Part 20
[21] at — notice = any moment.
[22] to make a movement in advance, +vor´rücken+.
[23] = extraordinary great.
[24] = and the sun shone down, etc.; ‘force’, here +Glut+, f.
[25] = Horses and men had had hard work (here +einen schweren Stand haben+).
[26] = to be found.
[27] +Staubwolken auf´treiben.+
[28] here +hin´dringen+.
[29] to fall in under arms, +unter Waffen treten+.
[30] = and held itself ready to march (+sich zum Abmarsch bereit halten+).
[31] to fall back, +sich zurück´ziehen+. See App. §§ 28 and 22. The auxiliary in this clause is best omitted to avoid its repetition, the next sentence containing the same.
[32] = after he (i.e. the enemy) had kept (+zurückhalten+, App. § 30) the troops the whole day at (+bei+) the great heat of the sun (comp. n. S. 76, N. 22; use +n+ as a connecting link, since fem. nouns ending in +e+ in olden times used to take +n+ as an inflection for the Gen., Dat., and Acc. Sing., as well as for the Pl.) in the field.
_Section 174._
THE BATTLE OF KASSASSIN.
II.
Ismailia[1], Tuesday, August 29, 3 o’clock in the morning.
Scarcely had the Cavalry unsaddled, and[2] horses and men begun to eat, when the[3] sound of artillery was heard (S. 4, N. 4, +man+) again at Kassassin, and by[4] the heavy _and_ continuous roar[5] it was evident[6] that this time the attack was[7] in earnest. Again the wearied men saddled their no less weary horses and[8] prepared to advance. The[9] sun was still beating down fiercely even at that late hour, and the hot withering[10] wind was raising[11] the sand clouds so high that it was impossible to see what was going[12] on, but through the dust and haze numerous[13] jets of smoke from the guns were visible.
The cannonade increased[14] in violence, and the Cavalry moved[15] away to the right, the[16] Artillery following them, and pressed[17] round towards the flank of the enemy’s Infantry. With[18] the movement of such masses of men and horses the dust rose over the whole scene thicker than ever, and it was impossible to obtain[19] more than a general idea of what was going on; while the sun set in[20] a red glare over the sandy plain.
The Cavalry pushed[21] still further to the right until[22] hidden from the enemy by some low sand hills, and[23] then goaded their weary horses into as fast a trot as the heavy sand and their weary condition would permit.
It was evident that it was the General’s intention to repeat the tactics of the previous fight, and that he meant[24] to get round the enemy’s rear. It was a striking proof of his confidence in[25] his troops that (S. 66, N. 15), with[26] tired horses and night approaching, he should attempt this manœuvre against an enemy of unknown strength and with[27] fresh horses. Against any other enemy it would have been rash[28], but the result proved that General Drury Lowe did not over-estimate the fighting powers[29] of his men.
[1] Ismailia, then the head quarters of Sir Garnet Wolseley, is 21 miles east of Kassassin, on the Suez Canal. In the morning, +morgens+.
[2] and = and scarcely had; ‘men’, here +Reiter+; to begin to eat, +mit dem Essen an´fangen+.
[3] the — artillery, +Artilleriesalven+.
[4] = through, +durch+; heavy = loud.
[5] +Kanonendonner+, m.
[6] = clear.
[7] = was meant in earnest (+ernstlich+, adv.). See App. § 17.
[8] +und rüsteten sich zum Vorrücken+.
[9] Say ‘Even at (+zu+) this late hour the sun sent down burning rays’, and insert the adv. +noch+ before ‘burning’.
[10] +versengend.+
[11] +treiben.+
[12] to go on, +vor´gehen+.
[13] numerous — guns, +zahlreiche aus den Kanonen aufsteigende Rauchsäulen+.
[14] = became more and more violent (+immer+ with the comparative form of the adj.).
[15] to move away, +ab´reiten+; to the right, +nach rechts+.
[16] = whilst the A. followed them (+ihr+, to agree with +Kavallerie+ in the fem. Sing.)
[17] ‘to press round’, here +seitwärts vor´dringen+; towards, +auf+; ‘of — infantry’ may be briefly expressed by ‘of the hostile Infantry’.
[18] With — horses, +Durch die massenhafte Truppenbewegung+.
[19] ‘to obtain’, here +sich ... machen+; of what was going on, +von dem Verlaufe des Gefechts+, which place after the pron. +sich+.
[20] in — glare, +mit blendend rotem Glanze+, which place before the verb, which stands?
[21] +vor´dringen.+
[22] until — enemy, +bis dieselbe den Blicken des Feindes ... entzogen war+.
[23] Render ‘and — permit’ freely, and say ‘+und spornten dann ihre ermüdeten Pferde zum möglichst schnellen Trabe an+’.
[24] +gedenken+; to — rear, +dem Feinde in den Rücken zu fallen+. The Impf. of the verb +gedenken+ stands, of course, after +fallen+, accord. to App. § 19.
[25] +welches er zu seinen Truppen hegte.+
[26] = in spite of the tired horses and the approaching (+heran´nahen+) night.
[27] = in the possession of fresh horses.
[28] +unbesonnen+, i.e. imprudent.
[29] fighting powers, +Stärke+, f.; ‘men’, here = troops.
_Section 175._
THE BATTLE OF KASSASSIN.
III.
Soon[1] darkness came down rapidly upon us. The rattle and roar of[2] combat on[3] our left never ceased, and it was evident that the two thousand Infantry[4] at Kassassin were hard pressed. Presently[5] the moonlight streamed palely over the grey sand, but the clouds of dust obscured[6] the advancing horsemen, who sometimes trotted, sometimes[7] walked.
By about seven o’clock we had got in the rear of the firing[8], and[9] wheeled in that direction, advancing[10] very slowly to[11] allow the Artillery to[12] come up. We could see the flashes of[13] the enemy’s artillery _gleam_ on the horizon like the flicker of incessant summer lightning[14].
We slowly drew[15] nearer to the scene of conflict. It was almost dark[16], but, unfortunately, we showed up[17] a black mass against the bright moonlit sky and ground[18], and[19] the sudden rush of shell through the air, followed[20] by an explosion far in our rear, showed that the enemy had at last discovered us. They[21] were about fifteen hundred yards[22] away, and[23] we saw nine flashes, one after another, at short intervals, spurt out, no[24] longer like sheet lightning, but in angry jets of flame. Almost simultaneously the sky above us seemed to[24] be torn in pieces as by (= through) a mighty hurricane. Shells screamed[25] and burst[26], and shrapnel bullets[27] tore up the sand on either side of us.
The brigade now moved[28] to the right to[29] disconcert their aim, and the next salvo of shell missed us. We moved quickly forward, and the gunners again saw us, and the shells burst over and around. Yet, strangely[30], but few were hit, though it seemed as if the storm[31] would mow men and horses down by squadrons[32].
[1] = Soon after (+darauf+) the darkness (+Dunkel+, n.) of the night descended (+hernie´dersteigen+) rapidly upon us.
[2] = of the.
[3] +zu.+
[4] +Infanteristen.+
[5] = Now streamed the pale moonlight, etc.
[6] = concealed; horsemen, +Reiterei+, f. Sing.
[7] +zuweilen auch im Schritt dahinritt.+
[8] = enemy; got = arrived.
[9] +und schwenkten der Richtung zu, aus der das Schießen kam.+
[10] = advanced (+vor´wärtsreiten+) however only very slowly.
[11] to allow = to (S. 19, N. 7) give time to.
[12] Inf. +heran´kommen+.
[13] = of the hostile artillery.
[14] = sheet lightning, +Wetterleuchten+, n.
[15] to draw near, +sich nähern+.
[16] The fact of its being dark soon after seven at the end of August is explained when we remember that there is no twilight in Egypt.
[17] = we formed.
[18] +Erdboden+, m.
[19] +und das Sausen einer plötzlich die Luft durchfliegenden Bombe.+
[20] = which exploded far behind us.
[21] = He (the enemy).
[22] = steps, +Schritte+; away, +von uns entfernt+.
[23] Arrange this sentence literally thus: and now saw we nine at (+in+) short intervals one another (+einander+) following cannon-shots (+Kanonenschüsse+) spurt out (+hervor´blitzen+).
[24] +welche nicht mehr dem Wetterleuchten, sondern verzehrenden Feuerströmen glichen+; to — pieces, +zu zerreißen+.
[25] +sausen.+
[26] +platzen ... in der Luft.+
[27] +Granaten.+
[28] +ab´schwenken.+
[29] +um dem Ziele des Feindes aus dem Wege zu gehen.+
[30] +sonderbarerweise.+
[31] +der Kugelregen.+
[32] men and horses by squadrons = whole squadrons of (+von+) men (+Menschen+) and horses.—To mow down, +hernie´dermähen+.
_Section 176._
THE BATTLE OF KASSASSIN.
IV.
Now[1] tiny flashes, with the sharp ping of bullets, told that the enemy’s Infantry were also at work, whilst[2] a horse here and a man there dropped[3] in the ranks.
The battery having (S. 30, N. 4) by this time come up, the Cavalry moved[4] to the right, in order to[5] allow them to come into action, and _in a_ few seconds, after taking up their ground, our guns spoke[6] out their answer to the enemy’s fire.
The Cavalry now advanced[7] from the left, the[8] 7th Dragoons leading. Under[9] cover of these the Life Guards formed for a charge, and[10] by word of command the Dragoons opened[11] right and left to allow them to pass. Already Herbert Stewart, General Drury Lowe’s brigade-major, had passed[12] down the line the word: “The Cavalry are to charge the guns!” Sir Baker Russell was in front (= at the head), and shouted: “Now we have them. Charge!”
Away[13] went the long line, disappearing[14] almost instantly in the darkness and dust, and _away_ behind them went[15] the 7th Dragoons, keeping[16] (S. 16, N. 4) on either flank of the Guards.
We[17], remaining in the rear, had the full benefit of the storm and shot which was to greet the advancing horsemen (+Reiterei+, f.) and of whom from (S. 102, N. 4) this moment we saw no more till the battle was over; _and_ only (S. 109, N. 5) then we learned[18] what they had done.
Led by Baker Russell, they charged[19] straight at the guns, sabring[20] the gunners as they passed, and[21] dashing into and cutting down the flying Infantry beyond them. Russell’s horse was shot under him, but he seized another and kept with[22] his men.
The battle was ended[23] at a stroke, and a scene of wild confusion ensued[24]; some guns were[25] still firing, bodies[26] of Infantry still kept up a fusillade, and numerous bodies[27] of horses and men dotted the moonlit plain.
Being now separated altogether from the Cavalry, with[28] the enemy intervening between us, myself and two companions endeavoured to find our[29] way round to Kassassin. It was an adventurous ride, for several shells burst near us, but before we reached the camp, the conflict was at an end.
[1] = At (+In+) this moment (App. § 14) flashes of lightning (+kleine Blitze+) and the sharp ping (+Knallen+, n.) of bullets betrayed that also the hostile Infantry were (= was) engaged in the attack (+beim Angriff beteiligt sein+).
[2] Place ‘here’ after ‘whilst’, and ‘there’ after ‘and’.
[3] +zu Boden fallen.+
[4] ‘to move’, here +ab´ziehen+, sep. comp. irreg. v.
[5] = in order to allow (+gestatten+) the same (to agree with ‘battery’) to begin the combat.
[6] spoke out their answer to = answered (+erwiedern+), v. tr.
[7] +vor´rücken.+
[8] = and (+und zwar+) the 7th Regiment of Dr. at (+an+) the head (+Spitze+, f.).
[9] = Under their (+dessen+) cover (+Schutz+, m.) formed the Life Guards (+die Gardekürassiere+) a line of attack (+eine Angriffslinie+).
[10] = and upon a given command.
[11] = opened ... the ranks (+Reihen+).
[12] to pass the word, +den Befehl ergehen lassen+; down = all along, +längs+.
[13] +Die lange Linie sprengte davon.+
[14] = and disappeared.
[15] away ... went = followed.
[16] to keep, +sich halten+; on, zu, either flank = both flanks.
[17] = Since we remained (+zurück´bleiben+) behind all, (+so+) we had the full effect of the shower of shot (+Kugelregen+, m.)
[18] = heard.
[19] to charge straight at the guns, +die feindliche Artillerie sogleich an´greifen+.
[20] = sabred down; as they passed, +auf ihrem Zuge+.
[21] = and dashed (+sprengen+) into the ranks of the flying Infantry behind the same, which they (+sie+, f. Sing. to agree with +die Reiterei+) cut down (+nie´dermetzeln+).
[22] +bei+; men = regiment.
[23] = with one stroke (+Schlag+, m.) at an end (+zu Ende+).
[24] = followed.
[25] = thundered still.
[26] +einzelne Teile.+
[27] bodies — plain = and numerous bodies (+Haufen+) _of_ Cavalry were still here and there upon the moonlit plain visible.
[28] = and the enemy stood between us. (The verb must stand last, since also this clause is a depending one, co-ordinated to the preceding clause by the conjunction ‘and’.)
[29] our way round, +einen Weg seitwärts+.
_Section 177._
THE BATTLE OF KASSASSIN.
V.
The Infantry there[1] had indeed had a hot time of it[2]. Hundreds of shells had (S. 29, N. 3) burst in the confined[3] space, and the shelter trenches[4] afforded but _an_ insufficient protection. On the left of the position[5], next to the Canal, were[6] the Marine Artillery, then came the 46th, and next[7] to them the 84th[8], the[9] slight earthworks sweeping round again in a semi-circle almost to the Canal. The Mounted[10] Infantry were in front under Captain Pigott, who[11] has received a wound, having been shot through the thigh.
The Egyptians came on with great bravery, _and_ in spite of the[12] heavy like of our men[13], were rapidly gaining ground, and would soon have rushed[14] into the entrenchments, when the roar of our guns on[15] their left rear, followed[16] by the rush of our Cavalry, proved[17] too much for them, and from (S. 102, N. 4) that moment they thought only of flight.
Our casualties are surprisingly[18] small considering[19] the fire to which our men were exposed. Lieutenant Edwards, of the Mounted Infantry, was[20] shot in the arm, Surgeon-Major[21] Shaw, of the 46th, was[22] killed, and _some_ ten or a dozen men, but, fortunately, the Remington bullet wounds rather than kills; the hospital was crowded[23] with wounded men.
About 10 o’clock the Cavalry came in[24] in high spirits over their brilliant achievement. Many, of course, are missing in the darkness, but will, no doubt, turn up[25] in the morning. Upon their[26] return from the pursuit they[27] were unable to find the guns over which they had charged, but these[28] will doubtless be discovered at sunrise. After learning from them[29] the events[30] of the charge, I[31] started to ride here to get off[32] my despatches,—a[33] distance of twenty-four miles. This solitary ride over the dismal desert by moonlight was not[34] the least exciting part of an exciting day.
Late[35] as it was, I found at (+auf+) the different posts the men[36] busy at work entrenching, and met troops also on[37] their march to reinforce those at the front.
The enemy’s force[38] _engaged_ was estimated at 13,000. The Egyptians fought well until our Cavalry and guns took[39] them in the rear, and, had[40] it not been for the gallantry of the defenders of Kassassin, would[41] have carried the position before our reinforcements came upon the scene.
At[42] the time I left, the losses were unknown, but were[43] supposed to be about twenty killed and a hundred wounded.
As[44] I am writing, Sir Garnet Wolseley and[45] the entire army are marching to the front.—THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON “STANDARD.”
[1] there, +dortig+, which is an attributive adj., to be placed before the noun ‘Infantry’.
[2] to have a hot time of it, +einen schweren Stand haben+.
[3] = narrow.
[4] +die Schanzgräben+.
[5] = camp.
[6] = stood.
[7] next to them = finally.
[8] Supply ‘regiment’.
[9] = whilst the insignificant entrenchments (+Verschanzungen+) swept round in a semi-circle almost to (+bis zu+) the canal. ‘To sweep round,’ here +sich hin´schlängeln+, of which the pron. +sich+ must be placed immediately after the subject, and the verb?
[10] +beritten+, adj.
[11] = who was wounded (S. 2, N. 1) and had received a shot through the thigh.
[12] Nom. +das lebhafte Schießen+.
[13] = troops; were rapidly gaining ground = advanced rapidly (+schnell vor´wärtsrücken+), sep. comp. w. v. intr. Where must you place the verb? and where the separable particle?
[14] to rush into the entrenchments, +in die Schanzwerke dringen+ (str. v.).
[15] on — rear, +an ihrer linken Flanke+.
[16] +und der darauf folgende un´erwartete Angriff unserer Kavallerie.+
[17] = had not terrified them (+einen in Schrecken jagen+).
[18] = extraordinarily.
[19] = if one considers (+bedenken+), that our troops were exposed to a really murderous fire.
[20] = is wounded; in, +an+, contracted with the Dat. of the def. art.
[21] +Stabsarzt.+
[22] was — kills = and ten or a dozen (+zehn bis zwölf+) men (= privates, +Gemeine+) are killed, but fortunately the Remington bullet (+Kugel+, f.) is but (+nur+) rarely fatal (+ist ... von tödlicher Wirkung+).
[23] = quite full of. The wounded man, +der Verwundete+.
[24] = returned; in high spirits, +höchst erfreut+.
[25] to turn up, +sich wieder ein´stellen+; ‘in the morning’, here +morgen früh+.
[26] = the; from their pursuit, +von ihrer Verfolgung+.
[27] Literally = could the Cavalry the cannons, which they had conquered, not find again (+wiederfinden+).
[28] = the same.
[29] = the horsemen (+Kavalleristen+).
[30] = details, +Einzelheiten+.
[31] +ritt ich nach hier ab.+
[32] = send off.
[33] Commence a new period here, and say: ‘The distance from Kassassin to here [Ismailia] is (+beträgt+) 24 miles’.
[34] = by no means, +keineswegs+, adv.
[35] = Notwithstanding the late hour.
[36] +Mannschaften.+
[37] on their march, +welche auf dem Marsch begriffen waren+.
[38] +Streitkräfte+, pl.; was = were; at 13,000, +an 13,000 Mann+.
[39] = attacked.
[40] +hätten die Verteidiger von Kassassin nicht eine solche Tapferkeit bewiesen, so+, etc.
[41] = the enemy would.
[42] = When I rode away.
[43] = were estimated at (+auf+) about, etc.
[44] = Whilst.
[45] = with.
_Section 178._
HOW THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON WAS DECEIVED.
“I (S. 115, N. 1) got famously taken in[1] on that occasion,” said the Duke of Wellington once. “The troops had[2] taken to plundering a good deal. It was necessary to[3] stop it, and I issued an order announcing[4] that the[5] first man taken in the act should be hanged upon the spot. One day, just as we were sitting[6] down to dinner, three men[7] were brought to the door of the tent by the provost. They had been taken in[8] the act of plundering, and I had nothing for it[9] but to command that they (S. 4, N. 4, +man+) should be taken away and hanged in some place where they might be seen by the whole column in its march next day. I had _a good_ many guests with[10] me on that day, and among the rest, I think, Lord Nugent. They[11] seemed dreadfully shocked, and could not eat _their dinner_. I did not eat myself, but, as I told them, I could not indulge my feelings[12]; I must do my duty. Well[13], the dinner went off rather gravely; and next morning, sure enough[14], three men in uniform were seen hanging (S. 78, N. 14, _B_) from the branches of a tree close to the high road. It was a terrible example, which produced[15] the desired effect, for there was no more plundering. Some months afterwards I learned that one of my staff[16] had taken counsel with Dr. Hume, and as three men had (S. 29, N. 3) just died in the hospital, they had hung them[17] up and let the three culprits return to their regiments.”
“Were you not very angry, Duke[18]?”
“Well[19], I suppose I was at first; but[20] as I had no wish to take the poor fellows’ lives and only wanted the example, and as the example had the desired effect (S. 27, N. 8), my anger soon died out[21], and I confess to you that[22] I am very glad now that the three lives were spared.”—HISTORICAL ANECDOTES.
[1] to be famously taken in, +gehörig angeführt werden+; once, +eines Tages+.
[2] = had begun to plunder; a good deal, +tüchtig+.
[3] to — it = to make an end of this nuisance, +diesem Unwesen ein Ende zu machen+.
[4] announcing that = according to which, +wonach+.
[5] the — act = the first man (+der erste+) whom one would take in the act. To take a person in the act, +einen auf frischer That ertappen+.
[6] to sit down to dinner, +sich zu Tische setzen+.
[7] +Leute.+
[8] in — plundering, +beim Plündern+.
[9] He has nothing for it, +es bleibt ihm nichts anderes übrig+; but, +als+; in, +an+; might = could, Impf. Subj.; column = army; in its march, +vorbeimarschierend+, adj. qualifying ‘army’.
[10] +bei+; place ‘I think’ after ‘and’; among the rest = among others.
[11] = These seemed to be very much shocked (+ergriffen+) at (+von+) the occurrence.
[12] to indulge one’s feelings, +seinen Gefühlen freien Lauf lassen+.
[13] +Gut+; went — gravely, +ging ein wenig ernsthaft vonstatten+.
[14] +auch wirklich+, which place after the subject, and construe the sentence in the Active Voice with the pron. man; men = soldiers.
[15] = had. There was no more talking, +es wurde nicht mehr gesprochen+.
[16] = one of my staff-officers (+Stabsoffiziere+); to take counsel in a matter with a friend, +eine Sache mit einem Freunde besprechen+.
[17] = these; culprits = condemned men (+der Verurteilte+, Nom. Sing.).
[18] +Waren Eure (Ew.) Hoheit nicht sehr erzürnt darüber?+
[19] +Nun ja, anfangs vielleicht war ich’s.+
[20] = however (+aber+), since I did not wish (+wollen+) the death of the poor fellows, but (+sondern+) only the example (Here follows the verb).
[21] ‘to die out’, here +ersterben+, insep. comp. str. v.
[22] To avoid a repetition of subordinate clauses, say: ‘that I am very glad (+froh+) now at (+über+) the preservation (+Rettung+) of the 3 men (+Leute+).
_Section 179._
A LETTER FROM DR. HENRY DANSON TO[1] MR. JOHN FORSTER, ON[2] CHARLES DICKENS’S[3] SCHOOL-LIFE.
I.
My impression is[4] that I was a schoolfellow of Dickens for nearly two years. He left[5] before me, I think about fifteen years of age. The school, called (S. 7, N. 3, _B_) _the_ Wellington Academy, was in _the_ Hampstead Road at the north-east corner of Granby Street. The school-house was afterwards taken down[6] on account of the London and North-Western Railway. It was considered at the time[7] a very superior sort of school, one of the best indeed[8] in that part of London; but it was most shamefully mismanaged[9], and the boys[10] made but very little progress. The proprietor, Mr. Jones, was a Welshman[11]; a most[12] ignorant fellow, and a mere tyrant, whose chief employment was[13] to scourge the boys. Dickens has[14] given a very lively account of this place in his paper _entitled_ “Our School,” but it is very mythical in many respects, and[15] more especially in the compliment he pays in it to himself. I do not remember that Dickens distinguished himself in any way[16], or carried off _any_ prizes. My belief is[17] that he did not learn Greek or Latin there, and you will remember[18] there is no allusion to the classics in _any of_ his writings. He was a handsome, curly-headed lad[19], full of animation and animal spirits, and[20] probably was connected with every mischievous prank in the school.
[1] +an.+
[2] +über.+