COLLOQUIAL FRENCH. I. LE DÉPART. Pourquoi ces éléphants, ces armes, ce bagage, Conseiller très-sensé d'un roi très-imprudent. Et digne seulement d'Alexandre ou de vous: Mais, Rome prise enfin, seigneur, où courons-nous ? -Sans doute on les peut vaincre. Est-ce tout?-La Sicile -Bornez-vous là vos pas ?-Dès que nous l'aurons prise, Il ne faut qu'un bon vent, et Carthage est conquise. Les chemins sont ouverts : qui peut nous arrêter ? -Je vous entends, seigneur, nous allons tout dompter: COLLOQUIAL FRENCH. I. ON DEPARTURE. Wherefore these elephants, these weapons, this baggage Sensible counsellor of a most incautious king. -I am off, replied this Prince, to Rome where I am called. But, when Rome is taken, whither go we next, Sir? -Stay you there your steps?-As soon as we have taken it, The way is open; who can stop us? -I understand you, lord, we are about to subdue all: To enslave on the way Egypt, Arabia, To hasten on into new countries beyond the Ganges, To terrify the Scythian on the banks of the Don, And reduce beneath our laws all this vast hemisphere. We can laugh unhindered, and enjoy our ease. 2. L'HOMME. Voilà l'homme en effet. Il va du blanc au noir : Il condamne au matin ses sentiments du soir : Importun à tout autre, à soi-même incommode, L'ours a peur du passant, ou le passant de l'ours; L'ambition, l'amour, l'avarice, la haine -A peine le soleil fait ouvrir les boutiques. Mais j'ai des biens en foule, et je puis m'en passer. Il ne faut épargner ni crime, ni parjure; Il faut souffrir la faim, et coucher sur la dure; Such, forsooth is man. 2. MAN. He goes from black to white. In the morning condemns his opinions of the previous evening, An intruder to others, bore to himself, He is ever altering his mind like his fashions, Turning at the slightest gust, falling at the first rebuff, And yet, beholding him, all fume and froth, So selfishly indulging his own weak fancies, You would say he was nature's own prop and pedestal, Of all animals he says he is the master. Who can deny it? (you rejoin). I, perhaps. But without stopping to inquire whether by their gloomy dens Bears fear the passenger, or passengers the bears, How many kings, how many masters, has this would-be master of creation, this king who dictates laws to beasts? Ambition, love, avarice, hatred Hold his mind enthralled like a fettered convict. -Oh! do leave me alone.-Get up.-One moment.-You reply? -It is hardly daylight; the shops can't be open yet.-* -What matters ? Rise. But what for, after all? -To scour the ocean to the furthest ends, To sail off to Japan for china and amber. Bring back pepper and ginger from Goa. —But I have means in plenty, and I can do without more.— You must suffer starvation and sleep upon the hard ground; * Hardly does the sun cause the shops to be opened. |