A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux

by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux

[105] VOTRE PRÉTENDU GENDRE, 'Intended son-in-law.' The word prétendu is commonly used alone, and then means 'intended.' The usage is derived from the meaning of the verb prétendre à, 'to aspire to,' 'to desire.' Here, therefore, 'the man who aspires to become your son-in-law.'

[106] VONT LEUR TRAIN, 'Are doing their work,' 'are producing their effect.'

[107] NOUS Y VOILÀ, 'Just what I feared.'

[108] IL EST DE MAUVAIS GOÛT. The il refers not to Arlequin, whom Lisette takes for Dorante, but to the idea that she should be loved by one so much her superior socially.

[109] CELA NE LAISSERA PAS QUE D'ÊTRE, 'It will be no less true.' The idiom may be expressed more logically by the omission of the que (Littré, "laisser," 20°).

[110] D'HOMME D'HONNEUR. An ellipsis for the more complete expression which later editions print, foi d'homme d'honneur.

[111] J'AI MÉNAGÉ SA TÊTE, 'I have spared his mind,' 'I have handled him carefully.'

[112] LE MOMENT. For l'occasion.

[113] A VUE DE PAYS, 'From the looks of things.'

[114] FAIT. Some later editions print tourné. The idea is the same.