Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux ( 10 of 24 )
Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., read more
Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., Heureux qui, dans ses vers, sait d'une voix legere
Passer du grave au doux, du plaisant au severe.]
Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: but with
poverty everything becomes frightful.
[Fr., L'or meme read more
Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: but with
poverty everything becomes frightful.
[Fr., L'or meme a la laideur donne un teint de beaute:
Mais tout devient affreux avec la pauvrete.]
Can such bitterness enter into the heart of the devout?
[Fr., Tant de fiel entre-t-il dans l'ame des devots?]
Can such bitterness enter into the heart of the devout?
[Fr., Tant de fiel entre-t-il dans l'ame des devots?]
Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.
[Fr., La vertu d'un coeur noble est la marque read more
Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.
[Fr., La vertu d'un coeur noble est la marque certaine.]
No one is satisfied with his fortune, nor dissatisfied with his
intellect.
[Fr., Nul n'est content de sa read more
No one is satisfied with his fortune, nor dissatisfied with his
intellect.
[Fr., Nul n'est content de sa fortune;
Ni mecontent de son esprit.]
A fop sometimes gives important advice.
[Fr., Un fat quelquefois ouvre un avis important.]
A fop sometimes gives important advice.
[Fr., Un fat quelquefois ouvre un avis important.]
Trouble rides behind and gallops with him.
[Fr., Le chagrin monte en croupe et galope avec lui.]
Trouble rides behind and gallops with him.
[Fr., Le chagrin monte en croupe et galope avec lui.]
I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and read more
I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and Rollet a rogue.
[Fr., Je ne puis rien nommer si ce n'est par son nom;
J'appelle un chat un chat, et Rollet un fripon.]
Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.
Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.
Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien read more
Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien s'enonce clairement,
Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisement.]
