A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 327 pages of information about A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux.

A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 327 pages of information about A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux.

[110] SI CE N’EST. = Sinon.

[111] LA FAIRE. Le would be more natural, referring to reste, which is masculine. La evidently refers back to somme.

[112] PRETENDS, ‘Expect.’

[113] RENDRE RECONCILIES.  The simple infinitive reconcilier is more natural French.  Marivaux has purposely lent this loosely constructed expression to Lepine.  Mme. de Sevigne uses “rendre revoltee.”

[114] SANDIS.  See note 20.

[115] ENTENDS.  See le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard, note 247.

[116] EN PUISSANCE D’EPOUX.  A law term meaning:  “Qui ne peut contracter ni disposer de rien sans etre autorisee de son mari” (Dict. de l’Acad., 1878).  Used often in the mere sense of ‘married,’ as here.  Compare:  “Je ne comprends meme pas qu’elle se soit amourachee d’un homme en puissance de femme” (Augier, les Effrontes, v, 4).

[117] RIT.  This use of the verb rire in the sense of plaire is not uncommon.

[118] LA SERVITUDE.  An incorrect use of the abstract noun.  Lepine, doubtless, means les serviteurs, les domestiques.

[119] LA MEDIOCRITE DE L’ETAT FAIT QUE LES PENSEES SONT MEDIOCRES.  Compare:  “Ne sais-tu pas que les petits scrupules ne conviennent qu’aux petites gens?” (J.J.  Rousseau, la Nouvelle Heloise, IV, 13.  The same idea differently applied).

[120] CE QUI EST DE CERTAIN.  With est taken in the sense of il y a, the construction is correct.  The modern form would be, Ce qui est certain.

[121] SANS DIFFICULTE.  See le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard, note 154.

[122] ARTICLE, ‘Matter.’

[123] DISPUTE.  The correct modern word is conteste.  On dispute sur une chose.

[124] ENTENDS.  See le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard, note 247.

[125] JE N’AI CONNU MES MIGRAINES.  Equivalent to Je n’ai eu des migraines.

[126] PROCUREUR, ‘Attorney.’  “Name given formerly to the public officer called to-day avoue” (Littre).  An avoue is an officer whose duty it is to represent the parties before the tribunals, and to draw up the acts of procedure (Littre).

[127] AVOCAT, ‘Lawyer’ or ‘Counsel.’

[128] D’OU VIENT.  See le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard, note 220.

[129] C’ETOIT BIEN LE MOINS, ‘I could do no less.’

[130] PAS TANT DE TORT, ET QUE C’EST...  The modern form would be:  tellement tort, et est-ce ma faute.

[131] A MOINS QUE JE N’Y SOIS POUR RIEN, ‘Unless I have no part in it.’

[132] A TOI A QUI IL EN AURA OBLIGATION.  Later editions print A toi qu’il en aura obligation, which is the better form.  See page 61, notes 1 and 2.

[133] CONGEDIIEZ.  The edition of 1740 prints the form congediez, which would be impossible to-day.

[134] PLAISANTE.  See Le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard, note 37.

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