A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux

by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux

[215] AVANT QUE JE LA DEMANDE À LUI, etc. The modern construction of this sentence would be: Avant que je ne la lui demande, souffrez que je vous la demande à vous.

[216] RENDRE MES GRÂCES. In modern usage the mes is omitted in this locution.

[217] NENNI, 'No.' An antiquated negative particle, coming from non illud, as hoc illud gave oïl > oui (Littré).

[218] IL This second il refers to présent.

[219] NE FAITES POINT DÉPENSE D'EMBARRAS, 'Don't waste your confusion,' 'keep such feelings for a more fitting occasion.'

[220] D'OÙ VIENT ME DITES-VOUS CELA? 'Why do you tell me that?' A strange wording for D'où vient que vous me dites cela? D'où vient, as used by Marivaux, is generally synonymous with pourquoi.

[221] VOILÀ OÙ GÎT LE LIÈVRE, 'That's where the secret lies.' A well-known proverbial expression, worded also, "C'est là que gît le lièvre."

[222] A TIRER, 'To be allowed for.'

[223] GLOIRE, 'Rank,' 'show.'

[224] J'ENTRE EN CONFUSION DE MA MISÈRE, 'To whom I have been ashamed to reveal my lowly station.'