Prêtre Martin (Father Martin), also Prestre Martin in Old French is a character from old French proverbs who serves the Mass alone to himself: Prêtre Martin qui chante et qui répond (19th century) - 'Father Martin who chants and who responds', said of a man who wants to be involved in everything."« martin », définition dans le dictionnaire Littré" Faire le Prêtre Martin (15th century) - 'To do Father Martin', meaning "to answer to oneself".List of Patron Saints - includes Prêtre Martin proverbs (French)
Osip Mandelstam likened poets to Prêtre Martin in his essay "On the interlocutor" ["О собеседнике"].Quote: "В этом отношении он будет похож на «prestre Martin» средневековой французской пословицы, который сам служит мессу и слушает ее." - "In this respect he will be similar to "prestre Martin" of the medieval French proverb, who himself serves the Mass and listens to it."
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