[Ads-l] Adage: There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Nigel Rees discussed the adage in the subject line in his newsletter
of April 2015, and requested help from readers. I researched this
topic last year, but suspended the work. Perhaps someone on the list
would be willing to provide a translation of the French in the two
citations below.

The first cite is a solid match, I think. The second cite is a weaker
thematic match.

Year: 1777 - MDCCLXXVII
Book: Pensées Nouvelles et Philosophiques
Quote Page 75,
Publisher: Marc-Michel Rey, Amsterdam,
Database: Google Books Full View

http://bit.ly/1FAnltE

[Begin excerpt]
CCLXIV
Du sublime au ridicule, disait Fontenelle, il n'y a qu'un pas: de la
raillerie à l'insulte il y en a encore moins.
[End excerpt]

[Begin translation using Google - request better quality translation]
264
>From the sublime to the ridiculous, said Fontenelle, it is only one
step: from mockery to insult there is even less.
[End Google translation]


Year: 1767
Book: Traité Des Extremes ou Éléments De La Science De la Réalité
Author: Monsieur Changeux (Pierre-Jacques Changeux)
Volume 2, Book 10, Chapter 3
Quote Page 346
Publisher: Darkstée & Merkus, Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/1Nuo4X3

[Begin excerpt]
En effet, si l'on analyse bien le sublime, & qu'on ne s'en laisse
point imposer par la grandeur de la Poésie Orientale, peut-être ne lui
accorderat-on pas le prix de la supériorité: le sublime ne doit point
être forcé; sans quoi, il touche au ridicule, & par conséquent se
détruit.
[End excerpt]


The text above was largely reprinted in the following periodical.

Date: 1776 June
Periodical: Mercure de France
Article: Excerpt and comments for Traité des Extrêmes ou Eléments de
la Science de la Réalité by M. Changeux (Pierre-Jacques Changeux)
Start Page 111, Quote Page 125
Publisher: Au Bureau du Mercure, Paris, France

http://bit.ly/1Cy6abj

Garson

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org