A Selection from the Comedies of Marivaux

by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux

[104] AIME. A singular failure to carry out the agreement of the verb in the relative clause with its antecedent. Aimez would be the correct form.

[105] C'EST S'ÉGORGER, 'It is madness.'

[106] VOS FUREURS, 'Your mad purpose.'

[107] LE. The edition of 1740 prints the article le, but the demonstrative ce would carry out the sense better.

[108] CELA DE PLUS. Accompanied with some gesture of impatience, perhaps a snap of the thumb-nail against the teeth. With us a snap of the fingers would accompany the words.

[109] INSTRUIT. That is to say, 'informed' about the matter in hand.

[110] SI CE N'EST. = Sinon.

[111] LA FAIRE. Le would be more natural, referring to reste, which is masculine. La evidently refers back to somme.

[112] PRÉTENDS, 'Expect.'

[113] RENDRE RÉCONCILIÉS. The simple infinitive réconcilier is more natural French. Marivaux has purposely lent this loosely constructed expression to Lépine. Mme. de Sévigné uses "rendre révoltée."