# Parley voo Fransay? A little translation help, see voo play. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520 "2001-08-09T00:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/1 "2001-08-09T00:11:08Z")
I speak two languages.\* As you have probably guessed, French isn’t one of them. So can any of you kindly Francophones out there help me translate this line from a book I’m reading? “C’est par mon ordre et pour le bien de l’etat que le porteur du present a fait ce qu’il a fait.” Thank you for your attention. \*English and American. ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/2 "2001-08-09T00:18:26Z")
“It is by my command and for the good of the state which the carrier of present did what he did.” - courtesy of babelfish (I’m not qualified to translat French outside of a kitchen) From the Three Musketeers, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/3 "2001-08-09T00:21:30Z")
Something to the effect of “it’s by my command and for the good of the state that the present messenger did what he did”. \*\*\* warning: by a highschool french speaker who had to look up a couple words\*\*\* Not to be taken word-for-word. \*\* hey, after seeing the first post I wasn’t that far off!!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/4 "2001-08-09T00:42:35Z")
Cool, thanks for the help, **Ankh\_Too** and **Mmmiiikkkeee**. Is it from Dumas originally? I’m reading Umberto Eco’s The Island of the Day Before, and the character who says this is speaking on behalf of Cardinal Richelieu. Interesting connection. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/5 "2001-08-09T00:45:05Z")
That’s the text of the letter [carte blanche?] written/authorized by Cardinal Richelieu, given to M’Lady deWinter, taken by Athos (Mr. deWinter), given to D’Artagnian, and returned to the Cardinal after the ‘demise’ of an afroementioned character. Loved _The Three Musketeers_. Still do. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/6 "2001-08-09T00:53:08Z")
Change “by my command” in the aforementioned to “in accordance with my orders” (not necessarily specific instructions, think military/religious orders) and you’re pretty much there. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parley-voo-fransay-a-little-translation-help-see-voo-play/75520/7 "2001-08-09T01:47:18Z")
The translation I have of _The Three Musketeers_ is something like “The bearer of this letter has acted by my orders and for the good of the state.” Sadly, I did not need to look that up… 😉