18. Pas tant tant mieux: ‘Not entirely so much the better.’
[52], 11. Phèdre: title rôle of the masterpiece of Racine (1677).
[53], 15. une force surnaturelle. Maurice de Saxe is said to have been able to break a horseshoe in his hands.
21. vous me rendrez raison: ‘you shall give me satisfaction.’
25. vous serez aux premières loges: ‘You will be in the first row of boxes,’ i.e., in a splendid position to see the fight.
26. allons, en scène: ‘come, let us make our appearance on the stage,’ i.e., begin the fight.
[54], 2. en se jouant: ‘easily turning aside.’
6. “Paraissez Navarrois, Maures et Castillans,” etc.: quoted from Corneille’s Le Cid (1636), Act V, Scene I.
12. “Et le combat finit faute de combattants”: from the Cid, Act IV, Scene III.
17. s’informer de mes nouvelles: ‘to inquire about me.’