-- l'ordre avec le désordre." (I have maintained order with disorder). — Le Moniteur universel, May 17, 1848, pp. 1064-5. L'ordre règne à Varsovie. (Order reigns at Warsaw). GENERAL HORACE SÉBASTIANI (1772-1851) on Sep. 16, 1831, communicated to the Chamber the news that Warsaw was in the hands of Russia (Sep. 8, 1831). The actual words were, La tranquillite, instead of L'ordre. Cf. Le Moniteur universel, Sep. 17, 1831, p. 1601, also Dumas, Mémoires, 2nd series, vol. 4, ch. 3. L'"organisateur de la victoire" (The organiser of victory). Origin uncertain, but according to the account of a sitting of the Convention on May 27, 1795, in the Moniteur of June 2, 1795, Carnot spoke and someone cried out "Carnot a organisé la victoire (Carnot has organised victory). In Mémoires sur Carnot, by his son, (vol. I, p. 585, 1861) a voice [some say Lanjuinais, others Bourdon] cried: "Oserez-vous porter la main sur celui qui a organisé la victoire "dans les armées françaises?" (Will you dare lay hands on him [Carnot] who has organised victory in the French armies?) Madame, je vous ai fait attendre mais vous avez longtemps; tant d'amis que j'ai voulu avoir seul ce mérite auprès de vous. (Madam, I have made you wait a long time; but you have so many friends that I wanted to be the only one to have this distinction with regard to you). LOUIS XIV (1638-1715) when handing to MME. SCARRON (16351719) the brevet of her pension. A similar compliment is said to have been paid by Louis XIV to CARDINAL FLEURY (1653-1743) ɔn his appointment as Bishop of Fréjus (cf. Noël and Planche, Ephémérides, April 1803, p. 144). Madame* se meurt! Madame est morte! (Madam is dying! Madam is dead!) JACQUES BOSSUET (1627-1704)— in his sermon at St. Denis, Aug. 21, 1670, on the death of HENRIETTA OF ENGLAND, duchess of Orleans (1644-70). Ma demeure sera bientôt dans le néant et mon nom vivra dans le Panthéon de l'histoire. (My dwelling will soon be non-existent and my name will live in history's Pantheon). DANTON'S (1759-94) reply when asked, at his trial, his name and abode. Preceded by: "Je suis "Danton, assez connu dans la "révolution; " (I am Danton, pretty well known in the revolution). --Derniers momens, p. 200. Ma foi, j'ai vu que Votre Majesté et moi ne sommes pas grand' chose that (Faith, I saw your Majesty and I are of little account). Said to LOUIS XV (1710-74) by LANDSMATH, his equerry, whom he had ordered to go and see the body of the latter's confessor, in reply to the king's question, 'What did you see?' Mais donne donc ! mais donne donc! (Give it me then! give it me then!) Derniers moments et agonie de M. le comte de Buffon, etc. Corr. inéd., vol. 2, pp. 612.4. Last words of BUFFON (1707-88) *"Madam" is the title given to the eldest daughter of the king or the dauphin or of the wife "Monsieur" the king's brother. alluding to the extreme unction. Another account by one of his secretaries (Aude, pp. 53-4) says that his last words were addressed to his son: "Ne quittez jamais le "chemim de la vertu et de l'honneur, "c'est le seul moyen d'être heureux." (Never leave the path of virtue and honour, it is the only way to be happy). Mangez un un veau et soyez chrétien. (Eat a calf and be a Christian)— Racine, Fragments historiques. Reply by the ABBÉ FEUILLET, (1622-93),during Lent, to MONSIEUR (the king's eldest brother). The latter took a small biscuit from the table saying: "Cela n'est pas rompre le jeûne, n'est-il pas vrai?" (That isn't breaking the fast, is it?) Mangez-vous de la vache à Colas? (Lit. Do you eat Colas's cow? but really meaning: Are you a Huguenot?) Saying towards the end of HENRI IV's reign. Allusion to an incident (Sep. 1605) with regard to a cow belonging to Colas Pannier, farmer at Bionne, near Orleans. "Il est de la vache à Colas," a proverbial expression used to designate Protestants. Cf. D. Lottin-Recherches historiques sur la ville d'Orleans, etc. Marche! Marche! (March! March!) JACQUES BOSSUET (1627-1704)in one of his sermons for Easter Day, alluding to the onward march of human life. M. de la Rochefoucault m'a donné de l'esprit, mais j'ai réformé son coeur. (M. de la Rochefoucault has given me wit, but I have reformed his heart). MME, DE LA FAYETTE (1634-93) of LA ROCHEFOUCAULT (1613-80). Made in the 1st edition of Segraisiana (p. 28) to read thus: "Madame de "La Fayette, disoit M. de La "Rochefoucault," etc. (Mme de La Fayette, said M. de La Rochefoucault, etc.), instead of " Madame "de La Fayette disoit: M. de La "Rochefoucault m'a donné," etc. (Mine de La Fayette said: "M. "de la Rochefoucault has given me," etc.) Mes amis, allez-vous-en et priez pour moi, afin que mon agonie s'achève en paix. (My friends, go away and pray for me, so that I may die in peace). Mes amis, je ne vous ferai jamais pleurer autant que je vous ai fait rire. (My friends, I shall never make you weep so much as I have made you laugh). Dying words of P. SCARKON (1610-60). Messieurs, j'espérais avant peu vous faire sortir d'ici; mais m'y voila moi même avec vous, et je ne sais comment cela finira. (Gentlemen, I was hoping before long to set you free but here I am with you myself, and I know not how it will end). DANTON (1759-94)—when conducted to the Luxemburg prison, to his fellow-prisoners. Messieurs, la séance continue! (Gentlemen, the sitting is pro. ceeding!) CHARLES DUPUY ( } Dec. 9, 1893, to restore calm to the Assembly immediately after the Anarchist Vaillant's bomb had exploded in the French Parliament. Messieurs (les Anglais), tirez les premiers. (Gentlemen [the English], fire first). At the battle of Fontenoy (May 11, 1745) LORD CHARLES HAY (died 1760) said: Messieurs des gardes françaises, tirez! (Gentlemen of the French guards, fire!) to which the COMTE D'AUTEROCHES replied: "Messieurs, nous ne tirons jamais "les premiers, tirez vous-mêmes.' (Gentlemen, we never fire first, fire yourselves).-Voltaire, Précis du règne de Louis XV, edition 1769, p. 176. The Dict. Nat. Biog., however, in its article on Lord Charles Hay (vol. XXV, p. 253) contradicts the statement that he uttered the above words. Cf. Also Marquis de Valfons, Souvenirs (1860), p. 143. Messieurs, nous avons un maître; ce jeune homme fait tout, peut tout, et veut tout. (Gentlemen, we have a master, this young man does everything, is capable of anything, and desires everything). Attributed to the ABBÉ SIEYES (1748-1836), referring to NAPOLEON (1769-1821), but denied by him. His account is that on Bonaparte asking why he would not remain consul with him, he replied, “Il "ne s'agit pas de consuls, et je ne veux pas être votre aide de camp." (It is not a question of consuls, and I don't want to be your aide-decamp.) Messieurs, voilà le maréchal de Biron que je présente également à mes amis et à mes ennemis. (Gentlemen, there is marshal Biron whom I present equally to my friends and my enemies). HENRI IV (1553-1610)-to the deputations who came to compliment Charles de Gontaut, DUC DE BIRON (1562-1602), on his being raised to the peerage (1598), after the retaking of Amiens (Sep. 25, 1597). Mes six sous! mes six sous! (My six sous [halfpennies]! my six sous!) Saying of BOIELDieu (1775-1834) alluding to an old man's blessing in return for the above sum, given him by Boieldieu when a child at Rouen. Mieux vaut mille fois mourir avec gloire que de vivre sans honneur. (Better a thousand times to die with glory than live without honour). Maxim attributed to LOUIS VI (surnamed le Gros) (1078-1137). Mignonne, je vous donne ma mort pour vos étrennes. (My darling, I give you my death for a New Year's gift). LOUIS XII (1462-1515)-to his young (and third) wife (PRINCESS MARY, sister of Henry VIII) on his death-bed. He died Jan. 1, 1515. Milord, ils sont du même alpha bet. (My lord, they are of the same alphabet). The Croker Papers, vol. I, p. 327. MME. DE STAËL (1766-1817) at Lord Liverpool's (1770-1828) house at Coombe Wood (near Addiscombe) when asked whether M. de Ségur, ambassador at Berlin, was related to the old family of Ségur (meaning that they were not related, although of the same name). She at first said that they were related "du côte des syllabes" (on the side of the syllables). See L'alphabet est à tout le monde. Misérable, tu n'empêcheras pas nos têtes de se baiser dans le panier. (Wretch, thou wilt not prevent our heads from kissing in the basket [of the guillotine].) Last words of DANTON (1759-94) -addressed to the executioner, who prevented him embracing his friend HÉRAULT DE SÉCHELLES (1760-94) April 5, 1794. M. le président ne veut pas qu'on le joue. (The president will not allow it to be played). Attributed (but erroneously-s Taschereau, Hist. de Molière, 2nd edit., p. 122) to MOLIÈRE (1622-73) à propos of Tartuffe. -see Some have it that the meaning was that the president would not allow himself to be represented. Cf. "Nous allions vous donner le Bon Père; Monseigneur ne veut pas qu'on le joue." (We were going to give you le Bon Père; my lord will not allow it to be played). This announcement was made by FLORIAN (1755-94) one evening with regard to his comedy, le Bon Père, M. le duc de Penthièvre (1725-93) having said that he would The mot is also not come to see it. attributed to LOPES DE (1562-1635) or CALDERON (1600-81) with regard to a comedy entitled l'Alcade [de Zamalea]. "L'alcade ne veut pas qu'on le joue." (The alcade will not allow it [himself] to be played). VEGA "vironner de musique, afin d'entier agréablement dans le sommeil "dont on ne se réveille plus.' (When you are at that point, there remains only one thing more to be done, that is to scent yourself, to crown yourself with flowers, so as to enter agreeably upon that sleep from which there is no awakening). -A. Mézières, Les Mirabeau, vol 5, pp. 336-7. Mon ami, veux-tu bien permettre que je finisse ma dernière douzaine d'huîtres ? (My friend, will you let me finish my last dozen of oysters?) General A.-L. de Gontaut, DUC DE BIRON (1747-93)-to the executioner, who came to tell him that all was ready. See also J'ai été infidèle a Dieu &c. to Mon devoir à moi, c'est de conserver. (My duty is to preserve [life.]) DESGENETTES (1762-1837) NAPOLEON (1769-1821) at Jaffa, (May 1799)-when the former advised the use of opium for putting an end to the sufferings of the plaguestricken soldiers. Another version (perhaps less likely), in Thiers' Histoire de la Révolution française, is: Mon métier est de les guérir, et non de les tuer. (My profession is to cure, and not to kill them). also la Biographie générale, col. 252 note. Cf. other account says: "Mon fils!. Tête d'armée. France." (My son!... Head of the army. . . France). Mon pauvre La Fontaine, vous seriez bien bête si vous n'aviez pas tant d'esprit. (My poor La Fontaine, you would be very stupid if you hadn't so much wit). MME. DE LA SABLIÈRE (1636-93) to La Fontaine (1621-95). He did not usually shine in company. Monseigneur, ces deux corps vont avoir l'honneur de se combiner devant vous. (My lord, these two bodies are going to have the honour of combining before you). Remark said to have been made by BARON THENARD (1777-1857) on the occasion of a visit of the DUC D'ANGOULEME (1775-1844) to the Ecole polytechnique. Another version is that the phrase was used to LOUIS XVIII (1755-1824) and that was said instead of "corps." Monseigneur, vous avez tort! (My lord, you are wrong!) gaz BENSERADE (1612-91) to CARDINAL MAZARIN (1602-61) concerning a dispute in a game of piquet. "What dost thou know of it?" rejoined the cardinal. "The silence of these gentlemen proves it they would cry out louder than you if you were right." Voltaire credits the COMTE DE GRAMONT (1604-78) with a similiar remark made to LOUIS XIV (1638-1715). Mon siège est fait. (My siege is finished.) Reply by ABBÉ VERTOT (16551735) when some documents were brought to him for his History of the Order of Malta and the Siege of Rhodes. He had already finished his history and said, when the docu Mort auchamp d'honneur! (Dead on the field of honour !) Reply made by the oldest sergeant of the regiment (46th demi-brigade) every day when the name of LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE (1743-1800) was called (his name stood at the head of the roll). This homage only ceased to be paid to him in 1814. Théophile-Malo Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne, called le premier grenadier de France (the first grenadier of France) was killed at Oberhausen June 27, 1800. The ceremony has been (1897) revived and a similar one with regard to sergeant Blandan (the hero of Beni-Mered) was ordered (Dec. 5, 1881) by Col. Brugnot commanding the 26th regt. of the line. Cf. Washington Irving's Sketches in Paris in 1825: The Field of Waterloo (Stuyvesant edition, vol. 4. p. 251) in which mention is made of both "Dead on the field *Alluding to the marshal's reverses. |