A

HANDBOOK OF TRANSLATION

FROM THE

LATIN, GREEK, FRENCH,

AND

GERMAN LANGUAGES.

NEW EDITION.

Part II.-French.

LONDON:

EDWARD STANFORD, 55, CHARING CROSS, S.W.

1884.

PREFACE.

IN the modern system of Competitive Examination great importance is assigned to the power of translating at sight a passage, taken, without clue to the context, from some standard author in the classical or modern languages. It is generally understood that a fair translation of an easy piece of French or German will enable a candidate to pass, so far as either language is concerned, the preliminary test or qualification which is now required for admission to most competitions; whilst a satisfactory rendering of harder passages from classical or modern authors will secure a solid foundation of marks in the subsequent competitive contest. This faculty of translating at sight implies undoubtedly a respectable acquaintance with the language in question, but habit, presence of mind, readiness of resource and knack contribute more to success than would be at first sight imagined. A boy who has for some weeks been compelled to sit down before detached passages, and hammer them out with the aid of nothing but brains, pen and ink and a sheet of paper, will, so far as any examination goes, soon find himself on a level with rivals much better read than him

PREFACE.

IN the modern system of Competitive Examination great importance is assigned to the power of translating at sight a passage, taken, without clue to the context, from some standard author in the classical or modern languages. It is generally understood that a fair translation of an easy piece of French or German will enable a candidate to pass, so far as either language is concerned, the preliminary test or qualification which is now required for admission to most competitions; whilst a satisfactory rendering of harder passages from classical or modern authors will secure a solid foundation of marks in the subsequent competitive contest. This faculty of translating at sight implies undoubtedly a respectable acquaintance with the language in question, but habit, presence of mind, readiness of resource and knack contribute more to success than would be at first sight imagined. A boy who has for some weeks been compelled to sit down before detached passages, and hammer them out with the aid of nothing but brains, pen and ink and a sheet of paper, will, so far as any examination goes, soon find himself on a level with rivals much better read than him