DE JOSÉ CARLOS BARCELLOS
2. Planteamiento de su tesis
result of his habitual use of.legal phraseology.
The neuter form of the first series is still used- as the stressed demonstrative>■ mainly in set expres s ions like ce dis ant (163, 288) and ce f alct (289) but the examples a faute de ce (165) and sur ce (162) show that the form was not yet fossilized. Elsewhere however it is replaced by cecy (138) and cela (120,
130), . .
- - • . 6, Pronouns (Miscellaneous). •
The distributive chacun is always used as a pro noun (20, 149, 162), sometimes along v;ith the inde finite articles un chacun (266, 281).
The possessive slen is once used adjectivally: ung sien amy (300). Normally leur is variable when plural,- as in Modern French, but the old usage per sists. in on dit leur veritez (330).
• 7. Verb.
. ' ■ ' “..' H .."" ' ' i - , . . The verb forms show the characteristic lack of
uniformity, particularly with regard to graphy, conse quently a full exposition would be mere repetition. Some points however are worthy of mention.
Though the radical of trouver has been levelled out, there is still hesitation between the etymological and analogical forms in the case of demeurer. Both
demeurer and demourer occur as the infinitive (115,344k*' For the 3rd plural of the present indicative the etymo
logical form demeurent stands (246). • ; In the past defi nite and imperfect, subjunctive, where the accent was
counter-tonic, the older form in -ou- is still used; demoura;(177); demourast (274). The past participle shows hesitation between demeure (147) and demourez
(125, 128, 158), while the present participle is In* variably demourant (161), where the tendency testabil ity may result from the frequent use of the phrase au demourant (47, 160, 269). ; ’
Though fleurlr was not affected by the moveable
accent, it was influenced by fleur, and the present par ticiple (used as an adjective in all three cases) has both forms; florissant (175, 236) and fleurisSant (127). The.Future.
The tendency to introduce -e in the future and •• • 1 • '
conditional of -re verbs Is still seen in renderiez
(142), while an analogical future is seen in . acquiereraS'(66).
The future of lalsser appears In the contracted form; je lairray (226); vous lairrez (343).
•1. Brunot II, p. 359.
2. In the n1593” Edition'however the form Is acquerra In this edition demourer has the contracted
future de mour r ont, which Marcilly has altered to demourreront. -
. • Gender. • ’ ' ;
The gender of many words is undecided in the 16th century. Sometimes it may vary according to meaning, or it may be Influenced by the form of the noun;. again , the cause may be phonetic, or It may be ascribed to learned Influence, while some cases remain unexplained. Whatever may be the cause, usage varies from one autho to another, and it Is of interest to note the usage of the authors of the Menippee; however, as there are one or two discrepancies between the editions, it Is not impossible that alterations were made by the
printers. ■
AFFAIRE Is masculine 115, 326; feminine 62, 96S, 344. Montaigne uses both genders, but Nicot gives mascu
line only.
AMOUR Is feminine 322; gender not shown 137. Both genders in Amyot and Montaigne.
ART: gender not shown 141, 125. Montaigne changed cette belle art to ce bol art in the 1595 edition.3 Nicot gives masculine, • .
1. Brunot, II, p. 262. ’ . /
2, In the f,!593” edition this case is masculine. Essais l, ch. 9, t. I, p. 43. Quoted Brunot II,
BOWASQWs- feminine 57, 210, • Masculine in Jean de . Champs-Repus 3 The Satyre has the first recorded
instance of the figurative use, which may account •
for the gender. • . •.
CARQSSEt masculine 298, hut feminine in the 1593 edition.
COCHE; masculine 309; gender not shown 296. Mascu- .line in Nicot, Amyot and Montaigne, feminine in
/ Cotgrave, has both, genders in Ronsard. / ■ -
VC H E; masculine 98, 257, hut feminine in both places
in the. 1593 edition. Feminine also in Montaigne, but that there was hesitation is proved by a sen tence in Le Loyal Serviteuf, in which both genders are used (Bayart, ch. 17).
EQUIPAGE; feminine (25), though it had both genders in the 16th century: feminine in Amadis, masculine in Amyot.
NAVIHE: masculine 310, 335; feminine 251. Usually feminine in the 16th century, Amyot, Rabelais, Ronsard. Palsgrave observes that it is sometimes masculine, and ascribes the introduction of this gender to court usage.
OEUVRE: regularly masculine 254, 327, 328, though both genders were admissible in the old language. 1.. Huguet, Dictlonnalre: BOVRRASQVE.
logical. The word, is usually feminine ,> but la fin du XVIe siecle, le masculin s’Implante1 2 3peu a
- g ... . •
peun. • Nicot admits both genders ,, but Cotgrave
only masculine. ,
TIGE;. masculine 267, 334; feminine 227,. 267.® The word was originally feminine, and is so in the old language, hut hy the 16th century it had become mainly masculine, e ,g i ini. Rabelais, Balf, Jodelle, though it is feminine in R. Estlenne and Du BeIlay. Montaigne uses both genders, but in the latter half of the century the feminine becomes more usual, and . is so in Cotgrave and Nicot, though d*Aubign6 retain
the masculine. The tendency to become feminine ma^ be attributed to the form.
Use of the Substantive.
A survival of older usage is seen in the use of two nouns placed side by side unconnected by a preposi tion and expressing the possessive relationship. Most of the examples are ^expressions toutes faites", like 1. Voizard says it is feminine In the Satyre Menlppee
but in the edition of 1593 it Is masculine, though the compound contrepoison (120) is feminine.
2. Brunot II, Pi 404.
3. TIGS is masculine in all four places In the early edition.
la Feste-Dleu (23), le feu Sainct Anthoine (12)? la Confralrie Sainct Eloy . (23),, and par.la mort BleuI
(155)? but the usage is more spontaneous in; '?aux pieds Nos tre - .Dame - soubs - t erre (2) * ■ • . ■ ' ■ ' ' ~ '
' CHAPTER III» ■
articles
.
The Definite Article.:
With geographical names there is no fixed rule; sometimes the definite article Is used, hut more fre quently It Is not, especially when the noun is used adjectivally to qualify the preceding noun. We find les Indes (139), le Perou (139), les Bourguignons de ia Plcardlex (154) / but les Anglola de France (154),
•2
lea Sarrazins d fEspagne (154), le commerce de Loire' (52), les affaires de France (1), 1’Infante d1Espagne (.136) , la grandeur de Lorraine ■(96). •
. • With words denoting something unique, like terre, mer, etc., or common words like homme, 16th century
usage was to put the noun without any article. In most cases our authors comply with this; dedans terre
(333), outre mer (104), ce qufhomme pouvoit avoir (188) but the tendency to use the article is already appar ent in la moelle de la terre (267).
In conformity with contemporary usage no article is used with abstract nouns; •„ causer salut etbeatltude 1.
2.
In the case of provinces the use of the article becomes commoner during the course of the ’ century. - Brunot II, p. 389.
(9), ne parvlent pas; a maturite (333), acguerir .gloire
(155), les miracles de nature1 (334). However, this is. not always so: the art icle is used with nature in que. la nature le produise (267). ' ’ 1 .
When the abstract noun Is qualified, e.g. by a relative clause/: the article sometimes stands: par 1/oubly qu*il peut lnduire en nos esprits (337); la douceur dont usoit Cesar (282). Just as frequently, however, it is not used: pour resjpuissance qu/elle
eut de la mort du feu Roy (334)trans port ez d jerreua» et d* amour de nouveautez que leur mettiez (219).
Sometimes the usage is quite modern; la douceur t ombe ordinalrement aux femmes (282).
Familiarly the definite article is used with a proper noun, to denote {,the wife of”; la Bussy (48).
.. . .. The Partitive.
De is commonly used to express an idea of the *
partitive sense, especially where an adjective pre cedes the noun: de petite verms (265), de pauvre heres (250),, de bons advis (181), de gros culs (297), etc, Even when the adjective follows or when there is no adjective, the partitive function Is frequently 1. Cf. D’Aubigne II, 274; les beautea de nature.
The preposition de seems to dispense "with"the necessity of using the article.
expressed; de 1 * eau benlate (111), des homines jus tea et vertueux (159); du bled, du vln (170), pour de 1 * argent (336), de la gralsse (111), faire des addi tions (328). It is even used with abstract nouns: Elie eust du mescontenteinent de son fils (196), qui
a volt de 11 2 entendement ce qu * homme pouvoit avoir (188} This last example conforms with O.F. usage, where the partitive indicates an indeterminate fraction of a determinate quantity.1
When the verb is negative de is usual: qui n*a poinct mange de chair de che val (171); qui nTavolt point de lettre (162) ; nous njavons plus de volonte nl de volx (167). One example is exceptional for this text: Qui n1 a' des chapelets (216). This occurs however in the nplaisante rime" quoted by XPAubray from the mouths of women and children, hence it has no claim to be literary French. In support of this is s.
2
remark by Brunot that in popular speech de and du or des were completely confused, and this exception may
be due to popular influence.
With ne ... que, the full partitive may or may not be used: Jg.„ne.,_yQia-r jLcy que des Estrangers,pas- sionnez ...Je n<y vols quo des femmes ambitleuses 1. Lucien Foulet, Petite Syntaxe de 1/Ancien
Francais, p. 67“ 2. • II, p. 391, n. 2.
v ■ The Indefinite Article.
,? Throughout the century, the use of the Indefinite article tends to become more widespread. In our
text it Is used to denote one of a number of specific tilings 2 aucuns parlerent d»un Dlctateur perpetuel
(299), or when the substantive is defined or quali fied: Toutesfols je crains une chose: c’est que..*
(118) :• une viande celeste pro pre a guerlr (295), There are as yet no fixed principles In the use of/the indefinite article: all we can note is the gradual emergence of a tendency to use it with most indeterminate nouns, as in these examples: de porter un bonnet rouge (118); ces hpmmes,,,,« ayolent pris une liberte d1 attaguer (330); un asyle et s eure retraite de voleurs (168).
General Observations.
1) The articles, definite, partitive and indefinite, were established in all their forms at the time of publication of the Satyre Menlppe'e. As in contem . porary texts, certain tendencies of the old
This may be due to the Influence of the verb# estre: see below.
language persist , but at the same time there is ; . ; zevidence of a desire to experiment with the new
usage, especially when particularising. The more ■widespread use of articles leads to greater 'indi- / .viduality and to greater subtlety. Incertain
cases, e .g. the repetition,or absence of articles 4 in enumerations. there are traces of stylistic
considerations. Though intended to be read, the • style is rhetorical, and considerations of euphony ? play a considerable part towards achieving balance ;*•’ <and harmony. • ' . • • ' . • ./ •. 2) The text has a wealth of verbal expressions which . have no article: estre cause de (116)? avoir
doisir (205), avoir abaolution (62), donner lo is ir (118), estre cas que (107), port er s ce ptre (277), When the case is determinate / however, the article . ,Is sometimes used; nous avons bien eu la raison de
tbus ces Valesiena (97). ’ -
3) When the substantive is the complement of estre, there is no article; octants «... grands mignons
(176), n{est~ce pas chose estrange?(104), estant ,
jeune escholier (113), ce sont bons Princes et bons
Catholiques (116). There are similar instances of direct objects without an article: ceux qui se sont ■; renduz bons servlteurs du Roy (342), quTon ne les .
4) With prepositions there is a-tendency to suppress the article: sur tons gages (161)< a autrea ; < •
pensees (278), par petites gens (252), par heureuse
fuitte (34) , en grosse troupe (162), par art dia- bollque (141), venir a composition (243), pour menues gens (119), an,age (36), avec esperance que
(219). Sometimes these are /’expressions toutes faites”: a bride abatue (37), par armes (IQ), par
forfalcture (53) . ;• . ''
5) A negative verb favours,suppression: qui ne trouv jamais fin de son s cavoir (343); mon cousin n’en veut ny n*en espere honneur ou louange (329) ;
'«■ Me FVMWe™*—.'* ihTJ.l. ilii, »m I afttw K« »> «M li i,.i»l lfji *>rlW >♦ ' ’ - .3
Jamais Bussy le Clerc n*y fit oeuvre (156).
Similarly after ni and sans: nl ley, hi .v Hl **®*«M’.IW WX'it*** <»'■'**? i ■wanwtoJlim,Bw ,«■" I i.L'OOiMfrl WWW ,
respect, nl vergongne (246) , sans larmes (171). oans coup ferlr (10).
6) Certain Indefinite adjectives appear without the article:
AVTKh: et ne tlray autre frulct de mon voyage (50) q^i,ne demandant..autre chose que ... (144).
TEL: en telle recommendation (49), en tel temps (146).
But Mais point de nouvelles de trouver ny de Sons Temps, ny de Riche Lab cure nr (326T? ■ 1.
de toutes parts (214),; a toute3 mains (170). But the article is used.also; par tous les
’ carrefours de Paris (7), tous les peuples (7)' tous les Ordres (7). - ' ‘ . , • * * • : . \ . Similarly with adjectives modified by si;
pour si bonne cause (168), souhaiter si petite
• fig—uhr-wnr; ri • - -r i j— r;" * \ . , . . w '
chose (99), si gros seigneur que luy (144), and in ■ <• comparisons; comme pelerins contre les mescreants
(108), comae rats en pallie (162), rouge comme .
sang (334) . - . •
Contrary to normal usage, the article is used
with mesmes en la mesne feuille (136), couronne de la mesme couronne (144), a la me sine re conno is s ance
(284).
7} The definite article has become established with/ // superlatives: une des fleurs de lys de Paris la
plus blanche (127); les reliques les plus salnctea (61). But one exception occurs: de toutes les personnes plus slgnalees de Finance (324) . ' c 8) In a series of substantives it is usual to express
the article once, in spite of variations of gender and number; par la penitence, jeusnes et abstinence
(101), 1 /orgue il et insolence (130), ayec un grand I. See Brunot, II, p. 398, and Haase, para. 28,
silence .et attention de Messieurs {48}. • 'However the tendency to repeat the article is already pre sent i les houchers, les tailleurs / les chicaneurs ■ hastellers, coustellers et autres espaces de gens '
(111) , or again, it , may not he expressed at all; . tuei1 et assassiner parents, amis, voislns, here et : ;mere (156).
' • : ‘ CHAPTER j-lV. • '
;• . . • ADJECTIVES. . and QMEBALS. ' - 7 ’■ . . • ' \ Concord.. , - ' .;
As in Latin, “ail adjective qualifying several sub- .
stantives agrees with the one standing nearest: une
hyperbate et parenthese trop longue (106); tousles ustensiles et provisions (555) .. ■
Two adjectives, one of which is used adverbially, usually agree: tous roides morts de faim (171); - deux wallons ... tous parseme z de crolx (25), .S i mi - larly an adjective used adverbially - is t ideated like an adjective and agrees: je -levay les cornea hautes (56).
Tout normally agrees with the adjective: tous nouveaux (63), tout vlf (330), toute blanche (280) 7;•.k .
toute autre (212), routes court e s (343). However
there is no agreement in tout seuls (330), where modern
usage is already apparent« . .
In one case demi agrees even when it precedes: une demie piece (42), but elsewhere there is no agree ment: demy heure (328), demy-dieux (330).
There is a curious instance of one adjective quali fying another to form an adverbial phrase: a 1fantique-
cat ho 11 que (21), while there are a few cases of., adjec tives used adverbially: pisser roide (64). uriner rouge (334), filer doux (206), voir clair (264), tenir
bon (110)aymer tout pie in (116), ? aimer f or t (326), courir fort (308): travail lex* fort (64), allons tous dru et espais (287)? haut esieve (49), tout le fin .premier
(45). . ■’ <•. A
>.. . An adjective governing de plus the Infinitive may
be- used as a noun in a condensed construction, where Modern French would require a relative clause: tant pour relever de peine les curieux de veolr toutes '</
nouveautes que pour pi que r ... (3) •
•. >■ In a somewhat similar condensed construction a ... noun is treated as an adjective and given in the super
lative:. les plus gens de bien (339).
Pos it ion of the At trlbut i ve Ad je ct ive. . ... There is no systematic usage in this matter, and far greater freedom than in Modern French. In many cases, where the attribute precedes, it may be con- , tended that the adjective adds little to the noun it qualifies, or is universally considered to be an at tribute of it. Such is the ;case for instance In the following examples; le precieux Corps de Nostre
Seigneur (119)le pesant. fardeau (100) : leurs ...par- ticulieres confessions (180) : par une mlraculeuse.v;
metamorphose (105). On the. other hand we find ces
,noms precieux (119), where something is added to the noun by the adjective.
Long adjectives are placed, before the noun just as readily as after? le courageux commeneement et progreg (138); nostro procipite decret (131) : ee ,; -' - catholi que assaclnat (12 9); me s c at hoi 1 que s des s ins
(50),,but flies des se ins Oatholigues (96), where the stress is on the last syllable♦ The long adjective rarely precedes when the noun is monosyllabic (ces . fascheux mots 69). It would appear that there Is a certain concern for balance and rhythm, comparable ?? to that already mentioned in connection with the definite article in enumerations, though It Is different from
the rhythm of Modern French. The reason is the de sire to 'achieve rhetorical effectA good example ii 0 cas merveilleuxl mysteres grands I 'o secrets du prdfond.cabinet de Lieu,, Inconnus aux chetifs mortelsI
(106), where the position of grands is conditioned by that of mer veilleux, and the balance is maintained in
the second half - where the adjectives precede,
llhe tori cal considerations would appear also to affect : 0 deifiquos- doublons d!l?spagne .(108). 11 HWWW■its.tMpWMimw'H »■:* . H • »wnin*^ n‘T ■ ■■ i Airing »i*i«» ■ ' " .
Further, It appears that one adjective exercises an attraction over another, as in une autre gx*anda et admirable conversion (106), du prompt et zele decret .(52) r ’ spa mellleurs et , plus-■•.signalez,; serylteurs *(199). In. other words, v/hen there are two adjectivesthey
case it followsbut is still linked by et: ' a si
petits desa.eins et lndignea de vous (139); or again. - ••
both may follow: aux higueurs seditieux et ambitieux • - de ae reboiler (332). Even when there are three
adjectives> the same desire for balance is .apparent : . . . '
la plus.grande et la plus riche et peuplee ville du ; 7 monde (237). If one of the three adjectives combines
with the noun to form a compound noun, it follows: un grand et ample cymetiere universel (52). :
.Though one cannot formulate any absolute principle, In the ma jority of cases a determining phrase intro duced by de had the effect of causing the adjective or adjectives to be placed before the substantive: au aouverain degre de puissance (180) : ceate memorable entreprise dr Amboise (180) ; ia yiplent e et mer vei1? - leuse mort du Roy (180); un mer veil Ieux jugement de Pieu (210)a as opposed to un silence mervellleux (180), where there is no determining phrase. Similarly la soudaine mort dp petit. hoy (181) ; the same conditions maintain however In the following example, but the
adjective follows: le s.mort s soudaine s de ces t no i s ftoys (185).
In the*case of nouns used as adjectives, they may likewise precede or follow; in any case the noun
agrees: aux cordons bleus, •Politique at (61) ; gens de bien de vote catholiques ' (152). . ' ; ..
Adjectives of colour show certain peculiarities,
of usage. ¥£xen compound they agree with the word couleur; des frulcts .. de couleur ent re verte et. ..
pourpree (554). 'Normally, as in Modern French, ad-
jeotives of colour follow the noun, but in one case . . this is not so, possibly because the use is figurative couche en blancs draps (225). . • ... '•<
the text adjectives of nationality follow, ..
but as-they are invariably printed with capitals-, it is sometimes difficult to decide when the word is an adjective and when it is .a noun. In all the texts . used by. Philippsthal for his study of the word order
' 1 ■ in,16th century French px’ose, he claims to have / <