ACTE II, SCÈNE IV
1: Que voulez-vous: very frequent in conversation to express helpless resignation to the inevitable. The meaning is: «What do you wish me to do in the matter?» or «What was I to do?» or «How can I help it?» The translation must vary with the context.
2: vous cultivez le précipice: you go in for precipices, i.e. you workthem into your schemes, make them help you.
3: vous céder la place; disappear. Lit., «yield the position to you.»
4: vous retrouverez: the force of re- is «on your return.»
5: Voilà… coeur: That was genuine! i.e. straight from the heart.
6: aussi: at the beginning of a clause, aussi means «and consequently,»although the translation may vary («so,» «then,» etc.).
7: faire la demande: offers in marriage are very generally, in France, made by a third party.
8: Mon ami: it is difficult to translate some of these effusions. Dear old fellow! might do duty here.
9: Soyez tranquille: Don't be afraid. Unlike restez tranquille, whichmeans «sit still.»—Chez lui: obviously not «at his house,» but in him. I'll twang the string of gratitude in his heart.