A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux

by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux

[79] PASSONS NOTRE CONTRAT, 'Let us sign the marriage settlements to-day.'

[80] ICI, an early use instead of -ci.

[81] HÉTÉROCLITE. See le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, note 18.

[82] RAGOÛTANT. See le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, note 102. The word has seemed too coarse to the actors of to-day, and has been replaced by agréable.

[83] PASSER. See note 79.

[84] TOUT À L'HEURE. See note 76.

[85] JE N'AI QUE FAIRE DE SORTIR, 'I do not need to go out.' Compare le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, note 140.

[86] CETTE SOTTE! equivalent to quelle sotte. It will be noticed that the French make a very large use of the demonstrative where in English the article would be employed. In such cases as the present the English would be: 'What a …'

[87] AVEC LE MÉDECIN PAR-DESSUS. Doctors have been the butt of jests from time immemorial. Compare: "Nuper erat medicus; nunc est vespillo Diaulus: Quod vespillo facit, fecerat et medicus" (Martial, I, 1, Epigram xlviii).

"En dépit des médecins nous vivrons jusqu'à la mort" (Leroux de Lincy. Proverbes, t. 1, série v).