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''The White Company Translations, An Interactive Rough Guide'' is a guide published in february 2000 by [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Study Group]].

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== The White Company Translations ==
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p01.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 1)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p02.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 2)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p03.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 3)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p04.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 4)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p05.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 5)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p06.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 6)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p07.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 7)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p08.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 8)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p09.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 9)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p10.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 10)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p11.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 11)]]
[[File:acdsg-2000-the-white-company-translations-p12.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The White Company Translations (2000, p. 12)]]

'''An Arthur Conan Doyle Study Group Interactive Rough Guide to The White Company.'''

''"... 'Words, words!' shouted the other furiously. 'Am I to be put off with words?...' ..."'' — Sir Oliver Buttesthorn, The White Company, Chapter XV — How the Yellow Cog Sailed Forth from Lepe.

=== Introduction ===

This 'Rough Guide' to understanding the foreign language in The White Company,
has been produced to help the student of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], who has either little or no knowledge and understanding of the French, Latin, Spanish and occasional other
languages that are used within the novel.

As The White Company contains many archaic words and phrases, the publication that
you have now is very much an ongoing project.

Therefore, we would like you to contribute your own thoughts upon the current
translations, and, hopefully — with your further knowledge and input — there will be
much to add with each subsequent update and reprint.

Due to this edition being far from definitive, you will see that we have chosen the
word interactive, thus usurping some modern computer jargon for an old fashioned
plea — help required please! The reader will find certain words or phrases are so far as yet untranslated, and a blank space therefore will be found against these — ideas and suggestions to fill the gaps in this Rough Guide will, obviously be gratefully received. The current translations of individual words and phrases are arranged chronologically under the appropriate chapter title, so as to aid the reader in locating a translation, whilst he or she reads the novel. If you would prefer future editions to have the translations arranged in alphabetical order, or perhaps by each different language, then do please get in touch and have your say.

Where a word or phrase is subsequently repeated in the narrative, it 1s not listed and
translated again. The repetition of certain words and sayings, for example "...En
avant...", has deemed this a necessity.

It could be stated that some of the phrases and words in archaic English that Conan
Doyle utilises to give credence to this tale of Fourteenth Century adventure are now
themselves 'foreign' to the modern English reader and the language that we now use.
These 'archaic' translations could form the basis of an additional volume to a Rough
Guide series or perhaps be added to the present one here?

However, it is in the very spirit of Conan Doyle's own learning and in his painstaking
research and writing of The White Company that imbues this current Rough Guide
with it's dynamic — we should all embrace that spirit of learning in order to help
ourselves and others, who are interested in, and love this novel — after all, Conan
Doyle's dedication before the actual narrative begins is :

: '''TO THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE'''
: '''THE REUNION OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING RACES'''
: '''THIS LITTLE CHRONICLE OF OUR COMMON'''
: '''ANCESTRY IS INSCRIBED'''

''Therefore, we being [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s 'future' readers, 'hope' to unite our
knowledge and understanding, through learning all the languages used in [[The White Company]], in order to gain a greater feel for 'this little chronicle' that commences
"...In the year of our Lord Thirteen Hundred and Sixty-six..."''

=== Translations ===

Note : All translations are from French, unless indicated beforehand by the following letters in brackets — (L) = Latin, (S) = Spanish, (I) = Italian or (G) = German.

==== Chapter I — How the Black Sheep Came Forth from the Fold. ====

* (L) radix malorum — root of evil.
* (L) "Gesta beati Benedicti" — carry the blessed Benedictines.
* prie-dieu — Prie-dieu (chair to pray on it).

==== Chapter IV — How the Bailiff of Southampton slew the Two Masterless Men. ====

* "La Rose de Gloire" — the Rose of Glory / the famous Rose.

==== Chapter V — How a Strange Company Gathered at The 'Pied Merlin'. ====

* seneschal — a steward of the household of a prince or nobleman.
* ouvre — open.
* merci — thank you.

==== Chapter VI — How Samkin Aylward Wagered His Feather Bed. ====

* (S) Holà — hello.
* La petite — The little one.
* c'est l'amour — that's love.
* mes amis — my friends.
* ma belle — my fair lady.
* En avant — forward.
* coquin! — rascal.
* Buvons — let's drink.
* A toi, mon garcon! — Here's to you, my boy!
* mes enfants — my children.
* mes braves — my heroes.
* Holà! mon ange — Hello! My angel.
* Tête bleue! — Blue head!
* ma chérie! — my darling.
* Mon Dieu! — Oh my God!
* aussi — also.
* (L) Magna est veritas sed rara — The truth is great but rare.
* Braba(n)çons — Brabantines (Belgians).
* tardvenus — late comers.
* Peste! — Bless me!
* Pasques Dieu — Lit. "Easter God" (medieval swear word for astonishment).
* mon enfant — my child.
* Ma foi — My faith.
* mon gar(s) — my lad.
* mon ami — my friend.

==== Chapter VII — How the Three Comrades Journeyed through the Woodlands. ====

* mon camarade — my comrade.
* mon gros jean — my big john.
* bonne amie — good friend.
* méchante — naughty.
* Adieu, ma vie — goodbye to life.
* livres — books.
* Kermesse — charity fair.
* marchons — Let's walk.
* oriflamme — a scarlet flag.
* flambeau — torch.
* bombards — (mediaeval) catapults.
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| Or avant, entre nous tous fréres 
Battons nos charognes bien fort 
En remembrant la grant misére 
De Dieu et sa piteuse mort, 
Oui fut pris en la gent ameére 
Et vendus et trais a tort 
Et bastu sa chair, vierge et dére 
Au nom de ce battons plus fort.
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| Now, beforehand, between all of us brothers, 
Let us strike our bodies very hard 
In God and His disgraceful death 
Who made us take in the bitter tribe 
and sold and betrayed wrongfully 
and beaten his flesh, virgin and (?) 
In the name of this "beat stronger".
|}

* C'est pour vos péchés — pour vos péchés It is for your sins — for your sins.
* Mort Dieu — Dead God.
* mon cher — my dear.
* le bon Dieu — the good God.
* ma petite — my little one.
* (L) Acta Sanctorum — Acts of sacredness.

==== Chapter VII — The Three Friends. ====

* Tête Dieu! — Lit. "Head God!" (medieval swear word for astonishment).

==== Chapter IX — How Strange Things Befell in Minstead Wood. ====

* (L) 'sylva de centum porcis' — 'sylva of one-hundred pigs'.
* fleurs-de-lis — lilies.
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'Le cerf est passé? Non? Ici, Brocas; tu parles Anglais'.
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'The stag has gone by? No? It's here, Brocas; you speak English.'
|}

==== Chapter X - How Hordle John Found a Man Whom he Might Follow. ====

* (L) 'Benedic, fili mi!' —'Bless, my sons!'
* (L) Vultus ingenui puer — The boy looked innocent.
* (L) Fenum habet in cornu — He has hay in his horn.
* (L) Loquaces si sapiat — Talkative if wise.
* (L) Propter argumentum — Because of the argument
* (L) 'Non cuivis contingit adire Corinthum' — 'It is not for everyone to go to Corinth'.
* (L) Judex damnatur — The judge is condemned.
* (L) doctor preclarus et excellentissimus — A very famous and excellent doctor.
* (L) peroratio — speech.
* 'Mort de ma vie! — Death of my life.
* cher petite — my dear little one.
* mes garcons — my boys.
* demoiselle — Miss.
* rotes — violin like instrument.
* citoles — cittern.
* rondel — a poem, but literally meaning a little circle.
* comfit — a small sweet, containing nuts.
* drageoir — a comfit box.
* Gestes de Doon de Mayence — The Heroic Stories of Doon of Mayence.
* brigandine — brigandine (body armour).
* Pardieu — By Jove!
* jongleur — juggler.
* sirvente — a poem of Provencal troubadours.
* tonson — (?)

==== Chapter XI — How a Young Shepherd had a Perilous Flock. ====

* ouche — (?)
* 'A mon coeur, camarade, a mon coeur' — With all my heart, my friend, with all my heart.
* 'Parbleu!' — By God.
* la Blanche Rose — the White Rose.
* "Trois Corbeaux" — "Three Crows".
* c'était mauvais goût — it was in bad taste.
* troubadour — a travelling minstrel.
* A jambe gules — with red leg (heraldry).

==== Chapter XII — How Alleyne Learned More than he could Teach. ====

* bachelles —

==== Chapter XIII — How the White Company Set Forth to the Wars. ====

* Adieu — Goodbye.
* Mon coeur est toujours à toi — My heart is always yours.
* chatelaine — Lady of the Manor.

==== Chapter XIV — How Sir Nigel Sought for a Wayside Venture. ====

* (L) 'Benedictus dominus Deus meus, — 'Thank, my God and Lord . qui docet manus meas ad preelium, et — who guides my hands in battle, digitos meos ad bellum' — my fingers in war.'

==== Chapter XV — How the Yellow Cog Sailed Forth from Lepe. ====

* Tête-noire — Black-head.
* (S) Doge Boccanegra — Black mouth of a bulldog.
* mangonel — a war device for hurling stones.
* trabuch — ("trébuchet") siege engine.

==== Chapter XVI — How the Yellow Cog Fought the Two Rover Galleys. ====

* Que dites-vous? — What are you saying?
* la morte du chien! — the death of the dog!
* routuriers — commoners.
* Mais le seigneur d'Andelys, avec le sang — But the Lord of Andelys, with royal des rois dans ses veires! C'est incroyable! — blood in its veins! It's unbelievable!

==== Chapter XVII — How the Yellow Cog Crossed the Bar of Gironde. ====

* Le Diable t'emporte — The Devil carries you away.
* (L) In manus tuas Domine — In your hands, O Lord.
* certes — certainly.
* tour de Cordouan — tower of Cordouan.

==== Chapter XVIII — How Sir Nigel Loring put a Patch upon his Eye. ====

* côte-hardie — ("cotte-hardie") medieval travel or work outfit.
* à la poulaine — like a poulaine (medieval shoe).
* "Argent, a bend vert between cotises dancetté gules" — Silver, a green bend
between (??) red.
* "Téte d'Or" — "Golden Head".
* épreuves — Challenges.

==== Chapter XIX — How there was Stir at the Abbey of St. Andrews. ====

* or basané — sunburnt gold.
* charette — two wheeled carriage.
* (S) olla — stew or stewpot.
* ragout — stew.

==== Chapter XX — How Alleyne Won his Place in an Honourable Guild. ====

* Maitre-des-tables — Head of the tables.
* vépres du tournoi — tournament vespers.
* destrier — charger (horse).
* Rue des Apotres — Apostle Street.
* Maitre-de-cuisine — Head chef.

==== Chapter XXI — How Agostino Pisano Risked his Head. ====

* (I) cospetto — face to face.
* (I) signor — sir.
* (I) signori — sirs.
* (I) corpo di Baccho — Body of Bacchus.
* (I) maravedi — Iberian coins.
* (I) cara mia — my dear.
* (I) Diavolo — Devil.
* (I) per baccho — by the way.
* (I) duomo — cathedral.
* Rue du Roi — King Street.

==== Chapter XXII — How the Bowmen held Wassail at the 'Rose de Guienne'. ====

* Duc d'Armagnac — Duke of Armagnac.

==== Chapter XXIII — How England held the Lists at Bordeaux. ====

* Pursuivants — Followers.
* escutcheons — shield of one's armorial bearings.
* (S) Carajo — Damn.
* amours — love affairs.
* guerdon — reward (slang).

==== Chapter XXV — How Sir Nigel wrote to Twynham Castle. ====

* Rue de la Tour — Tower Street.
* denier — small coin.

==== Chapter XXVI — How the Three Comrades Gained a Mighty Treasure. ====

* Ma foe — My faith! (foi)
* Adieu, ma chérie! mon ceur est toujours a toi — Farewell, my darling! My heart is always yours.
* Bonjour, ma belle dame — Hello, my beautiful Lady.
* messieurs — Gentlemen.
* "Mouton d'Or" — "Golden Sheep".
* coquillart — Highwayman/Bandit.

==== Chapter XXVII — How Roger Club-foot was Passed into Paradise. ====

* "Bâton Rouge" — Red Stick!
* citterne — a lute (stringed instrument).
* (G) minne lieder — a song.
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| ROGER PIED-BOT. 
Par l'ordre du Sénéchal de 
Castelnau, et de l'Echevin de 
Cahors, servantes fidéles du 
Tres vaillant et tres puissant 
Edouard, Prince de Galles et 
d'Aquitaine. 
Ne touchez pas, 
Ne coupez pas, 
Ne dépêchez pas.
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| ROGER CLUB-FOOT. 
By the order of the Steward of 
Castelnau and the sheriff of 
Cahors, faithful servants of the 
very brave and very powerful. 
Edward, Prince of Wales and 
of Aquitaine. 
Do not touch, 
Do not cut, 
Do not hurry.
|}

* sompnour — (old French) summoner.
* livre benison — a blessing, paid for.
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'Fais ce que dois-adviegne que peut, C'est commandé au chevalier.'
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'Do what has to be done, That's the knight order.'
|}

==== Chapter XXVIII — How the Comrades Came Over the Marches of France. ====

* "Lion Rouge" — "Red Lion".
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'A moi, mes amis! A moi, camarades! 
A moi, l'honorable champion de 
l'Évêque de Montaubon! A la recousse 
de l'église sainte!'
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| 'Help, my friends! Help, comrades! 
Help, honourable champion of 
the Bishop of Montaubon! To the rescue 
of the Holy Church.
|}

* auberge — inn.

==== Chapter XXIX — How the Blessed Hour of Sight Came to the Lady Tiphaine. ====

* flambeaux — torches.
* ortolan — a type of bunting (bird).
* (I) Beccaficoes — small birds.
* canaille — mob/rabble.
* Jacques Bonhomme — Jack Goodman (a symbolic name for a French peasant).

==== Chapter XXX — How the Brushwood Men Came to the Chateau of Villefranche. ====

* Chateau — Castle.
* (I) "Caro mio" — "My dear".
* Qui va? — Who goes there?
* (S) camisade — an attack, under cover of darkness.
* Notre Dame Du Guesclin — Our Lady of Guesclin.

==== Chapter XXXI — How Five Men Held the Keep of Villefranche. ====

* Jacquerie — a name for the peasant rising.
* Poem :
{|
|-
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| Cessez, cessez, gens d'armes et pietons, 
De piller et manger le bonhomme, 
Oui de longtemps Jacques Bonhomme 
se nomme.
|style="width:50%; vertical-align:top;"| Stop, stop, men at arms and foot-soldiers 
pillaging and destroying the good person 
who for a long time Jacques Bonhomme. 
is named.
|}

==== Chapter XXXII — How the Company Took Counsel Round the Fallen Tree. ====

* Esparre — piece of wood.
* devoir — duty.

==== Chapter XX XIII — How the Army Made the Passage of Roncesvalles. ====

* voila — there it is.
* cinque-foils — five-foils.
* La nuit — the night.

==== Chapter XXXIV — How the Company Made Sport in the Vale of Pampeluna. ====

* mon gros camarade — my fat friend.

==== Chapter XXXV — How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle. ====

* gave — mountain torrent.
* (S) caballeros — horsemen.

==== Chapter XXX VII — How the White Company Came to be Disbanded. ====

* (S) 'Altura de los Ingleses' — 'The height of the Englishmen'.

==== Chapter XX XVIII — On the Home-coming to Hampshire. ====

* mes belles — my beautiful ones.
* mes petites — my little ones.
* mes anges — my angels.

----
* [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Study Group]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]

The White Company Translations - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 20:23, 14 May 2025