English as She Is Spoke: Or, A Jest in Sober Earnest
Author: Pedro Carolino; José da Fonseca
Date: 2021-10-06T03:09:03+00:00
Keywords: Errors and blunders; Literary; English language -- Conversation and phrase books -- Portuguese
Description: A phrasebook of unintentionally hilarious English.
Publisher: Standard Ebooks

English as She Is Spoke

By Pedro Carolino and José da Fonseca.

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Introduction

From the time of Shakespeare downwards, wits and authors innumerable have made themselves and the public more or less merry at the expense of the earlier efforts of the student of a strange tongue; but it has been reserved to our own time for a soi disant instructor to perpetrate—at his own expense—the monstrous joke of publishing a Guide to Conversation in a language of which it is only too evident that every word is utterly strange to him. The Teutonic sage who evolved the ideal portrait of an elephant from his “inner consciousness” was a commonplace, matter-of fact person compared with the daring visionary who conjures up a complete system of language from the same fertile but untrustworthy source. The piquancy of Senhor Pedro Carolino’s New Guide of the Conversation in Portuguese and English is enhanced by the evident bona fides and careful compilation of “the little book,” or as Pedro himself gravely expresses it, “for the care what we wrote him, and for her typographical correction.”

In short, the New Guide of the Conversation in Portuguese and English was written with serious intent, and for the purpose of initiating Portuguese students into the mysteries of the English language. The earlier portions of the book are divided into three columns, the first giving the Portuguese; the second what, in the opinion of the author, is the English equivalent; and the third the English equivalent phonetically spelt, so that the tyro may at the same time master our barbarous phraseology and the pronunciation thereof. In the second part of the work the learner is supposed to have sufficiently mastered the pronunciation of the English language, to be left to his own devices.

A little consideration of the shaping of our author’s English phrases leads to the conclusion that the materials used have been a Portuguese–French phrasebook and a French–English dictionary. With these slight impedimenta has the daring Lusitanian ventured upon the unknown deep of a strange language, and the result, to quote again from the Preface, “May be worth the acceptation of the studious persons, and especially of the Youth, at which we dedicate him particularly,” but will at all events contribute not a little to the Youth’s hilarity.

To begin with the vocabulary; it is perhaps hardly fair to expect a professor of languages to trouble himself with “Degrees of Kindred,” still, such titles as “Gossip mistress, a relation, an relation, a guardian, an guardian, the quater-grandfather, the quater-grandmother,” require some slight elucidation, and passing over the catalogue of articles of dress which are denominated “Objects of Man” and “Woman Objects,” one may take exception to “crumbs” and “groceries,” which are inserted among plates and cruets as ordinary table garniture.

Among what are denominated “Eatings” we find “some wigs,” “a dainty dishes,” “a mutton shoulder,” “a little mine,” “hog-fat,” and “an amelet”: the menu is scarcely appetising, especially when among “Fishes and Shellfishes” our Portuguese Lucullus sets down the “hedgehog,” “snail,” and “wolf.” After this such trifles as “starch” arranged under the heading of “Metals and Minerals,” and “brick” and “whitelead” under that of “Common Stones” fall almost flat; but one would like to be initiated into the mysteries of “gleek,” “carousal,” and “keel,” which are gravely asserted to be “Games.” Among “Chivalry Orders” one has a glimmering of what is intended by “Saint Michaelmas” and “Very-Merit”; but under the heading of “Degrees,” although by a slight exercise of the imagination we can picture to ourselves “a quater master,” “a general to galeries,” or even a “vessel captain,” we are entirely nonplussed by “a harbinger” and “a parapet.”

Passing on to “Familiar Phrases,” most of which appear to be old friends with new faces, Senhor Carolino’s literal cribs from the French become more and more apparent, in spite of his boast in the Preface of being “clean of gallicisms and despoiled phrases.” “Apply you at the study during that you are young” is doubtless an excellent precept, and as he remarks further on “How do you can it to deny”; but study may be misdirected, and in the moral, no less than in the material world, it is useful to know. “That are the dishes whom you must be and to abstain”; while the meaning of “This girl have a beauty edge” is scarcely clear unless it relates to the preternatural acuteness of the fair sex in these days of board schools and woman’s rights.

Further on the conversationalist appears to get into rough company, and we find him remarking “He laughs at my nose, he jest by me,” gallicé “Il me rit au nez, il se moque de moi”; “He has me take out my hairs,” “He does me some kicks,” “He has scratch the face with hers nails,” all doubtless painfully translated with the assistance of a French–English dictionary from “Il m’a arraché les cheveux,” “Il me donne des coups-de-pied,” “Il m’a laceré la figure de ses ongles.” It is noticeable that our instructor as a rule endeavours to make the possessive pronoun agree with the substantive in number and gender in orthodox Portuguese fashion, and that like a true grammatical patriot he insists upon the substantive having the same gender as in his native tongue; therefore “às unhas” must be rendered “hers nails” and “vóssas civilidádes” “yours civilities.” By this time no one will be disposed to contradict our inimitable Pedro when he remarks “E facéto” giving the translation as “He has the word for to laugh,” a construction bearing a suspicious resemblance to “Il a le mot pour rire.” “He do the devil at four” has no reference to an artful scheme for circumventing the Archfiend at a stated hour, but is merely a simulacrum of the well-known gallic idiomatic expression “Il fait le diable à quatre.” Truly this is excellent fooling; Punch in his wildest humour, backed by the whole colony of Leicester Square, could not produce funnier English. “He burns one’s self the brains,” “He was fighted in duel,” “They fight one’s selfs together,” “He do want to fall,” would be more intelligible if less picturesque in their original form of “Il se brûle la cervelle,” “Il s’est battu en duel,” “Ils se battent ensemble,” “Il manque de tomber.” The comic vein running through the “Familiar Phrases” is so inexhaustible that space forbids further quotation from this portion of the book, which may be appropriately closed with “Help to a little most the better yours terms,” a mysterious adjuration, which a reference to the original Portuguese leads one to suppose may be a daring guess at “Choisissez un peu mieux vos paroles.”

In the second part, entitled “Familiar Dialogues,” the fun grows fast and furious. Let us accompany our mad wag upon “The walk.” “You hear the bird’s gurgling?” he enquires, and then rapturously exclaims “Which pleasure! which charm! The field has by me a thousand charms”; after this, to the question “Are you hunter? will you go to the hunting in one day this week?” he responds “Willingly; I have not a most pleasure in the world. There is some game on they cantons.” Proceeding from “game” to “gaming” we soon run aground upon the word “jeu,” which as we know does duty in French both for a game and a pack of cards. “At what pack will you that we does play?” “To the cards.” Of course this is “A quel jeu voulez vous que nous jouions?” “Aux cartes;” and further on “This time I have a great deal pack,” “Cette fois j’ai un jeu excellent!”

Now let us listen to our friend at his tailor’s: his greeting is perky—almost slangy. “Can you do me a coat?” he enquires, but quickly drivels down to “What cloth will you do to?” and then to the question “What will you to double (doubler) the coat?” obtains the satisfactory answer “From something of duration. I believe to you that.” After requesting to have his garment “The rather that be possible,” he overwhelms the procrastinating man of cloth with the stern remark “You have me done to expect too,” evidently a bold version of “Vous m’ avez fait trop attendre,” which draws forth the natural excuse “I did can’t to come rather.” Passing by a number of good things which one would like to analyse if space permitted, we arrive at “For to ride a horse,” a fine little bit of word painting almost Carlylean in its grotesqueness. “Here is a horse who have a bad looks. He not sall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered. Don’t you are ashamed to give me a jade as like? he is undshoed, he is with nails up; it want to lead to the farrier.” “Let us prick (piquons) go us more fast, never I was seen a so much bad beast; she will not nor to bring forward neither put back.” “Strek him the bridle,” cries the horsedealer, “Hold him the rein sharters.” “Pique stron gly, make to marsh him.” “I have pricked him enough. But I can’t to make marsh him,” replies the indignant client. “Go down, I shall make marsh,” declares the dealer; upon which the incensed equestrian rejoins “Take care that he not give you a foot kicks,” and the “coper” sardonically but somewhat incoherently concludes with “Then he kicks for that I look? Sook here if I knew to tame hix.”

After the “Familiar Dialogues” we come upon a series of letters from celebrated personages, who would be puzzled to recognize themselves in their new dresses; and a collection of anecdotes which may be taken singly after dinner as a gentle promoter of digestion; the whole being appropriately concluded with “Idiotisms and Proverbs,” between which it must be confessed the distinction is purely imaginary; the following are a few gems: “Its are some blu stories” (contes bleus); “Nothing some money, nothing some Swiss,” “He sin in trouble water” (confusion of pécher and pêcher). “A horse baared don’t look him the tooth,” “The stone as roll not heap up not foam,” mousse meaning both foam and moss, of course the wrong meaning is essential to a good “idiotism.” “To force to forge, becomes smith” (a force de forger on devient forgeron). “To craunch the marmoset” and “To fatten the foot” may terminate the list, and are incontestably more idiotic, although scarcely so idiomatic as “Croquer le marmot” and “Graisser la patte.”

The column in Portuguese which runs throughout the original work is omitted, and only a sufficient number of the English extracts are culled to enable the reader to form a just idea of the unintentionally humorous style that an author may fall into who attempts to follow the intricacies of “English as she is spoke” by the aid of a French dictionary and a phrasebook.

It is to be trusted the eccentric “Guide” to which this short sketch is intended to serve as Introduction—and, so far as may be, elucidation—is not a fair specimen of Portuguese or Brazilian educational literature; if such be the case the schoolmaster is indeed “abroad,” and one may justly fear that his instruction—to quote once more the Preface—“only will be for to accustom the Portuguese pupils, or foreign, to speak very bad any of the mentioned idioms.”

James Millington

Author’s Preface

A choice of familiar dialogues, clean of gallicisms, and despoiled phrases, it was missing yet to studious portuguese and brazilian Youth; and also to persons of others nations, that wish to know the portuguese language. We sought all we may do, to correct that want, composing and divising the present little work in two parts. The first includes a greatest vocabulary proper names by alphabetical order; and the second forty three Dialogues adapted to the usual precisions of the life. For that reason we did put, with a scrupulous exactness, a great variety own expressions to english and portuguese idioms; without to attach us selves (as make some others) almost at a literal translation; translation what only will be for to accustom the portuguese pupils, or-foreign, to speak very bad any of the mentioned idioms.

We were increasing this second edition with a phraseology, in the first part, and some familiar letters, anecdotes, idiotisms, proverbs, and to second a coin’s index.

The Works which we were confering for this labour, fond use us for nothing; but those what were publishing to Portugal, or out, they were almost all composed for some foreign, or for some national little acquainted in the spirit of both languages. It was resulting from that corelessness to rest these Works fill of imperfections, and anomalies of style; in spite of the infinite typographical faults which some times, invert the sense of the periods. It increase not to contain any of those Works the figured pronunciation of the english words, nor the prosodical accent in the portuguese; indispensable object whom wish to speak the english and portuguese languages correctly.

We expect then, who the little book (for the care what we wrote him, and for her typographical correction) that may be worth the acceptation of the studious persons, and especially of the Youth, at which we dedicate him particularly.

English as She Is Spoke

Or, A Jest in Sober Earnest

Of the Man

The Brain | The inferior lip
The brains | The superior lip
The fat of the leg | The marrow
The ham | The reins

Defects of the body

A blind | A left handed
A lame | An ugly
A bald | A squint-eyed
A deaf

Degrees of kindred

The gossip | The quater-grandfather
The gossip mistress | The quater-grandmother
The nurse | A guardian
A relation | An guardian
An relation | A widower
An widow

Trades

Starch-maker | Porter
Barber | Chinaman
Coffeeman | Founder
Porkshop-keeper | Grave-digger
Cartwright | Tradesman
Tinker, a brasier | Stockingmender
Nailer | Lochsmith

Objects of man

The boots | The lining
The buckles | The clogs
The buttons-holes | The wig
The buskins | The morning-gown, night-gown

Woman objects

The busk | The paint or disguise
The sash | The spindle
The cornet | The patches
The pumps | The skate

Servants

Coochmann | Spendth
Running footman | Business-man
Groome

Diseases

The apoplexy | The megrime
The scrofulas | The whitlow
The melancholy | The rheumatisme
The vomitory

Parties a Town

The butchery | The low eating house
The cause-way | The obelis-ks
The sink | The prison, geol

Kitchen utensils

The skimming-dish | The spark
The potlid | The fire
The pothanger | The smoke
The spunge | The clout
The jack

Of the bed

The bed wood | The feet’s bed
The bed battom | The pillar’s bed
The head’s bed

For the table

Some knifes | Some groceries
Some crumb

Eatings

Some black pudding | A little mine
Some sugar-plum | Hog fat
Some wigs | Some marchpanes
A chitterling sausages | An amelet
A dainty-dishes | A slice, steak
A mutton shoulder | Vegetables boiled to a pap

Seasonings

Some wing | Some pinions
Some cinnamon | Some hog’slard
Some oranges | Some verjuice

Drinkings

Some orgeat | Some paltry wine
Some sirup or sirop

Quadruped’s beasts

Lamb | Rocbuck
Ass | Dragon
Shi ass | Wild sow
Ass-colt | Lioness
Ram, aries | Dormouse

Birds

Becafico | Heuth-cock
Calander | Whoop
Stor | Pea cock
Yeung turkey | Pinch
Red-breast, a robin

Insects-reptiles

Asp, aspic | Fly
Morpion | Butter fly
Serpent

Fishes and shell-fishes

Calamary | Large lobster
Dorado | Snail
A sorte of fish | Wolf
Hedge hog | Torpedo
Sea-calf

Trees

Lote-tree lotos | Service-tree
Chest nut-tree | Jujube-tree
Linden-tree

Flowers

Anemony | Mil-foils
Blue-bottle | Hink
Turnsol

Hunting

Hunting dog | Picker
Relay dog | Gun-powder
Hound dog | Priming-powder
Hound’s fee | Hunts man

Colours

White | Gridelin
Cray | Musk
Red

Metals and minerals

Starch | Latten
Cooper | Plaster
Vitriole

Common stones

Loadstones | White lead
Brick | Gum-stone

Weights

Counterpoise | An obole
A pound an half | A quater ounce

Games

Foot-ball | Pile
Bar | Mall
Gleek | Even or non even
Carousal | Keel

Perfumes

Benzion | Pomatum
Perfume paw | Storax

On the church

The sides of the nef | The little cellal
The holywater-pot | The boby of the church

Solemn-feasts

The Deads-day | The Vigil
The Twelfth-Day | The Visitation

Ecclesiastical dignities

Incumbent | General of an order
Canon | Penitentiary
Canoness | Theologist
Chanter, a clerk | General curate

Chivalry orders

Black eagle | Elephant
Avis, advice | Honour Legion
Calatrava | Saint Michaelmas
Very-merit

Degrees

A cannoneer | A general to galeries
A vessel captain | A great admiral
A harbinger | A king a lieutenant
A parapet | A quater master
A army general | A vice admiral’s ship

Military objects

The bait | The fire pan
An arquebuse | A bomb ketch
A bandoleer | The military case
A fusil, a gun

Music’s instruments

A flagelet | A dreum
A hurdy-gurdy

Chastisements

A fine | To break upon
Honourable fine | To tear off the flesh
To draw to four horses

Familiar Phrases

Go to send for.

Have you say that?

Have you understand that he says?

At what purpose have say so?

Put your confidence at my.

At what o’clock dine him?

Apply you at the study during that you are young.

Dress your hairs.

Sing an area.

These apricots and these peaches make me and to come water in mouth.

How do you can it to deny?

Wax my shoes.

That is that I have think.

That are the dishes whose you must be and to abstain.

This meat ist not too over do.

This ink is white.

This room is filled of bugs.

This girl have a beauty edge.

It is a noise which to cleave the head.

This wood is fill of thief’s.

Tell me, it can one to know?

Give me some good milk newly get out.

To morrow hi shall be entirely (her master) or unoccupied.

She do not that to talk and to cackle.

Dry this wine.

He laughs at my nose, he jest by me.

He has spit in my coat.

He has me take out my hairs.

He does me some kicks.

He has scratch the face with hers nails.

He burns one’s self the brains.

He is valuable his weight’s gold.

He has the word for to laugh.

He do the devil at four.

He make to weep the room.

He was fighted in duel.

They fight one’s selfs together.

He do want to fall.

It must never to laugh of the unhappies.

He was wanting to be killed.

I am confused all yours civilities.

I am catched cold.

I not make what to coughand spit.

Never I have feeld a such heat

Till say-us?

Till hither.

I have put my stockings outward.

I have croped the candle.

I have mind to vomit.

I will not to sleep on street.

I am catched cold in the brain.

I am pinking me with a pin.

I dead myself in envy to see her.

I take a broth all morning.

I shall not tell you than two woods.

Have you understanded?

Let him have know?

Have you understand they?

Do you know they?

Do you know they to?

The storm is go over.

The sun begins to dissipe it.

Witch prefer you?

The paving stone is sliphery.

The thunderbolt is falling down.

The rose-trees begins to button.

The ears are too length.

The hands itch at him.

Have you forgeted me?

Lay him hir apron.

Help-to a little most the better yours terms.

Dont you are awaken yet?

That should must me to cost my life.

We are in the canicule.

No budge you there.

Do not might one’s understand to speak.

Where are their stockings, their shoes, her shirt and her petlicot?

One’s can to believe you?

One’s find-modest the young men rarely.

If can’t to please at every one’s.

Take that boy and whip him to much.

Take attention to cut you self.

Take care to dirt you self.

Dress my horse.

Since you not go out, I shall go out nor I neither.

That may dead if I lie you.

What is it who want you?

Why you no helps me to?

Upon my live.

All trees have very deal bear.

A throat’s ill.

You shall catch cold one’s.

You make grins.

Will some mutton?

Will you fat or slight?

Will you this?

Will you a bon?

You not make who to babble.

You not make that to prate all day’s work.

You interompt me.

You mistake you self heavily.

You come too rare.

End First Part’s

Familiar Dialogues

For to Wish the Good Morning

- How does your father do?

- He is very well.

- I am very delight of it. Were is it?

- I shall come back soon, I was no came that to know how you are.

For Make a Visit in the Morning

- Is your master at home?

- Yes, sir.

- Is it up.

- No, sir, he sleep yet.

- I go make that he get up.

- It come in one’s? How is it, you are in bed yet?

- Yesterday at evening, I was to bed so late that I may not rising me soon that morning.

- Well! what you have done after the supper?

- We have sung, danced, laugh and played.

- What game?

- To the picket.

- Whom I am sorry do not have know it!

- Who have prevailed upon?

- I had gained ten lewis.

- Till at what o’clock its had play one?

- Un till two o’clock after mid night.

- At what o’clock are you go to bed.

- Half pass three.

- I am no astonished if you get up so late.

- What o’clock is it?

- What o’clock you think is it?

- I think is not yet eight o’clock.

- How is that, eight ’clock! it is ten ’clock struck.

- It must then what I rise me quickly.

- Adieu, my deer, I leave you. If can to see you at six clock to the hotel from ———, we swill dine togetter.

- Willingly. Good by.

For to Dress Him Self

- John, make haste, lighted the fire and dress-me.

- Give me my shirt.

- There is it sir.

- Is it no hot, it is too cold yet.

- If you like, I will hot it.

- No, no, bring me my silk stocking’s.

- Its are make holes.

- Make its a point, or make to mend them.

- Comb me, take another comb. Give me my handkarchief.

- There is a clean, sir.

- What coat dress you to day?

- Those that I had yesterday.

- The tailor do owe to bring soon that of cloth.

- Have you wexed my shoes?

- I go wex its now.

- It must that I may wash my hands, the mouth and my face.

The Walk

- Will you and take a walk with me?

- Wait for that the warm be out.

- Go through that meadow. Who the country is beautiful! who the trees are thick!

- Take the bloom’s perfume.

- It seems me that the corn does push alredy.

- You hear the bird’s gurgling?

- Which pleasure! which charm!

- The field has by me a thousand charms.

- Are you hunter? will you go to the hunting in one day this week?

- Willingly; I have not a most pleasure in the world. There is some game on they cantons?

- We have done a great walk.

The Weather

- We shall have a fine weather to day.

- There is some foggy.

- I fear of the thunderbolt.

- The sun rise on.

- The sun lie down.

- It is light moon’s.

For to Write

- It is to day courier day’s; I have a letter to write.

- At which does you write?

- Is not that? look one is that.

- This letter is arrears.

- It shall stay to the post. This pen are good for notting. During I finish that letter, do me the goodness to scal this packet; it is by my cousin.

- How is the day of month?

- The two, the three, the four, etc.

- That is some letter to me.

- Go to bear they letter to the post.

The Gaming

- Do you like the gaming?

- At what pack will you that we does play?

- To the cards.

- Waiter, give us a card’s game.

- What is the trump?

- The club’s king.

- Play, if you please.

- The heart’s aces.

- We do ought.

- This time I have a great deal pack.

With the Tailor

- Can you do me a coat?

- What cloth will you do to?

- From a stuff what be of season.

- How much wants the ells for coat, waist coat, and breeches?

- Six ells.

- What will you to double the coat?

- From some thing of duration. I believe to you that.

- When do you bring me my coat?

- The rather that be possible.

- Bring you my coat?

- Yes, sir, there is it.

- You have me done to expect too.

- I did can’t to come rather.

- It don’t are finished?

- The lining war not sewd.

- It is so that do one’s now.

- Button me.

- It pinches me too much upon stomack.

- The sleeves have not them great deal wideness?

- No, sir, they are well.

With a Hair Dresser

- Your razors, are them well?

- Yes, Sir.

- Comb-me quickly; don’t put me so much pomatum. What news tell me? all hairs dresser are newsmonger.

- Sir, I have no heared any thing.

For to Breakfast

- John bring us some thing for to breakfast.

- Yes, Sir; there is some sousages. Will you than I bring the ham?

- Yes, bring-him, we will cup a steak put a nappe clothe upon this table.

- I you do not eat?

- How you like the tea.

- It is excellent.

- Still a not her cup.

For to Ask Some News

- It is true what is told of master M——?

- Then what is told of him?

- I have heard that he is hurt mortally.

- I shall be sowow of it, because he is a honestman.

- Which have wounden him?

- Do know it why?

- The noise run that is by to have given a box on the ear to a of them.

For to Buy

- I won’t have a good and fine cloth to make a coat.

- How much do you sell it the ell?

- We thout overcharge you from a halfpenny, it cost twenty franks.

- Sir, I am not accustomed to cheapen: tell me the last price.

- I have told you, sir, it is valuable in that.

- It is too much dear, I give at it, eighteen franks.

- You shall not have what you have wished.

- You did beg me my last word, I told you them.

- Well, well, cut them two ells.

- Don’t you will not more?

- No, at present.

For to Dine

- Go to dine, the dinner is ready.

- Cut some bread; here is it, I don’t know that boiled meat is good.

- Gentilman, will you have some beans?

- Peter, uncork a Porto wine bottle.

- Sir, what will you to?

- Some pears, and apples, what wilt you?

- Taste us rather that liquor, it is good for the stomach.

- I am too much obliged to you, is done.

For to Speak French

- How is the french? Are you too learned now?

- I could to tell some word’s that I know by heart.

- Not apprehend you, the french language is not difficult.

- I know it, and she have great deal of agreeableness. Who I would be. If I was know it!

- It must to study for to learn it. How long there is it what you learn it?

- It is not yet a month.

- How is called your master?

- It is called N——

- I know him it is long; he has teached a many of my friends. Don’t he tell you that it must to speak french?

For to See the Town

- Anthony, go to accompany they gentilsmen, do they see the town.

- We won’t to see all that is it remarquable here.

- Admire this master piece gothic architecture’s.

- The chasing of all they figures is astonishing indeed.

- The streets are very layed out by line and too paved.

- There is it also hospitals here?

- It not fail them.

- What are then the edifices the worthest to have seen?

- It is the arsnehal, the spectacle’s hall, the cusiom-house and the Purse.

- We are going too see the others monuments such that the public pawnbroker’s office, the plants garden’s the money office’s, the library.

To Inform One’self of a Person

- How is that gentilman who you did speak by and by.

- Is a German.

- Tongh he is German, he speak so much well italyan, french, spanish, and english, that among the Italyans, they believe him Italyan, he speak the frenche as the Frenches himselves. The Spanishesmen belie ve him Spanishing, and the Englishes, Englisman.

- It is difficult to enjoy well so much several langages.

For to Ride a Horse

- Here is a horse who have a bad looks. Give me another; I will not that. He not sall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered. Don’t you are ashamed to give me a jade as like? he is undshoed, he is with nails up; it want to lead to the farrier.

- Your pistols are its loads?

- No; I forgot to buy gun-powder and balls. Let us prick. Go us more fast never I was seen a so much bad beast; she will not nor to bring forward neither put back.

- Strek him the bridle, hold him the reins sharters. Pique stron gly, make to marsh him.

- I have pricked him enough. But I can’t to make march him.

- Go down, I shall make march.

- Take care that he not give you a foot kick’s.

- Then he kicks for that I look? Sook here if I knew to tame hix.

With a Watch Maker

- I bring you a watch that want to be ordered.

- I had the misfortune to leave fall down the instant where I did mounted, it must to put again a glass.

- I want not a pendulum? I have them here some very good.

- Don’t you live me her proof againts? I shall not accept that this condition.

For to Visit a Sick

- How have you passed the night?

- Very bad. I have not sleeped; I have had the fever during all night. I fell some pain every where body.

- Live me see your tongue. Have you pain to the heart?

- Are you altered?

- Yes, I have thursty often.

- Your stat have nothing from trouble some.

- What I may to eat?

- You can take a broth.

- Can I to get up my self?

- Yes, during a hour or two.

- Let me have another thing to do?

- Take care to hold you warme ly, and in two or three days you shall be cured.

For to Travel

- Where you go so?

- I am going to Cadiz.

- Have you already arrested a coach?

- Yes, sir, and very cheap.

- There is it some danger on the highway?

- It is not spoken that.

- They speak not that may have some robbers on the woods?

- It have nothing to fear, or in day neither the night.

- Don’t we does pass for a——?

- No, sir, they leave it to left.

- Let us take patience, still some o’clock, and we shall be in the end of our voyage.

With a Inn Keeper

- What you give us for to take supper.

- Gentlemen, what you will have.

- Give us a pigeon couple, a piece of ham and a salad.

- What have us expended?

- The accout mount in little the supper, the bed and the breakfast, shall get up at thirty franks.

From the House-Keeping

- I don’t know more what I won’t with they servants.

- I tell the same, it is not more some good servants. Any one take care to sweep neither to make fire at what I may be up.

- How the times are changed! Anciently I had some servants who were divine my thought. The duty was done at the instant, all things were cleanly hold one may look on the furnitures now as you do see. It is too different, whole is covered from dust; the pier-glasses, side-boards, the pantries, the chests of drawers, the walls selves, are changed of colours.

- Believe me, send again whole the people; I take upon my self to find you some good servants for to succeed them.

- Ah! what I shall be oblige to you of it!

For the Comedy

- Were you go to the theatre yesterday?

- Yes, sir; I won’t to see the new play in which did owed to play and actress which has not appeared on any theatre.

- How you think her?

- She has very much grace in the deeds great deal of exactness on the declamation, a constitution very agreable, and a delightful voice.

- What you say of the comedy? Have her succeded? It was a drama; it was whistted to the third scene of the last act.

- Because that?

- It whant the vehicle, and the intrigue it was bad conducted.

- So that they won’t waited even the upshot?

- No, it was divined. In the mean time them did diliver justice to the players which generaly have play very well.

- At the exception by a one’s self, who had land very much hir’s part.

- It want to have not any indulgence towards the bat buffoons.

- Have you seen already the new tragedy? They praise her very much.

- It is multitude already.

- Never I had seen the parlour so full.

- This actor he make very well her part.

- That piece is full of interest.

- It have wondered the spectadors.

- The curtains let down.

- Go out us.

The Hunting

- There is it some game in this wood?

- Another time there was plenty some black beasts and thin game, but the poachers have killed almost all.

- Look a hare who run! let do him to pursue for the hounds! it go one’s self in the ploughed land.

- Here that it rouse. Let aim it! let make fire him!

- I have put down killed.

- Me, I have failed it; my gun have miss fixe.

- I see a hind.

- Let leave to pass away, don’t disturte it.

- I have heard that it is plenty pardridges this year.

- Have you killed also some thrushes.

- Here certainly a very good hunting.

The Fishing

- That pond it seems me many multiplied of fishes. Let us amuse rather to the fishing.

- I do like-it too much.

- Here, there is a wand and some hooks.

- Silence! there is a superb perch! Give me quick the rod. Ah! there is, it is a lamprey.

- You mistake you, it is a frog! dip again it in the water.

With a Furniture Tradesman

- It seems no me new.

- Pardon me, it comes workman’s hands.

- Which hightness want you its?

- I want almost four feet six thumbs wide’s, over seven of long.

For Embarking One’s Self

- Don’t you fear the privateers!

- I jest of them; my vessel is armed in man of war, I have a vigilant and courageous equipage, and the ammunitions don’t want me its.

- Never have you not done wreck?

- That it is arrived me twice.

With a Gardener

- Shall I eat some plums soon?

- It is not the season yet; but here is some peaches what does ripen at the eye sight.

- It delay me to eat some wal nuts-kernels; take care not leave to pass the season.

- Be tranquil, I shall throw you any nuts during the shell is green yet.

- The artichoks grow its?

- I have a particular care of its, because I know you like the bottoms.

- It must to cup the trees.

- It should pull the bad grasses up.

The Books and of the Reading

- Do you like the reading good deal too many which seem me?

- That is to me a amusement.

The Field

- All the fields that you see thither were been neglected; it must I shall grub up and to plough its.

- The ground seems me a little scour with sand and yet it may one make it bring up; I want be fumed time by time.

The Writing

- Your pens have any notches, and its spit.

- How do you like its? will you its are fine or broad?

- I won’t me also a wafer or some sealing wax and a seal.

- In this drawer, there is all that, falding stick, rule, scraper, saud, etc.

- There is the postman I go to put it him again.

With a Bookseller

- What is there in new’s litterature?

- Little or almost nothing, it not appears any thing of note.

- And yet one imprint many deal.

- But why, you and another book seller, you does not to imprint some good wooks?

- There is a reason for that, it is that you cannot to sell its. The actual-liking of the public is depraved they does not read who for to amuse one’s self ant but to instruct one’s.

- But the letter’s men who cultivate the arts and the sciences they can’t to pass without the books.

- A little learneds are happies enough for to may to satisfy their fancies on the literature.

- Have you found the Buffon who I had call for?

- I have only been able to procure the octo-decimo edition, which is embellished with plates beautifully coloured.

With a Dentist

- I have the teetht-ache.

- Is it a fluxion, or have you a bad tooth?

- I think that is a bad tooth; please you to examine my mouth?

- You have a bad tooth; will you pull out this tooth?

- I can’t to decide me it, that make me many great deal pain.

- Your tooth is absolutely roted; if you leave it; shall spoil the others.

- In such case draw it.

- I shall you neat also your mouth, and you could care entertain it clean, for to preserve the mamel of the teeth; I could give you a opiate for to strengthen the gums.

- I thank you; I prefer the only means, which is to rinse the mouth with some water, or a little brandy.

With a Laundress

- Who lhat be too washed, too many soaped, and the shirts put through the buck.

- You may be sure; never I do else.

For to Swim

- I row upon the belly on the back and between two waters.

- I am not so dexte rous that you.

- Nothing is more easy than to swim; it do not what don’t to be afraid of.

The French Language

- Do you study?

- Yes, sir, I attempts to translate of french by portuguese.

- Do you know already the principal grammars rules?

- I am appleed my self at to learn its by heart.

- Do speak french alwais?

- Some times; though I flay it yet.

- You jest, you does express you self very well.

Familiar Letters

Racine to M. Vitart

My uncle what will to treat her beshop in a great sumptuouness, he was go Avignon for to buy what one not should find there, and he had leave me the charge to provide all things. I have excellent business, as you see, and I know some thing more than to eat my soup, since I know do to prepare it. I did learn that it must give to the first, to second, and to the third service, by dishes that want to join, and yet some thing more; because we does pretend make a feast at four services without to account the dessert.

Good bye, my dear sir, etc.

Mothe to the duchess of the Maine

My lady, I have a complaint to present you. So much happy that might be one’s self, one have not all theirs eases in this world. Your letters are shortest. You have plaied wonderfully all sentiments; less her prattle, etc.

Montesquieu to the abbot Nicolini

Allow me, my dear abbot, who I remind me of your friendship. I recommend you M. of the Condamine. I shall tell you nothing, else he is a of my friends. Her great celebrity may tell you from others things, and her presence will say you the remains. My dear abbot, I will love you even the death.

Anecdotes

Cuttler, a very rich man too many avaricious, commonly he was travel at a horse, and single for to avoid all expenses. In the evening at to arrive at the inn did feign to be indispose, to the end that one bring him the supper. He did ordered to the stable knave to bring in their room some straw, for to put in their boots he made to warm her bed and was go lo sleep. When the servant was draw again, he come up again, and with the straw of their boots, and the candle what was leave him he made a small fire where he was roast a herring what he did keep of her pocket. He was always the precaution one to provide him self of a small of bread and one bring up a water bottle, and thus with a little money.

A blind did hide five hundred crowns in a corner of their garden; but a neighbour, which was perceive it, did dig up and took its. The blind not finding more her money, was suspect that might be the robed, but one work for take again it? He was going find the neighbour, and told him that he came to get him a council; than he was a thousand crowns which the half was hided into a sure part and I don’t know if want, if to put the remains to the same part. The neighbour was council him so and was hasten to carry back that sum, in the hope soon to draw out a thousand. But the blind having finded the money, was seized it, having called her neighbour, he told him: “Gossip, the blind saw clearer than this that may have two eyes.”

A man one’s was presented at a magistrate which had a considerable library. “What you make?” beg him the magistrate. “I do some books,” he was answered. “But any of your books I did not seen its.—I believe it so, was answered the author; I mak nothing for Paris. From a of my works is imprinted, I send the edition for America; I don’t compose what to colonies.”

One eyed was laied against a man which had good eyes that he saw better than him. The party was accepted. “I had gain, over said the one eyed; why I see you two eyes, and you not look me who one.”

A english lord was in their bed tormented, cruelly of the gout, when was announced him a pretended physician, which had a remedy sure against that illness. “That doctor came in coach or on foot?” was request the lord. “On foot,” was answered him the servant. “Well, was replied the sick, go tell to the knave what go back one’s self, because if he was the remedy, which he exalt him self, he should roll a coach at six horses, and I would be send for him my self and to offer him the half part of my lands for to be delivered of my sickness.”

A duchess accused of magic being interrogated for a commissary extremely unhandsome, this was beg him selve one she had look the devil. “Yes, sir, I did see him, was answer the duchess, and he was like you as two water’s drops.”

A Lady, which was to dine, chid to her servant that she not had used butter enough. This girl, for to excuse him selve, was bing a little cat on the hand, and told that she came to take him in the crime, finishing to eat the two pounds from butter who remain. The Lady took immediately the cat, was put into the balances it had not weighted that one an half pound.

A countryman which came through to Paris upon the bridge to the change, not had perceived merchandises in several shops. The curiosity take him, he come near of a exchange desk:—“Sir, had he beg from a look simple, tell me what you sell.” The loader though that he may to divert of the personage:—“I sell, was answered him asse’s heads.”—“Indeed, reply to him the countryman, you make of it a great sale, because it not remains more but one in your shop.”

The commander Forbin of Janson, being at a repast with a celebrated Boileau, had undertaken to pun him upon her name:—“What name, told him, carry you thither? Boileau: I would wish better to call me Drink wine.” The poet was answered him in the same tune:—“And you, sir, what name have you choice? Janson: I should prefer to be named John-Meal. The meal don’t is valuable better than the furfur?”

A physician eighty years of age had enjoied of a health unalterable. Theirs friends did him of it compliments every days: “Mister doctor, they said to him, you are admirable man. What you make then for to bear you as well?—I shall tell you it, gentlemen he was answered them, and I exhort you in same time at to follow my exemple. I live of the product of my ordering without take any remedy who I command to my sicks.”

A countryman was confessed to the parson to have robbed a mutton at a farmer of her neighbourhood. “My friend, told him the confessor, it must to return, or you shall not have the absolution.—But repply the villager, I had eated him.—So much worse, told him the pastor; you vill be the devil sharing; because in the wide vale where me ought to appear we before God every one shall spoken against you, even the mutton. How! repply the countryman, the mutton will find in that part? I am very glad of that; then the restitution shall be easy, since I shall not have to tell to the farmer: “Neighbour take your mutton again.”

Plato walking one’s self a day to the field with some of their friends. They were to see him Diogenes who was in to water untill the chin. The superficies of the water was snowed, for the reserve of the hole that Diogenes was made. “Don’t look it more told them Plato, and he shall get out soon.”

A day came a man consult this philosopher for to know at o’clock it was owe to eat. If thou art rich, told him eat when you shall wish; if you are poor, when you may do.

At the middle of a night very dark, a blind was walk in the streets with a light on the hand and a full jar upon the back. Some one which ran do meet him, and surprised of that light: “Simple that you are, told him, what serve you this light? The night and the day are not them the same thing by you!—It is not for me, was answering the blind, that I bring this light, it is to the and that the giddie swhich seem to you do not come to run against me, and make to break my jar.”

Idiotisms and Proverbs

- The necessity don’t know the low.

- Few, few the bird make her nest.

- He is not valuable to breat that he eat.

- Its are some blu stories.

- Nothing some money, nothing of Swiss.

- He sin in trouble water.

- A bad arrangement is better than a process.

- He has a good beak.

- In the country of blinds, the one eyed men are kings.

- To build castles in Espagnish.

- Cat scalded fear the cold water.

- To do the fine spirit.

- With a tongue one go to Roma.

- There is not any ruler without a exception.

- Take out the live coals with the hand of the cat.

- A horse baared don’t look him the tooth.

- Take the occasion for the hairs.

- To do a wink to some body.

- So many go the jar to spring, than at last rest there.

- He eat untill to can’t more.

- Which like Bertram, love hir dog.

- It want to beat the iron during it is hot.

- He is not so devil as he is black.

- It is better be single as a bad company.

- The stone as roll not heap up not foam.

- They shurt him the doar in face.

- He has fond the knuckle of the business.

- He turns as a weath turcocl.

- There is not better sauce who the appetite.

- The pains come at horse and turn one’s self at foot.

- He is beggar as a church rat.

- So much go the jar to spring that at last it break there.

- To force to forge, becomes smith.

- Keep the chestnut of the fire with the cat foot.

- Friendship of a child is water into a basket.

- At some thing the misforte is good.

- Burn the politeness.

- Tell me whom thou frequent, I will tell you which you are.

- After the paunch comes the dance.

- Of the hand to mouth, one lose often the soup.

- To look for a needle in a hay bundle.

- To craunch the marmoset.

- To buy cat in pocket.

- To be as a fish into the water.

- To make paps for the cats.

- To fatten the foot.

- To come back at their muttons.

Colophon

English as She Is Spoke
was published in 1855 by
Pedro Carolino and José da Fonseca.

This ebook was produced for
Standard Ebooks
by
Alex Cabal,
and is based on a transcription produced in 2009 by
Doran Gaston
for
Project Gutenberg
and on digital scans from
various sources.

The cover page is adapted from
Self-Portrait, the Silence,
a painting completed circa 1790 by
Joseph Ducreux.
The cover and title pages feature the
League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
typefaces created in 2014 and 2009 by
The League of Moveable Type.

This edition was released on
March 10, 2026, 7:23 p.m.
and is based on
revision 1d48363.
The first edition of this ebook was released on
October 6, 2021, 3:09 a.m.
You can check for updates to this ebook, view its revision history, or download it for different ereading systems at
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