question

[JBFRAME at aol.com]

In a message dated 03/29/2001 2:38:31 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
o.sell at telda.net writes:


> I checked the German translation of V. (which isn't the best I admit) and it
> says "Der heilige Georg und kein Nachtlager" - no place to stay for the
> night.
> 
> 
You're right!  It is a very bad translation.  Quarter, usually plural 
(quarters) means lodging in modern English.  Quarter as a term for mercy in 
battle is somewhat archaic, and it's easy to see how this mistranslation 
could happen.  "St. George & no quarter" is a battle-cry of the medieval 
English.

I hope this clears it up!

jbf

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