| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Bontemps. | | |
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Roger Bontemps (French). The personification of “Never say die.” The phrase is from Béranger. | 1 |
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| “Vous pauvres, pleins d’envie; |
| Vous riches, desireux; |
| Vous, dont le char dévie |
| A près un cours heureux; |
| Vous, qui perdrez peut-être |
| Des titres éclatans, |
| Eh ! gai ! prenez pour mâitre |
| Le gros Roger Bontemps.” | |
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| Ye poor, with envy goaded; |
| Ye rich, for more who long; |
| Ye who by fortune loaded, |
| Find all things going wrong |
| Ye who by some disaster |
| See all your cables break, |
| From henceforth for your master |
| Bluff Roger Bontemps take. | |
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