août (m.), AuQust apaiser (a'), to grow oaim
aperwYoir, to perceive aplomb (d*), perpendieulaiiify apparaître, to appear apparence (f.), appearance; en
apparently appartenir, to belong appel (m.), call appeler, to call appétit (m.), appetite; de grand
, heartily
applaudir (s'), to rejoice
appliquer, to put
apporter, to bring
apprendre, to learn ; — tea>ch
apprêt (m.), preparation
apprivoiser, to tam^
apprivoiseur (m.), tamer
approcher, to draw near
approcher (s*)* to approach
appui (m.), support
appuyer, to rest
appuyer (s*), to lean
après, e(/ler
arabe (s. and adj. m.)f Arab,
Arcibian arbre (m.)> tree arçon (m.), saddle-bow; pistolets
d* , horsepistols
ardemment» intensely
argent (m.), money; Uano.
sHver money argenté, silvered argentin, sUvery-toned aride, barren armes (s. pL), weapona armoire (f.), cupboard arracher, to puU off; — wrest arranger, to arrange, —fix arret (m.)> atoard arrêter, to stop arrêter (s*), to pause; net» —
stop short
arrière, behind ; en , bads !
arriver, to arrive ; — happen arroser, to waler artiste (m.), artist assassin (m.), rt^UfUin assaut (m.)» assault assembler (s*), to meet asseoir (s*), to sU
enough; fairly; pretty
VOCABULARY
assiette <f .)« plate
assis, sealed
assistant (ni.)f bystander
assommer, to thrash
aasoTtit matched
assoupir, to make supple
assoie, bold, confident
assurer, to aastvre
assurer (s'), to make sure
attache (f.), indination
attacher, to link
attaque (f.), atta>ck
attaquer, to attcusk
atteindre, to reach
attelage (m.), team
atteler, to yoke
attenant, adjoining
attendre, to wait, — wait for; —
expect attendrir, fo affect attifer (s*), to dress onese^ out attirer, to attract, — draw attraper, to catch, — get attrister (s*), to be sad aube (f.), dawn aubépine (f.), hawthorn auberge (f .)> iivn aubergiste (m.), innrkeepefr aucun, any aucunement, not at all auditeur (m.), hearer augmenter, to increase augure (m.), augury, omen aujourd'hui, to-day aulne (m.), aZder-tree auprès, near auréole (f.), halo aussi, also, too ; thertfore aussitôt, immediately autant, as mtuch, so much automne (m.), autumn autre, other, another autrefois, formerly avance (f .X a>dvanoe avancer, to advance avancer (s*), to corns up, — advance
avant, b^ore; en , forward!
avare, niggardly
