e may believe the epigraph of this work
(_En France tout le monde est un peu de Tarascon_), is again elucidated in
"La Defense de Tarascon" (in "Contes du lundi") and in "Tartarin sur les
Alpes," ch. ii, p 35, where the adventurous spirit of warren rabbits
(_lapins de garenne_) clashes with the domesticity of cabbage-garden
rabbits (_lapins de choux_).
_10_ 14 _s'arracher aux:_ cf. note to _4_ 24.
_10_ 22 _par les lourdes apres-midi d'ete:_ 'during the sultry summer
afternoons.' Note the use of _par_ in statements relating to the weather;
cf. _32_ 1, _63_ 17.--_a lire:_ 'engaged in reading'; cf. _a mener_ _68_
32, and _73_ 30.
_10_ 24 _que de fois:_ 'how many times.'
_10_ 27 _foulard de tete:_ 'kerchief round his head.'
_10_ 30 _Qu'ils y viennent maintenant!_ 'now just let'em come!' _Y_ is
redundant; cf. note to _9_ 7.
_11_ 6 _Touareg:_ cf. note to _40_ 17.--_des Abruzzes:_ 'of the Abruzzi,'
a mountainous district of central Italy, noted for its brigands.
_11_ 9 _avait beau les appeler:_ 'called them in vain'; cf. _28_ 16, _46_
8. _Beau_ is ironical in this expression; cf. Engl. "a fine fellow," "a
pretty mess."
_11_ 10 _Pecaire_ (Latin _peccator = pecheur_ 'sinner'): sometimes
Gallicized by Daudet under the form _pechere_. A very common Provencal
exclamation, usually denoting pity or resignation. Transl. 'alas,' 'dear
me.'
_11_ 12 _les attendait toujours:_ 'continued to wait for them'; note this
force of _toujours_; cf. _26_ 11, _71_ 20.
_11_ 14 _chevalier du Temple:_ 'Knight Templar.' The order of the knights
of the Temple (i.e. the temple of Solomon) was organized in 1118 for the
purpose of protecting pilgrims on the way to the Holy Land.
_11_ 15 _tigre chinois_ the Chinese soldiers used to be called _tigres de
guerre_ (Littre, Suppl).
_11_ 17 _de pied en cap_ (Lat _caput_) 'from head to foot', of Engl.
'armed cap a pic' _Cap_ = 'head' is obsolete except in this expression
and in a few technical terms.
_11_ 20 _Branle-bas de combat!_ 'clear decks for action!' _Le branle_ is
the word formerly used for the seaman's hammock (now usually _le hamac_),
_branle bas_ = 'down with the hammocks,' get them out of the way.
_11_ 24 _entre drap et flanelle:_ transl. 'under his coat'--_Par exemple_
lit 'for example', a common exclamation of which the translation varies
with the context, here, 'I assure you!'
_11_ 27 _se fendait, tirait:_ 'lunged,' 'thrust,' fencing expressions.
_11_ 29 _a l'angla
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