The article discusses the use of metaphors in the terminology of astronomy and astrophysics. The terminology of these fields is relatively stable, characterized by terminological diversity, thus allowing to draw sufficiently general conclusions. Three cases are to be considered: (a) first, the metaphor as a powerful source of terms, assuming the denominative function, (b) the terminological metaphor which leaves a certain domain and which penetrates into the general language, which is sometimes called determinologization, and, (c) finally, the terminological metaphor migrating from one specialized domain to other terminologies in which it is newly used to denote another concept, this phenomenon sometimes being referred to as transterminologization. The three processes are analysed and documented, using French and Czech examples, excerpted from specialised texts (encyclopaedic dictionary and newspaper articles).

This article examines Słowacki’s preoccupation with eroticism in some of his works and in his correspondence. The first part focuses on his poem ‘In Switzerland’ in which the relationship between the characters is shrouded in ambiguity and the sexual theme is treated in an elliptical manner. Beatrix Cenci, a Romantic drama showing the fi lthy, predatory aspects of sexuality and eroticism, is analysed in the second part of the article. It is followed by a discussion of Słowacki’s correspondence with Leonard Niedźwiecki, conducted in French. The article examines the ways in which the choice of the French language appears to have infl uenced the poet’s articulation of his intimate experiences and desires.