And now, chapter 1.3.2, "Mémoire de paysan vaut science de capitaine," translated variously as "The Peasant's Memory is as Good as the Captain's Science" and "A Peasant's Memory is Worth a Captain's Knowledge" (and possibly other versions). Talk away!
"but glory has ignored it. He who fights against his country is never a hero." The narrator seems to respect at least some of the sailors on an individual level. This will be worth comparing to some of the peasants from La Vendée that they’re supposedly fighting alongside.
"and, in order to rest a few hours, took shelter in the little creek situated to the north at low tide," So they weren’t awake for all thirty-six hours? That would only make Halmalo’s memory (if he’s telling the truth about all these places) even more impressive.
This is about the longest chapter since 1.1.1. So much namedropping, so much to take in. Let’s see, we have some more pseudonyms/different identities (“Planchenault, also called Cœur-de-Roi”…”Guitter, called Saint-Martin”…”Gaulier, called Grand-Pierre”). We have an emphasis on no quarter, no pity, just killing everybody. Although even then, there’s the potential for positive emotions (“you will find there a knock-kneed man surnamed Mousqueton, and who shows pity to nobody. You will tell him that I love him,”), it’s just quickly brushed over. Halmalo is not literate, but he knows all about where to find a famous book that serves as a tourist trap.
More characterization of Halmalo in terms of his deference to the establish order; since he kisses his crucifix, he’s allowed to kiss the symbol of the monarchy. He can memorize the instructions, like he memorizes his prayers. The old man appreciates this formulaic behavior, praising “another good man. He says his benedicite while he is having people shot. Just in case you’d forgotten, we have, “In war, no sentimentality.”
We also learn that Halmalo fought under the king ten years ago, not really sure who he was fighting against. Like Michelle Fléchard’s husband, maybe, he just sort of goes along with things without understanding who’s fighting who why. Like I said, so long, so many details, although I’ve seen people catching onto stuff I didn’t really attend to the first time around, so that’s cool, but there’s a lot of twists and turns yet to come.
Namewise, the old man addresses Halmalo as Halmalo, Halmalo calls him monseigneur (in Wikisource translation), and the narrator calls him the old man still.
"to be sure the assignats are counterfeit, but the genuine ones are worth no more;" Equivalence of worth plays into the chapter title—is Halmalo’s memory really this good? Is the old man really that knowledgeable? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
"And be on your guard. For in this country it is an easy matter to put a man to death." Yeah, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?
"Death doesn’t concern me. He who takes his first step may be wearing his last shoes." It concerned you a lot more when your brother was dying. But, sometimes there’s a seemingly higher priority.
"I will speak the word." This translation of Halmalo’s line seems to call back the last chapter title.
"Like my brother; and if do not succeed, you will have me shot?" If Halmalo doesn’t succeed, is the old man necessarily ever going to see him again?
The faux-peasant is placing a lot of trust in Halmalo to go around spreading the word of royalist insurrection. But then, the faux-peasant doesn’t have much choice. Also, he knows he’s pretty much playing Halmalo like a fiddle. He accurately diagnosed Halmalo’s uncertainty and guilt (or potential for guilt) about the plan to kill him. And, once talked out of that plan, the guilt bound Halmalo to his service all the more.
He also says a man who can read is annoying, in case we were in any doubt about his worldview.
There is a secret passage out of la Tourge, and there’s no way that isn’t becoming relevant later. Especially since the faux-peasant snottily dismisses it as a figment of peasant imagination (pretty rich behavior, to a peasant who had just saved his life!). But is the snottiness sincere? Or does the faux-peasant think the passage is important and just doesn’t want to let on?
Halmalo said he fought against the salt-tax collectors. They’re part of the royalist regime, though I don’t know if they worked for the king directly or for the nobles. Halmalo fights against the tax collectors but for the king. He has contempt for the first but reverence for the second, as shown by his attitude to the silk knot embroidered by “Madame Royale.” Part of him dimly suspects that this is a contradiction, because he asks the faux-peasant if tax collectors represent the king. The faux-peasant tells him not to worry his pretty head over it, because the faux-peasant doesn’t want to answer. It’s an awkward question for him. Pretty much no peasant is going to be on the side of the salt-tax collectors, if I’m reading the situation right. So he finesses, dodges and weasels out of it.
I’m struck again by the repetition of no quarter, no mercy. That’s the one thing these guys keep emphasizing. No quarter, not to anyone.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-05-03 05:00 pm (UTC)"and, in order to rest a few hours, took shelter in the little creek situated to the north at low tide," So they weren’t awake for all thirty-six hours? That would only make Halmalo’s memory (if he’s telling the truth about all these places) even more impressive.
This is about the longest chapter since 1.1.1. So much namedropping, so much to take in. Let’s see, we have some more pseudonyms/different identities (“Planchenault, also called Cœur-de-Roi”…”Guitter, called Saint-Martin”…”Gaulier, called Grand-Pierre”). We have an emphasis on no quarter, no pity, just killing everybody. Although even then, there’s the potential for positive emotions (“you will find there a knock-kneed man surnamed Mousqueton, and who shows pity to nobody. You will tell him that I love him,”), it’s just quickly brushed over. Halmalo is not literate, but he knows all about where to find a famous book that serves as a tourist trap.
More characterization of Halmalo in terms of his deference to the establish order; since he kisses his crucifix, he’s allowed to kiss the symbol of the monarchy. He can memorize the instructions, like he memorizes his prayers. The old man appreciates this formulaic behavior, praising “another good man. He says his benedicite while he is having people shot. Just in case you’d forgotten, we have, “In war, no sentimentality.”
We also learn that Halmalo fought under the king ten years ago, not really sure who he was fighting against. Like Michelle Fléchard’s husband, maybe, he just sort of goes along with things without understanding who’s fighting who why. Like I said, so long, so many details, although I’ve seen people catching onto stuff I didn’t really attend to the first time around, so that’s cool, but there’s a lot of twists and turns yet to come.
Namewise, the old man addresses Halmalo as Halmalo, Halmalo calls him monseigneur (in Wikisource translation), and the narrator calls him the old man still.
"to be sure the assignats are counterfeit, but the genuine ones are worth no more;" Equivalence of worth plays into the chapter title—is Halmalo’s memory really this good? Is the old man really that knowledgeable? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
"And be on your guard. For in this country it is an easy matter to put a man to death." Yeah, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?
"Death doesn’t concern me. He who takes his first step may be wearing his last shoes." It concerned you a lot more when your brother was dying. But, sometimes there’s a seemingly higher priority.
"I will speak the word." This translation of Halmalo’s line seems to call back the last chapter title.
"Like my brother; and if do not succeed, you will have me shot?" If Halmalo doesn’t succeed, is the old man necessarily ever going to see him again?
1.3.2
Date: 2014-05-03 09:12 pm (UTC)He also says a man who can read is annoying, in case we were in any doubt about his worldview.
There is a secret passage out of la Tourge, and there’s no way that isn’t becoming relevant later. Especially since the faux-peasant snottily dismisses it as a figment of peasant imagination (pretty rich behavior, to a peasant who had just saved his life!). But is the snottiness sincere? Or does the faux-peasant think the passage is important and just doesn’t want to let on?
Halmalo said he fought against the salt-tax collectors. They’re part of the royalist regime, though I don’t know if they worked for the king directly or for the nobles. Halmalo fights against the tax collectors but for the king. He has contempt for the first but reverence for the second, as shown by his attitude to the silk knot embroidered by “Madame Royale.” Part of him dimly suspects that this is a contradiction, because he asks the faux-peasant if tax collectors represent the king. The faux-peasant tells him not to worry his pretty head over it, because the faux-peasant doesn’t want to answer. It’s an awkward question for him. Pretty much no peasant is going to be on the side of the salt-tax collectors, if I’m reading the situation right. So he finesses, dodges and weasels out of it.
I’m struck again by the repetition of no quarter, no mercy. That’s the one thing these guys keep emphasizing. No quarter, not to anyone.