1 Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
A complex sentence form refers to a marked construction with one or more particular connectives, and a semantic relationship refers to the semantic relationship marked by a complex sentence form. For instance, “yīnwèi p, suǒyǐ q” (‘*because p, therefore q’) and “suīrán p, dànshì q” (‘*although p, but q’) are complex sentence forms, and the semantic relationships they mark are causal and concessiveadversative respectively.
The semantic relationships of complex sentences have a dual character in the sense that they reflect both the objective reality and the subjective view. In some cases, the objective reality coincides with subjective view, and in other cases they differ. Nevertheless, whether they are the same or not, the subjective view outweighs the objective reality in the selection of a sentence form.
On the one hand, a complex sentence form is restricted by the semantic relationship—directly restricted by the subjective view and indirectly restricted by the objective reality. On the other hand, once a complex sentence form is produced, it restricts the semantic relationship, and the semantic relationship marked directly by the form reflects the subjective view of the choice maker.
This chapter mainly enumerates various cases where the subjective view does not reflect the objective reality exactly, explicates the form’s counter-constraints on the semantic relationships and explores the interrelations between complex sentence forms and semantic relationships.
This chapter is based on an article that the author published in the journal Studies of the Chinese Language years ago. The sources of the example sentences in that article were omitted due to the space requirement, therefore they are nowhere to be found now.
1.1 Hypothetical and factive
In Chinese, some complex sentence forms are typically hypothetical, and some are typically factive. Whether a sentence form is hypothetical or factive depends on the anterior clause. For instance, both “ jíshǐ p, ( dàn ) yě q ” and “ suīrán p, ( dàn ) yě q ” mark an adversative relationship, but the former denotes a hypothetical contrast, whereas the latter signifies a factive adversativity.
DOI: 10.4324/9781003382034-1
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
Another example is “ rúguǒ p, jiù q ” and “ jìrán p, jiù q ”, both of which mark an inferential relationship between p and q , but the former shows a hypothetical inference and the latter indicates a factive one. Nevertheless, it can be found out that what the hypothetical or factive refers to in real life is not always in line with the hypothetical or a factive relationship marked by the complex sentence form.
1.1.1 Factive p
In a hypothetical complex sentence form, p might be factive.
Case 1: “jíshǐ p, yě q”.
In Volume Ⅲ, the discussion of the factive form of “jíshǐ p, yě q” concludes that in most cases p refers to a hypothesis or a virtual reality, as is illustrated in the following example:
(1) 即使把他碎尸万段，也解不了我心里的愤恨。
Jíshǐ ... yě ... bǎ tā suìshī-wànduàn, yě jiě-bùliǎo even if . . . BA him crush a body to pieces cannot eliminate wǒ xīn-lǐ de fènhèn. I in heart SP resent {Even if he was crushed to pieces, my resentment would not be eliminated.}
In the previous example, p, i.e., “crushing him to pieces”, is not a fact. However, in some cases, p refers to an action that has already taken place, as in (2a). The meaning of the sentence remains unchanged even if jíshǐ is removed, as is illustrated by (2b), which can be paraphrased by (2c).
(2) a 那些日子即使常常挨批判，我也没有对生活失掉过信心。
Nàxiē rìzi jíshǐ ... yě ... chángcháng ái pīpàn, wǒ yě méiyǒu those day even if often receive criticize I NEG duì shēnghuó shīdiào-guò xìnxīn. about life lose-EXP faith
{In those days I never lost faith in life, even though I was often criticized.}
b 那些日子常常挨批判，我也没有对生活失掉过信心。
Nàxiē those rìzi day chángcháng often ái receive pīpàn, criticize wǒ I yě also méiyǒu NEG duì about shēnghuó life shīdiào-guò lose-EXP xìnxīn. faith
{I was often criticized in those days, but I never lost faith in life.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships 3
c 那些日子虽然常常挨批判，我也没有对生活失掉过信心。
Nàxiē rìzi suīrán chángcháng ái pīpàn, wǒ yě méiyǒu those day although often receive criticize I also NEG duì shēnghuó shīdiào-guò xìnxīn about life lose-EXP faith
{Although I was often criticized in those days, I never lost faith in life.}
The following are another four examples:
(3) 聊到兴头，福生解了棉袄，只穿了一件高领毛衣。…… 即使 隔着毛 衣，也可以看出，他的胸肌和臂肌都很发达。
Liáo-dào xìngtou， Fúshēng jiě-le mián’ǎo， zhǐ chat-CM high spirits Fusheng unbutton-PEF cotton padded jacket only chuān-le yī jiàn gāolǐng máoyī Jíshǐ yě gé-zhe máoyī, yě wear-PEF a CL turtleneck sweater even if through sweater kěyǐ kàn-chū, tā de xiōngjī hé bìjī dōu hěn fādá. can see he SP chest muscles and arm muscles all very developed {When Fusheng became high spirited during the chat, he unbuttoned his cotton padded jacket and only wore a turtleneck . . . even though he was wearing the sweater, his strong chest and arm muscles could be noticed.}
(4) 这或许能证明，白娘娘和雷峰塔的较量，关系着中国精神文化的决裂 和更新？为此，即使明智如鲁迅，也愿意在一个传说故事的象征意义 上深深沉浸。
Zhè huòxǔ néng zhèngmíng, Bái Niángniáng hé Léifēng Tǎ de this perhaps can prove BAI Niangniang and Leifeng Pagoda SP
jiàoliàng, guānxì-zhe Zhōngguó jīngshén wénhuà de juéliè have a contest be related to-PRG China spirit culture SP break hé and gēngxīn? Wèicǐ, jíshǐ yě renew for this reason even if míngzhì rú wise be like Lǔ Xùn, LU Xun yě yuànyì be willing zài at yī gè a CL chuánshuō legend gùshi story de SP xiàngzhēng symbol yìyì-shàng in meaning shēn-shēn deep-REDP chénjìn. be immersed {Might this prove that the contest between BAI Niangniang and the Leifeng Pagoda is about the breakup and renewal of Chinese spiritual culture? For this reason, LU Xun was willing to immerse himself deeply in the symbolic meaning of a legendary story even though he was such a wise man.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
(5) 在国内时，即使她有那么几个好朋友，也常常是觉得孤独寂寞，觉得 自己和别人格格不入，生活在不同的世界里。
Zài guónèi shí, jíshǐ yě tā yǒu nàme jǐ gè hǎo in one’s own country time even if she have such a few CL good péngyǒu, yě chángcháng shì juéde gūdú-jìmò, juéde zìjǐ hé friend often COP feel lonely and isolated feel oneself with biérén gégé-bùrù, shēnghuó zài . . . lǐ bùtóng de shìjiè lǐ. others be out of step with live in different SP world {When she was in her own country, even though she had a few good friends, she often felt lonely and isolated, out of step with others, and living in a different world.}
(6)
直至如今，我仍然认为，即使我失去了这美好的一切；即使我只能在 忐忑不安中跋涉草原,去找寻往昔的姑娘,而且明知她已不复属我；即 使我知道自己无非是在倔强地决心找到她，而找到她也只能重温那可 怕的痛苦——我仍然认为,我是个幸福的人。
Zhízhì rújīn, wǒ réngrán rènwéi, jíshǐ wǒ shīqù-le zhè měihǎo de until now I still think even if I lose-PEF this wonderful SP yīqiè; jíshǐ wǒ zhǐ néng zài . . . zhōng tǎntè-bù‘ān zhōng báshè cǎoyuán, all even I only can in anxious trek meadow qù zhǎoxún wǎngxī de gūniang, érqiě míngzhī tā yǐ bùfù to look for the past SP girl and know clearly she already no longer shǔ wǒ; jíshǐ wǒ zhīdào zìjǐ wúfēi shì zài juéjiàng de belong to me even I know oneself only COP in progress stubborn SP juéxīn zhǎo-dào tā, ér zhǎo-dào tā yě zhǐ néng chóngwēn nà determine find her but find her still only can revisit that kěpà de tòngkǔ —wǒ réngrán rènwéi, wǒ shì gè xìngfú de rén. terrible SP pain I still think I COP CL happy SP person {To this day, I still think that even though I have lost everything beautiful; even though I can only trek through the meadow in anxiety to find the girl of the past, knowing that she is no longer mine; even though I know that I am only stubbornly determined to find her, and that finding her will only lead to reliving that terrible pain—I still think that I am a happy man.}
In all the previous examples, jíshǐ can be replaced by suīrán and the meanings of the sentences will still remain unchanged, because each p refers to a fact. The use of jíshǐ is to “hypothesize” the facts and reflect the speakers’ subjective views—they take the facts as hypotheses. Obviously, the hypothetical-concessiveadversative relationship is endowed or defined by “jíshǐ . .. yě . . .” sentences. In fact, if p follows certain synonyms of jíshǐ, such as zòngrán and jiùshì, it can refer to a fact, as in the following two examples:
(7)
(8)
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
5
纵然他不是那么强壮有力，但就因为他是男人，他得独自去为她抵挡 外面的一切。
Zòngrán tā bù shì nàme qiángzhuàng-yǒulì, dàn jiù yīnwèi even though he NEG COP so physically strong but just because tā shì nánrén, tā děi dúzì qù wèi tā dǐdǎng wàimiàn de yīqiè he COP man he have to alone go for her resist outside SP everything {Even though he is not that physically strong, but just because he is a man, he has to go alone to defend her against everything out there.}
这老爷子的脾气很古怪，就是到了这步田地，也依旧自说自话，绝对 不愿意别人违拗了自己的意思。
Zhè lǎoyézi de píqì hěn gǔguài, jiùshì yě dào-le zhè bù this old man SP temper very strange even though reach-PEF this CL tiándì, yě yījiù zìshuō-zìhuà, juéduì bù yuànyì situation still insist on one’s own opinion absolutely NEG be willing biérén wéi’ào le zìjǐ de yìsi. others disobey MP oneself SP will {The old man has a very strange temper. Even at this stage, he still ignores other people’s opinions and absolutely does not want others to disobey his own will.}
Case 2: “zhǐyào p, jiù q”
The connective zhǐyào also marks a hypothetical relationship. In sentences in the form of “zhǐyào p, jiù q”, zhǐyào indicates that p is a condition for the realization of q. Usually p denotes a hypothesis, but can refer to a reality in some cases. Compare the following two examples:
(9) 只要你说出是谁，我就不再追究！
Zhǐyào ... jiù ... nǐ shuō-chū shì shéi, wǒ jiù bùzài zhuījiū! so long as . . . you tell COP who I no longer investigate {So long as you tell me who it is, I will not investigate it!}
(10) 请坐请坐，只要你来了，我就不着急了！
Qǐng zuò qǐng zuò, zhǐyào . jiù . nǐ lái-le, wǒ jiù bù please sit please sit since . . then . you come-PEF I NEG zháojí-le!
worry-PEF
{Please sit down, please sit down, since you’re here, I’m not worried anymore!}
In (9) “you tell me who it is’ is a hypothesis, but in (10) “you are here” is a fact.
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
Whether p introduced by zhǐyào refers to a hypothesis or a fact depends on the context. Take, for example, “zhǐyào tā biǎoshì tóngyì, shìqíng jiù hǎo bàn le”:
(11) a 甲：他同意吗？
Jiǎ: Tā tóngyì ma?
A he agree MP
{A: Does he agree?}
乙：他还没表态。
Yǐ: Tā hái méi biǎotài.
B he still NEG state clearly one’s stand {B: He hasn’t said anything yet.}
甲：唉，只要他表示同意，事情就好办了！
Jiǎ: Āi, zhǐyào ... jiù ... tā biǎoshì tóngyì, shìqing jiù hǎo bàn le!
A MP since ... then ... he express agree matter easy handle MP
{A: Well, since he agrees, it will be easy!}
b 甲：他同意吗？
Jiǎ: Tā tóngyì ma?
A he agree MP
{A: Does he agree?}
乙：他同意。
Yǐ: Tā tóngyì.
B he agree
{B: He does.}
甲：好，只要他表示同意，事情就好办了！
Jiǎ: Hǎo, zhǐyào ... jiù ... tā biǎoshì tóngyì, shìqing jiù hǎo bàn le!
A ok since . . . then . . . he express agree matter easy handle MP {A: Okay. Since he agrees, it will be easy!}
In (11a), “he agrees” is a hypothesis, but in (11b) it is a fact. Thus, the commonality between the two occurrences of “zhǐyào tā biǎoshì tóngyì, shìqíng jiù hǎo bàn le” is determined by the conditional inferential complex sentence form “zhǐyào p, jiù q”. The hypothetical condition in (11b) is entirely subject to the restriction of “zhǐyào p, jiù q”. If zhǐyào is removed or replaced by jìrán, the hypothetical relationship will become a different relationship. The following are four more examples:
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
(12) 他想，这索尼年纪虽老，只要有他在，鳌拜便张狂不起来。
Tā xiǎng, zhè Suǒní niánjì suī lǎo, zhǐyào biàn yǒu he think this Suoni age although old since . . then . there be tā zài, Áobài biàn zhāngkuáng bù qǐlái he be alive Aobai cannot get wild {He thought, Aobai won’t be able to get wild since Suoni—despite his old age—is still around.}
(13) 她知道只要她活着，就得面对这一切，无处可逃，也无处告别。
Tā zhīdào zhǐyào jiù tā huózhe, jiù děi miànduì zhè yīqiè, she know since ... then ... she live-PRG must face this all wú chù kě táo, yě wú chù gàobié. there not be place can escape also there not be place say goodbye {She knew that since she was alive, she had to face everything, and that there was nowhere to run, and nowhere to say goodbye.}
(14) 虎妞说得出来，就行得出来；不依着她的道儿走，她真会老跟着他闹 哄；只要他在北平，她就会找得着！
Hǔniū shuō de chūlái, jiù xíng de chūlái; bù yī-zhe Huniu can say then can do NEG comply with-PRG tā de dàor zǒu, tā zhēn huì lǎo gēn-zhe tā nàohong; her SP way go she really will often follow-PRG him make trouble zhǐyào jiù tā zài Běipíng, tā jiù huì zhǎo de zháo! since . . then he be in Beiping she will can find {Huniu does what she says she’ll do. If (he) doesn’t do it her way, she will always get him in trouble. Since he is in Beiping, she will find (him)!}
(15) 他……是不懂姑娘的心，还是巧妙的拒绝？拒绝吧，一千次，一万 次，只要你活着，只要你还没结婚，我就要用爱心拥抱你，用爱情的 火焰熔化你。
Tā . . . shì bù dǒng gūniang de xīn, háishi qiǎomiào he COP NEG understand girl SP heart or clever de jùjué? Jùjué ba, yīqiān cì, yīwàn cì, SP refuse refuse MP one thousand time ten thousand time zhǐyào ... zhǐyào ... jiù ... nǐ huó-zhe, zhǐyào nǐ hái méi jiéhūn, since . . . since . . . then . . . you live-PRG you still NEG marry wǒ jiù yào yòng àixīn yōngbào nǐ, yòng àiqíng de huǒyàn rónghuà nǐ. I will with love embrace you with love SP flame melt you {Does he . . not understand the girl’s heart, or did the girl refuse him cleverly? You can reject me a thousand times or even ten thousand times, but since you are alive, since you are not married, I am going to embrace you and melt you with love.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
In each of the previous examples, the speaker clearly knows that p refers to a fact, therefore the use of “zhǐyào . . . jiù . . .” reveals that the speaker intends to highlight p as a condition with a hypothetical sentence form.1
Case 3: “rúguǒ p, jiù q” “rúguǒ p, jiù q” is a typical hypothetical complex sentence form. However, the relationship marked by this form is not necessarily hypothetical in actual fact.
First, “rúguǒ p, jiù q” indicates an inference based on facts, as is illustrated in the following example:
(16) 甲：他去吗？
Jiǎ: Tā qù ma?
A he go MP
{A: Is he going?}
乙：他不去。
Yǐ: Tā bù
B he NEG
{B: He’s not.} qù. go
甲：哎呀，如果他不去，事情就不好办了！
Jiǎ: Āiya, rúguǒ tā bù qù, shìqing jiù
A MP since he NEG go matter then {A: Alas, since he’s not going, it will be tough.}
bù NEG hǎo bàn easy handle le! MP
Without any context, “tā bù qù” (‘him not going’) in the sentence “Rúguǒ tā bù qù, shìqíng jiù bù hǎo bàn le.” is very likely to be understood as a hypothesis since “rúguǒ . . jiù . .” usually indicates a hypothetical relationship. However, according to the context, “tā bù qù” refers to a fact, therefore jìrán can replace rúguǒ
Second, “rúguǒ p, jiù q” expresses a hypothetical analogy.
Usually, the form “ rúguǒ p, jiù q ” denotes a “hypothesis-conclusion” relationship, but when two facts parallel each other in sentences in the form of “ rúguǒ p, jiù q ”, where p is used to justify q , there is no such relationship between p and q . In these sentences, shuō usually follows rúguǒ , as in the following two examples:
(17) 如果说进到天山这里还像是秋天，那么再往里走就像是春天了。
Rúguǒ shuō jìn-dào Tiānshān zhèlǐ hái xiàng shì qiūtiān, if say enter Tianshan Mountain here still be like COP autumn nàme zài wǎng lǐ zǒu jiù xiàng shì chūntiān le then more Toward inside walk then be like COP spring MP
{If it’s still like fall when you come here, Tianshan Mountain, then it feels like spring when you go further into the mountain.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
9
(18) 如果说 瞿塘峡像一道闸门， 那么 巫峡简直像江上一条迂回曲折的画 廊。
Rúguǒ shuō Qútáng Xiá xiàng yī dào zhámén, nàme Wū Xiá if say Qutang Gorge be like a CL sluice gate then Wu Gorge jiǎnzhí xiàng jiāng-shàng yī tiáo yūhuí-qūzhé de huàláng simply be like on river a CL winding SP gallery {If Qutang Gorge is like a sluice gate, then Wu Gorge is simply like a winding gallery on the river.}
Occasionally, shuō is absent. The following is an example in Chapter 6, Volume Ⅲ.
(19) 对于一个知识分子来说，如果字如其人，那么书房也如其人。
Duìyú . lái shuō yī gè zhīshi fènzǐ lái shuō, rúguǒ zì for one CL intellectual if writing
rú qí rén, nàme shūfáng yě rú qí rén be like its personality then study also be like its person {For an intellectual, if their handwriting reflects their personality, so does their study.}
Third, “rúguǒ p, jiù q” indicates hypothetical foreshadowing. In some sentences in the form of “rúguǒ p, jiù q”, the hypothesis clause is used to induce the result clause to prove the speaker’s conclusion. The hypothesis clause is used to foreshadow the conclusion, either as a reminder or a cause. The following are two examples:
(20) 如果我没有认错的话，您就是著名记者陆琴方同志。
Rúguǒ wǒ méiyǒu rèn-cuò dehuà, nín jiù shì if I NEG mistake one for another MP you just COP zhùmíng jìzhě Lù Qínfāng tóngzhì. famous journalist LU Qinfang comrade {If I am not mistaken, you must be Comrade LU Qinfang, a famous journalist.}
(21) 书记假如不健忘，应当记得两年前他上电大引起的一场风波。
Shūjì jiǎrú bù jiànwàng, yīngdāng jìde liǎng nián qián secretary if NEG forgetful should remember two year before tā shàng diàndà yǐnqǐ de yī chǎng fēngbō. he attend television university cause SP a CL disturbance {If not forgetful, the secretary should remember the disturbance caused by him going to TV university two years ago.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
The occurrence of rúguǒ in the two previous examples is to arouse the addressee’s attention. The former example means the same as “I don’t think I’m mistaken, and you must be . . .”, while the latter can be paraphrased as “I don’t think the secretary is forgetful and that he should remember . . .”. The hypothesis-conclusion relationship in the original sentence is prescribed by “rúguǒ p, jiù q” and other similar forms. The following is another example:
(22) 如果 单从头三句及“青旗沽酒”句看，这首词的情调好像是很愉快 的。
Rúguǒ dān cóng tóu sān jù jí “qīngqígūjiǔ” jù if only from first three line and drink in pub with a blueish sign line kàn, zhè shǒu cí de qíngdiào hǎoxiàng shì hěn consider the CL lyric poem SP sentiment likely COP very yúkuài de. happy MP
{If only judged by the first three lines and the line of “drink in pub with a blueish flag”, the mood of this lyric poem seems to be happy.}
The function of rúguǒ is to call attention to the reader, so it can be absent. The hypothesis-conclusion relationship is also imposed by the form “rúguǒ p, jiù q” or by synonymous forms.
1.1.2 Hypothetical p
In a factive complex sentence form, p might be hypothetical.
Case 1: “jìrán p, jiù q”
Normally, jìrán signifies a fact. However, in some cases, p by itself might not be factive, but it can be taken as a fact once it is present in “jìrán p, jiù q”. There are two scenarios.
First, inference based on assumption.
The inference is based on a speculation rather than a fact. The following are two examples:
(23) 甲：你去做做他的工作，好不好？
Jiǎ: Nǐ qù zuò-zuò tā de gōngzuò, A you go do-REDP he SP persuasion
{A: Is it okay for you go and persuade him?}
乙：我猜想，他对这类事物可能兴趣不大。
hǎo ok bù NEG hǎo? ok
Yǐ: Wǒ cāixiǎng, tā duì zhè lèi shìwù kěnéng xìngqù bù dà.
B I guess he in such kind matter may interest NEG huge
{B: I guess he may not be very interested in such things.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships 11
甲：好吧，既然他未必肯去，我们就别邀请他了。
Jiǎ: Hǎo ba, jìrán jiù tā wèibì kěn qù, wǒ-men jiù
A ok MP now that he may not be willing to go we then bié yāoqǐng tā le do not invite him MP
{A: Well, since he may not want to go, let’s not invite him.}
(24) 甲：我看今天是不行了。
Jiǎ: Wǒ kàn jīntiān shì bù xíng le A I think today COP NEG OK MP
{A: I don’t think it’s possible today.}
乙：要是明天有可能呢？
Yǐ: Yàoshì míngtiān yǒu kěnéng ne?
B if tomorrow there be possibility MP
{B: What if it’s possible tomorrow?}
甲：既然明天有可能，我们就再等一天吧!
Jiǎ: Jìrán jiù míngtiān yǒu kěnéng, wǒ-men jiù
A now that tomorrow there be possibility we then zài děng yī tiān ba! more wait a day MP
{A: Since tomorrow is possible, let’s wait for another day!}
In each of the two previous examples, the inference is based on a speculation, in other words, p is a hypothesis. Take, for example, in (24), Speaker B uses yàoshì, and Speaker A could also use yàoshì. However, Speaker A’s use of jìrán suggests that he/she subjectively takes the hypothesis as a fact. The following is an example: (25) 保长肯定受了许长生的贿，……既然这样，他决不会肯卸面子。
Bǎozhǎng kěndìng shòu-le Xǔ Chángshēng de huì, ... Jìrán bailiff definitely accept-PEF XU Changsheng SP bribe now that zhèyàng, tā jué bù huì kěn xiè miànzi so he definitely NEG will be willing deny face {The bailiff must have been bribed by Xu Changsheng . . since this is the case, he will never fail to give XU Changsheng face.}
In the previous example, zhèyàng refers to “the bailiff’s acceptance of Xu Changsheng’s bribe”, which is obviously an assumption. The use of jìrán, instead of rúguǒ, indicates that the speaker regards the hypothesis as a fact. Second, inference based on doubt.
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
A statement is taken as true temporarily, and then an inference is made to question or even negate the statement. The following are two examples:
(26) 我常常自问：既然爸爸是“坏蛋”，那么，什么样的人才是好人呢？
Wǒ chángcháng zì wèn: jìrán bàba shì “huàidàn”, nàme, I often self ask now that dad COP bad guy then shénme yàng de rén cái shì hǎorén ne? what kind SP person really COP good person MP {I often ask myself, “Since my dad is a ‘bad guy’, then what kind of person is a good guy?”}
(27) 我惊愕地望着她：既然这几年她真的有了属于她的星座，她为什么不 拒绝调来这个农场呢？
Wǒ jīng’è de wàng-zhe tā: jìrán zhè jǐ nián tā zhēn de I stupefied SP look at-PRG her now that this a few year she really SP yǒu-le shǔyú tā de xīngzuò, tā wèishénme bù jùjué have-PEF belong to her SP constellation she why NEG refuse diào-lái zhè gè nóngchǎng ne? be transferred to this CL farm MP
{I looked at her in surprise. Now that she’s been in love again these years, why hadn’t she refused to be transferred to this farm?}
The factive property of these two examples is imposed by the sentence form. If the sentences are rewritten as hypothetical ones, the factive property will disappear. Examples (28) and (29) are the rewrites of (26) and (27) respectively:
(28) 我常常自问：如果爸爸是“坏蛋”，那么，什么样的人才是好人呢？
Wǒ chángcháng zì wèn: rúguǒ bàba shì “huàidàn”, nàme, shénme I often self ask if dad COP bad guy then what yàng de rén cái shì hǎorén ne? kind SP person really COP good person MP
{I often ask myself, “If my father is a ‘bad guy’, then what kind of person is a good guy?”}
(29) 我惊愕地望着她：如果这几年她真的有了属于她的星座，她为什么不 拒绝调来这个农场呢？
Wǒ jīng’è de wàng-zhe tā: rúguǒ zhè jǐ nián tā zhēn de I stupefied SP look at-PRG her if this a few year she really SP yǒu-le shǔyú tā de xīngzuò, tā wèishénme bù jùjué have-PEF belong to she SP constellation she why NEG refuse
diào-lái zhè gè nóngchǎng ne?
be transferred to this CL farm MP
{I looked at her in surprise. If she’s been in love again these years, why hadn’t she refused to be transferred to this farm?}
Case 2: “suīrán p, dàn q”
This is a typical factive complex sentence form, which means that the acknowledgement of the first matter does not lead to the denial of the second matter.2 However, in actuality, what is stated in p can be either factive or hypothetical. Therefore, the sentence form plays a decisive role in determining how a situation is presented—hypothetical or factive. Compare (30) and (31).
(30) 甲：我的建议会怎么样？
Jiǎ: Wǒ de jiànyì huì zěnmeyàng?
A I SP proposal will how {A: What will happen to my proposal?}
乙：有可能遭到否决。
Yǐ: Yǒu kěnéng zāodào fǒujué. B there be possibility receive reject {B: It’s possible that it will be rejected.}
(31) 甲：即使有可能遭到否决，我还是要提出来。
Jiǎ: Jíshǐ yǒu kěnéng zāodào fǒujué, wǒ háishi yào tí-chūlái.
A even if there be possibility receive reject I still will put forward {A: Even if it is likely to be rejected, I will still raise it.}
甲：我的建议会怎么样？
Jiǎ: Wǒ de jiànyì huì zěnmeyàng?
A I SP proposal will how {A: What will happen to my proposal?}
乙: 有可能遭到否决。
Yǐ: Yǒu kěnéng zāodào fǒujué. B there be possibility receive reject {B: It’s possible that it will be rejected.}
甲：虽然有可能遭到否决，我还是要提出来。
Jiǎ: Suīrán yǒu kěnéng zāodào fǒujué, wǒ háishi yào tí-chūlái.
A although have possibility receive reject I still will put forward {A: Although it is likely to be rejected, I will still raise it.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
The “proposal being rejected” is probable, and when it is placed after jíshǐ, the speaker emphasizes that it is only a hypothetical situation. However, its location after suīrán reveals that the speaker takes the probability as a fact. In this case, probability changes into factuality.
1.2 Adversative and non-adversative
In modern Chinese, the relationship between the anterior and the posterior clauses in some complex sentence forms is adversative, and in other forms it is not. In this chapter, the former type is referred to as adversative complex sentence forms, and the latter as non-adversative complex sentence forms. For instance, “suīrán p, dàn q” and “jíshǐ p, yě q” are adversative forms, while “jìrán p, jiù q” and “jì p, yòu q” are non-adversative ones. However, sometimes the actual relationship between the clauses is not in accordance with the one marked by the sentence form.
1.2.1 Opposition in non-adversative forms
In non-adversative complex sentences, the relationship between p and q might not always be non-adversative in reality.
Case 1: an adversative relationship implied in the coordinate complex sentence form, as in the following two examples:
(32) 一面挥着手巾，一面高声呼喊。
Yīmiàn yīmiàn huī-zhe shǒujīn, yīmiàn gāo shēng hūhǎn . meanwhile . wave-PRG handkerchief loud voice shout {(He) waved a handkerchief while shouting at the top of (his) lungs.}
(33) 一面笑脸相迎，一面暗暗诅咒。
Yīmiàn ... yīmiàn ... xiào liǎn xiāng yíng, yīmiàn àn’àn zǔzhòu. . . . meanwhile . . . smile face towards greet secretly curse {(He) greeted (someone) with a smile but secretly cursed (them) in the meantime.}
Clearly, “yīmiàn p, yīmiàn q” is a prototypical coordinate form. Example (32) is marked as a coordinate one, which indeed indicates a coordinate relationship. Example (33), although marked as a coordinate one, implies an adversative relationship. Therefore, (33) can be rewritten as an adversative sentence, and an adversative connective, such as dàn or què, can be used.
Quite a few previous chapters have, from different perspectives, concluded that almost all types of coordinate complex sentence forms are similar in this respect. The speaker uses a coordinate form to emphasize the co-occurrence of two situations rather than stress the adversative relationship between them. The following
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships 15 are six examples, among which (34) and (35) are in the form of “yòu p, yòu q”, (36) and (37) in “jì p, yòu q”, and (38) and (39) in “jì p, yě q”.
(34) 又想买首饰，又声明没有钱，这是什么意思？ Yòu yòu xiǎng mǎi shǒushì, yòu shēngmíng méiyǒu qián, both . . and . want to buy jewelry claim not have money zhè shì shénme yìsi? this COP what meaning {(He) wanted to buy jewelry but claimed that (he) had no money. What did that mean?}
(35) 崔贤对张希亮是七分提防，三分敬重。又靠这座山，又躲着山上的荆 棘。
Cuī Xián duì Zhāng Xīliàng shì qī fēn dīfáng, sān fēn CUI Xian to ZHANG Xiliang COP seven point be wary three point jìngzhòng Yòu yòu kào zhè zuò shān, yòu duǒzhe respect both ... and ... rely on this CL mountain hide from-PRG shān-shàng de jīngjí on mountain SP thorn
{CUI Xian is more wary of than respectful to Zhang Xiliang, who is like a mountain, on which CUI relied but meanwhile hid from the thorns.}
(36) 我很矛盾，既想与她结婚，又怕与她结婚。
Wǒ I hěn máodùn, jì . . . yòu . . . very ambivalent both . . and . xiǎng want to yǔ to tā her jiéhūn, be married yòu pà fear yǔ to tā her jiéhūn be married
{I’m ambivalent. I want to marry her, but meanwhile I’m afraid to marry her.}
(37) 李平阶走后，刘彩芝的心里一直不踏实。她 既 盼望丈夫早点回 来，又害怕丈夫回来。
Lǐ Píngjiē zǒu hòu, Liú Cǎizhī de xīn-lǐ yīzhí bù tāshi. Tā LI Pingjie leave after LIU Caizhi SP in heart all the time NEG settled she jì yòu pànwàng zhàngfu zǎo diǎn huílái, yòu hàipà both . . and . look forward to husband early bit come back fear zhàngfu huílái. husband come back
{After LI Pingjie left, LIU Caizhi has been unsettled. She is looking forward to her husband’s early return, but meanwhile she is fearful of his return.}
16 Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
(38) 我既不想赞美这种近乎荒唐的姻缘，也不愿在此时此刻用激烈的言词 破坏她的心境。
Wǒ jì yě bù xiǎng zànměi zhè zhǒng jìnhū I both ... and ... NEG want to praise this kind be close to huāngtáng de yīnyuán, yě bù yuàn zài cǐshí-cǐkè yòng jīliè absurd SP marriage NEG be willing at this moment with fierce de yáncí pòhuài tā de xīnjìng. SP wording spoil she SP state of mind {I don’t want to praise this almost absurd marriage, nor do I intend to spoil her state of mind with strong words at this moment.}
(39) 美国既可以说好客,也可以说不好客,它既不欢迎人来，也不反对人来。
Měiguó jì yě kěyǐ shuō hàokè, yě kěyǐ shuō United States both . . and . can say hospitable can say bù hàokè, tā jì yě bù huānyíng rén lái, yě NEG hospitable it both . . . and . . . NEG welcome person come also bù fǎnduì rén lái. NEG oppose people come {The United States can be said to be both hospitable and unhospitable, as it neither welcomes nor rejects visitors.}
Case 2: an adversative relationship implied in the progressive form, as in the following two examples:
(40) 他不但能够把你捧上去，而且能够让你任要职。
Tā bùdàn nénggòu bǎ nǐ pěng-shàngqù, érqiě nénggòu ràng he not only can BA you lift up but also can make nǐ rèn yàozhí. you hold important position {He is not only able to lift you up, but also able to put you in an important position.}
(41) 他不但能够把你捧上去，而且能够把你拉下来。
Tā bùdàn nénggòu bǎ nǐ pěng-shàngqù, érqiě nénggòu bǎ he not only can BA you lift up but also can BA nǐ lā-xiàlái. you pull down
{He is not only able to hold you up, but also able to pull you down.}
Undoubtedly, “bùdàn p, érqiě q” is a prototypical form of progressive sentences. A progressive relationship is marked in (40), and there does exist a progressive
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships 17 relationship in the sentence. However, an adversative relationship exists in (41) even though the sentence is marked as a progressive one. The relationship between p and q in (41) would be marked as adversative if the sentence was rewritten as (42):
(42) 他能够把你捧上去，但又能够把你拉下来。
Tā nénggòu bǎ nǐ pěng-shàngqù, dàn yòu nénggòu bǎ nǐ lā-xiàlái he can BA you lift up but also can BA you pull down {He is able to hold you up, but he can also pull you down.}
Here is another example:
(43) 小白同志，你看我这个团中央书记处书记，不但做促进工作，还做你 的“促退”工作。
Xiǎo Bái tóngzhì, nǐ kàn wǒ zhè gè Little BAI comrade you see my this CL tuánzhōngyāng shūjìchù
Central Committee of Communist Youth League of China secretariat shūjì, bùdàn zuò cùjìn gōngzuò, hái zuò nǐ de “cùtuì” secretary not only do promote work also do you SP urge . . . to quit gōngzuò. work
{Comrade Little BAI, you see me, a Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Youth League, not only do the promotion work, but also do the work of “urging you to quit”.}
An adversative relationship is hidden between the anterior and the posterior clauses in (43), in which the speaker humorously uses the form of “bùdàn p, hái q” to emphasize the expanded range of work to make the adversative relationship between p and q less visible.
Case 3: an adversative relationship implied in the hypothetical inferential form, as in the following two examples:
(44) 如果你是关云长，我就是张翼德！
Rúguǒ nǐ shì Guān Yúncháng, wǒ if you COP GUAN Yunchang I {If you were Mars, then I was Ares.}
(45) 如果你是白骨精，我就是孙悟空！
Rúguǒ nǐ shì Báigǔjīng, wǒ if you COP White Bone Spirit I {If you were Medusa, then I was Perseus.}
jiù then shì COP Zhāng Yìdé! ZHANG Yide
jiù then shì COP Sūn Wùkōng! Monkey King
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
The form “rúguǒ p, jiù q” indicates a hypothesis-conclusion relationship. Normally, the relationship between p and q in this form is subsequent rather than adversative. However, if “rúguǒ p, jiù q” is employed to form a hypothetical analogy, there are two possible relationships between p and q: coordinate or adversative. If the connective “rúguǒ . . jiù . ..” was removed, what would remain in (44), i.e., “you were Mars, and I was Ares”, would be in a coordinate relationship, while what would be left in (45), i.e., “you were Medusa, and I was Perseus”, would imply an adversative relationship, which is why què (‘but’) can be placed between the two clauses as follows:
(46) 你是白骨精，我却是孙悟空！
Nǐ shì Báigǔjīng, wǒ què shì Sūn Wùkōng! you COP White Bone Spirit I however COP Monkey King {You were Medusa, but I was Perseus.}
The following is another example:
(47) 如果 说《新星》主要还是一部传统现实主义作品的话， 那么 《夜与 昼》已经吸收了当代文学的最新成果，把“现实主义”现代化了。
Rúguǒ shuō “Xīn Xīng” zhǔyào hái shì yī bù chuántǒng xiànshí zhǔyì if say rising star primary still COP a CL tradition realism zuòpǐn dehuà, nàme “Yè yǔ Zhòu” yǐjīng xīshōu-le dāngdài work MP then night and day already absorb-PEF present age wénxué de zuì xīn chéngguǒ, bǎ “xiànshí zhǔyì” xiàndàihuà-le. literature SP most new achievement BA realism modernize-PEF {If Rising Star is primarily a work of traditional realism, then Night and Day has absorbed the latest achievements of contemporary literature and modernized “realism”.}
The hypothetical-inferential relationship in (47) is marked by the form of “rúguǒ shuō p dehuà, nàme q”, but an adversative relationship is implied between p and q, thus (47) can be rewritten as an adversative sentence, for example, (48):
(48) 《新星》主要还是一部传统现实主义作品，《夜与昼》却已经吸收了 当代文学最新成果，把“现实主义”现代化了。
“Xīn Xīng” zhǔyào hái shì yī bù chuántǒng xiànshí zhǔyì zuòpǐn, rising star primary still COP a CL tradition realism work “Yè yǔ Zhòu” què yǐjīng xīshōu-le dāngdài wénxué zuì night and day however already absorb-PEF present age literature most xīn chéngguǒ, bǎ “xiànshí zhǔyì” xiàndàihuà-le new achievement BA realism modernize-PEF {Rising Star is primarily a work of traditional realism, but Night and Day has absorbed the latest achievements of contemporary literature and modernized “realism”.}
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships 19
1.2.2 Non-opposition in adversative forms
In adversative complex sentences, the relationship between p and q is marked as adversative, but it might not be always adversative in reality.
Case 1: a coordinate relationship implied in the adversative form, as in the following two examples:
(49) 她比根林聪明，根林却比她成熟。
Tā bǐ Gēnlín cōngmíng, Gēnlín què bǐ tā chéngshú. she than Genlin smart Genlin however than her mature {She is smarter than Genlin, but Genlin is more mature than her.}
(50) 她比根林聪明，根林比她成熟。
Tā bǐ Gēnlín cōngmíng, Gēnlín bǐ tā chéngshú. she than Genlin smart Genlin than her mature {She is smarter than Genlin, and Genlin is more mature than her.}
Example (49) is in an adversative form, but if the adversative marker què is removed, the relationship between p and q can be understood as a coordinate one, which is shown in (50).
Differences exist between coordinate items, therefore a speaker who intends to emphasize the difference(s) may choose to use an adversative form. The following are two examples:
(51) 两个年轻女子站在一起，执着手，一个如出水芙蓉，一个 却 艳如桃 花，引得路人不时侧目而视。
Liǎng gè niánqīng nǚzǐ zhàn zài yīqǐ, zhí-zhe shǒu, yī gè two CL young woman stand at together hold-PRG hand one CL rú chūshuǐ-fúróng, yī gè què be like lotus flower coming out of the water one CL however yànrú-táohuā, yǐn dé lùrén bùshí cèmù as bright as peach blossom attract SP passer-by frequently look sideways ér shì. then glance {Two young women stood side by side, holding each other’s hands. One was as beautiful as a lotus flower, while the other was as gorgeous as peach blossom. They attracted frequent sideways glances from people passing by.}
(52) 我虽是君，他可是师，师道尊严，你道朕连这个都不知么？ Wǒ suī shì jūn, tā kě shì shī, shīdào-zūnyán, nǐ I although COP emperor he but COP teacher teachers’ dignity you
Counter-constraints of complex sentence form on semantic relationships
dào zhèn lián ... dōu ... zhè gè dōu bù zhī me? say I even ... this CL NEG know MP {I am the emperor, but he is my teacher. A teacher’s dignity must be respected. Are you are saying that I don’t even know this?}
As can been seen, the intrinsic relationship between p and q in the two preceding examples is both coordinate and adversative: “one was as beautiful as a lotus, and/ but the other was as gorgeous as peach blossom”; “I am the emperor, and/but he is my teacher”. The speakers choose to use an adversative form because they wish to emphasize the opposition.
Case 2: a progressive relationship implied in the adversative form implies, as in the following two examples:
(53) 这孩子智力超人，但却谦虚谨慎。
Zhè háizi zhìlì chāorén, dàn què this child intelligence exceed the average person but however qiānxū jǐnshèn. modest discreet
{The boy is superbly intelligent, but modest and discreet.}
(54) 这孩子不仅智力超人，而且谦虚谨慎。
Zhè háizi bùjǐn zhìlì chāorén, érqiě this child not only intelligence exceed the average person but also qiānxū jǐnshèn. modest discreet
{This child is not only superbly intelligent, but also modest and discreet.}
Example (53) is in an adversative form. However, if the adversative marker is replaced by the progressive marker “bùjǐn . . . érqiě . . .”, (53) will become (54), which is in a progressive complex sentence pattern.
The use of the adversative form reveals that the speaker places emphasis on the opposition between p and q, while the employment of the progressive form shows that the speaker wishes to highlight the coordinate and hierarchical relationship between p and q. In other words, in reality, the relationship between p and q is not inherently adversative, thus the adversative form is not a must. The following are two examples: (55) 洪承畴……虽然立了极大功劳，却一向小心翼翼。
Hóng Chéngchóu ... suīrán lìgōngláo le HONG Chengchou although render meritorious service PEF jí dà gōngláo, què yīxiàng xiǎoxīn-yìyì. extremely great however always careful {HONG Chengchou . . has always been careful, although he has rendered great meritorious service.}
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Ayant sur ton chemin vu trop de laides choses, Aperçu trop de cœurs pourris, Si tu reviens avec des paupières plus closes, Des regards plus endoloris ;
J’espère, à ton retour, qu’après ce long martyre
Tu déclineras les clameurs ;
Tu ne permettras pas que l’Europe s’en tire
Avec quelques gerbes de fleurs !
Tu diras, en rendant aux fillettes, je pense, Les gros bouquets aux nœuds flambants :
« Je n’étais pas venu demander à la France
Des mots écrits sur des rubans. »
Je compte que ton poing fermera la fenêtre, Que, si la foule crie en bas
Pour s’amuser encore à te faire paraître, Krüger, tu ne paraîtras pas !
Tu diras : « Maintenant il faut que je m’en aille.
Je veux retraverser Paris
La nuit, tout seul, à pied, en rasant la muraille, Sans musiques, sans fleurs, sans cris. »
Tu diras : « Laissez-moi. Non. Plus de Cannebière !
Assez de Gare de Lyon !
Laissez-moi maintenant rentrer dans ma tanière, Seul et triste comme un lion !
« Des derniers coups de feu l’écho des kopjes gronde, Le dernier long-tom a tonné…
Nous nous sommes battus pour étonner le monde.
C’est bien. Le monde est étonné. »
Cambo, 26 novembre 1901.
FABRE-DES-INSECTES
ISachant que l’humble arpent d’un jardinet claustral Contient plus de secrets qu’un mortel n’en pénètre, Il vit seul comme un pâtre et pauvre comme un prêtre, Et d’un grand feutre noir coiffé comme Mistral.
C’est un homme incliné, modeste et magistral, Qui plus qu’un monde au loin cherche à ses pieds un être, Et qui, ne regardant que ce qu’on peut connaître,
Préfère un carré d’herbe à tout le ciel astral.
Pensif, — car dans ses doigts il a tenu des ailes, — Poursuivant les honneurs moins que les sauterelles, — Les sommets rêvent-ils d’être des sommités ? —
Il nous offre une vie égale aux fiers poèmes, Et des livres qu’un jour il faudra que ceux mêmes Feignent de découvrir, qui les ont imités.
IIUne vie admirable. Aucun homme n’a dû
Fréquenter de plus près la maternelle argile.
Son bosquet de lilas lui tient lieu d’Évangile.
D’un Fabre d’Églantine il semble descendu.
Il guette tout un jour ce qu’il n’a qu’entendu, Il ne peut s’ennuyer, sachant par cœur Virgile.
S’il découvre un insecte éclatant et fragile, Il lui donne le nom du fils qu’il a perdu.
Quand il rentre, le soir, avec sa découverte, La Vérité peut-être est dans sa boîte verte, Car du puits d’un insecte elle peut émerger.
Voilà sa vie. Elle est simple, triste, ravie.
Il n’enlève jamais son chapeau de berger.
Et ses livres se font tout seuls, avec sa vie.
III
O livres qu’on n’a pas écrits sur des pupitres !
O rustique Buffon sans manchette et sans col, Qui, pour le replacer dans les mousses du sol, Ressuscita l’insecte épinglé sous des vitres !
Il mit tant de rosée autour de ses chapitres
Que longtemps les pédants murmurèrent : « Vieux fol ! »
Mais l’Entomologie au soleil prit son vol
Quand Fabre, d’un brin d’herbe, eut touché ses élytres !
Et la Gloire est venue. Et la Gloire, à présent, Essaye d’excuser son retard en disant :
« On ne me parlait pas de cet homme… » Eh ! que diantre,
Comment aurait-on pu ne pas mettre à l’index
Un homme qui jamais ne s’est mis à plat ventre
Que pour voir le combat du Grillon et du Sphex ?
IV
Penché comme l’Histoire au-dessus de deux princes, Il a vu s’affronter ces obscurs champions,
Et le frêle vaincu ruer des arpions
Pour détourner la pointe aux trois coups sûrs et minces.
Il a, dans un jardin d’une de nos provinces, — Tout l’univers est là, dès que nous l’épions ! —
Vu le Drame, et l’Idylle, et les deux Scorpions
Qui vont en se tenant tendrement par les pinces.
Il s’est ému de voir, sous la touffe de thym, Ces êtres, observés à même leur destin, Se heurter pour l’amour ou bien pour la bataille ;
Et dans ses Souvenirs nous verrons, pleins d’émoi, Tous ces êtres garder l’importance et la taille
Que leur donna sa loupe — et plus encor sa foi !
VIl a vu, du plus haut problème effleurant l’x, Jusqu’où l’instinct triomphe et quand il capitule, Et comment le papier, le coton et le tulle
Sont faits par la Psyché, la Guêpe et le Bombyx.
O peuple merveilleux de métal et d’onyx !
Le Grillon d’Italie est un petit Catulle. Le Pompile attaquant tout seul la Tarentule Est grand comme Roland ou Vercingétorix.
Tout l’univers est là… combattants, parasites… L’un vit de ses exploits, l’autre de ses visites. Il y a le maçon, le potier, le tailleur.
Tu ravaudes, Clotho ; Balanin, tu perfores ; Bousier, tu suis ton nom ; toi, Cigale, ton cœur ; Et vous, vous attendez, dans un coin, Nécrophores !
VIDe plus, il sait trouver les mots vifs et luisants
Qui peignent la cuirasse et dessinent la patte, Et faire, d’une étude austère et délicate, Une ardente aventure aux détails amusants.
Il sait conter. Il conte, à soixante-dix ans, Comme devait conter l’aïeule rouergate
Que regardait filer le chat aux yeux d’agate, Car ce savant est fils des divins paysans !
Le doux miel n’a pas fui de sa lèvre certaine. Il peut rectifier, en passant, La Fontaine, Mais il sait n’être pas moins bonhomme que lui…
Et quand vont sur le pré ses chers hyménoptères, Il est de leurs duels tellement ébloui
Qu’il se fait le Dumas de ces trois mousquetaires !
VII
Donc, tout l’Insecte, avec ses métiers et ses lois, Sa vrille ou son archet, sa truelle ou son sabre, Fut saisi par les yeux du fin visage glabre ; Mais nul or n’est resté des élytres aux doigts !
France, compteras-tu sur un geste suédois Lorsqu’un auguste seuil, peut-être, se délabre ?
Tu ne peux ignorer la vieillesse de Fabre, Et que tu n’as pas fait pour lui ce que tu dois.
C’est chez nous que, les yeux s’émoussant au mystère, Il a passé sa vie agenouillé par terre ; Et s’il chancelle en se relevant, c’est à nous
De lui tendre les mains et, dans l’ombre tombée, Pendant qu’il rêve encor de quelque scarabée, D’essuyer doucement la terre à ses genoux !
VIII
LES INSECTES LUI PARLENT
« Et nous, nous nous chargeons de ton Apothéose. Car nous fûmes toujours tes amis les meilleurs. Nous, Tes Insectes, ceux de Vaucluse et d’ailleurs, Voulons tous dans ta gloire être pour quelque chose.
« La fourmilière sculpte, et la ruche compose. Une étoile d’argent se tisse entre deux fleurs. Tu sais que nous savons réussir des splendeurs. Fabre, te souviens-tu de la chapelle rose ?
« Te souviens-tu qu’un jour, en haut du mont Ventoux, Tu vis un temple obscur et bâti loin de tous Sur lequel nous étions cent mille coccinelles ?
« La chapelle était rose et semblait en corail ! Ainsi, ta solitude aura sur son travail Une gloire vivante et faite avec des ailes. »
Arnaga, juin 1911.
LA TOUCHE
Voici l’artiste de race
Et de grâce
Qui, tel sa pomme un pommier, Fait, quand le soleil le touche,
Du La Touche…
Et même en fit le premier.
Voici les treilles que cintre
Ce beau peintre
Au-dessus d’aimables fronts ;
Voici du rêve, et des fêtes
Plus parfaites
Que celles que nous offrons ;
Voici le rouge carrosse
Qu’il nous brosse,
Et, dans l’eau se reflétant, La fusée ombellifère
Qu’il sait faire
Éclater sur un étang ;
Voici les globes orange
Qu’il arrange
Dans le bleu de la forêt, Et la chandelle romaine
Qu’il emmène
Bien plus haut qu’elle n’irait ;
Voici cette fantaisie
Cramoisie,
Et, sous un ciel de linon,
Ce voluptueux royaume
Peint en chrome
Et qui portera son nom ;
Voici tous les bergamasques
Près des vasques,
Et, voici, voici, voici
Pierrot, le Singe, le Faune, Blanc, noir, jaune, Grimace, rire et souci ;
Voici la cage éternelle
De cette aile
Qui revient… d’où ? l’on ne sait ;
Et voici la marche rose
Où se pose
Le pied d’un vers de Musset !
Il y a, près des fontaines,
Des mitaines,
Et, sur la mousse, il y a
Des souliers dont la bouffette
Semble faite
Avec un camélia.
Il y a la fleur vermeille
Sur l’oreille,
Sur le cou le velours noir,
Et sur les dents qu’on voit luire
Le sourire
Qui n’ôte pas tout espoir.
C’est comme un anachronique
Pique-nique
Où l’on verrait Camargo
Se faire porter en chaise
Chez Thérèse
Pour souper avec Hugo.
Des sapajous peu novices
Sous leurs vices
Ont une âme qui rêva :
On sent qu’ils ont, ces macaques, Lu Jean-Jacques
Autant que Casanova.
Le regard d’une Isabelle
Nous révèle
Que si, triste et grimaçant,
L’amoureux descend des singes,
C’est des sphinges
Que l’amoureuse descend.
Mais, plus loin, — car ce La Touche
Qui nous touche
En montrant l’arbre et le nid
Peint l’amour, de la romance
Qui commence
Jusqu’au berceau qui finit, —
Plus loin, dans des blancheurs pures
De guipures
Et de doux linge bouffant,
Un regard de jeune mère
Énumère
Les beautés d’un bel enfant.
C’est le peintre aristocrate
Dont la patte
Trouve sans avoir cherché
Et peint sous une manchette
Qui s’achète
Bien ailleurs qu’au Bon Marché.
C’est aussi l’artiste brusque
Qui s’embusque,
L’œil clair sous un chapeau mou, Pour peindre un coin de campagne, Une Espagne,
Ou son jardin de Saint-Cloud.
Il prend, de cet œil vorace, La terrasse
Où s’effrite un Coysevox, Les peupliers dans la brise,
L’eau, Venise…
Il prend tout ! une ombre, un phlox,
Le cœur d’un jour, l’âme d’une
Nuit de lune !
Et si ce peintre est charmant,
C’est qu’il a l’inquiétude
Et l’étude,
La souplesse et le tourment.
Au moment qu’il portraicture
La Nature,
Comme il peut changer encor,
Il laisse le paysage, Ce visage,
Pour ce masque, le décor.
Alors, il peint des balustres
Et des lustres,
Et, Cazin de l’Opéra, S’il place au coin de sa toile
Une étoile, Zambelli la posera.
Il est certain que la Muse
Dont il use
N’est pas une virago.
Elle est blonde et sensuelle
Comme celle
De notre divin Frago.
Peins, la Touche, les attentes
Palpitantes
Et le bleu des soirs sournois ;
Que ton chimpanzé s’occupe
D’une jupe
Plus que de croquer des noix !
Fais sortir le Capripède
Du bois tiède ;
Donne à cet écornifleur
Bon goûter, bonne sieste
Et le reste,
Sous les marronniers en fleur !
Peins l’Automne ! et que Septembre
De son ambre
Charge ta palette encor !
Et qu’Octobre qui titube
T’offre un tube
Gonflé de son plus bel or !
De l’époque lourde et vile,
Tel Banville,
Allège-nous le fardeau !
Grand devoir que tu t’assignes,
Peins des cygnes,
Des bras nus et des jets d’eau !
Dans ce bassin de Versaille
Dont tressaille
Le cœur d’Henri de Régnier, Écartant la feuille morte
Que l’eau porte,
Fais les Nymphes se baigner !
Et toujours, allégoriste
Qui n’es triste
Que sous un voile d’humour,
Fais sentir, même en tes fresques
Simiesques,
Ta tendresse pour l’amour !
Reprends pour nous le vieux thème
Du : « Je t’aime ! »
Mais en lui superposant
Les caprices virtuoses
Que tu oses
Sur les modes d’à présent !
Lorsque pour tes Cydalises
Tu stylises
L’auto qui court les chemins,
Montre sur la couverture
De fourrure
Comment se prennent deux mains !
Et que toujours on remarque,
Dans ta barque
Ou ton carrosse d’or clair,
Comment s’incline une tête
De poète
Sur une épaule de chair ;
Et que toujours, par ta grâce,
Lorsque passe
La berline ou le bateau,
On entende au loin l’haleine
De Verlaine
Dans la flûte de Watteau !
Cambo, 12 mai 1908.
