Bernard began his studies in Jesuit schools, and attracted attention by epigrams in Latin and essays in French. By his father wish, he went to study law at Orléans. There he gave way to his literary tastes by, during the harsh study of jurisprudence, gathering curiosities about the authors and books that he read. He began legal practice at the Dijon Parlament in 1662; but had little inclination for that profession, and, using his health as an excuse, left the bar and devoted himself entirely to the literary arts.
In the following years Bernard divided his time between reading books and frequenting the intellectual circles of Dijon, where he made his debut in poetry. In 1671 he won a contest of the French Academy with a poetic essay on "the abolition of the duel", which was ardently praised by Charles Perrault, and years later by Voltaire. He went on to win the Academy's contest four more times. Rumors circulated that the organizers had asked him to refrain from entering the contest again, to give a chance to other authors.
To make a living, he took in 1672 a job at the Court of Finances, at which he kept for eight years. Not long afterwards he got married. During this time he produced copious verse, which made him moderately famous. He also composed many hymns in Latin, and translated into French the Spanish poem
Gloss of Saint Therese. By 1687 he was admitted as a corresponding member of Padua's Accademia dei Ricovrati.
Among his best compositions of the time are a dozen of riddles in sonnet format, some of which are considered to be better than anything of the sort that existed at the time; and three translations of exts about Burgundy wine, Champagne wine, and cider. He also wrote, under the pseudonym
Gui Barozai, the
Thirteen Christmas (1700), a collection of carols in the patois of Bourgogne; which were followed later that year by
Sixteen More Christmas. These songs in simple language become immensely popular. The best known, which is still orchestrated and played today, is probably
Guillô, pran ton tamborin, better known as "Patapan", which begins as
''Guillô, pran ton tamborin ;''
''Guillaume, prends ton tambourin ;''
William, take your drum,
''Toi, pran tai fleúte, Rôbin !''
''Toi, prends ta flûte, Robin !''
You, take your flute, Robin!
''Au son de cé instruman,''
''Au son de ces instruments''
To the sound of these instruments,
''Turelurelu, patapatapan,''
''Turelurelu, patapatapan,''
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pata-pata-pan,
''Au son de cé instruman''
''Au son de ces instruments''
To the sound of these instruments
''Je diron Noei gaiman.''
''Je dirai Noël gaîment.''
I will say Christmas cheerfully.
Some priests saw in these carols a hidden attempt to mock the Bible, and the question got as far as being submitted to a committee of Sorbonne professors, who prudently avoided the issue. Others disputed Bernards's mastery of the Bourgogne dialect, prompting him to write a
Glossary of the most difficult terms.
la Monnoye eventually turned his attention to the more scholarly study of writes from classical antiquity. His correspondence with other scholars throughout Europe spread his reputation as a philologist. He made many contributions to Pierre Bayle's
Dictionnaire.
Bernard moved to Paris in 1707. For several years he declined invitations to join the French Academy, but he was eventually admitted, by unanimous vote, in 1713.
In 1715 he got into trouble by having inserted some texts of his own in the
Menagiana, an annotated edition of the works of Gilles Ménage which he was helping to edit. He got off on legal technicalities and thanks to the support of the Cardinal de Rohan.
Having lapsed on his contractual obligations, he had to file for bankruptcy and lost all his modest fortune, being forced to sell even the medals he had won from the Academy. At the same time he had to suffer the loss of his loved one. He survived thereon on modest but sufficient pensions granted by the Duke of Villeroy and by his publishers, and on the proceeds of the sale of his books. He left four children, three of whom embraced the religious life.
