ΤΟ FRENCH TRANSLATION BEING A SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIVE AND ENTERTAINING PIECES WITH NOTES TO ASSIST IN THE TRANSLATION AND TO EXHIBIT A COMPARISON OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH IDIOMS BY LÉON CONTANSEAU PROFESSOR OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT THE ROYAL FIFTH EDITION LONDON LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS PREFACE. THIS little work, which its Editor has the pleasure of dedicating to the Gentlemen Cadets of Addiscombe, consists of a selection, both instructive and amusing, from the best English and French authors. Experience has satisfied him that, for students who have already acquired some knowledge of French, exercises which are purely grammatical and in detached sentences are too easy, and become tiresome; while, on the other hand, pieces written originally in English are, without the aid of notes, too difficult for students to translate into French. His present object, therefore, is to place in their hands a work which shall take a middle course between grammatical exercises and a free translation without notes. The Editor has divided the following collection into three parts; having been careful to graduate, as much as possible, the difficulties. In the first, composed of pieces translated from the French, and intended to be the easiest, a perfect translation of the words is given. In the second, comprising, along with pieces translated from the French, others purely English, the infinitives only of the verbs are given, leaving it for the student to find out the proper moods and tenses. The third part, consisting of pieces purely English, and consequently the most difficult, is without any assistance. Since it is impossible in any ordinary class for all the students to be on a par, it may be divided into three sections, to each of which the most suitable portion of this little book may be assigned. The Editor has deemed it advisable to mark by numbers portions that may be considered sufficient for a lesson, the object of which is to prevent a loss of time to the instructor, who has only to indicate which number he intends for the lesson. The book ends with some scenes from English comedy, and a few pieces of poetry, taken from the best English poets, in order to familiarise students with the conversational style, and also that they may have more difficulties to overcome. L. C. |