La première désobéissance de l'homme, et le fruit de cet arbre défendu, dont le mortel goût apporta la mort dans le monde et tous nos malheurs, et la perte d'Eden, jusqu'à ce qu'un homme plus grand nous rétablît et reconquît le séjour bienheureux, chante, Muse céleste ! 2. Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound Within the visible diurnal sphere: Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, (Paradise Lost, Book vii.) La moitié de mon sujet reste encore à chanter, mais dans les bornes plus étroites de la sphère diurne et visible. Arrêté sur la terre, non ravi au dessus du pôle, je chanterai plus sûrement d'une voix mortelle; elle n'est devenue ni enrouée ni muette, quoique je sois tombé dans de mauvais jours, dans de mauvais jours quoique je sois tombé parmi des langues mauvaises, parmi les ténèbres et la solitude, et entouré de périls. Cependant je ne suis pas seul, lorsque la nuit tu visites mes sommeils, ou lorsque le matin empourpre l'orient. 3. Me, of these Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument Climate, or years, damp my intended wing (Paradise Lost, Book ix.) Pour moi (de ces choses ni instruit ni studieux), un sujet plus haut me reste, suffisant de lui-même pour immortaliser mon nom, à moins qu'un siècle trop tardif, le froid climat ou les ans n'engourdissent mon aîle humiliée. IV. OF GRAMMATICAL CORRECTNESS. § 16. It is evident that, if the desire of accuracy ought not to allow the translator to forget the peculiarites and idioms of his own language, still less ought it to permit him to neglect grammatical correctness, from which no one can depart without offending common sense. Yet correctness is the chief stumbling-block in the way of those who practise translation. The habit of speaking their own language induces them to think, at first, that the forms which are so familiar to them are to be found in the syntax of another tongue also; but this fallacy leads them to serious mistakes. To instance all these errors would demand a summary of the rules of French grammar, which does not come within the plan of these preliminary remarks. As our book is intended for those who are already acquainted with the whole syntax, we shall only call their attention to some general facts, and point out those differences in the two languages which chiefly lead to the greater number of mistakes. As for the general facts, everybody knows that we should never, in writing French, lose sight of the Gender of Nouns; the placing of Adjectives, Adverbs, and Pronouns; the Negative and Interrogative forms; the Irregular Verbs; the right use of the Preterite and Imperfect Tenses; and, finally, of the rules on the Subjunctive and the Participle. It is by the help of a good grammar that students must render themselves familiar with these principles. * But, besides these general facts, there are certain difficulties which often present themselves, and upon which we feel compelled to dwell a little longer. We shall class them according to the parts of speech. PRONOUNS. § 17. We cannot make use in French as in English of the ellipsis of the adjective, when the subject and verb are expressed. We must not, therefore, translate, Our cousins are rich, but we are not, by Nos cousins sont riches, mais nous ne sommes pas. It is necessary to recall the notion of the adjective by the invariable pronoun le, which answers to the English it, and in this case stands nearly for so. We must therefore say, Nos cousins sont riches, mais nous ne LE sommes pas. § 18. The pronoun cela is never used before an adjective followed by a verb in the infinitive mood. Do not then translate, We have found IT necessary to put off the meeting, by Nous avons jugé CELA nécessaire de remettre la réunion, but simply say, Nous avons jugé nécessaire de remettre la réunion. * Messrs Trübner & Co. have published a Grammar of the French language, written by Mons. Henri van Laun, French master at Cheltenham College, which has been adopted in many of the large educational establishments in England. § 19. At the beginning of a sentence, before the verb être followed by an adjective, it is translated by il, if the adjective is followed by the preposition de, or by the conjunction que. EXAMPLES: IT is just to pay your debts. IL est juste QUE vous le payiez. It would be a great mistake to say, C'est juste DE payer vos dettes; or, C'est juste QUE vous le payiez. But, if the adjective stands alone, then translate it by ce. EXAMPLES: You paid him; IT was iust. Vous l'avez payé; c'était juste. § 20. If a Cardinal number, an Adverb of quantity, or an Indefinite pronoun stand by themselves in English, never translate them without preceding the verb in the sentence by the pro noun en. Do not therefore say: 1. You have five apples, but SHE HAS TWENTY. Vous avez cinq pommes, mais ELLE A VINGT. Neither say: 2. I received the peaches, but YOU SENT TOO MANY; it would have been sufficient to HAVE SENT A FEW. J'ai reçu les pêches, mais vous AVEZ ENVOYÉ TROP; il suffirait d'ENVOYER QUELQUES-UNES. But translate thus: 1. Vous avez cinq pommes, mais elle EN a VINGT. 2. J'ai reçu les pêches, mais vous EN avez envoyé TROP; il suffisait d'EN envoyer QUELQUES-UNES. § 21. In English, the antecedent of the Relative pronoun is often preceded by the Demonstrative pronoun that, those. In French, the Article alone is sufficient. This passage in Shakspeare, Cherish THOSE hearts that hate thee, ought not to be translated, Chéris CES cœurs qui te haïssent, but Chéris LES cœurs qui te haïssent. Translate in the same way the following sentence: They pray to THESE idols which can neither hear, nor see, nor give them any help. Ils prient DES idoles que ne peuvent ni les entendre, ni les voir, ni leur donner aucun secours. § 22. The suppression of the Demonstrative ce before qui and que is impossible in French. Translate then-You must do WHAT is right, and He did WHAT I told him, by Vous devez faire CE QUI est bien; Il a fait CE QUE je lui ai dit. § 23. Do not say: A friend OF MINE, Un ami DES MIENS; but say, Un DE MES AMIS. Translate in the same way: A cousin OF OURS, UN DE NOS COUSINS; Two relations OF YOURS, Deux DE VOS PARENTS, &. § 24. In English, an adjective is never used by itself in the vocative; it always follows the pronoun. Example: YE, WICKED, fear the last day. In French we cannot say, Vous MÉCHANTS, craignez le dernier jour. The pronoun is always suppressed, as the adjective acquires the power of a substantive; and we say, MÉCHANTS, craignez le dernier jour. § 25. Do not translate, SUCH a bad man, by Un TEL méchant homme, because an indefinite adjective cannot modify an adjective of quality, as that is the office of the adverb. Say, therefore, with an adverb, Un SI méchant homme. VERBS. § 26. Some verbs which are active in English, are neuter in French. In such cases it would be a great mistake to translate their passive form literally. Do not therefore say: 1. I was very much PLEASED with that pupil. Je FUS très-PLU avec cet élève. Nor: 2. My letter HAS not BEEN ANSWERED. But say: 1. Cet élève m'a beaucoup PLU. 2. On n'a pas répondu à ma lettre. PREPOSITIONS. § 27. The prepositions, it will be remembered, serve to establish a connexion between nouns and other words. But, as these connexions are not always considered from the same point of view in all languages, it follows that there exist considerable diversities in the meaning of prepositions. Now, as these little words recur in almost every sentence, it is evident that if we do not take care to employ them correctly, we shall fall into mistakes as frequent as they are strange. Here are some cases which most commonly mislead students: For. § 28. Do not always translate For by Pour. EXAMPLES: 1. They were at Windsor for three days. Ils ont été à Windsor pendant trois jours. 2. I will not come for a week. Je ne reviendrai pas d'ici à huit jours. 3. He inquired for you. Il a demandé après vous. 4. Do it for charity. Faites cela par charité. 5. For pity, For fear, For instance. Par pitié, Par crainte, Par exemple. 6. Champion for liberty. Champion de la liberté. With. § 29. Do not always translate With by Avec. EXAMPLES: 1. We must be contented with little. 2. The table was covered with plate. 3. They fought with swords. 4. His name begins with a P. 5. To fill a bottle with wine. B |