1788

Working Translations

Sylvain Maréchal, “Modern Apologues for the Use of the Dauphin” (1788)

April 11, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur
[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] When available, parallel French/English texts are linked below the lesson. Related Texts: The Last Judgment of Kings (1793) Posts with commentary: “The Desert Island“ Sylvain Maréchal anticipates the “general strike”? [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] MODERN APOLOGUES, FOR THE USE OF THE DAUPHIN. First Lessons for the Elder Son of a King. —– FIRST LESSON. PROMETHEUS. Thus far, the mythologists have misreported the allegorical history of Prometheus. Here are the facts: that ingenious artist of antiquity, having kneaded clay in water, made from it several figures of men, which he animated with the elemental fire. […]
Working Translations

Sylvain Maréchal anticipates the “general strike”?

April 11, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur
In an article on “Precursors of Anarchism” in the Encyclopédie Anarchiste, E. Armand gave an account of the career of Maréchal, including the following remarks: [one_half padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] En 1788, ses Apologues modernes à l’usage du dauphin. C’est là que se trouve l’histoire du roi qui, à la suite d’un cataclysme, renvoie chacun de ses sujets chez lui, en prescrivant que, désormais, chaque père de famille sera roi dans son foyer. C’est là que se trouve énoncé le principe de la Grève générale, comme moyen d’instaurer une société où la Terre est propriété commune de tous ses habitants, […]
Working Translations

Sylvain Maréchal, “The Desert Island” (1788)

March 19, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur
In the opening pages of Sylvain Maréchal’s play, The Last Judgment of Kings, we find the following notice: [one_half padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] L’idée de cette pièce est prise dans l’Apologue suivant, faisant partie des Leçons du fils ainé d’un roi, ouvrage philosophique du même auteur, publié au commencement de 1789, et mis à l’index par la Police. [/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] The idea for this play is taken from the following Apologue, part of the Lessons for the Eldest Son of a King, a philosophical work by the same author, published at the beginning of 1789, and put […]
Working Translations

Sylvain Maréchal, “The Pig-Keeper King” (1788)

March 18, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur
In those days, a young king was inclined to dissipation, even to villainy; it was a hereditary vice. The états-généraux, natural guardians of the sovereign, who had never been emancipated from them, assembled & agreed on a means of correcting the young prince. One day, when he had abandoned himself completely to his foul penchants, and was plunged into a deep sleep, they seized his royal person; from his palace, they transported him on a litter, still sleeping, to a stable.

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Working Translations

Sylvain Maréchal, ” Prometheus” (1788)

March 17, 2019 Shawn P. Wilbur
Thus far, the mythologists have misreported the allegorical history of Prometheus. Here are the facts: that ingenious artist of antiquity, having kneaded clay in water, made from it several figures of men, which he animated with the elemental fire. He took great pleasure in his work, like a father in his children.

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