Chapter I: Part 1

Transcriber’s Note: Font changes are indicated in this text using the following symbols.

Fraktur: +plus sign+
italics: _underscores_
bold: =equals sign=
gesperrt: ~tildes~

Sometimes, more than one applies, such as +=bold Fraktur text=+.

Clarendon Press Series

LANGE’S GERMAN COURSE

_COMPOSITION_

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

Clarendon Press Series

GERMAN COMPOSITION

_A THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL GUIDE
TO THE ART OF TRANSLATING ENGLISH PROSE
INTO GERMAN_

BY
HERMANN LANGE
LECTURER ON FRENCH AND GERMAN AT THE MANCHESTER TECHNICAL SCHOOL
AND LECTURER ON GERMAN AT THE MANCHESTER ATHENÆUM

THIRD EDITION

_With the German Spelling revised to meet the requirements of the
Government Regulations of 1880_

Oxford
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M DCCCC

Oxford
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, M.A.
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

PREFACE.

‘German Composition’ is intended to be a Theoretical and Practical Guide to the Art of Translating English Prose into good and idiomatic German. It is arranged in such a manner that students who have reached the fiftieth Lesson of the ‘German Manual’ may commence and advantageously use it conjointly with that book. Being complete in itself, it is likewise adapted for the use of any other students who, possessing a knowledge of German Accidence and having had some practice in reading German Prose, wish to acquire the Art of Translating English Prose into German.

The book is calculated to serve the requirements of the B.A. Examinations of the London and Victoria Universities, the Competitive Examinations for the Civil and Military Service, the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations for Senior Students, the Examination of the College of Preceptors for First Class Candidates, and of similar Public Examinations—all of which require the candidates to translate English Prose into German.

I may conscientiously say that I have done all I could to make the book attractive and useful. The selection of the Extracts has been made with the greatest care directly from the works of the various authors, and is the result of many years’ attentive reading and research. The pieces have been almost exclusively chosen from the works of the best modern English and American writers, and, it is hoped, will be found as interesting and instructive as they are well adapted for translation into German. They represent all the various styles of English Prose Composition, and contain a great variety of subjects, as a glance at the various pages will show; whilst the fact that the specimens, with only one or two exceptions, are no mere fragments, but complete pieces in themselves, must necessarily add to their value.

The Biographical Sketches of famous men and women, which at intervals appear in the Notes and are always given in German, form a special feature of the book. (Comp. S. 127, N. 1; S. 138, N. 12; and S. 156, N. 1.) They are of various lengths, according to their importance, and have been written to add to the interest of the work and at the same time to offer the student some useful material for reading German.

With respect to the help given in the Notes, I may state that I have proceeded with the utmost consideration and care. The great object I placed before me was to show, by precept and example, that a good translation cannot be produced by the mere mechanical process of joining together a number of words, as the dictionary may offer them at first sight: but that it requires great thought and analytic power; that every sentence, nay, almost every word, has to be weighed and considered with respect to its true bearing upon the text; and that a good rendering is only possible when the translator has grasped the true meaning of the passage before him.

I have endeavoured to give neither too little nor too much help, but whenever I found a difficulty which a student of average ability could not fairly be expected to overcome, I have stepped in to solve it. For this purpose I have made use of English equivalents and periphrases and of Rules and Examples, and in cases where neither of these helps was considered practicable I have not hesitated to give the German rendering of the word or passage to be translated. The last mode of procedure, however, I have adopted only when I found that the dictionaries in ordinary use were insufficient, as is so frequently the case, and more especially with respect to idiomatic passages, which it is impossible to render successfully unless the translator is well versed in both languages, and at the same time has undergone a thorough training in the Art of Translating English into German, which the present volume professes to teach. The plan of indicating the rendering of words and phrases by means of English equivalents and periphrases must be of evident advantage to the learner, for it teaches him how to think and analyse, whilst it leads him to render the word or phrase correctly without giving him the translation itself.

The Notes of Sections 1 to 150 and the Appendix contain in a concise and lucid form almost all the rules relating to the German Syntax, and in most instances these rules have been illustrated by practical examples and models. The Appendix gives in thirty-seven paragraphs the Rules referring to the Construction, the use of the Indicative, Subjunctive (or Conjunctive), and Conditional Moods, which for convenient reference have been reprinted from my ‘German Grammar,’ and to facilitate the student’s work I have added an Index to the Grammatical Rules and Idiomatic Renderings.

In a work containing such a great number of Extracts as the present, there are, of course, many idioms and passages which may be correctly translated in various ways, and I can therefore scarcely hope that all my renderings will meet with the approval of every German scholar. I may, however, confidently affirm here that I have devoted much thought and labour to this publication, and that I have tried with all my heart to make it acceptable to teachers and students alike.

In conclusion I respectfully tender my best thanks to the publishers—

Messrs. W. and R. Chambers, Edinburgh,
” Chapman and Hall, }
” Longmans and Co., }
” Sampson Low and Co., }
” Macmillan and Co., }
Mr. Murray, } London,
Messrs. T. Nelson and Sons, }
” Smith, Elder, and Co., and }
” Stanford and Co., }

and to the Editors of—

The Daily News, }
” Daily Telegraph, }
” Globe, } London,
” Standard, and }
” Times, }

for their very kind permission to make use of the Copyright Extracts in this publication, and for the cordial manner in which they granted my request.

Page ix contains a few Hints and Directions for using the Book which I consider of great importance, and to which I beg to draw attention.

HERMANN LANGE.

HEATHFIELD HOUSE, LLOYD STREET, GREENHEYS, MANCHESTER, _September, 1883_.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

A second edition of this volume having been called for, I wish to express my cordial thanks to the numerous colleagues and friends who adopted it as a text-book for their classes.

As I am engaged in preparing, besides this book, a third edition of two other volumes of my ‘German Course,’ and, at the request of the Delegates of the University Press, also a Key to this volume, ‘German Composition,’ I think the present moment opportune for introducing the reformed German spelling which, by Government regulations, has been taught in German schools for the last five or six years, and is becoming more generally used from year to year in friendly intercourse, papers, periodicals, literature, and commercial correspondence. It is but fair that the students of German in this country should be taught to spell in the simplified way now universally practised by their German contemporaries. They will at least have nothing to unlearn then; and, although the present spelling-reform may be considered but a compromise between the older and the younger schools, there being a tendency in the younger men to go even further than their older colleagues in the simplification of our orthography and to make it still more phonetic and uniform in principle, it will take a long time before the Government will be moved to make modifications of any importance in their regulations. I confidently trust that the great trouble I have bestowed upon the revision of the present edition will be appreciated by teachers and students alike. It will easily be seen that the alterations of the orthography in the various books forming this ‘German Course’ must have necessarily entailed a very considerable additional expense; but the publication having met with much approval on the part of the public, I was anxious to leave nothing undone in order to adapt it in every respect to the requirements of the times and to make it still more useful.

On examination it will be seen that the changes made are not so many as may be supposed, and that the principles underlying the German spelling-reform are simple and easy to understand.

=At the end of the Appendix will be found a Synopsis of the principal changes the German spelling has undergone, accompanied by Examples and a few Exceptions to the general rules.=

HERMANN LANGE.

HEATHFIELD HOUSE, LLOYD STREET, GREENHEYS, MANCHESTER, _December, 1886_.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE BOOK.

Each Section should first be prepared for _viva voce_ translation, _with_ the assistance of the Notes in class; then translated in writing; carefully corrected; and finally practised, by comparing the English text with the corrected German version, FOR A SECOND _viva voce_ TRANSLATION =until the student is able to translate the English text, _without_ the assistance of the Notes in class, just as readily into correct German as if he were reading from a German book=.

The Grammatical Rules given in the Notes should always be carefully studied, and the reading of previously given Rules and the various paragraphs of the Appendix referred to in the text should never be omitted.

=The strict and conscientious observance of these directions is earnestly requested.=

THE SECOND _viva voce_ TRANSLATION _without_ the assistance of the Notes in class, as explained above, is especially of the greatest importance to the student’s progress in the Art of Translating English into German, and is the only way of mastering all the idiomatic and syntactic difficulties contained in the Lessons and explained in the foot-notes. It commends itself likewise as the best way of committing to memory the great number of words and the various forms of construction occurring in the text, and will gradually, but surely, lead to the acquisition of a good and thorough German style of writing.

To be quite clear the Author ventures to propose the following

PLAN OF WORKING.

FIRST LESSON.

Prepare for _viva voce_ translation Sections 1 and 2, WITH the
assistance of the Notes in class.

SECOND LESSON.

Translate in Writing Sections 1 and 2; and prepare for _viva
voce_ translation Sections 3 and 4, WITH the assistance of the
Notes in class.

THIRD LESSON.

PREPARE FOR FLUENT AND CORRECT _viva voce_ TRANSLATION Sections
1 and 2, WITHOUT the assistance of the Notes in class, by
comparing the English text with the corrected German version;
translate in Writing Sections 3 and 4; and prepare for _viva
voce_ translations Sections 5 and 6, WITH the assistance of the
Notes in class.

FOURTH LESSON.

PREPARE FOR FLUENT AND CORRECT _viva voce_ TRANSLATION Sections
3 and 4, WITHOUT the assistance of the Notes in class, by
comparing the English text with the corrected version;
translate in Writing Sections 5 and 6; and prepare for _viva
voce_ translation Sections 7 and 8, WITH the assistance of the
Notes in class;

Then proceed in the same way throughout the book.

=It need scarcely be added that the quantity of work pointed out here may be diminished or increased according to circumstances, and that the longer sections towards the end of the book will in most cases require the former course.=

The frequent attentive study of German literature will be a powerful auxiliary to this book in imparting the Art of Translating English Prose into German.

ABBREVIATIONS AND SIGNS EXPLAINED.

Acc. Accusative.
adj. adjective.
adv. adverb.
App. Appendix
art. article.
Comp. compare.
comp. compound.
conj. conjunction
constr. construction.
contr. contracted.
Dat. (_or_ dat.) Dative.
def. definite.
+d. h.+ (+das heißt+), that is.
demonstr. demonstrative.
e.g. (exempli gratia) for example.
etc. (et cetera), and so forth.
Expl. Example.
fem., _or_ (f.) feminine.
+geb.+ (+geboren+), born.
Gen. Genitive.
i.e. (id est), that is.
Impf. Imperfect.
impers. impersonal.
indef. indefinite.
Inf. Infinitive.
insep. inseparable.
intr., _or_ intrans. intransitive.
Liter. Literally.
m., _or_ (m.) masculine.
N. Note
n. noun.
neut., _or_ (n.) neuter.
Nom. Nominative.
p. p. Past Participle.
p. ps. Past Participles.
pers. person.
persnl. personal.
posses. possessive.
prep. preposition.
Pres. Present.
pres. p. Present Participle.
pron. pronoun.
refl. reflective.
reg. regular.
relat. relative.
S. Section.
Sing. Singular.
str. strong.
Subj. Subjunctive.
tr., _or_ trans. transitive.
+u. a.+ (+und andere+), and others.
+u. s. w.+ (+und so weiter+), and so forth.
v. verb.
viz. (videlicet), namely, to wit.
w. weak.
§ paragraph.
† (+gestorben+), died.
= is equivalent to.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Preface v

Directions for Using the Book ix

Abbreviations and Signs Explained xi

SECT.

1. A Good Maxim.—Sir Thomas Buxton 1

2. What is Eternity?—Rev. R. K. Arvine 1

3. The Action of Water.—Dr. Lankester 2

4. Of what Use is it?—S. Smiles 2

5. Wealth.—Rev C. Cotton 3

6. Mendelssohn in Birmingham.—Athenæum 3

7. To Forgive is to Forget.—Rev. H. W. Beecher 3

8. What is Capital?—Rev. Dr. Macduff 4

9. A Good Rule.—S. Smiles 4

10. England under the Rule of Queen Victoria.—W. M. Thackeray 5

11. Concentration of Powers.—T. Carlyle 5

12. Coolness.—W. C. Hazlitt 6

13. Religious Toleration.—Rev R. K. Arvine 6

14. How Hugh Miller became a Geologist.—S. Smiles 7

15. Extremes Meet.—Rev. R. K. Arvine 7

16. Poor Pay.—Rev. R. K. Arvine 8

17. The World is a Looking-glass.—W. M. Thackeray 8

18. Give the honour to God alone.—Rev. R. K. Arvine 9

19. How did Cuvier become a Naturalist?—S. Smiles 9

20. On the Choice of Books.—Lord Dudley 10

21. An apparently insignificant fact often leads to great
results.—S. Smiles 10

22. Oats.—Nelson’s Readers 11

23. Spring Blossoms.—Rev. E. M. Davies 11

24. The Winking Eyelid.—Prof. G. Wilson 11

25. A Good Example.—Rev. J. Burroughs 12

26. Description of a Glacier.—Mrs. Beecher Stowe 12

27. Without Pains no Gains.—S. Smiles 13

28. The Magna Charta.—Lord Macaulay 14

29. Honesty.—Dr. B. Franklin 14

30, 31. Formation of a Coral-Island.—M. Flinders 15, 16

32. Reynard Caught.—Anonymous 16

33, 34. The Means of Conveyance in the Time of Charles II.—Lord
Macaulay 17

35. Sir William Herschel.—Rev. Dr. Leitch 18

36, 37. The Air-Ocean.—Maury 19, 20

38. Cheerful Church-Music.—Rev. R. K. Arvine 20

39. Our Industrial Independence depends upon Ourselves.—S. Smiles 21

40. England’s Trees.—Hewitt 21

41-45. The Indian Chief.—Washington Irving 22-24

46. Rice.—Nelson’s Readers 25

47-53. The White Ship.—Charles Dickens 26-30

54. Barley.—Nelson’s Readers 30

55. The soldier and his Flag.—General Bourrienne 31

56. Our cultivated Native Plants.—Hewitt 32

57, 58. The Bequest.—Anonymous 32, 33

59. Wheat.—Nelson’ Readers 33

60. Occupation of the Anglo-Saxons.—Milner 34

61-68. Tender, Trusty, and True.—Rev. Robert Collyer 34-39

69. Despatch of Business.—Sir Walter Scott 39

70, 71. On Perfumery.—Prof. Ascher 40, 41

72. On Instinct.—Rev. S. Smith 41

73. Peter the Great and the Monk.—Anonymous 42

74, 75. The Beauty of the Eye.—Prof. G. Wilson 43

76. A Funeral Dance.—Sir S. Baker 44

77. Absolution Beforehand.—Rev. R. K. Arvine 45

78, 79. Stand up for whatever is True, Manly, and Lovely.—T.
Hughes 46, 47

80. Work is a great Comforter.—Anonymous 47

81. Perseverance finds its Reward.—N. Goodrich 48

82. The Necessity of Volcanoes.—Rev. Prof. Hitchcock 49

83. The Power of Beauty.—Lord Shaftesbury 49

84. The English Climate.—Hewitt 50

85, 86. The London Docks.—The “Globe” Newspaper 50, 51

87. Dr. Johnson on Debt.—S. Smiles 52

88-94. A Curious Instrument.—Jane Taylor 53-57

95. Anglo-Saxon Dress.—Milner 57

96, 97. The Glaciers at Sunset.—Mrs. Beecher Stowe 58, 59

98, 99. The Lost Child Found.—Jacob Abbott 59, 60

100. Perspiration.—Rev Dr. Dick 61

101-107. The Drama of the French Revolution of 1848.—Essays
from “The Times” 61-69

108. Experience is the best Teacher.—W. C. Hazlitt 69

109. On Self Culture.—William Chambers 70

110, 111. Goethe’s Death.—G. H. Lewes 70, 71

112. On Travelling.—Charles Kingsley 72

113. The Management of the Body.—Sidney Smith 73

114. The Sources of Water.—Dr. Lankester 73

115. The Art of Oratory.—Henry Clay 74

116. Early Privations.—S. Smiles 75

117, 118. The Blessedness of Friendship.—Charles Kingsley 76

119, 120. Do Good in your own Sphere of Action.—Thos. Hughes 77, 78

121, 122. The State of Ireland.—The Right Hon. John Bright 79

123-125. On Ragged Schools.—Dr. Guthrie 80-82

126. Shylock Meditating Revenge.—Shakespeare 82

127, 128. Character of Charlemagne.—Hallam 83, 84

129-131. Goethe’s Daily Life at Weimar.—G. H. Lewes 85-87

132. The Progress in the Art of Printing.—The Right Hon. W.
E. Gladstone 88

133. Robert Dick, the Baker, Geologist, and Botanist.—S. Smiles 89

134, 135. The Gospel of Work.—Charles Kingsley 90, 91

136, 137. Do not be Ashamed of your Origin.—Anecdotes 92

138. Not Near Enough Yet.—Rev. Prof. Earle 93

139. A Great Loss.—S. Smiles 95

140, 141. Hero Worship.—Charles Kingsley 95, 96

142-144. James Watt and the Steam-Engine.—Lord Jeffrey 97, 98

145. Manufactures in England.—Bevan 98

146, 147. Mr. H. M. Stanley’s Appeal for Supplies 99, 100

148. Answer to the preceding letter.—J. W. Harrison 101

149, 150. Mr. Stanley’s Acknowledgment of the preceding letter
and the Supplies 102, 103

151. Returned Kindness.—Dr. Dwight 104

152-154. New-Year’s Eve.—After Hans Andersen 105-107

155. Providence Vindicating the Innocent.—W. Smith 108

156, 157. Napoleon Bonaparte.—Emerson 109-111

158. The Warlike Character of the Germans.—Admiral Garbett 112

159. The Way to Master the Temper.—Alcott 113

160, 161. Opinions as to English Education.—S. Smiles 113-115

162. A Royal Judgment.—P. Sadler 116

163. Tacitus.—Sir Walter Scott 117

164. Humility.—Anonymous 117

165-168. Russian Political Prisoners in Banishment.—James Allen 118-122

169-171. Tahiti.—Charles Darwin 123-125

172. Audubon, the American Ornithologist, relates how nearly
a thousand of his original Drawings were destroyed.—John
Audubon 126

173-177. The Battle of Kassassin.—The Correspondent of the
London “Standard” 127-132

178. How the Duke of Wellington was Deceived.—Historical Anecdotes 134

179-181. A Letter from Dr. Henry Danson to Mr. John Forster,
on Charles Dickens’s School-Life 135-137

182. Sir Joseph Paxton.—S. Smiles 138

183-186. Rebecca describes the Siege of Torquilstone to the
wounded Ivanhoe.—Sir Walter Scott 139-143

187-190. The Favourite Hares.—William Cowper 144-146

191. Prince Bismarck’s Home.—The Correspondent of the London
“Daily News” 147

192. Royal Benevolence.—W. Buck 148

193. Telegraphy among Birds.—Prof. G. Wilson 149

194-196. The Hanse.—J. H. Fyfe 150-152

197. Coming to Terms.—The “Young Ladies’ Journal” 153

198. False Pride.—The “New York Herald” 155

199. Anecdotes of Great Statesmen:

I. Abraham Lincoln.—The “New York Herald” 156

II. Prince Bismarck and Lord Beaconsfield.—The
Correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph” 156

200. The Power of Music.—Manchester “Tit-Bits” 158

201-206. The two Schoolboys, or Eyes and No Eyes.—Dr. Aikin 159-165

207, 208. The King and the Miller.—Chambers’s Short Stories 166, 167

209, 210. A Friend in Need.—Chambers’s Short Stories 168, 169

211. My First Guinea.—The Rev. Dr. Vaughan 169

212. The Green Vaults in Dresden.—Bayard Taylor 171

213. The Death of Little Nell.—Charles Dickens 172

214. The Childhood of Robert Clive.—Lord Macaulay 173

215, 216. An Adventure with a Lion.—Dr. Livingstone 173, 174

217-220. The Burning of Moscow.—Sir Walter Scott 175-177

221-223. Christmas in Germany.—Bayard Taylor 178-180

224. New-Year’s Eve in Germany.—Bayard Taylor 181

225, 226. The Two Robbers.—Dr. Aikin 182

227, 228. A Touching Scene at Sea.—Rev. E. Davies 183, 184

229-232. An Oration on the Power of Habit.—J. B. Gough 185-187

233-242. A Curious Story.—W. J. J. Spry 187-194

243, 244. How the Bank of England was Humbled.—“Tit-Bits” 195, 196

245, 246. Morgan Prussia.—King George the Fourth 197, 198

247. The Terrible Winter of 1784.—After Alexander Dumas 199

248-250. A Story Worth Reading.—St. James’s Magazine 201, 203

Appendix:

A.—Essentials of Construction 205

B.—The Indicative Mood 209

C.—The Subjunctive (or Conjunctive) Mood 210

D.—The Conditional Mood 213

Synopsis of the changes the German Spelling has undergone
through the Government Regulations of 1880 215-222

Index to the Grammatical Rules and Idiomatic Renderings 223-228

Capital Letters.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H,
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, U, V, W,
Q, R, S, T, U, V, W,
X, Y, Z.
X, Y, Z.

Small Letters.

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j,
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j,
k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s,
k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s,
s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z.
s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z.]

ch, ck, ss, ß, sch, sp, st, th, tz.
ch, ck, ss, sz, sch, sp, st, th, tz.

Arm, Birne, Character,
Dank, Eis, Freund, Gold,
Hund, Insel, Jahr, Kind,
Land, Mann, Nuß, Onkel,
Pfad, Quelle, Rabe, Sack,
Stunde, Tante, Uhr, Vater,
Welt, Xenophon, Yacht, Zahl.

In der Jugend strebe
nach Tugend.
Morgenstunde hat
Gold im Munde.
Fleiß bringt Brot,
Faulheit Not.]

Ein Mann hatte die Gewohnheit, oft mit sich selbst zu sprechen. Einer seiner Freunde hatte es bemerkt. Warum sprechen Sie so oft mit sich selbst? fragte er ihn eines Tages. — Das will ich Ihnen sagen, war die Antwort.

Erstens mag ich gern einen vernünftigen Menschen sprechen hören; und zweitens mag ich gern mit einem vernünftigen Menschen reden. —

Wissen ist Macht.]

Daß keine, welche lebt, mit Deutschlands Sprache sich

In den zu kühnen Wettstreit wage!

Sie ist, damit ich’s kurz, mit ihrer Kraft es sage —

An mannigfalt’ger Uranlage

Zu immer neuer und doch deutscher Wendung reich;

Ist, was wir selbst in jenen grauen Jahren,

Da Tacitus uns forschte, waren:

Gesondert, ungemischt und nur sich selber gleich.

Klopstock.]

GERMAN COMPOSITION.

1. Words which, in the English text and in the periphrases of the English text, are printed in _Italics_, must not be translated.

2. When two words are separated by a dash (—) in the Notes, they represent the first and last word of a whole clause in the English text, and the rendering refers to the clause thus indicated.

3. When two or more words are separated by dots (...) in the Notes, the rendering refers to those words only.

4. The sign = is used in the meaning of: ‘is equivalent to’.

5. As a rule, the periphrases are given in correct English construction.

_Section 1._

A GOOD MAXIM[1].

My maxim is: never to begin[2] a book without finishing[3] it, never to consider[4] it finished without[5] knowing it, and to study[6] it with[7] a whole mind.—SIR THOMAS BUXTON.

[1] +Grundsatz+, m.

[2] to begin, +an´fangen+. When the =Infinitive= is used either subjectively or objectively, it is generally preceded by the preposition +=zu=+, and is called =Supine=. Comp. S. 78, N. 14, 1. To form the =Supine Present= of compound separable verbs, like +an´fangen+, we must place the preposition +zu+ between the separable prefix and the verb. The Supine must be used here. See App. § 1.

[3] to finish, +beendigen+. The =Supine= is generally used for rendering the =English Gerund= (i.e. the verbal in -ing) when the latter is governed by a preposition, though, sometimes, this form may be rendered by the help of the subordinative conjunction +~daß~+ and a finite verb (i.e. one with a personal termination); as—

He judges _without understanding_ anything about the matter.

+Er urteilt, ~ohne~ etwas von der Sache ~zu verstehen~+, _or_
+~ohne daß er~ etwas von der Sache ~versteht~.+

Use the Supine, which is always to be placed at the end of the clause.

[4] To consider a thing finished, +eine Sache ~als~ beendigt betrachten+. The pronoun ‘it’ should begin the clause. See App. § 2.

[5] without — it, +ohne mit dem Inhalt desselben vertraut zu sein+.

[6] to study, +studie´ren+.

[7] with — mind = with undivided attention.

_Section 2._

WHAT IS ETERNITY?

_The_ following question was[1] put in writing[2] to a boy[3] in the deaf-and-dumb school[4] at Paris: “What is eternity?” “It is the life-time of the Almighty,” was the answer.—REV. R. K. ARVINE.

[1] Here the verb is in the Passive Voice. Remember that the =German Passive Voice= is formed by the auxiliary +=werden=+. =The verb is in the Passive Voice whenever the subject is suffering the action expressed by the verb=; as—

The castle _was built_ in the year 1609.

+Das Schloß ~wurde~ im Jahre 1609 ~erbaut~.+

To put a question to a person, +einem eine Frage vor´legen+.

[2] in writing, +schriftlich+, which place before the p. p. (App. § 1).

[3] boy = pupil.

[4] +Taubstummenanstalt+, f.; render ‘in the’ by the gen. of the def. art.; at = in.

_Section 3._

THE ACTION[1] OF[2] WATER.

The action of water on[3] our food[4] is very important. There[5] would be no carrying of food into the system but for the agency of water. It dissolves everything[6] that[7] we take[8], and nothing[9] that we take as food can[10] become nutriment that[11] is not dissolved in water.—DR. LANKESTER.

[1] ‘action’, here = operation, +Wirkung+, f.

[2] Use the gen. of the def. art. =The definite article= is always required before nouns representing the whole of a given class, and before abstract nouns taken in a general sense.

[3] on = upon.

[4] food = victuals, +Speisen+, pl.

[5] This sentence must be construed in a somewhat different way; say: ‘Without the agency (+Vermittelung+, f.) of water, no food (+Nahrung+, f.) would be conveyed into the body,’ +würde dem Körper keine Nahrung zu´geführt werden+.

[6] everything = all.

[7] ‘that’, here +~was~+. The indefinite relative pronoun +=was=+ is the pronoun generally required after the indefinite numerals +alles+, +etwas+, +manches+, +nichts+, +viel+, and +wenig+, after the indefinite demonstrative pronoun +~das~+, and also after a superlative used substantively; as +Das Schönste, was ich habe+.

[8] ‘To take’, when used of food, may be rendered by +essen+, +trinken+, or +genießen+, which latter verb should be used here.

[9] ‘nothing — food’, may be briefly rendered by ‘+keine genossene Speise+‘.

[10] can — nutriment = can serve as nutriment (+Ernährung+, f.). The verb +dienen+ requires the prep. +zu+, which governs the dat. and must here be contracted with the def. art. into +zur+: see N. 2.

[11] that — water = before (+ehe+, see App. § 17) the same (f.) is dissolved in water.

_Section 4._

OF[1] WHAT USE IS IT?

When[2] Franklin made his discovery of the identity[3] of lightning[4] and electricity[4], it[4] was sneered at[5], and _people_ asked: “Of what use is it?” To[6] which his apt reply was: “What is the use of a child?—It may[7] become a man!”—S. SMILES.

[1] Of — it, +Wozu nützt es?+

[2] ‘=When=’, referring to definite time of the Past, must always be rendered by ‘+=als=+’.

[3] of the identity, _von der Identität_, f.; see S. 3, N. 2.

[4] When the agent from which the action proceeds is not mentioned, the =English Passive Voice= is often rendered by a =reflective verb=, or by the indefinite pronoun +=man=+ and a verb in the =Active Voice=; as—

At last the book _was found_.

+Endlich {~fand sich~} das Buch.+
+{~fand man~ }+

Say ‘people (+man+) sneered at it.’

[5] _A._ To sneer at something, +über etwas spotten+; _B._ ‘=at it=’ = there at, +=darüber=+. The English pronouns ‘=it=’, ‘=them=’, ‘=that=’, and ‘=those=’, dependent on a preposition governing in German the dative or accusative, are generally to be rendered by the pronominal adverb ‘+=da=+’ in combination with a corresponding preposition. This is always the case when ‘it’ and ‘that’, in connection with a preposition are used indefinitely, and frequently when either of these pronouns refers to a noun representing an inanimate object or an abstract idea. The letter +r+ is inserted between the adverb +da+ and the preposition, whenever the latter begins with a vowel.

[6] To — was = Upon this (+Hierauf+) he (inverted constr., see App. § 14) gave _the_ following striking (+treffend+) answer.

[7] may = can; to become a man, +zum Manne werden+.

_Section 5._

WEALTH[1].

Wealth, after all[2], is[3] but a relative thing: for he who has[4] little, and wants[5] still less, is richer than he who has much, and wants still more.—REV. C. COTTON.

[1] wealth, +Reichtum+, m., see S. 3, N. 2.

[2] after all ... but, +doch immer nur+; a — thing, +etwas Relatives+.

[3] =When the subject, which may be preceded by its attributes, occupies the first place in a principal clause, either the copula or the verb must follow immediately.=

[4] to have = to possess.

[5] ‘to want’, here +bedürfen+.

_Section 6._

MENDELSSOHN IN BIRMINGHAM.

When[1] Mendelssohn, on[2] the first performance of his[3] ‘Elijah’ in Birmingham, was about[4] to enter[5] the orchestra, he[6] said laughingly to one of his friends and critics[7]: “Stick[8] your claws into me! Don’t tell[9] me what you like, but[10] what you don’t like!”—ATHENÆUM.

[1] See S. 4, N. 2.

[2] The preposition ‘on’, signifying ‘on the occasion of’, must be rendered by ‘+bei+’. ‘Performance’, +Aufführung+, f.

[3] Use the gen. of the def. art.; Elijah, +Elias+.

[4] ‘=to be about=’, +~im Begriff sein~+. ‘To be about’ may also be rendered by the auxiliary verb of mood +~wollen~+ and the infinitive of another verb; as—

I _was_ just _about_ to leave, when the letter arrived.

+~Ich war~ gerade ~im~ Begriff abzureisen+ (_or_ +~Ich wollte~
gerade ~abreisen~+), +als der Brief ankam.+

[5] ‘to enter’, +betreten+, see S. 1, N. 2.

[6] Since the subordinate clause precedes the principal clause, the construction of the principal clause must be inverted, see App. § 15.

[7] to — critics, say ‘to a friend and critic’, +Rezensent+, m.

[8] ‘Stick — me!’ This metaphor must be rendered freely by: +Packen Sie mich nur tüchtig an!+

[9] tell = say; to like = to please, with the dat. of the person.

[10] The co-ordinative conjunction ‘=but=’ must be rendered by ‘+=sondern=+’, when, after a negative statement, the subsequent clause expresses an idea altogether contrary to that of its antecedent.

_Section 7._

TO FORGIVE IS[1] TO FORGET.

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is[2] only another way of saying: “I will not forgive.” A wrong _once_ forgiven[3] ought[4] to be like[5] a _cancelled_ note[6], torn in two and burned up, so[7] that it never can be shown against the man.—REV. H. W. BEECHER.

[1] ‘to be’, here = to signify, +heißen+.

[2] is — saying = signifies only in (+mit+) other words. ‘+Das Wort+’ has two plural forms with a different meaning to each: +die Wörter+, single, unconnected words; +die Worte+, words connected into speech.

[3] _A._ Whilst the English Perfect Participle (commonly called Past Participle) is placed both before and after the noun it qualifies, =the German Past Participle used attributively, as a rule, precedes the qualified noun=; as—

We met with a ship _bound for Bremen_.

+Wir trafen =ein nach Bremen bestimmtes Schiff=.+

_B._ Clauses containing a Perfect Participle, however, may also be rendered by the help of a =relative pronoun=. Thus rendered, the preceding sentence would read:

+Wir trafen ein Schiff, =welches nach Bremen bestimmt war=+;

but the first rendering is certainly more concise than the second, and it is to be preferred in all cases where the attributive construction would not be too lengthy. ‘A wrong _once_ forgiven’, say ‘A forgiven wrong’, and mark that: =When Participles are used attributively, and precede the noun they qualify, they must be inflected like adjectives.=

[4] render ‘ought’ by the imperfect of +sollen+.

[5] like, +wie+.

[6] note, +Schuldschein+, m.; to tear in two, +zerrei´ßen+; to burn up, +verbren´nen+. According to the rule given in N. 3, the participles of these two verbs have to be placed before the noun ‘note’, which they qualify.

[7] ‘so — man’, say ‘which never again can be used against the debtor’. According to the hint given in S. 2, N. 1, the verb is in the passive voice, and since the clause is a subordinate one, the verbs must stand at the end of the clause. Place the p. p. first, and the copula (can) last.

_Section 8._

WHAT IS CAPITAL?

What is capital? Is[1] it what a man has? Is[2] it counted (App. § 31) by[3] pounds and pence, stocks[4] and shares[5], by houses and lands[6]? No! Capital[7] is not what a man has, but what a man is. Character[8] is[9] capital; honour[10] is capital.—REV. DR. MACDUFF.

[1] ‘Is — has?’ say ‘Does it consist in that which (see S. 3, N. 7) we possess?’ The prep. ‘in’ here governs the dat. Read again S. 4, N. 5, _B_, and notice that, when the =demonstrative pronouns= ‘that’ and ‘those’ are =followed by a relative pronoun=, they cannot be rendered by the adverb ‘+da+’ in combination with a preceding preposition; as—

We laughed _at that which_ (_or_ at what) you told us.

+Wir lachten ~über das, was~ Sie uns erzählten.+

[2] See S. 2, N. 1; ‘to count’, here +schätzen+.

[3] by = +nach+.

[4] +Wertpapiere.+

[5] +Aktien.+

[6] +Ländereien.+

[7] ‘Capital — is’. The literal translation of this sentence would read very awkwardly in German, say ‘Our capital does not consist in that which we possess, but (S. 6, N. 10) in that which we are.’

[8] Character = A good reputation.

[9] ‘is’, here _ist_.

[10] +Ehrenhaftigkeit+, f.

_Section 9._

A GOOD RULE[1].

A French minister, who was alike[2] remarkable[3] for his[4] despatch of business and _his_ constant[5] attendance at places of public amusement, being[6] asked how he contrived to combine both _objects_, replied: “Simply[7] by never postponing till to-morrow what should be done[8] to-day.”—S. SMILES.

[1] +Lebensregel+, f.

[2] ‘alike ... and’, +sowohl ... wie auch+.

[3] to be remarkable for something, +sich durch etwas aus´zeichnen+.

[4] his — business, +schnelle Erledigung seiner Amtsgeschäfte+.

[5] constant — amusement, +regelmäßiger Besuch öffentlicher Vergnügungsorte+. The prep. +durch+, which requires the acc., must be repeated at the beginning of this clause.

[6] ‘being — replied’; this sentence requires an entirely different construction in German, say ‘answered upon the question, how (App. § 16) he made it possible to combine both (neuter sing.)’. To combine, +vereinigen+. The verb ‘to make’ must be placed in the Present Subjunctive, since the clause contains an indirect question. Read carefully App. §§ 28 and 30.

[7] Simply — to-morrow, +Einfach dadurch, daß ich nie auf morgen verschiebe+.

[8] ‘to do’, here +erledigen+. See S. 2, N. 1, and place the verbs in the order pointed out in S. 7, N. 7.

_Section 10._

ENGLAND UNDER THE RULE[1] OF[2] QUEEN VICTORIA.

The peace, the freedom, the happiness[3], and the order which Victoria’s rule guarantees[4], are[5] part of my birthright as _an_ Englishman, and I bless[6] God for my share[7]! Where else shall[8] I find such liberty[9] of action, thought, speech[10], or[11] laws which protect me so well[12]?—W. M. THACKERAY.

[1] rule = reign.

[2] Use the gen. of the def. art. The definite article is used in German before names of persons when preceded by an adjective or a common name; as—

+Der arme Fritz!+

Poor Fritz!

+Der Kaiser Wilhelm.+

Emperor William.

[3] happiness = well-being, +Wohlfahrt+, f. ‘Victoria’s rule’, say ‘the reign of Queen Victoria’.

[4] to guarantee, +gewähren+.

[5] are part = form a part.

[6] I bless = I thank.

[7] share = lot.

[8] shall = can.

[9] +Freiheit des Handelns.+ Repeat the article before the two following nouns. In German the =articles, possessive adjective pronouns, and other determinative words= must be =repeated= when they are used in reference to several nouns of different gender or number, whilst in English they are only required before the first noun.

[10] Insert ‘and’ before ‘speech’, +Rede+, f., and place the verb +finden+ immediately after that noun.

[11] Substitute the words ‘and where’ for the word ‘or’.

[12] +gut.+

_Section 11._

CONCENTRATION OF POWERS.

The weakest living creature[1], by[2] concentrating his powers on a single object, can[3] accomplish something. The strongest[4], by dispersing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything[5]. The drop, by continually[6] falling[7], bores[8] its passage through the hardest rock. The hasty[9] torrent rushes[10] over it with hideous uproar, and leaves no trace behind.—T. CARLYLE.

[1] creature, +Wesen+, n.; strengthen the superlative of the adjective by placing ‘aller’ before it, forming one compound expression, analogous to: +Die aller schönste Blume+, the finest flower (of all).

[2] ‘by concentrating his powers’, +durch Konzentration seiner Kräfte+; to accomplish something, +etwas zustande bringen+. Use the adverbial expression ‘at least’ before ‘something’, which will give more force to the German rendering.

[3] The copula ‘can’ must be placed immediately after the subject and its attributes, as has been pointed out in S. 5, N. 2.

[4] The strongest — fail, +Dem Stärksten hingegen wird es durch Zersplitterung seiner Kräfte nicht gelingen+.

[5] anything, +auch nur das Geringste+.

[6] continual, +unablässig+, adj.

[7] To render ‘falling’, form a noun of the verb ‘+fallen+’. The German language makes frequent use of the =Infinitive Present= of verbs to form =abstract nouns=, whilst the English language uses the Verbal in -ing for that purpose. Such nouns are always of the neuter gender; as +das Gehen+, going; +das Essen und Trinken+, eating and drinking.

[8] to bore one’s passage, +sich einen Weg bohren+. Place the verb according to S. 5, N. 2; the adverbial clause ‘by continually falling’ must follow it.

[9] hasty, +ungestüm+; torrent, +Strom+, m.

[10] to rush over something, +über etwas hinweg´stürzen+; ‘rushes — uproar’, say ‘rushes with hideous (+entsetzlich+) uproar (+Getöse+) over the same.’

_Section 12._

COOLNESS[1].

Of the Duke of Wellington’s[2] perfect coolness on[3] the most trying occasions. Colonel Gurwood gives[4] this instance. He was[5] once in great danger of suffering[6] ship-wreck. It was bed-time[7] when (S. 4, N. 2) the captain of the vessel came to him, and said: “It will soon be _all_ over[8] with us!” “Very well,” answered the Duke, “then I (App. § 14) need not (App. § 12) take off[9] my boots!”—W. C. HAZLITT.

[1] +Kaltblütigkeit+, f.

[2] Place the genitive after the governing noun, and say: ‘Of (+Von+) the perfect coolness of the Duke of Wellington.’ Perfect = great.

[3] ‘on — occasions’ = in the most dangerous (+gefahrvoll+) situations.

[4] to give = to relate. See App. § 14 for the construction. ‘This instance’ = _the_ following example.

[5] ‘to be’, here +sich befinden+.

[6] Construe according to S. 1, N. 3.

[7] +Schlafenszeit+, f.

[8] +vorüber+.

[9] to take off, +aus´ziehen+, see S. 1, N. 2.

_Section 13._

RELIGIOUS TOLERATION[1].

When[2] certain persons attempted[3] to persuade Stephen[4], King of Poland, to constrain[5] some of his subjects, who[6] were of a different religion, to embrace[7] his, he said[8] to them: “I[9] am king of men, and not of[10] consciences[11]. The[12] dominion of conscience belongs exclusively to God.”—REV. R. K. ARVINE.

[1] +Religionsduldung+, f.

[2] ‘When’, here?

[3] attempted to = would, impf. of +wollen+.

[4] Say ‘the king Stephen of Poland’. +König Stephan von Bathori regierte von+ 1576-1586.

[5] +zwingen+. Place the verb after the relative clause, since =the relative pronoun should follow its antecedent as closely as possible=.

[6] ‘who — religion’, say ‘who belonged to another religion’.

[7] to embrace = to accept.

[8] ‘to say’, here ‘to reply’, +entgegnen+.

[9] I — men = I rule (+herrschen+) over men.

[10] of = over.

[11] This noun is not used in the plural in German. See S. 3, N. 2.

[12] ‘The — God’, say ‘God alone rules over consciences (sing.)’.

_Section 14._

HOW HUGH MILLER[1] BECAME _A_[2] GEOLOGIST.

Hugh Miller’s[3] curiosity[4] was[5] excited by _the_ remarkable traces of extinct[6] sea-animals in[7] the Old Red Sandstone, on which he worked as a quarryman. He inquired[8], observed, studied, and became _a_ geologist. “_It was_ the necessity”, said he, “which made[9] me a quarrier, _that_ taught me to be a geologist.”—S. SMILES.

[1] +Hugh Miller wurde am 10ᵗᵉⁿ Oktober 1802 von armen Eltern zu Cromarty in Schottland geboren. Er arbeitete 15 Jahre als gemeiner Steinbrecher, beschäftigte sich jedoch während jener Zeit mit litterarischen und wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten, besonders mit der Geologie, der er ganz neue Bahnen eröffnete. Durch seine Werke hat er sich in der Wissenschaft einen unsterblichen Namen erworben, und als er am 24ˢᵗᵉⁿ Dezember 1856 starb, verlor Schottland in ihm einen seiner besten Söhne, und die Geologie einen ihrer beredtesten und ergebensten Lehrer.+

[2] Contrary to English construction, =the indefinite article is not used in German in stating the business or profession of a person=; as—

He wants to be _a_ soldier.

+Er will Soldat werden.+

=Exception:= When the noun denoting the business or profession is preceded by an adjective, the indefinite article is used in German, as in English:

His father was a clever physician.

+Sein Vater war ein geschickter Arzt.+

[3] When a =Proper Name= is used in the =Genitive Case=, it is generally placed before the governing noun, as in English: Schiller’s poems, +Schillers Gedichte+.

[4] +Wißbegierde+, f.

[5] How is the Passive Voice to be recognised? ‘To excite’, here +lebhaft an´regen+; construe accord. to S. 13, N. 5.

[6] +aus´gestorben.+

[7] in — sandstone, +in einem alten Rotsandsteinlager+; on which = where.

[8] ‘to inquire’, here +Nachforschungen anstellen+.

[9] ‘to make’ requires here the prep. +zu+ contracted with the def. art.; ‘that — geologist’, +machte mich schließlich auch zum Geologen+.

_Section 15._

EXTREMES MEET[1].

When Diogenes, during the famous festival[2] at Olympia[3], saw[4] some young men of Rhodes arrayed[5] most magnificently, he (App. § 15) exclaimed smiling: “This is pride!” And when, afterwards[3], he met[6] with some Lacedæmonians in _a_ mean[7] and _sordid_[8] dress, he said: “And this is also pride!”—REV. R. K. ARVINE.

[1] +Die Extreme berühren sich.+

[2] the festival at Olympia, +die Olympischen Feste. Diese berühmten Feste, auch Olympische Spiele genannt, wurden in jedem fünften Jahre am ersten Vollmond nach der Sonnenwende (Anfang Juli) bei Olympia zu Ehren des Zeus gefeiert. Sie dauerten fünf Tage und bestanden in Wettrennen (zu Wagen, zu Pferd und zu Fuß) und in gymnastischen Spielen aller Art.+

[3] Contrary to English practice, =the comma is, as a rule, not used in German to enclose adverbs or adverbial clauses of time, manner, and place=.

[4] ‘to see’, here +erblicken+, which place after ‘Rhodes’; young men = youths; ‘of’, here +aus+; Rhodes, +Rhodus+.

[5] ‘arrayed — magnificently’. Turn these words into a relative clause, and say: ‘which were most magnificently (+aufs prächtigste+) arrayed (+schmücken+)’, according to the rule given in S. 7, N. 3, _B_.

[6] to meet with a person, +einem begegnen+. Place the subject immediately after ‘when’. The Lacedæmonian, +der Lazedämonier+.

[7] +armselig.+

[8] +zerlumpt.+

_Section 16._

POOR PAY[1].

When the Duke of Marlborough, immediately after the battle of Blenheim[2], observed[3] a soldier leaning[4] pensively on the butt-end of his musket, he accosted[5] him thus: “Why so pensive[6], my friend, after so[7] glorious a victory?” “It may be glorious[8],” replied the brave fellow, “but[9] I am thinking that all _the_ human blood I[10] have spilled this day[11] has only[12] earned me fourpence.”—REV. R. K. ARVINE.

[1] +Armselige Bezahlung.+

[2] +Die Schlacht bei Blindheim+ (Engl. ‘Blenheim’) +wurde am 13ᵗᵉⁿ August 1704 von dem Herzog von Marlborough in Verbindung mit dem östereichischen Prinzen Eugen gegen die Franzosen gefochten. Blindheim ist ein kleines bayerisches Dorf bei Höchstädt, an der Donau. Die Schlacht wurde zu gunsten der Verbündeten entschieden, und der Herzog von Marlborough erhielt für diesen glänzenden Sieg von der Königin Anna ein prachtvolles Schloß+ (Blenheim House) +bei Woodstock in Oxfordshire zum Geschenk.+

[3] Place the verb ‘observed’ after the noun ‘soldier’.

[4] ‘leaning — musket’. This passage must be changed into a relative clause, thus: ‘who leant (+sich stützen+) pensively (+gedankenvoll+) upon the butt-end (+Kolben+, m.) of his musket’, for: =Sentences containing a Present Participle which qualifies a preceding noun or pronoun, are generally turned into relative clauses=; as—

The teacher, _noticing_ the boy’s talent, applied to the prince
on his behalf.

+Der Lehrer, ~welcher~ das Talent des Knaben ~bemerkte~,
verwendete sich für ihn bei dem Fürsten.+

[5] to accost, +anreden+; thus, +folgendermaßen+.

[6] here ‘+nachdenkend+’ in order to avoid the repetition of the same word.

[7] so ... a, +ein ... so+.

[8] Make the word ‘glorious’ emphatic by placing it at the head of the clause, and see App. § 14. Insert the adverb ‘+wohl+’ between the subject and the verb ‘be’, which will render the sentence more idiomatic.

[9] but — thinking, +aber ich bedenke+.

[10] Supply the relative pronoun ‘which’, for: =The relative pronoun can never be omitted in German=; to spill, +vergießen+.

[11] this day = to-day.

[12] This work has only earned me a shilling, +diese Arbeit hat mir nur einen Schilling eingebracht+.

_Section 17._

THE WORLD IS A LOOKING-GLASS.

We[1] may be pretty certain that persons[2] whom all the world treat ill, deserve entirely[3] the treatment they[4] get. The world is a looking-glass, and gives[5] back to every man the _reflection_ of his own face. Frown[6] at it, and[7] it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh[8] at it and with it, and[9] it is a jolly, kind companion[10].—W. M. THACKERAY.

[1] We — certain. +Wir können uns ziemlich sicher darauf verlassen.+

[2] persons — ill = those who have to suffer from everybody.

[3] +vollkommen.+

[4] they get, +welche ihnen zuteil wird+.

[5] to give back the reflection = to reflect, +zurück´werfen+; every man, +jeder+; face = image.

[6] to frown at a person, here ‘+einen mürrisch an´blicken+’; use the second pers. sing.

[7] and — you, +und sie wird auch auf dich verdrießlich hernie´derschauen+.

[8] ‘Laugh at it’ seems to be used here in the sense of: ‘Smile at it’. Say: ‘Smile at it, laugh with it’, etc. ‘To smile at a person’, here ‘+einen freundlich an´blicken+’.

[9] ‘and — is’, say: ‘and it will be for thee (+dir+)’.

[10] +Gefährtin.+

_Section 18._

GIVE[1] THE HONOUR TO GOD ALONE.

A lady applied[2] to the worthy philanthropist[3] Richard Reynolds on behalf of a little orphan boy. After he[4] had (App. § 17) given liberally[5], she said: “When[6] he is old enough, I (App. § 15) will teach[7] him to thank his benefactor.” “Stop[8],” said the good man, “thou art mistaken[9]. We do not thank the clouds for rain (S. 3, N. 2). Teach[10] him to look higher, and thank Him[11] who giveth both the clouds and the rain.”—REV. R. K. ARVINE.

[1] Say ‘Give God alone the honour’.

[2] to apply to a person _on behalf of_ somebody, +sich bei einem ~für~ jemand verwenden+.

[3] +Menschenfreund+, m.

[4] To avoid ambiguity turn the pron. ‘he’ here by ‘Reynolds’.

[5] ‘liberally’, here +reichlich+.

[6] The conjunction ‘=when=’, used in the sense of ‘=whenever=’, and referring to indefinite time, must be rendered by ‘+=wenn=+’ (compare S. 4, N. 2); as—

_When_ (whenever) my old teacher came to Hamburg, he always
stayed with me.

+~Wenn~ mein alter Lehrer nach Hamburg kam, wohnte er stets bei
mir.+

[7] The verb ‘+lehren+’, to teach, requires the accusative of the person. Render the sentence ‘I — benefactor’ by ‘I will teach him to be thankful to his benefactor’.

[8] +Halt´!+

[9] to be mistaken, +sich irren+.

[10] Teach — higher, +Lehre ihn höher blicken+.

[11] The pronoun ‘Him’ is here used as a demonstr. pron.; ‘both ... and’, +sowohl ... wie auch+; ‘to give’, here = to send.

_Section 19._

HOW DID CUVIER[1] BECOME A NATURALIST?

When young (S. 10, N. 2) Cuvier was one day[2] strolling[3] along the sands near Fiquainville, in Normandy[4], he observed a cuttle-fish lying[5] stranded on the beach. He was attracted[6] by the curious object, took it home to[7] dissect, and[8] began the study of the mollusca, which ended in his becoming one of the greatest among natural historians.—S. SMILES.

[1] +G. D. Cüvier, berühmter französischer Naturforscher (1769-1832), erhob die vergleichende Anatomie zuerst zur Wissenschaft.+

[2] one day, +eines Tages+; one morning, +eines Morgens+; one evening, +eines Abends+, etc.

[3] to stroll along the sands, +an der Küste umher´schlendern+, ‘near’, here +von+.

[4] +die Normandie+, always used with the def. art.

[5] ‘lying — beach’, say ‘which the sea had washed (+spülen+) upon the beach’. (See App. § 17.)

[6] to be attracted by something, +sich durch etwas an´gezogen fühlen+; ‘object’, here ‘creature’.

[7] The =Supine= is used to express =purpose=, and must be employed whenever the English ‘=to=’ is used in the meaning of ‘=in order to=’, or ‘=for the purpose of=’; clauses of this sort are generally introduced by the conjunction ‘+=um=+’; as—

I will take this animal home _to_ dissect.

Ich will dies Tier mit nach Hause nehmen, um es ~zu~ sezieren.

[8] ‘and — historian’, say ‘began (+an´fangen+) to study the mollusca, and became finally (+schließlich+) one of the greatest natural historians’. Mollusca, +Mollusken+ or +Weichtiere+.

_Section 20._

ON THE CHOICE OF BOOKS[1].

In literature (S. 3, N. 2) I am fond[2] of confining myself to the best company, which consists chiefly of old acquaintances[3] with whom I am desirous of becoming more intimate, and I suspect[4] that, nine[5] times out of ten, it is more profitable[6], if not more agreeable, to read an old book over again, than[7] to read a new one for the first time.—LORD DUDLEY.

[1] ‘of books’, here +der Lektüre+.

[2] _A._ The verbs ‘=to be fond of=’ and ‘=to like=’ are often rendered by the auxiliary verb of mood ‘+=mögen=+’, either with or without the adverb ‘+gerne+’ or ‘+gern+’ (willingly), which is used to intensify its signification; as—

_I am_ very _fond of_ the German language.

+Ich ~mag~ die deutsche Sprache sehr ~gern~.+

_Are you fond of_ walking?

+~Mögen Sie gerne~ spazieren gehen?+

_I don’t like_ this child.

+~Ich mag~ dies Kind ~nicht~.+

_B._ But the adverb +=~gerne~=+ or +=~gern~=+ in itself denotes liking and fondness, and is therefore the general translation of the verbs ‘to be fond of’ or ‘to like’ when used with the infinitive of other verbs; as—

_I like_ to dance.

+Ich tanze ~gern~.+

_We are fond of_ confining ourselves to a few old books.

+Wir beschränken uns ~gern~ auf einige wenige alte Bücher.+

Construe the above clause accord. to the last example given.

[3] acquaintances = friends; I am desirous of becoming = I wish to become (App. § 19). The insertion of the adverb ‘+noch+’ before the comparative will greatly improve the rendering of this clause.

[4] to suspect = to believe.

[5] ‘nine times out of ten’ may be briefly rendered by the adverbial expression +meistenteils+, which place immediately after the subject of the subordinate clause.

[6] profitable, +nützlich+; ‘if — agreeable’, say ‘if not even (+gar+) more agreeable’; ‘over again’, here +noch einmal+.

[7] ‘than — time’, say ‘than to occupy oneself (+sich beschäftigen+) with a new _one_’. This periphrase is necessary to avoid a monotonous repetition in German.

_Section 21._

AN APPARENTLY INSIGNIFICANT FACT[1] OFTEN[2] LEADS TO GREAT RESULTS.

When Galvani[3] discovered that a frog’s leg[4] twitched when placed in contact with different metals, it[5] could scarcely have been imagined that so apparently insignificant a fact would ever lead (App. § 17) to important results. Yet therein lay the germ of[6] the Electric Telegraph, which[7] binds the intelligence of continents together, and probably before many years elapse will[8] “put[9] a girdle round the globe.”—S. SMILES.

[1] +Thatsache+, f.

[2] See S. 5, N. 2, and place the adverb after the verb; ‘result’, +Resultat+, n.

[3] +Luigi Galvani, italienischer Anatom, entdeckte 1780 den Galvanismus.+ ‘When — discovered’, say ‘When Galvani made the discovery’.

[4] ‘leg’, here +Schenkel+, m.; to twitch, +in Zuckungen geraten+; when placed = when (S. 18, N. 6) the same was (S. 2, N. 1) brought.

[5] it — imagined, +hätte man sich kaum vorstellen können+; ‘that so apparently ... a’, +daß eine scheinbar so+.

[6] +zum.+

[7] which — together, +welcher die Geister der Kontinente mit einander verbindet+; before — elapse = in a few years.

[8] See App. § 16.

[9] to put a girdle round the globe, +einen Gürtel rings um die Erde ziehen+. ‘+Rings um die Erde zieh’ ich einen Gürtel in viermal zehn Minuten.+’ +Puck, Sommernachtstraum.+

_Section 22._

OATS[1].

Oats are (S. 2, N. 1) chiefly used whole[2] as food for horses. Ground[3] into meal, they are used in some countries (especially in Scotland) for[4] making porridge and cakes. As[5] a plant, it is extremely hardy, and grows where neither wheat nor barley could[6] be made productive. For[7] this reason it is a favourite crop in mountainous countries and moist climates—for example in Scotland and Wales. It (S. 5, N. 2) also grows luxuriantly in Australia, Northern[8] and Central Asia, and in North America.—NELSON’S READERS.

[1] +Der Hafer+, which noun is never used in the plural.

[2] whole, +ungemahlen+; to use, +benutzen+; food for horses, +Pferdefutter+, n.

[3] Ground — meal, +zu Mehl vermahlen+; they — used = one uses (+gebrauchen+) it (m.). see S. 4, N. 4; ‘country’, here +Gegend+.

[4] for — cakes, +um Mehlsuppe und Kuchen daraus zu machen+.

[5] ‘As — hardy’, say ‘The plant is extremely hardy (+kräftig+)’.

[6] could — productive = would thrive.

[7] For — reason, +Daher+, adv., App. § 14. Render the pron. ‘it’ by ‘+der Hafer+’; a favourite crop, +das Hauptgetreide+.

[8] in +Nord- und Mittelasien+.

_Section 23._

SPRING-BLOSSOMS[1].

The blossoms of Spring are as brief[2] as _they are_ beautiful. For[3] _a_ short time they embellish the country, spreading[4], as it were, a bridal veil over every[5] tree and hedge. It seems, indeed[6], as if Nature had given them existence only to (S. 19, N. 7) show their worth, and then to destroy them. Yet[7] they are “fair pledges of a fruitful tree,” and teach us the solemn[8] lesson—that[9] everything lovely on earth is destined soon to perish, and[10] like them to glide into the grave.—REV. E. M. DAVIES.

[1] +Frühlingsblüten.+

[2] +vergänglich.+

[3] +Auf+; to embellish, +schmücken+.