[Ads-l] Every fool is not a poet =?utf-8?Q?=E2=80=93_?=French translation request

Laurence Horn laurence.horn at YALE.EDU
Mon Nov 7 02:18:05 UTC 2016


Another view is that madmen (or "lunatics", to use the gender-neutral term) and poets--and lovers--are virtually coextensive:

The lunatic, the lover and the poet
Are of imagination all compact:
One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,	
That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
—Theseus in Midsummer Night's Dream, V.i

> On Nov 6, 2016, at 6:11 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Intriguing. Thanks for sharing your valuable insight, Margaret.
> Garson
> 
> On Sun, Nov 6, 2016 at 6:01 PM, Margaret Winters <mewinters at wayne.edu> wrote:
>> The one suggestion I'd make is that fou means 'mad', so all poets are mad but not all madmen are poets.  I've been traveling, hence my delay in throwing in my $.02.
>> 
>> 
>> best,
>> 
>> Margaret
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------
>> MARGARET E WINTERS
>> On Leave
>> Office of the Provost
>> Wayne State University
>> Detroit, MI  48202
>> 
>> mewinters at wayne.edu
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2016 11:06 AM
>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>> Subject: Re: Every fool is not a poet – French translation request
>> 
>> Thanks for sharing your translation, Tim.
>> Garson
>> 
>> On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 4:27 PM, Tim Stewart
>> <timoteostewart1977 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Sorry, typo in the strict translation:
>>> 
>>> Where it says:
>>> 
>>> But having to come to know you,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Please delete the first "to"
>>> 
>>> 
>>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>> - - - - - - - - - - -
>>> Read excerpts from the forthcoming *Dictionary of Christianese
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dictionaryofchristianese.com_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=xJQ7G8BuMmO03iM_knA5g-Amo1uWPGgkHEQqyTvGp4o&e= >*
>> Dictionary of Christianese<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dictionaryofchristianese.com_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=xJQ7G8BuMmO03iM_knA5g-Amo1uWPGgkHEQqyTvGp4o&e= >
>> www.dictionaryofchristianese.com
>> The Dictionary of Christianese explains Christianese (i.e., church slang) so that anybody can understand it.
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 3:25 PM, Tim Stewart <timoteostewart1977 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Introductory phrase:
>>>> 
>>>> It is said about the poet Theophilus
>>>> that he was once at the house of a great lord
>>>> where there was a man who was said to be a fool,
>>>> and thus a poet.
>>>> And Theophilus devised this impromptu verse.
>>>> 
>>>> Here's a rather free translation of the quatrain:
>>>> 
>>>> Let me tell you:
>>>> All poets are fools.
>>>> But having met you, I have to add:
>>>> Not all fools are poets.
>>>> 
>>>> Here's a stricter translation of the quatrain:
>>>> 
>>>> I avow to you
>>>> That all poets are fools;
>>>> But having to come to know you,
>>>> Not all fools are poets.
>>>> 
>>>> Tim "high school French plus Google" Stewart
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>>> - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>>> Read excerpts from the forthcoming *Dictionary of Christianese
>>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dictionaryofchristianese.com_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=xJQ7G8BuMmO03iM_knA5g-Amo1uWPGgkHEQqyTvGp4o&e= >*
>> Dictionary of Christianese<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dictionaryofchristianese.com_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=xJQ7G8BuMmO03iM_knA5g-Amo1uWPGgkHEQqyTvGp4o&e= >
>> www.dictionaryofchristianese.com
>> The Dictionary of Christianese explains Christianese (i.e., church slang) so that anybody can understand it.
>> 
>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 2:55 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole <
>>>> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> References such as the "Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations" and
>>>>> "The Yale Book of Quotations" list the following poem under Alexander
>>>>> Pope's name:
>>>>> 
>>>>> [Begin excerpt]
>>>>> Sir, I admit your gen’ral rule
>>>>> That every poet is a fool:
>>>>> But you yourself may serve to show it,
>>>>> That every fool is not a poet.
>>>>> ‘"Epigram from the French" (1732)
>>>>> [End excerpt]
>>>>> 
>>>>> Here is an earlier instance in French ascribed to "Theophile". Perhaps
>>>>> the referent was Théophile de Viau who died much earlier in 1626.
>>>>> 
>>>>> [ref] 1715, Le Passe-Tems Agreable, ou Noveaux Choix de Bons-Mots, de
>>>>> Pensees Ingenieuses, de Rencontres Plaisantes, Third Edition, Quote
>>>>> Page 267, Jean Hofhout, Rotterdam. (Google Books Full View) link
>>>>> [/ref]
>>>>> 
>>>>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__books.google.com_books-3Fid-3D4Q8QsYJ9-5FoAC-26q-3D-2522fous-2Bne-2522-23v-3Dsnippet-26&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=6dZqzYZZVh9F4c1Hrryct_ywvgtFWlclnhkDu5E1R38&e= 
>>>>> 
>>>>> [Begin excerpt]
>>>>> On rapporte du Poête Theophile,
>>>>> qu étant allé chez un grand Seigneur, il y avoit
>>>>> un homme qu'on disoit fou, & par conséquent
>>>>> Poête, & que Théophile fit cèt inpromptu.
>>>>> 
>>>>> J'Avoûera avec vous
>>>>> Que tous les Poëtes sont fous;
>>>>> Mais sachant ce que vous êtes,
>>>>> Tous les fous ne sont pas Poëtes.
>>>>> [End excerpt]
>>>>> 
>>>>> If you wish to be helpful please share a translation of the passage
>>>>> above. I am particularly interested in the introductory words. Follow
>>>>> the link to see the original page image. The spelling is odd.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks, Garson
>>>>> 
>>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=FzZA1M8ugyV8FUx5rtWuPNaotiKPq6it_yvHsLMpqBM&e= 
>> American Dialect Society<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=n9cmTS7uM8PJbJOGMVtM1q20N8ORuJhi-0FXIO4mNMg&e= >
>> www.americandialect.org
>> The American Dialect Society, founded in 1889, is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other ...
>> 
>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=FzZA1M8ugyV8FUx5rtWuPNaotiKPq6it_yvHsLMpqBM&e= 
>> American Dialect Society<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=n9cmTS7uM8PJbJOGMVtM1q20N8ORuJhi-0FXIO4mNMg&e= >
>> www.americandialect.org
>> The American Dialect Society, founded in 1889, is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other ...
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=FzZA1M8ugyV8FUx5rtWuPNaotiKPq6it_yvHsLMpqBM&e= 
>> American Dialect Society<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org_&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=n9cmTS7uM8PJbJOGMVtM1q20N8ORuJhi-0FXIO4mNMg&e= >
>> www.americandialect.org
>> The American Dialect Society, founded in 1889, is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other ...
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=FzZA1M8ugyV8FUx5rtWuPNaotiKPq6it_yvHsLMpqBM&e= 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=CwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=10Ku513Gn6ooGPyk_FksM7wPOsyV2j6YoOLFvVrSHT8&s=FzZA1M8ugyV8FUx5rtWuPNaotiKPq6it_yvHsLMpqBM&e= 

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