A Monsieur de Broussel Conseiller du Roi au Parlement de Paris.
Author : Unknown
Annotated and edited by: Jacob Lucas
Introduction :
Throughout this project I learned more than I contributed. It was a humbling experience to connect with a piece from such a critical point in French history. This type of writing was so uniquely French and so specific to the time frame in which it was written that transcribing and translating it proved to be more difficult than expected. I engaged with the content in a very meaningful way and took away a lot of lessons both about the process of working with older texts and about the history during which it was written.
I chose to adapt the transcription slightly (taking away additional letters, making common substitutions, and somewhat involuntarily adding occasional punctuation). This does create a slight divergence from the original text that erases some of its original character and authenticity. I think that in today’s world however, creating a text that is easier to engage with and understand is more important than staying completely loyal to every part of a classic text.
Translating proved to be much more difficult than anticipated and the product of my labors is far from perfect. Some of the words were brand new to me and don’t really fit into modern French conversation/writing which is what I have experience translating. I think to effectively translate this text, I would need to do much more study related to the writing styles and themes of the time.
From a content standpoint, I found that my first reading granted me almost no knowledge of the meanings and double meanings hidden behind the words. Even after more closely examining it, I still misunderstood some of its intentions. It was not until working my way all the way through the translation that I grew somewhat comfortable with my interpretation. This piece fits in with the historical context and the genre of Mazarinades. It makes reference to politics and Broussel, a critical figure in the Parliament, singing his praises and hailing him as a guardian of the people – in the way that the Parliament was respected at the time. Reading and understanding a Mazarinade is a truly excellent way to understand a side of French history (the lower class majority side) that is often ignored in formal study.
A Monsieur de Broussel Conseiller du Roi au Parlement de Paris.
Illustre sénateur, héro incomparable, qu’on ne m’accuse pas te croyant adorable si j’élevé a ta gloire un si fameux autel quel honneur dans ces lieux ne-doit-on point te rendre dans les siècles passez vit-on jamais mortel, qui pour le bien du peuple osa plus entreprendre.
Ni le bruit des prisons, des tourments, ni des chaines, ni l’horreur des bourreaux, ni de leurs durs gènes, n’ont jamais ébranlé ton cœur invincible : Tu l’as tout exposé, pour l’honneur de la France et pour le bien public1, ton vigueur extrême. A démontré les effets de ta ferme assurance.
Que tu t’es travaillé pour détourner l’orage qui menaçait nos jours d’un funeste naufrage : Pilote généreux de l’Empire Gaulois sans l’art industrieux de ta sage conduite serions-nous pas captifs dans les injustes lois d’une troupe de gens que l’enfer a produite.
Injustes partisans, qui brulent d’avarice, bannissez la vertu pour établir le vice, et ne vous repassez que du sang des humains : larrons, audacieux, impudents, hérétiques, retiendrez-vous toujours nos trésors dans vos mains sans vouloir soulager nos misères publiques. 2
De Broussel et armé du bras d’une Déesse 3qui veut vous punissent finir notre tristesse, et de notre seul bien ourdir votre malheur voyez comme il combat pour avoir la victoire, malgré tous les démons le Ciel pour son bonheur le fera triompher dans un trône de gloire. 4
Votre rage a vomi contre lui sa furie, et le plus grand effort de votre barbarie produit son effet quand il fut enlevé : cet énorme attentat, cette lâche industrie l’ont mis dedans les fers, qu’en est-il arrivé ? Les François ont rendu le Père a sa Patrie.
Parmi les légions des soldats tous en armes, parmi le bruit confus du peuple en ses alarmes qui demandent avoir ce soleil éclipsé : qu’on fut ravi voyant éclater sa lumière lors que plus on croit qu’il était oppressé ou qu’il fut le butin de quelque cimetière.
Quel heureux changement cette forte tempête, qu’on eut dit qui voulait tomber sur notre tète et qui si promptement avoir armé Paris, se calma des l’instant qu’on vit libre Brousselles alors toutes nos pleurs se changèrent en ris Madrid seul s’affligea d’en savoir les nouvelles.
Au milieu du Pont-neuf se fit cette entrevue, qui surprit nos esprits d’une joie imprévue de te voir de retour mon Héros glorieux ; que d’applaudissements et que de bienveillances, l’air retentit des cris qui furent jusqu’aux Cieux raconter les succès de nos réjouissances.
Un seul homme pour toi fit qu’il s’en armé mille aux armes croient il en chacune famille, on nous vient d’enlever notre unique support, retirons-le des fers, garantissons sa vie, puis qu’il nous a si bien affranche de la mort : Allons disait Lisis, où l’honneur nous ont convié.
Enfin on t’a rendu notre Ange tutélaire, objet qui d’un clin d’œil calme notre misère, et remet en splendeur l’autorité du Roi : Vous régnez maintenant dans son lit de justice, senat Auguste et saint en faisant une loi pour punir les méchants par un juste supplice.
Que vous reste-t ’il plus pour couronner vos peines, qu’à rangé au devoir ces âmes inhumaines, qui sans crainte de Dieu, volent impunément, faites-les regorger ces infames harpies, par vos fameux arrêtes, Auguste Parlement, et vous verrez bientôt, nos haines assoupies.
FIN.
TRANSLATED (TO MODERN ENGLISH): A Monsieur de Broussel Conseiller du Roi au Parlement de Paris.
Illustrious Senator, incomparable hero, one could accuse me of finding you incredible, if I raise your famous glory to an altar, what an honor, in these places there has never been a mortal in all of the past centuries who has dared to undertake as much for the good of the people.
Neither the noise of the prisons, the torments, nor the chains, nor the horror of the executioners, nor their tough natures, never rattles your invincible heart: you have completely exposed your extreme vigor, for the honor of France and for the good of the public to demonstrate the effects of your firm confidence.
That you have worked to deflect the storm that hung over our days like during a terrible shipwreck: generous captain of the Gaul Empire lacking the art of industry from your sage conduct, we will not be captives to the unjust laws of a group of people whom Hell produced.
Unjust partisans, who burn with avarice, you banish all virtue and replace it with vice, and you return nothing but the blood of humans: thieves, audacious, impudent, heretics, always reclaiming our treasures in your hands without seeking to sooth our public-sector miseries.
Broussel armed with the power of a goddess who seeks to punish you to end our sadness, and our only good is to create your unhappiness, look how he fights for victory despite all the demons of the sky, for his goodness will make him triumph in a throne of glory.
Your rage vomited against him, and the biggest effort of your barbary produced its effect when he was raised: this grand attack, this cowardly industry that placed him in irons, what happens when he arrived? The French delivered the father to his homeland.
Among the legions of armed soldiers, among the confused noise of people in alarm who demand to have the sun eclipsed: That we were ravished light bursting with our radiance when one believed it to be oppressed or that it was the remnants from some cemetery.
How fortunate the change to this strong storm, that one would tell who wanted to fall on our head and who as promptly had armed Paris, creating calm at the instant that Brussels lived freely so that all of our tears would change to laughter, Madrid’s only distress would be to know the news.
In the middle of Pont-neuf this encounter occurred, which surprises our spirits with an unexpected joy of seeing you return my glorious hero; that of applause and that of goodwill, the air will ring with the cries that went all the way up to heaven telling of the success of our rejoices.
One single man on your side went so that he could arm thousands believing in each family, coming to raise our individual support, removing his irons, guaranteeing his life, then that he could well and truly free us from death: Let’s go said Lisis, where honor invited us.
Finally, we made you our guardian angel, the object who in the blink of an eye calms our misery, and give proper splendor to the authority of the king: You reign now in his “lit de justice,” Senate August and saint by making a law to punish the cruel by a just ordeal.
What is left to crown your labors, to bring their inhuman souls to duty, who without fear of God, steals unpunished, becoming the infamous harpies, by your famous stops, Auguste Parlement, and you will soon see, our sleeping hatred.
END.
Bibliograpy:
A Monsieur De Broussel, Conseiller Du Roy Au Parlement De Paris. Noel, 1649.
Matsumura, Takeshi. "Remarques lexicographiques sur le mot «mazarinade»." Histoire et civilisation du livre 12 (2016): 163-168.
Todière, Louis Phocion. La Fronde et Mazarin. Alfred Mame et fils, 1864.
Vélez, Juan Manuel Hernández. "Pamphlet Literature Reflecting Parliamentary Opposition At The Time Of The French Fronde: The Example Of The Mazarinades (1648-1649)."
This line encapsulates the importance of texts like this one: the French people wanted to have a voice, and they did not simply want to be the victims of those “born” into higher positions than themselves. The Parliament and people like Broussel gave them this voice and made their concerns and demands a priority. These types of texts were on way for French people to share their dissatisfaction with corruption, but also to sing the praises of the humble men who were serving them at the higher levels.↩
This is a powerful statement and a very sever choice of words that the author decides upon to describe the accused of this text. The words are specifically chosen to target the typical crimes of the time, centering around thievery and dishonesty. The regency was taking advantage of the French people and they knew it. This text is all about making a stand against the stealing and lies that flowed out of the regency, and in this passage the author establishes that all of this facetiousness has a concrete and direct impact on the French people. Matsumura says that today’s definition of a Mazarinade is “libelle satirique contre Mazarin,” but in fact I think that this text goes much further than this (Matsumura). It is not just satire, although it is poetic. It is a statement against injustices, and it makes powerful claims that served to unite the French people and create strong and lasting impacts.↩
Here we see a reference to religion, and later in this paragraph we see the author reference “tous les demons.” The author is using very dramatic language to depict the severity of what they are saying. Applying religious terms and powers is one method the author uses to firmly prove their point of the battle of good vs. evil that they are painting. They are saying that Broussel is on the side of good and that he has a powerful goddess on his side while the corrupted are like demons waiting to be slain by the power of Broussel at the defense of the French people.↩
This paragraph is just one example of how this Mazarinade both praises a member of the Parliament and tears down the more corrupt members of the regency. Often throughout this text the author switches between the “tu” and “vous” forms and bounces back and forth between who they are addressing. Vélez claims that justice-seeking Mazarinades, such as this one, “can be divided into two groups. Those that, in an abstract or theoretical way, followed magistracy arguments; and those that accused of injustice a member of the Regency” (Vélez, 301). In this piece, we see both of these approaches in a way. The language is very abstract and theoretical, but the author does not shy away from harshly accusing the regency of injustice and other crimes.↩