Peine forte et dure. (The strong and hard pain). 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) wrote: 66 "Pends-toi, brave Crillon, nous 64 Crillon, je vous aime à tort et à "travers. (Hang thyself, brave Crillon, we have fought at Arques, and thou wert absent. Adieu, 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 66 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 Phistoire de France, vol. 4, p. 848, (Berger de Xivrey). Pendu jusqu'à ce que mort s'ensuive. (Hanged until death ensues). 163 Formula decreed April 24, 1524, by the Bordeaux parliament to be inserted in all condemnations to hanging. See Let him be hanged by the neck. Périsse notre mémoire, et que la France soit libre ! (Perish our memory, and let France be free!) P. V. VERGNIAUD (1753-93) concluded his speech to the National Assembly (Sep. 17, 1792,) by saying: "Périssent l'assemblée nationale et 66 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 I, 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 ! 66 66 Yes, 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. 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). 66 66 66 “... mais plus ma qualité de roi 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, İvi. 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. 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 the greatest danger). Discours 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 reprimanded 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!) the Words uttered by the poet A. CHENIER (1762-94) on 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? 165 Prendre la paille. (To take the 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 'saccagés!" (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 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. 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. I.) Michelet, Précis de l'hist. de France, p. 237) quotes the saying: "Je n'ose rien entreprendre que je n'y aie bien pensé; mais quand une fois j'ai pris ma résolution, je vais droit 66 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, оп 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 dè aioxpoùs 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 does not trouble about the stables). Said by BERRIER ( ) minister of the navy, to BOUGAINVILLE, (1729-1811) Montcalm's (1712-59) lieutenant. Bougainville replied: On ne dira pas du moins que vous parlez en cheval. (It will not be said that you speak as a horse. )— Charles de Bonnechose, Montcalm et le Canada français. Quand le feu roi votre père, de glorieuse mémoire, me faisait l'honneur de m'appeler auprès de sa personne, pour s'entretenir avec moi sur ses grandes affaires, au préalable il faisait sortir les bouffons. (When the late king your father, of glorious memory, did me the honour of sending for me, to consult with me on his important affairs, he first of all sent away the buffoons). The DUC DE SULLY (1560-1641) to LOUIS XIII (1601-43). Quand le phénomène que vous venez de constater s'est pro- you see it: I am about to die, Dying words of DR. RICHET (1816-92). On his death-bed he was explaining to his son and another doctor friend the evolution of pulmonary congestion, from which he was suffering, analyzing its symptoms and indicating the progress of the disease. Quand on combat à lances d'argent, on a souvent la vic toire. (When one fights with lances of silver, victory often follows). LOUIS XI (1423-83). Cf. Rabelais, Gargantua, 1, 46. "Les nerfs des batailles sont les pecunes. (Coin is the sinews of war.) See Pour faire la guerre avec succès &c. Quand orgueil chevauche devant, honte et dommage le suivent de bien près. (When pride goes before, shame and misfortune follow close behind). — Philippe de Commines, MEmoires, bk. 2, ch. 4. Favourite maxim of LOUIS XI (1423-83). Quand vous m'aurez tué, il ne me faudra que six pieds de terre. (When you have killed me, I shall only require six feet of earth.) President MATHIEU MOLE, (15841656) Feb. 27, 1649, to one of the angry crowd who held a gun to his head, threatening to shoot him. Biographie universelle : art. Molé (Mathieu), p. 289, note. Chateaubriand, in his Mélanges Littéraires, says: "Six pieds de "terre feront toujours raison au plus grand homme du monde." (Six feet of earth will always conquer the greatest man in the world). Quant aux injures, on ne les 66 élèvera jamais au-dessus de mon dédain. (As for insults, they will never be raised above my contempt). F.-P.-G. GUIZOT (1787-1874) replying to the attacks upon him in the Chamber of Deputies, Jan 26, 1844, spoke as follows: "Et quant 'aux injures, aux calomnies, aux "colères extérieures, on peut les multiplier, les entasser tant qu'on "voudra, on ne les élèvera jamais "au-dessus de mon dédain." (And as for insults, calumnies, outside 66 |