Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

not to a want1 of taste or of desire or of disposition tc learn 2 that we have to ascribe the rareness of good scholars, so much as to the want of patient perseverance.1 WILLIAM COBBETT.

POPE TO WYCHERLEY.

WHEN I write to you, I foresee a long letter, and ought5 to beg your patience beforehand; for if it prove the longest, it will be of course the worst 7 I have troubled you with. Yet to express my gratitude at large for your obliging letter is not more my duty than my interest; as some people will 10 abundantly thank you 11 for one piece of

1 manque; or, défaut.

2 du désir d'apprendre ou de dispositions. The definite article is here used before désir, because this noun is taken in a particular definite sense. Observe, besides, that, were the word-for-word translation of this English phrase strictly good French, yet it would require some change in the constructionsupposing this could be managed instead of having to use another turn altogether,—as désir requires the preposition de after it, and disposition the preposition d. This case is connected with the one commented upon at page 12, note 10; and the rule given there is applicable to substantives, and also to adjectives, as well as to verbs.

3 qu'il nous faut.

4 patient perseverance; see page 26, note 2.-Construct this sentence so, in French (page 3, note 18): It is not so much to a want of taste. . &c., as to the want of . &c., that we have scholars.'-On this subject, the French have two proverbs which run thus, "La trop grande hâte est cause du retardement," and,

66

Qui trop se hâte reste en chemin (or, en beau chemin se fourvoie)."

9

See also the one mentioned, p. 6, note15, and in the LA FONTAINE, page 93, note 8.

5 See page 31, note 1.

6 car si cette lettre-ci (or, la présente lettre-or, substantively, la présente) se trouve être.

7 'the worst,'-'letter' understood; see page 72, note 13.

8 See page 1, notel2.-'to trouble,' here, importuner. See, besides, page 13, notel2: but we may use here the compound of the future, as well.

9 Toutefois, il n'est pas moins de mon intérêt que de mon devoir de vous exprimer au long (or, tout au long) ma reconnaissance de votre lettre obligeante (or, de votre bonne lettre).

10 some people,' certaines gens; see page 87, note 16. The substan tive gens requires adjectives, &c., preceding it to be feminine, and those following masculine. This rule has somewhat complicated exceptions. See p. 268, n. 8; also the LA FONTAINE, p. 52, n. 6, and p. 133, n. 8.-' will; see p. 45, n 4. nous, here, will not be aubiguous; vous would be so.--'to thank abundantly,' remercier tant et plus : or, faire mille remerciments.

11

8

kindness,1 to put you in mind of2 bestowing another. The more favourable you are to me, the more distinctly I see my faults.3 Spots and blemishes, you know, are never so plainly discovered as in the brightest sunshine. Thus I am fortified by those 5 commendations which were designed to encourage me for praise to a young wit is like 6 rain to a tender flower; if it be moderately bestowed, it cheers and revives; but if too lavishly, overcharges and depresses him. Most men in years, as they are general discouragers of youth,10 are like old trees, that, being past bearing themselves, 11 will suffer no young plants to flourish beneath them,12 but, as if it were not enough to have outdone all your coevals in wit,13 you will excel them in goodnature too. As for my green essays,14 if you find any pleasure in them,15 it must be such as a man 16 naturally takes in observing the first shoots and 17 buddings of a tree which he has raised himself; and it is impossible they should be

1 'for,' de, here, as at note 9 of the preceding page.-'a piece of kindness; simply, une bonté (or, une faveur), just as we say une imprudence (an act of imprudence), &c. &c.

2 pour nous faire songer à.

3 No article is used," in French, with plus, or, moins, repeated. Besides, in such a case, the following is the order usually observed in the words:-1st plus, or moins ; 2nd, the nominative of the verb; 3rd, the verb; 4th, the regimen of the verb (whether an adjective or a substantive); the rest as in English (see p. 49, note 5, and p. 87, note 15). Bear in mind, too, that 'to me' must, according to another rule, precede the verb, in French; and, as to the proper place of the adverb, when any, as here, see page 19, note 5.-my faults;' par où je pèche, so as to avoid a repetition, for there is only one word, in French, for 'fault' and 'blemish,' in this sense.

4 en plein soleil

les mêmes.

13

talent (or, un jeune auteur qui promet or, un bel-esprit en herbe or, simply, un jeune homme d'intelligence) ce qu'est. The word belesprit, however, is now generally taken in a bad sense.

7 A personal pronoun, governed by several verbs, must not only be placed before the first, in French, but be repeated before each of them. See page 29, note 12. 9 See page 23, note 6.

10 La plupart des hommes d'âge (or, des gens âgés), décourageant (or, rebutant) la jeunesse, comme ils le font généralement.

11 ayant eux-mêmes cessé de porter des fruits; or, ne portant plus de fruits eux-mêmes; or, simply, étant eux-mêmes hors d'âge de porter. 12 See p. 24, n.

18 See p. 22, n. 1, and p. 3, n. 18 14 premiers essais; or, essais de novice.

15 in them;' y, here, before the verb.

16 ce (see p. 72, note 13) doit être un plaisir du genre de celui qu'on. 17 Repeat the article and nu

• est à un jeune écrivain de meral.

3

esteemed any otherwise 1 than as we value fruits for being early, which 2 nevertheless are the most insipid, and the worst of the year. In a word, I hate compliment, which is, at best, but the smoke of friendship. I neither write nor converse with you to gain your praise, but your affection. Be so much my friend as 4 to appear my enemy, and to tell me my faults, if not as at least as an inexperienced writer.

5

a young man,

THE DEATH OF BAYARD. (A.D. 1524.)

6

At the beginning of the charge, Bonnivet, while exerting himself with much valour, was wounded so dangerously, as obliged him to quit the field ;7 and the conduct of the rear was committed to the Chevalier Bayard, who, though so much a stranger to the arts of a court that he never rose to the chief command, was always called, in times of real danger, to the posts of greatest difficulty and importance. He put himself at the head of the men at arms,9 and animating them by his presence and example to sustain the whole shock of the enemy's troops,10 he gained time for the rest of his countrymen to make good their retreat.11 But in this service 12 he received a wound which he immediately perceived to be mortal, 13 and being unable 1 Simply, autrement.

...

[ocr errors]

2 à cause de leur précocité, des fruits qui; see p. 10, note 'nevertheless,' &c. ; see p. 34, n.14. 3 tout au plus. 4 'so much 'as,' assez... pour, the same turn as the one mentioned at page 86, note 3. 5 voyant en moi sinon. 6 qui se comporta avec la plus grande. 7 champ de bataille. See page 24, note and leave out 'and.' 8 'so much... &c. ;' simply, si peu courtisan.

9

gens (or, hommes) d'armes.

10 Simply, des ennemis.

12 cette action.

6

13 perceived,' sentit.-See page 7, note 2.-The student is particularly cautioned against using a construction which he will occasionally find even in good authors, but which is contrary to the logical principles of language, and to the established rules of general grammar. (See, among others, Messrs. Noël and Chapsal's Grammar, rule 428.) We find in Fénelon's Télémaque:-.. 'l'étranger que le roi faisait chercher, et qu'on disait que était venu avec Narbal" (page 34, edition Bell and Daldy, with notes by C.-J. Delille). Fénelon should

[ocr errors]

....

11 pour couvrir la retraite du reste have said, qu'on disnit eus de l'armée.

venu.

If thou bearest slight provocations with patience, it shall be imputed unto thee for1 wisdom; and, if thou wipest them from thy remembrance, thy heart shall not reproach thee.2

4

Seest thou not that the angry man loseth his understanding?3 Whilst thou art yet in thy senses, let the wrath of another be a lesson to thyself. 5

Do nothing in a passion : the violence of a storm?

7

why wilt thou put to sea in

If it be difficult to rule thine anger, it is wise to prevent it; avoid therefore all occasions of falling into wrath, or guard thyself against them whenever they occur.

A fool is provoked with insolent speeches, but a wise man laugheth them to scorn.10

Harbour not revenge in thy breast: it will torment thy heart, and discolour its best inclinations.11

Be always more ready to forgive than to return an injury; he that watches for an opportunity of revenge, lieth in wait against himself, 12 and draweth down mischief on his own head.

A mild answer to 13 an angry man, like water cast upon the fire, abateth his heat; 14 and from an enemy' 15 he shall become thy friend.

Consider how few things are worthy of anger, and thou wilt wonder that any but fools should be wroth.16

1 à; without any article.

2 ne te fera point de reproches. The verb reprocher is never used absolutely, in French, as to reproach' is in English. We say, reprocher quelque chose à quelqu'un (to reproach one with a thing); but, in an absolute sense, faire (or, adresser) des reproches à quelqu'un (to reproach, or upbraid, one).

3 la raison (page 27, note 3). 4 tu conserves encore la tienne; Dr, tu es encore dans ton bon sens. 5 to be a lesson to,' servir de leçon d.-'wrath,' emportement. 6 un accès de colère. 7 pourqun mettre en. Simply, d'emportement.

• L'insensé. See p. 80, n. 3,

[blocks in formation]

In folly or weakness it always beginneth:1 but remember and be well assured it seldom concludeth without repentance.2

On the heels of Folly treadeth Shame; at the back of 3 Anger standeth Remorse.-(DODSLEY, Economy of Human Life.)

THE CATARACT OF NIAGARA, IN CANADA,4 NORTH AMERICA.

THIS amazing fall of water is made by the river SaintLawrence, in its passage from lake Erie into lake Ontario.5 The Saint-Lawrence is one of the largest rivers in the world; and yet the whole of its waters is discharged in this place, by a fall of a hundred and fifty feet perpendicular. It is not easy to bring the imagination to correspond to the greatness of the scene. A river extremely deep and rapid, and that serves to draw the waters of almost all North America 10 into the Atlantic Ocean, is here poured precipitately down a ledge of rocks, that rises, like a wall, across the whole bed of its stream.1 12 The

s'y livrer (or, s'y abandonner-s'y
laisser aller-page 86, note 5). ̧
1 Elle a toujours son origine
dans
&c. See page 49,
note, and page 30, note 19.

[ocr errors]

2 rarement par autre chose que par le repentir.-'concludes;' see page 85, note 1.

3 Simply, derrière.

4 du Niagara, au Canada.-au (not en) Canada. The article is always used before the names of certain minor or distant countries, such as le Canada, le Brésil, le Pérou, le Bengale, le Japon, les Indes, la Jamaique, la Guadeloupe, &c.; with these, besides, à (with the article) is used instead of en, 'in,' (without the article),— -see page 16, note 10.

5 le lac, in both instances.-'made;' we use the verb former,

11

[blocks in formation]

un des plus grands_fleuves.— 'in;' see page 32, note 6.

7

en tombant perpendiculairement de cent cinquante pieds (pieds anglais) de haut; or, par une chute perpendiculaire de cent cinquante pieds. 8 de mettre son imagination en rapport avec.

porter; or, faire écouler. 10 This is a monstrous geographical blunder.

11 se précipite ici le long d'une chaine-ligne rangée.

12 dans toute la largeur de son lit. -'bed of its stream.' We say le lit d'un fleuve, or d'une rivière (of a river), in this sense; but le lit d'un courant is a naval term, which means the direction of a streani as le lit du vent means the direc tion of the wind.

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »