"Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus 7 Humourous variety for 'De mémoire d'homme.' 8 Lit de justice. Here = 'tribunal.' It is the historical name for the king's throne, when the judges were assembled en parlement, and the king by his mere presence could override all opposition, and compel any royal decree to be registered as the law of the land. IO Répliquer. Always used of counsel's reply. Tempêter. 'To storm.' 13 Payer. Verbs ending in -ayer are as often spelt with y as i before e mute. In the future you have three forms: 'payerai,' 'paierai,' 'paîrai.' Amende is the verbal substantive of 'amender,' Lat. ' emendare' ('mendum'). 14 The verdict is at once just and illegal. It is the inversion of Summum jus summa injuria. The evidence was contradictory, and the charge 'non-proven;' but by their known antecedents (cf. "d'assez mauvaise vie," 1. 2), both richly deserved what they got. 16 A tort et à travers implies here disregard of all legal forms, condemning 'without rhyme or reason.' 'Et à,' hiatus only tolerated in so familiar a phrase. 17 Pervers; i.e. 'an old offender.' Thus Philip of Macedon is recorded, after hearing both sides in a suit, to have condemned the defendant to banishment, and the plaintiff to be sent after him! FABLE IV. PHÆDR. I. 30. Rana metuentes Taurorum prælia. I À qui. Cf. I. xiv. 59, note. 2 Génisse. Cf. I. vi. I. 5 Coassant. Aristophanes Cf. Lat. 'coaxare,' and the chorus of frogs in “ βρεκεκεκεξ κοάξ κοάξ.” "Les corbeaux croassent, les grenouilles coassent." Its 12 Jusques. For 'jusque,' to save elision of the last syllable. 13 Pâtir. (Lat. 'patior.' No longer in common use. derivative 'compatir' survives. 20 Cf. Hor. Epist. I. ii. 14 66 'Quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi." FABLE V. SOP. 307. Vespertilio et Mustela. I Chauve-souris. Lat. 'calvus sorex.' So called because its wings are membranous and bare of feathers, Tête baissée. Participle absolute='head foremost,' and Lat. 'præceps.' 2 Belette. Diminutive of 'bele,' O. Fr., from Lat. adjective 'bella' = 'la jolie petite bête.' 3 Corroucée envers would now be-'contre.' 8 Je ne suis pas belette. Humorous variety of the popular form of attestation, "Ou j'y perds mon nom," as in English, "Or my name's not !” 9 The diminutives 'pauvret,' 'pauvrette,' are used as substantives. 10 Ma profession; i.e. 'what I style myself.' 14 Gent. Old-fashioned for 'race, peuple.' 19 What part of speech would 'aveuglement' be? 21 Derechef='de nouveau.' Formerly written de rechef.' 'Rechef,' iterative of 'chef,' in sense of 'bout' (as in 'venir à chef,' whence 'achever'). 22 Museau. O. Fr. 'musel,' diminutive of 'muse' (= 'bouche'), from late Lat. 'musus,' corruption of 'morsus' (as 'dos,' from 'dorsum '). 23 Croquer. Word intended to imitate the sound of crunching with the teeth. 25 Telle. Not intended to agree with 'oiseau.' nant bat preserves her own feminine personality. The indig N'y regardez pas; i.e. 'don't look close enough.' 'Regarder' with dative implies purpose, action of the mind's eye as well as of the bodily eye. Compare 'regarder sa montre' and 'regarder à sa montre.' 26 Qui fait might be personal 'who?' To make certain of the neuter sense 'what,' you would put it, 'Qu'est-ce qui fait ?' 28 To curse your natural enemies is strong proof of your own identity. 31 Changeants. For present participle agreeing, cf. 'suprà,' I. v. 24. Changer d'écharpe. To change one's colours,' 'be a turncoat;'écharpe,' the military 'scarf' worn over the armour, across the breast. Hence 'en écharpe''slanting.' In very old times, as with 'Joinville,' it was the 'pouch' or 'purse worn by pilgrims hanging from their neck. Cf. derivative 'escarcelle.' 32 Faire la figue à. Also 'faire la nique à'='se moquer de;' so in Eng. 'a fig for you.' The phrase is supposed to be of Spanish origin. Cf. Henry V. iii. 6— "A figo for thy friendship. The fig of Spain !" 33 Le sage dit. is only ironical. La Fontaine's approval of such time-serving Such a man is 'wise in his generation,' like the unjust steward in the parable, Selon les gens. 'According to his company.' 34 The Catholic League headed by the Guises. The King Henri IV. of Navarre, victor of Arques and Ivry. (Cf. Macaulay's Lays.) This war of the League with the Huguenots lasted from 1585-1598, when the Edict of Nantes granted toleration to the Huguenots, and Henry IV. could reign for a while in peace. It was also called the 'Guerre des trois Henris;' viz. Henri III., Henri IV., and Henri de Guise, the self-constituted Dictator. FABLE VI. ESOP. 4. Sagittarius et Aquila. 1 Empennée. Use has justified La Fontaine's coinage of this word, since 'emplumée' would mean rather covered' than 'tipped' with feathers. 7 Engeance. Cf. 'suprà,' I. xix. 23. 9 Fapet; i.e. Iapetus,' himself a Titan, son of heaven and earth, who, as father of Prometheus, was considered by the Greeks the ancestor of the human race. FABLE VII. PHÆDR. I. 19. Canis parturiens. I Lice. O. Fr. 'lisse' 'chienne.' From Lat. 'lycisca ;' feminine of 'wolf-hound;' used as a hound's name by Virgil. En. iii. 18. 9 Echu. Échoir' ('choir,' Lat. 'cadere'), used here of a respite expiring; usually of money falling due or coming in. Eng. 'to escheat.' The present participle lives on in the phrase 'le cas échéant' = 'should the case occur.' 20 Cf. the Eng. proverb, "Give them an inch, and they'll take an ell." FABLE VIII. ÆSOP. 7. Aquila et Cantharis. Escarbot. Diminutive of 'escarbe,' Lat. 'scarabæus,' 'beetle' (must be distinguished from 'escargot,' 'snail'). I Maître Jean lapin. Its regular name in Fable, implying a very ordinary sort of animal, like the contemptuous name, 'Jacques bonhomme,' for a common rustic. 5 Où mieux? sc. 'faire' or 'se cacher.' Se blottir. A term derived from 'falconry.' 'Blot' was the perch on which the falcon slept, a blow. Stronger than 'repousse.' Substantive 'choc;' 'To stun,' more often with loud noise than by 18 Fracasser. Substantive 'fracas.' Words which imitate the sound of 'smashing.' 21 Aigle. The bird is usually masculine, but it is used also in the feminine in poetry, whence, 'la reine des airs.' In the figurative sense of an ensign' (Roman ‘eagle') or device upon a coin, 'aigle' is always feminine. 21 Ce ménage; i.e. this 'ruin' of her 'ménage;' ironical use. Cf. Ger. "Der Sturm hauset im Walde." 22 Rage is no exception (nor is 'cage') to the rule that the 'suffix -age,' Lat. -aticum,' is always masculine, since they are simple stems from Lat. 'rabies,' 'cavea.' 27 Fait faire le saut = 'the eggs were blown.' The phrase 'faire sauter' now expresses any 'explosion;' 'sauter' (neuter), said of the thing destroyed; 'faire sauter,' of the destroyer. But faire le saut' has its literal meaning of 'taking a perilous, fatal leap;' and no doubt here the idea is implied of the falling from that fatal height. 28 Derechef. Cf. II. v. 21. 29 Deuil. Substantive form of the old verb 'doloir,' Lat. 'dolere.' Expresses now the outward garb of sorrow. 31 The well-known story of Ganymedes, the beauteous Trojan prince, carried off by Jupiter's eagle to serve him as cup-bearer on Olympus in place of Hebe. = 33 Giron 'lap;' much the same as 'sein.' It originally denoted that part of the clothing which reaches from waist to knee. 40 Secouer. From Lat. 'succutere.' 43 After this line came originally another "De quitter toute dépendance. Not a strong line, which La Fontaine himself cut out in the later editions. 46 Comparaître. Cf. Livre II. Fable iii. note on heading. 50 S'aviser. To take counsel with oneself,' and so 'to have a bright idea.' 54 sop simply says: "Henceforth eagles have not their young when beetles are about." La Fontaine makes the breedingtime for eagles henceforth changed from spring to winter. There is some warrant for this idea in nature. Rev. J. G. Woods, in Homes Without Hands, p. 532, says of the Bald-headed Eagle, or Bird of Washington (which has been accepted as the emblem of the United States), that it breeds at an earlier period than any other bird, incubation beginning with January, I Chétif. Lat. 'captivus;' Eng. 'caitiff;' now epithet of 'pity' or 'contempt.' The form captif' is quite modern. 6 6 Soucier. Lat. sollicitare.' Now only reflexive. 'Se soucier de,' 'to care for.' Ni, where ou would be expected, since the principal sentence is interrogative, not negative. 7 Puissant. Originally, and still in familiar style, implies 'bulk.' 8 Cf. A mon gré.' II La trompette would be the instrument. Cf. 'le fourbe,' 'la fourbe.' 12 Dans l'abord and 'à l'abord' are now antiquated phrases, for which would be used, 'dès l'abord,' 'd'abord,' 'tout d'abord.' Se mettre au large = 'to keep one's distance;' as 'prendre le large = 'to make one's escape.' The metaphor is borrowed from seafaring, 'le large' ''the open sea;' so that a ship is said, 'tenir le large,' 'to keep its offing;' 'gagner le large,'' to stand out to sea.' 15 Etinceler. Lat. 'scintillare.' Note the metathesis of the c and t. = 16 Environ, as substantive, is now only used in plural, aux environs.' Cf. 'à l'entour,' 1. 27. The root is 'virer': ' tourner en cercle.' Eng. 'veer;' Lat. 'gyrus,' 'gyrare.' 19 Avorton. So verb 'avorter,' Lat. abortare.' Cf. Eng. 'abortion.' Harceler. O. Fr. 'herceler,' 'to torture.' From 'herce,' modern 'herse'='harrow.' Cf. Eng. verb 'to harrow.' There is also the verb 'harasser,' 'to harass.' 20 Tantôt. Cf. Lat. 'modo;' Ger. 'bald.' Échine. Cf. Eng. 'chine.' From old Ger. ‘skina’= ‘épine ;' in this case 'l'épine dorsale.' Museau. Cf. note on I. xviii. 23. 22 Faîte. Lat. 'fastigium.' Cf. 'être au faîte'='arriver au comble.' 24 En before definite article would now be incorrect. 25 Mettre en sang. Cf. mettre en pièces.' Fasse. Subjunctive, because dependent on negative statement. 27 Fait résonner; i.e. 'lashes." À l'entour. Antiquated for 'autour. The phrase has now grown into one word 'alentour,' adverb, and more commonly 'les alentours,' substantive. 28 N'en peut "mais. ('Mais,' Lat. 'magis.') 'Can do no more,' 'can do no better;' i.e. cannot help it,' 'is not to blame.' The only phrase in which the old sense of 'mais' is extant. Usually n'en pouvoir mais''to be quite exhausted.' Cf. VI. iii. 26. H |