Page 1000

Miscellaneous Translations. (continued)

9679

Beginning of the end. 1

9680

Boldness, again boldness, and ever boldness. 2

9681

Dead on the field of honour. 3

9682

Defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies. 4

9683

Extremes meet. 5

9684

Hell is full of good intentions. 6

9685

History repeats itself. 7

9686

I am here: I shall remain here. 8

9687

I am the state. 9

9688

It is magnificent, but it is not war. 10

Note 1.
Fournier asserts, on the written authority of Talleyrand’s brother, that the only breviary used by the ex-bishop was “L’Improvisateur Français,” a compilation of anecdotes and bon-mots, in twenty-one duodecimo volumes. Whenever a good thing was wandering about in search of a parent, he adopted it; amongst others, “C’est le commencement de la fin.”

See Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Quotation 29. [back]

Note 2.
De l’audace, encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace—Danton: Speech in the Legislative Assembly, 1792.

See Spenser, Quotation 5. [back]

Note 3.
This was the answer given in the roll-call of La Tour d’Auvergne’s regiment after his death. [back]

Note 4.
See Canning, Quotation 5. [back]

Note 5.
Les extrêmes se touchent.—Mercier: Tableaux de Paris (1782), vol. iv. title of chap. 348. [back]

Note 6.
See Johnson, Quotation 76. [back]

Note 7.
See Plutarch, Quotation 30. [back]

Note 8.
The reply of Marshal MacMahon, in the trenches before the Malakoff, in the siege of Sebastopol, September, 1855, to the commander-in-chief, who had sent him word to beware of an explosion which might follow the retreat of the Russians. [back]

Note 9.
Dulaure (History of Paris, 1863, p. 387) asserts that Louis XIV. interrupted a judge who used the expression, “The king and the state,” by saying, “I am the state.” [back]

Note 10.
Said by General Pierre Bosquet of the charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaklava. [back]

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