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the poor and1 attending on 2 the sick, and employing themselves in their farms and gardens; they were carpenters, ploughmen, gardeners, and vine-dressers, as if they had practised nothing else; 5 they studied physic, and surgery, and law;a in truth, it seems that from religious motives 8 these learned men attempted to form a community of primitive Christianity.

ISAAC DISRAELI, "Curiosities of Literature."

A CLEVER RETORT.10

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A friend of Dean Swift* one day sent him a turbot, as a12 present, by a servant lad 13 who had frequently been on similar errands,14 but who had never received the most trifling mark of the Dean's generosity.1 Having gained admission, 16 he opened the door of the

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1 And, to be left out-2 attending on, visitaient-3 employing themselves in, s'occupaient de-4" and in their "-5 as if they had practised nothing else, comme s'ils ne s'étaient jamais exercés à autre chose-6 and, to be left out—7 in truth, à vrai dire-8 from religious motives, par sentiment religieux-9 attempted, aient essayé. 10 A clever retort, une bonne repartie-11 "sent him one day" (see note, p. 3)-12 as a, en-13 a servant lad, un jeune domestique14 been on..... .errands, fait de......commissions-15 the most, etc. generosity, translate "the least mark of generosity from (de la part de) the Dean"- 16 having gained admission, étant entré dans la mai

son.

......

a Law, taken in its particular and definite sense-a rule of action enacted either by the Divine will or by the executive power of a regularly constituted society-in Latin lex, is in French loi ;-Law, used in its abstract and general meaning as a principle or a science, in Latin jus, is in French droit.

Being given a proper noun preceded by a word expressing a title or dignity, as Marshal, Bishop, Councillor, etc., the definite article is not used in English, but is always required in French : Dean S., le doyen S.

Mark also that those words of title do not take a capital letter in French.

* Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, was born at Dublin in 1667, and died in 1745.

A PROTEST AGAINST WAR WITH AMERICA.

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study, and abruptly putting down the fish,1 cried, very rudely, "Master has sent you a turbot." "Young man," said the Dean, rising from his easy chair, "is

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that the way you deliver you better manners; 7 sit

your message?

your message? Let me teach down in my chair, we will

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change situations, and I will show you how to behave9 in future." 10 The 11 boy sat down, and the Dean, going 12 to the door, came up to 13 the table with a 14 respectful pace, and making 15 a low bow,16 said, "Sir, my master presents his kind compliments,17 hopes you are well,18 and requests your acceptance of 19 a 20 small present." "Does he?" 21 replied the boy; "return him my best thanks,22 and there's 23 half-a-crown for yourself." The Dean, thus drawn into 24 an act of generosity, laughed heartily,25 and gave the boy 26 a crown for his wit.27

(* * *)

A PROTEST AGAINST WAR WITH AMERICA.

My lords, I am an old man,28 and would advise 29 the noble lords in office 50 to adopt a more gentle mode

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1 Literally, "and putting abruptly the fish down (à terre)”—2 “he cried"-3" my master" has sent you, "sends you"-5" said to him"”— is that the way you deliver, est-ce là la manière dont tu t’acquittes de-7 let me teach you better manners, viens ici, que je te donne une leçon de politesse- we will change situations, and I will, nous allons changer de rôle, et je vais 9 how to behave, comment il faut te comporter or simply comment te comporter - 10 in future, à l'avenir-11 the, notre-12 " having gone," étant allé, or: après être allé-13 came up to, s'avança vers-14 with a, d'un-15 “and said in making" " 16 a low bow, une profonde révérence-17 presents his kind compliments, vous fait ses amitiés-13 hopes you are well, il aime à penser que vous êtes en bonne santé-19 and requests your acceptance of, " and begs you to accept"-20 a, "this"-21 does he? vraiment ?-22 return him my best thanks, remercie-le bien de ma part-23 and there's, voilà-24 drawn into, entraîné à- — 25 laughed heartily, se mit à rire de bon cœur- gave to the boy"-27 wit, trait d'esprit.

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28 An old man, simply, "old"-29 and would advise, je voudrais conseiller à-30 in office, à la tête des affaires.

of1 governing America; for the day is not far distant when America may 2 vie with these kingdoms, not only in arms, but in arts also. that the principal towns in

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It is an established fact, America are learned and polite, and understand the constitution, of the empire as well as the noble lords who are now in office; and consequently, they will have a watchful eye over 7 their liberties, to prevent the least encroachment on their hereditary rights.

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This, my lords, though no new doctrine, has always been my received and unalterable opinion; and I will carry it to my grave, that 10 this country had no right under heaven 11 to tax America. It is contrary to all the principles of justice and civil policy; neither 12 the exigencies of the State, nor even an acquiescence in 13 the taxes, could justify it, upon any occasion what

1A more gentle mode of, "a method more gentle for"-2 may, pourra 3 in, dans les-4 in, "of" learned and polite, " enlightened and civilised"- 646 who govern us at ("in") this moment"-". "they will watch with ("of") a jealous eye over"- 8"this doctrine, which is not new, my lords" I will carry it to my grave, je la garderai (or literally je la porterai avec moi) jusqu'à la tombe-10 that, à savoir que li no right in the (au) world"—12 neither, et ni-13 in, à.

a "The day when," "le jour où." Thus used in the sense of "at which time," when is rendered by où, and sometimes by auquel, à laquelle, etc., or simply by que (as "l'époque à laquelle ;" "le jour que")-but never by quand.

Translate: "it is an act contrary," etc. The pronoun cela would not be sufficiently clear, especially as "it" occurs again three lines further down. When "it" stands for a noun somewhat far back, the noun should simply be repeated in French. When "it" refers, as it does here, to a whole proposition, some appropriate noun, summing up or qualifying that proposition, should be used, as acte, mesure, assertion, etc., which gives at once colour and precision to the style. Let Arago's saying be borne in mind: "Cela n'est pas clair, donc cela n'est pas français."

A moral impossibility is well conveyed in French by the conditional of savoir with ne only, instead of the present indicative or conditional of pouvoir used negatively.

A PROTEST AGAINST WAR WITH AMERICA.

may

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ever.1 Such proceedings will never meet their wishedfor success. Instead of adding to their miseries, as 3 the bill now before you most undoubtedly does," adopt some lenient measures 5 which lure them to their duty; proceed like a kind and affectionate parent7 over 8 a child whom he tenderly loves; and instead of those harsh and severe proceedings, pass an amnesty on all their youthful errors; clasp them once more in your fond and affectionate arms,10 and I will venture to 11 affirm you will find them 12 children worthy of their sire. But should their turbulence exist 13 after your proffered terms 14 of forgiveness, which I hope and expect 15 this House 16 will immediately adopt,17 I will be among the foremost 18 of your lordships to move for such measures as will 19 effectually prevent 20 a future relapse,21 and make them feel what it is to 22 provoke a fond and forgiving

1 Upon any......whatever, dans n'importe quelle......-" will never obtain the "-3 see for the place of the nominative, noted, p. 13—4 now before you, qui vous est présenté—5 lenient measures, mesures de douceur. 6 may lure them, les ramènent-7 proceed like a kind and......parent, agissez comme agit un père bienveillant et...... 8 over, à l'égard de-9 youthful errors, erreurs de jeunesse10 clasp, etc.......arms, recevez-les (or: serrez-les) de nouveau dans vos bras avec tendresse et affection-11 I will venture to, j'ose12 "in them"-13 but should......exist, si cependant......devait se prolonger-14 14" after you will have offered them the terms"—15 I hope and expect, j'espère avec confiance que-16 House, Chambre17 will......adopt, va......adopter-18 the foremost, les premiers19 to move for such......as will, à proposer des......qui soient de nature à 20" prevent effectually"-21 a future relapse, simply "a relapse❞—22 what it is to, ce que c'est que de.

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Does, le fait.-This pronoun le, "it," which is always used in cases of this kind, seems to connect more forcibly the proposition of which it forms part with the fact mentioned above, i.e., "adding to their miseries," and is another instance of the general preciseness of the French syntax.

And make them, etc., et à leur faire, etc. Observe this dative leur.-The verb faire before an infinitive which has an accusative case requires the dative pronouns lui and leur, whilst if the infinitive has no accusative case, faire takes the accusative pronouns le,

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parent; a parent, my lords, whose welfare has ever been my greatest and most pleasing 2 consolation. This declaration may seem unnecessary; but I will venture to declare, the period is not far distant when she will want the assistance of her most distant friends; should the all-disposing hand of Providence prevent me from affording her my poor assistance, my prayers shall ever be for her welfare-" Length of days be in her right hand, and in her left riches and honour; may her ways be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths be

peace !"' 8

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LORD CHATHAM.

ROBINSON CRUSOE'S FIRST ALARM.

It happened 10 one day about noon, going 11 towards my boat, I was exceedingly surprised with 12 the print of a man's naked foot on the shore, which was very plain to be seen 13 in the sand. I stood like one thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an apparition; listened, I looked round me, I could hear nothing, nor see

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1 A fond and forgiving parent, une mère indulgente et généreuse-2 pleasing, douce-3 period, époque-4 she, ma patrieshould the all-disposing hand of......prevent me from, si la main de......qui dispose de tout devait me refuser de-6 may her ways, puissent ses voies of pleasantness, agréables- and all her paths be peace, et puisse-t-elle marcher toujours dans le sentier de la paix !

• Crusoe, Crusoë-10 it happened, better left out-11 going, en marchant-12 surprised with, surpris de trouver-13 which was very plain to be seen, que je distinguais clairement-14 I stood like one, je m'arrêtai comme un homme-15 as if I had seen an apparition, comme si un fantôme m'était apparu.

la, les. Ex.:-"They made him relate his adventures," "on lui fit raconter ses aventures;" "they made him speak," "on le fit parler." The same rule applies to laisser. Ex.::-"Let him write," laissezle écrire" "let him write his letter," "laissez lui écrire sa lettre."

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