By MARSHAL M. NEY (17691815) during his trial. Condemned by the court of peers Dec. 6, 1815. Derniers momens, p. 328. Oui, sire, le moulin n'y est plus ;

mais le vent y est encore. (Yes, sire, the mill is there no longer, but the wind is there still).

DE

Reply made by the DUC VIVONNE (1636-88) to Louis XIV (1638-1715) in the park at Versailles, on being asked if he remembered that a mill used to be there. Où la vertu va-t-elle se nicher! (Where is virtue going to nestle !)

Attributed to MOLIÈRE(1622-73). He gave a louis to a poor man and the latter ran after him, saying that he must have given it him in mistake. Molière gave him another, making Voltaire the above exclamation. (édit. Garnier) vol. 23, p. 95 (Vie de Molière).

Sometimes quoted: "Où diable la vertu va-t-elle se nicher ?" Ouvrez, c'est l'infortuné roi de

France. (Open, it is the unfortunate king of France).Froissart.

Words uttered by PHILIP VI (1293-1350) after the battle of Crecy (Aug. 26th, 1346) on arriving at the chateau de Broye. Generally misquoted "Ouvres, c'est la fortune de la France." (Open it is the fortune of France).

Note. In the earliest edition of Froissart's Chronicles (abt. 1495) the words are la fortune de France, but in that of 1840, edited by J. A. C. Buchon, the crror has been corrected and noted. "Ouvrez, ouvrez, chatelain, c'est l'infortuné roi de France," (Cf. Froissart, bk. 1, pt. 1, ch. 292, p. 240, 1840 edition).

Panat fait tache dans la boue.

(Panat makes even mud dirtier.) Saying of RIVAROL (1753-1801) alluding to the untidy personal appearance of the Chevalier de Panat.

Pardon, Sire, il n'en a tué qu'une ;
c'est votre Majesté qui a tué
(Pardon,
les vingt autres.
Sire, he has only killed one;
it is your Majesty who has
killed the twenty others).

Saying attributed to the DUC de MONTAUSIER (1610-90), governor to the eldest son of Louis XIV. The king said that he had let justice take its course with regard to an assassin whom he had pardoned after his first crime, but who had since killed twenty people.

Paris vaut bien une messe. (Paris is indeed worth a mass). Expression generally attributed to HENRI IV (1553-1610), but probably invented after his death.

The phrase Sire, sire, la couronne vaut bien une messe (Sire, sire, the crown is indeed worth a mass),* is in the Caquets de l'accouchée, ascribed to the DUC DE ROSNY, (Sully) (1560-1641) the king having asked him why he didn't attend "A la vue mass like himself. Cf. "de Gênes la superbe et de ses en"virons pittoresques, il [Napoleon] "s'écria: 'cela vaut bien une 66 guerre.' (At the sight of Genoa the superb and its picturesque surroundings, he cried: that is indeed worth a war.') This was on his journey through Italy after his coronation in Milan.-J. Fouché, Mémoires, 1824, pt. 1, p. 332.

Pas encore, mon fils, pas encore.

(Not yet, my son, not yet.) Attributed to LOUIS XIII (160143) when on his death-bed, after asking the dauphin his name (he had just been baptised) and ceiving the reply "Je m'appelle Louis XIV." (My name is Louis XIV).

re

* Dentu's edition (Bibliothèque elzévirienne) pp. 172-3.

Punishment (now abolished) inflicted when a person indicted for felony refused to plead. A method of torture, ending in death, consisting of the pressure of a weight of iron and semi-starvation. Nowadays, if any one refuses to plead, the Court may order a plea of "Not guilty" to be entered. Cf. Wharton's Law Lexicon; also F. Watt, The Law's Lumber Room, 1895, vol. 1, p. 10).

Pends-toi, brave Crillon. (Hang thyself, brave Crillon).

Voltaire relates (in a note to La Henriade, chant viii, 1. 97, 1730 edition) that HENRI IV surnamed Le Grand (1553-1610)

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wrote:

Pends-toi, brave Crillon, nous 'avons combattu à Arques, et tu n'y étais pas. .. Adieu, brave Crillon, je vous aime à tort et

" travers. (Hang thyself, brave Crillon, we have fought at Arques, and thou wert absent. brave Crillon, I love you through all.) The only foundation for the above seems to be a letter from the king to GRILLON (1541-1615) (so called by Henri IV) from the camp at Amiens, dated Sept. 20, 1597: "Brave Gryllon, pandes vous de

navoyr esté ycy pres de moy lundy dernyer à la plus belle occasyon

quy ce soyt james veue et quy peut estre ce verra james." (Brave Crillon, hang yourself for not having been here with me on Monday last at the finest opportunity that ever was seen and which perhaps may never happen again). Collection des documents inédits sur l'histoire de France, vol. 4, p. 848, (Berger de Xivrey).

Pendu jusqu'à ce que mort s'ensuive. (IIanged until death ensues).

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sa mémoire, pourvu que la France "soit libre!" (Perish the National Assembly and its memory, provided that France is free!), after quoting the words: "Périssent mon nom et ma mémoire, et que la Suisse soit "libre " (Perish my name and memory, and let Switzerland be free!) as if uttered by William Tell, whereas he was really quoting a line from Lemierre's tragedy of Guillaume Tell (act 1, sc. I): 'Que la Suisse soit libre, et que nos noms périssent." (Let Switzerland be free, and let our names perish.) At the conclusion of Vergniaud's speech all the members rose and exclaimed: "Oui, oui, 'périssons tous et que la liberté "reste! Oui, oui, périsse notre "mémoire et que la France soit "libre !" (Yes, yes, let us all perish and liberty remain ! yes, perish our memory and let France be free!) Cf. DANTON'S (1759-94) phrase in his Discours à la Convention Nationale, March 10, 1793: "Que la France soit libre et que mon nom soit flétri." (Let France be free and my name be dishonoured.) Cleopatra, in Corneille's Rodogune (1644), says (act 5, sc. 1): Tombe sur moi le ceil, pourvu que je me venge!" (Let the heavens fall on me, so that I avenge myself.) See Périssent les colonies &c.

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46

Yes,

Périssent les colonies plutôt qu'un principe! (Perish the colonies rather than a principle!)

*

The above is the résumé of two phrases from speeches in the Constituent Assembly (May 13, 1791) by DUPONT DE NEMOURS (17391817) and ROBESpierre‡(1758-94). Plus ma qualité de roi me peut

donner de facilité à me satisfaire, plus je dois être en garde contre le péché et le scandale. (The more my rank of king renders it easy to satisfy my desires, the more I must be on my guard against sin and scandal.)

LOUIS XIII (1601-43) to Saint Simon (1607-93) when talking of Mlle. de Hautefort (1616-91). “... mais plus ma qualité de roi

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me peut donner plus de facilité a me satisfaire qu'a un autre, plus 'je dois, etc. (... but the more my rank of king renders it easier for me to satisfy my desires than for another, the more I must, etc.) Saint Simon, Mémoires. Cf. "In maxima fortuna minima licentia est

(The higher your station, the smaller your liberty). - Sallust, Catilina, ĺvi.

Plutôt la mort que l'esclavage,

C'est la devise des Français. (Rather death than slavery, is the motto of the French). Refrain sung at the foot of the scaffold, Oct. 31, 1793, by J.-P. BRISSOT (1754-93) and his companions. Derniers momens, p. 169.

*Il vaudrait mieux sacrifier les colonies qu'un principe. (It is better to sacrifice the colonies rather than principle.)-Le Moniteur, May 15, 1791, p. 553.

a

Périssent les colonies s'il doit vous en coûter votre bonheur, etc. (Perish the colonies if they are to cost you your happiness, etc.) See Périsse notre mémoire etc.

Cf. "Plutôt souffrir que mourir, C'est la devise des hommes." (Rather suffer than die, is man's motto).-La Fontaine, La Mort et le Bûcheron.

Politique de "fous furieux." (Enraged madmen's policy). L.-A. THIERS (1797-1877)-in his speech at Versailles, June 8, 1871, on the abrogation of the laws of exile. He alluded to the efforts of Gambetta to continue the war as follows:-"Oui, messieurs, nous "étions tous révoltés, je l'étais 66 comme vous tous, contre cette politique de fous furieux qui "mettait la France dans le plus "grand péril." (Yes, gentlemen, we were all opposed, myself like you all, to this enraged madmen's policy, which exposed France to Discours the greatest danger). Parlementaires, vol. 13, pp. 313-4. Pour Colin, c'est un bon garçon

qui ne dira jamais de mal de personne.

BOILEAU DESPRÉAUX's father, alluding to his son Nicolas (16361711).

Pour être heureux, il faut avoir un bon estomac et un mauvais cœur. (To be happy we must have a good stomach and a bad heart.)

Saying attributed to FONTENELLE (1657-1757), also to the physician J. MOLIN (1666-1755) substituting in the latter case "long life" for "happiness." Journal de Paris, Mar. 9, 1778, pp. 269-70. Pour faire la guerre avec succès, trois choses sont absolument nécessaires premièrement, de l'argent; deuxièmement, de l'argent; troisièmement, de l'argent. (To make war successfully, three things are absolutely necessary; firstly, money; secondly, money; thirdly, money).

MARECHAL GIAN JACOPO DE TRIVULZI, called the Grand Trivulce (1448-1518) to LOUIS XII (1462-1515) when about to surround the Milanese (1499). See Quand on combat à lances d'argent, on a souvent la victoire-an earlier saying. Cf. the proverbial saying L'argent est le nerf de la guerre.' (Money is the sinews of war). Pourquoi le grondez-vous ? Croyez-vous qu'il ne soit pas assez affligé de m'avoir fait attendre? (Why do you scold him? Don't you think he is sorry enough for having kept me waiting?)

Louis XIV (1638-1715) when a park gatekeeper was being repri manded for not being at his post to open the gate for him. Racine, Fragments historiques. See J'ai failli attendre.

Pourquoi pleurez-vous? m'avezvous cru immortel? (Why do you weep? did you think me immortal ?).

Death-bed utterance of LOUIS XIV (1638-1715). H. Martin, Hist. de France, vol. 14, bk. 91.

Pourtant j'avais quelque chose

là! (Yet I had something there!)

Words uttered by the poet A. CHENIER (1762-94) on the scaffold, July 25, 1794. Chénier said to his friend the poet J. A. ROUCHER (1745-94), who was executed the same day, "Je n'ai rien fait pour la postérité.., (I have done nothing for posterity..) and, striking his forehead, added the above words. Euvres posthumes d'André Chénier (1839, p. xxxi of Introduction). Another version : "J'avais pourtant quelque chose là."--Derniers momens, p. 232. See Why should we legislate for posterity?

Prendre la paille. (To take the straw.)

Mlle. DE MONTPENSIER, surnamed La Grande Mademoiselle (1627-93), when Condé's troops were approaching Paris during the Fronde, walked through the streets with a bundle of straw in her hands crying: "Que ceux qui ne sont pas pour "Mazarin [i.e., on the king's side] "prennent la paille, sinon ils seront "saccages!" (Let those who are not for Mazarin, take some straw, if not their houses will be pillaged!) Puisque l'armée n'a pu voir

Villars mourir en brave, il est bon qu'elle le voie mourir en chrétien. (Since the army has not been able to see Villars die a brave man's death, it is right that it should see him die like a Christian.)

MARECHAL DE VILLARS (16531734) when badly wounded at Malplaquet (1709), referring to the sacrament being administered to him.

Puisse mon sang cimenter votre bonheur ! (May my blood

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cement your happiness!) Last words of LOUIS XVI (175493) on the scaffold. Another account gives his last words as follows: "Je meurs innocent de tous les "crimes dont on m'accuse, je par"donne à mes ennemis, je désire que mon sang soit utile aux 'Français, et qu'il apaise la "colère de Dieu. Et toi, peuple "infortuné. . ." (I die innocent of all the crimes of which I am accused, I forgive my enemies, I desire that my blood be of service to the French, and that it may appease God's anger. And thou, unfortunate people ). The rest was inaudible, as Santerre ordered the drums to be beaten.-Derniers momens, p. 119. See also Faites, sire, ce sacrifice &c.

Quand ferons-nous cesser ces mascarades? Nous n'avons pas voulu détruire la superstition pour établir l'athéisme. (When shall we cease these masquerades? We did not want to destroy superstition in order to establish atheism.) DANTON (1759-94) referring to the saturnalias called "Fêtes de la Raison" (Feasts of Reason.)

Quand j'ai pris une résolution, je

vais droit à mon but et je renverse tout de ma soutane rouge. (When I am resolved, I go straight to my goal and I overthrow everything with my red robe).

Saying of CARDINAL RICHELIEU (1585-1642). Often misquoted, and a different meaning given to the phrase. (Cf. Victor Hugo's Marion Delorme, act 2, sc. 1.) Michelet, Précis de l'hist. de France, p. 237) quotes the saying: "Je n'ose rien entreprendre que je n'y aie bien

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pensé; mais quand une fois j'ai "pris ma résolution, je vais droit

'à mon but, je renverse tout, je "fauche tout, et ensuite je couvre "tout de ma robe rouge." (I dare undertake nothing unless I have well considered it; but once I have made up my mind, I go straight to my goal, I overthrow everything, I cut down everything, and then I cover everything with my red robe).

Quand je faisais le métier de

satirique, que j'entendais assez bien, on me menaçait de coups de bâton ; à présent, on me donne une pension pour faire le métier d'historien que je n'entends pas. (When I played the part of satirist, which I understood pretty well, I was threatened with the stick; now I am given

a pension for playing the part of an historian, which I don't understand).

Remark made by BOILEAUDESPRÉAUX (1636-1711) on his appointment as king's historiographer. Quand je mourrai, l'univers fera un grand ouf! (When I die, the world will utter a great ouf! [of relief]).

NAPOLEON'S (1769-1821) remark after hearing the compliments paid him on his asking what would be said of him after death. "L'homme "vraiment heureux est celui qui se "cache de moi au fond d'une pro“vince, et quand," etc. (The truly happy man is he who hides from me in the heart of the country, and when, etc).-Mme. de Rémusat. Quand je secoue ma terrible hure, il n'y a personne qui osât m'interrompre. (When I shake my terrible locks, there is no one who dares to interrupt me.)

Saying of MIRABEAU (1749-91). Les Mirabeau, vol. 5, p. 364; also E. Dumont, Souvenirs de Mirabeau, 1832, p. 197. Cf. "H Kóμŋ τοὺς μὲν καλοὺς εὐπρεπεστέρους ὁρᾶσθαι ποιεῖ, τοὺς δὲ αἰσχροὺς φοβερωτέρους. (The hair makes the handsome look more comely, and the ugly more frightful.) — Plutarch, Lysander I.

LYCURGUS (A. c. 850 B.C.) Quand la justice a parlé, l'humanité doit avoir son (When justice has spoken, humanity must have its turn).

tour.

In a speech by P. V. VERGNIAUD (1753-93) in pronouncing sentence of death (Jan. 17, 1793) on king LOUIS XVI (1754-93).

Quand le feu est à la maison, on ne s'occupe pas des écuries. (When the house is on fire, one