Part 22
“They have—they have[17]!” exclaimed Rebecca—“and they press[18] the besieged hard upon the outer wall; some plant ladders[19], some swarm like bees (S. 3, N. 2) and endeavour to ascend upon the shoulders of each other[20]—down go[21] stones, beams, and trunks of trees upon their heads, and as fast as they bear the wounded to the rear[22], fresh men[23] supply their places in the assault.—Great God, hast thou given men thine own image[24], that (S. 183, N. 6) it should be thus cruelly defaced[25] by[26] the hands of their brethren?”
[1] = for the sake of (+um ... willen+) the holy Virgin.
[2] +mit schwacher Stimme.+
[3] then — eagerness = but cried immediately (+gleich darauf+) with joyful surprise.
[4] +Doch.+
[5] +gepriesen.+
[6] to be on foot, +auf den Beinen sein+.
[7] as — arm = as if (+als ob+) his arm possessed (Impf. Subj. App. § 33) the strength of 20 men.
[8] to snatch a thing from a person, +einem etwas entrei´ßen+, insep. comp. str. v. tr.; a yeoman, ein +Freisasse+, m. Comp. App. § 5; ‘axe’, here = battle-axe, +Streitaxt+, f.
[9] ‘to press’, here +weiter zurück´drängen+, sep. comp. w. v. tr.; with blow on blow, +mit jedem Schlage+.
[10] = wood-cutter.
[11] +Leute.+
[12] He rushed to my rescue, +er eilte mir zu Hülfe+.
[13] +Der Tempelherr war Brian de Bois-Guilbert.+ Comp. S. 183, N. 1.
[14] = hero; to pause = to stop fighting, +mit dem Fechten in´nezuhalten+.
[15] ‘within the walls’ may be briefly rendered by +hinein+.
[16] = taken, +ein´nehmen+, sep. comp. irreg. v. tr.; turn ‘barriers’ by +Verschanzungen+; have they not? +nicht wahr?+
[17] +Ja—ja!+
[18] here +bedrängen+; hard, +heftig+; upon, +auf+, with Dat.
[19] to plant ladders, +Leitern an die Mauer stellen+.
[20] = of the others.
[21] down go, +es werden ... herniedergeworfen+. Comp. S. 104, N. 19.
[22] and — rear = and as soon as (+so wie+) the wounded are carried away (+hinweg´tragen+). Comp. S. 2, N. 1.
[23] = other combatants (+Streiter+). He supplied my place in the assault of the castle, +er nahm meine Stelle bei der Erstürmung des Schlosses wieder ein+.
[24] Say ‘hast thou created men (S. 134, N. 9) after thy own image (+Bild+, n.)’.
[25] +entstellen+, insep. comp. w. v.; Use the Pres. Subj. of the Passive voice, and comp. App. §§ 29 and 35.
[26] =by= = =through=, +=durch=+; the hands = the hand.
_Section 186._
REBECCA DESCRIBES THE SIEGE OF TORQUILSTONE TO THE WOUNDED IVANHOE.
IV.
“Think not of that (S. 4, N. 5, _B_),” said Ivanhoe; “this is[1] no time for such thoughts. Who yield? Who push their way[2]?”
“The ladders are thrown down,” replied Rebecca shuddering; “the soldiers lie grovelling[3] under them like crushed reptiles. The besieged have the better[4].”
“Saint George, strike[5] for us!” exclaimed the Knight; “do the false yeomen give way[6]?”
“No!” exclaimed Rebecca, “they bear[7] themselves right yeomanly—the Black Knight approaches the postern with his huge axe—the thundering blows which he deals[8] you may[9] hear _them_ above all the din[10] and shouts of the battle.—Stones and beams are hailed down[11] on the bold champion—he regards them no more than if they were[12] thistle-down[13] or feathers!”
“By Saint George,” said Ivanhoe, raising (S. 111, N. 6) himself joyfully on his couch, “methought[14] there was (S. 82, N. 7, and App. § 33) but one man in England that[15] might do such a deed!”
“The postern gate shakes[16],” continued Rebecca; “it crashes—it is splintered by[17] his blows—they rush in—the outwork is won[18].—O God, they hurl the defenders from the battlements—they throw them into the moat.—O men, if ye[19] be indeed men, spare them that can resist no longer!”
“The bridge—the bridge which communicates with the castle—have they won[20] that pass?” exclaimed Ivanhoe.
“No,” replied Rebecca, “the Templar has destroyed the plank on which they crossed[21]—few[22] of the defenders escaped with him into the castle—the shrieks and cries[23] which you hear tell the fate of the others.—Alas! I see it is still more difficult to look upon[24] victory (S. 3, N. 2) than upon battle.”—SIR WALTER SCOTT, “IVANHOE.”
[1] = we have; for, +zu+.
[2] to push one’s way, +vorwärts dringen+.
[3] +auf dem Bauche.+
[4] to have the better, +die Oberhand haben+.
[5] = fight.
[6] +zurück´weichen.+
[7] ‘to bear oneself’, here +sich halten+; right yeomanly = like true (+echt+) yeomen.
[8] to deal blows, +Streiche führen+.
[9] = can; See S. 92, N. 5 and App. § 14; above, +über ... hinaus+.
[10] +Getöse+, n.
[11] = thrown down.
[12] than — were = than he would regard (+beachten+).
[13] +Distelwolle.+
[14] = I thought; see S. 64, N. 11; but = only.
[15] +der einer solchen That fähig wäre!+
[16] +wackeln.+
[17] +von.+
[18] = taken, +ein´nehmen+, sep. comp. irreg. v. tr.
[19] +ihr+; to spare a man, +~eines~ Menschen schonen+; render ‘them’ by the Gen. of the demonstr. pron.; that — longer = who can defend themselves no longer.
[20] +erkämpft+; that pass, +diesen Durchgang+.
[21] to cross on a plank, +über eine Planke schreiten+.
[22] = only few; escaped = have escaped (+entkom´men+, insep. comp. irreg. v., S. 29, N. 3).
[23] +das laute Schreien und Klagen+; you = thou; tell, +verrät+.
[24] ‘to look upon a thing’, here +etwas mit an´sehen+, v. tr.
_Section 187._
THE FAVOURITE HARES[1].
I.
In the year 1774, being (S. 55, N. 1) much indisposed both in mind and body[2], incapable of diverting myself either[3] with company or books, and yet in a condition[4] that made some diversion necessary[5], I was glad of anything that would engage my attention[6], without fatiguing it.
The children of a neighbour of mine had a leveret given them for a play-thing[7]; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and soon becoming weary of their charge[8], they readily consented[9] that their father, who saw it pining[10] and growing leaner every day, should offer[11] it to my acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prisoner under my protection, perceiving that (S. 66, N. 15), in the management[12] of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I should find just that sort of employment which my case required[13]. It was soon known among the neighbours that I was pleased[14] with the present, and the consequence of it was, that[15] in a short time I had as many leverets offered to me as would have stocked a paddock[16]. I undertook the care[17] of three, which it is necessary that I should here distinguish by the names I gave them[18]: Puss, Tiny, and Bess. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives, I must inform[19] you they were all males.
[1] +Die in dieser und den drei darauf folgenden Abschnitten gegebene interessante Erzählung ist den Schriften des wohlbekannten englischen Dichters und Schriftstellers William Cowper entnommen, welcher am 26. November 1731 im Pfarrhause von Great Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire geboren wurde und am 25. April 1780 starb. Seine beste Schöpfung ist unstreitig die von ihm mit dem Titel+: ‘The Task’ +benannte Dichtung, durch welche er seinen Ruf als Dichter begründete, und welche von keinem seiner späteren Werke übertroffen wurde.+
[2] to be much indisposed both in mind and body, +sowohl geistig als auch körperlich zerrüttet sein+.
[3] incapable — either = and could neither divert myself (+sich zerstreuen+); with, +durch+, which repeat before books; or = nor.
[4] +mich aber dabei so befand+.
[5] that — necessary = that some diversion was necessary.
[6] I shall be glad of anything that will engage my attention, +ich werde gern alles ergreifen, was meine Aufmerksamkeit fesseln kann+.
[7] +zum Spielen+, which place after the auxiliary ‘had’; given them, +geschenkt erhalten+.
[8] to become weary of one’s charge, +seines Schützlings überdrüssig werden+.
[9] I readily consented, +ich hatte nichts dagegen+.
[10] +sich ab´zehren+.
[11] should offer = offered it. We offered it to his acceptance, +wir boten es ihm zum Geschenk an+.
[12] = treatment.
[13] I hope he will find just that sort of employment which his case requires, +ich hoffe, er wird gerade die für seinen Zustand passende Beschäftigung finden+.
[14] My father will be greatly pleased with the picture, +das Bild wird meinem Vater große Freude machen+.
[15] Read App. § 21. In order to avoid a repetition of the conjunction +daß+, it is advisable to construe the clause ‘that — me’ = there were (+es wurden+, S. 104, N. 19) offered to me in _a_ short time so many leverets. ‘To offer’, here +zum Geschenk anbieten+.
[16] as — paddock, +daß ich einen Wildpark damit hätte ausrüsten können+.
[17] +Pflege.+
[18] which — them = the names of which I must mention (+an´führen+) here, in order to distinguish them from one another; I called them.
[19] +bemerken+; you = to the reader; they = the little animals (for which use the diminutive).
_Section 188._
THE FAVOURITE HARES.
II.
Immediately commencing carpenter, I built[1] them houses to sleep in. Each leveret had a separate apartment, so contrived[2] that it could be kept perfectly sweet and clean[3]. In the daytime[4] the animals had the range[5] of the hall, and at night[6] retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another[7].
Puss grew presently familiar, would leap[8] into my lap, raise himself[9] upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer[10] me to take him up, and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep upon my knees. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that[11] they might not molest him (for, like many other wild animals, they persecute[12] one of their own species that is sick), and by constant care[13], and with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect health[14]. No creature could be more grateful than (S. 104, N. 19) my patient after his recovery, a sentiment which he most significantly expressed by licking[15] my hand, first the back of it[16], then the palm, then every finger separately[17], then[18] between all _the_ fingers, as if (S. 27, N. 7) anxious to leave no part of it unsaluted; a ceremony[19] which he _never_ performed but once again[20] upon a similar occasion.
[1] I became at once _a_ carpenter and made, etc.
[2] +ein´richten+; see S. 7, N. 3, _B_.
[3] +rein und sauber.+
[4] +Des Tages.+
[5] We had the range of the whole house, +wir konnten im ganzen Hause umher´laufen+.
[6] +des Nachts.+
[7] never — other = and none ever (+je+) went (+sich begeben+) into the bed of another.
[8] would leap = leapt. Comp. S. 101, N. 22.
[9] = placed himself.
[10] = He allowed (+gestatten+) me; has fallen = fell; to fall asleep, +ein´schlafen+.
[11] = in order that, +damit+; might = could.
[12] = torment, +quälen+; one — sick = the sick _ones_ of their own species (+Gattung+, f.).
[13] = nursing, +Pflege+, f.; with a variety = various.
[14] He restored me to perfect health, +er stellte meine Gesundheit ganz wieder her+.
[15] +durch das Belecken.+
[16] +und zwar beleckte er zuerst den Rücken derselben.+
[17] = singly, adj., to be placed before ‘finger’.
[18] = and finally he licked even, +beleckte er mich auch+.
[19] here +Förmlichkeit+, f.
[20] but once again, +nur noch einmal+; upon, +bei+.
_Section 189._
THE FAVOURITE HARES.
III.
Finding him extremely tractable, I made it my[1] custom to carry him always after breakfast into the garden, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of a vine, sleeping[2] or chewing the cud till evening; in the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast[3]. I had not long habituated him to _this taste of_ liberty, before[4] he began to be impatient for the return of the time[5] when he might enjoy it[6]. He would invite me to the garden[7] by drumming (S. 111, N. 6) upon my knee, and by (S. 185, N. 26) a look of such expression[8] as it was not possible to misinterpret. If the[9] rhetoric did not immediately succeed, he would take the skirt of my coat (S. 36, N. 7, _A_) between his teeth, and pull it with all _his_ force[10]. Thus Puss might be said to be perfectly tamed[11]; the shyness of his nature was done away[12], and, on the whole[13], it was visible by many symptoms, which I have not room to enumerate[14], that he was happier in human society than when (S. 27, N. 7) shut up with[15] his natural companions.
Not so Tiny; upon him the kindest[16] treatment had not the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an equal share of my attention[17]; but when, after his recovery, I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike with his fore feet, spring forward, and bite[18]. He was, however[19], entertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth[20], and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity[21], and performed his feats with such solemnity of manner[22], that in (+an+) him too I had an agreeable companion.
[1] +zur.+
[2] Use this and the following verb in the Imperfect, preceded by ‘and’; to chew the cud, +sein Futter wiederkäuen+.
[3] in — repast, +auch aß er die Blätter des Weinstocks besonders gern+.
[4] = when; insert the adv. +schon+ after ‘he’.
[5] to — time = to long impatiently for the time.
[6] when — it = when (S. 131, N. 4) he could again enjoy this liberty.
[7] = to come into the garden with him.
[8] Render ‘of such expression’ by the adj. ‘expressive’; as = that, followed by +man+ and the active form of the verb.
[9] = his; and construe according to the following example: He will never succeed, +er wird nie seinen Zweck erreichen+.
[10] Supply the adv. ‘forward’ after this noun.
[11] Say ‘And so (+somit+) I may (+dürfen+) perhaps (+wohl+) say of “Puss” that he was quite tamed’.
[12] = his natural shyness was conquered.
[13] +überhaupt+; visible = clear.
[14] = which (S. 66, N. 15) on account of want of (+an+) room I cannot enumerate here.
[15] ‘to be shut up’, here +sich ausschließlich befinden+; with, +bei+.
[16] +liebreich+.
[17] in — attention = and during his sickness I nursed him with equal (+gleich+) attention.
[18] Supply ‘at (+nach+) me’ here.
[19] Supply ‘also’ here; in, +auf+.
[20] = amusing.
[21] = such a grave air (+Miene+, f.).
[22] = solemn dignity.
_Section 190._
THE FAVOURITE HARES.
IV.
Bess, who died soon after he was full grown[1], and whose death was occasioned by his being turned (S. 161, N. 21, and S. 87, N. 6) into his box, which had been washed, while it was yet damp[2], was a hare of great humour and drollery[3]. Puss was tamed by gentle usage; Tiny was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a[4] courage and confidence that made him tame from the beginning[5]. I always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when (S. 131, N. 4), the[6] carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk, _and_ bound, and play _a_ thousand gambols, in[7] which Bess, being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superior to the rest. One evening, the cat being in the room, it had the hardiness to pat Bess upon the cheek, an indignity which[8] he resented by drumming upon her (S. 43, N. 9, _B_) back with such violence that the cat was happy to escape from _under_ his paws, and[9] hide herself.
I describe the animals as having had each a character of his own[10]. Such they were in fact[11], and their countenances were so expressive of that character, that, when I looked only on the face of either, I immediately knew which it was[12].—WILLIAM COWPER, “THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE, 1784.”
[1] +völlig ausgewachsen sein.+
[2] which — damp = which after having been washed (+nach der Reinigung+) was yet damp.
[3] = was a very facetious _and_ droll hare.
[4] = so much.
[5] = that he became tame from the very (+gleich im+) beginning.
[6] Place the clause ‘the — hold’ after ‘they — gambols’: To play gambols, +possierliche Luftsprünge machen+.
[7] in which = in (+bei+) which games.
[8] an indignity which = which offence.
[9] Say ‘and to be able to hide herself’.
[10] as — own = as if each of the same had had (Pluperf. Subj.) his own character.
[11] = That was however (+aber auch+) really the case.
[12] that — was = that from (+aus+) the face of each I could at once distinguish (+erkennen+) who it (= he) was.
_Section 191._
PRINCE BISMARCK’S HOME[1].
After crossing the threshold I found myself in a small, plain apartment—the reception-room—in the centre of which stands a simple little polished table with four legs. This is a relic of historical significance. A brass plate let into the square top[2] bears _the_ following inscription: “At this table the preliminaries of peace between Germany and France were signed, February 26th, 1871, at Versailles, No. 14 Rue de Provence.” In the centre of the table is[3] a round piece _of_ green cloth, and on it are visible a number of spots[4] caused by (S. 185, N. 26) the drippings[5] from the candles used on the momentous occasion of the negotiations between the Chancellor and Jules Favre[6]. The table was the property of the lady in whose house the Chancellor was quartered[7], and of whom he bought it. In the same room stands a gigantic wardrobe richly sculptured[8], and a second wardrobe (S. 5, N. 2), according to Castellan (S. 10, N. 2) Hackmack’s explanation, was made from[9] the wood of a linden tree, in the shade of which Prince Bismarck, when a[10] merry student at Göttingen, had frequently reposed. The adjoining room is the Prince’s study. A bookcase contains a small library[11] for immediate use and for reference, among its books being a French account of[12] the peace negotiations of 1871. The writing-desk occupies the centre of the room. A polished fire-screen, highly[13] ornamented and of Asiatic origin, is a present from the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. On the mantel-piece stands a bronze statuette, about three feet high, representing the Grand Elector—a present from the Emperor. A slip of paper attached to the Marshal’s baton in the Elector’s outstretched hand, bears the Imperial autograph[14]: “To[15] Prince Bismarck—Christmas, 1880,—W.” On the wall, behind the statuette, hangs, in a richly gilt frame, a painting by[16] Hünten, representing the attack of dragoons of the guard on French infantry at Mars-la-Tour; the Chancellor’s two sons, Herbert and William, being[17] in the midst of the fight.—THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON “DAILY NEWS.”
[1] here +Hauseinrichtung+.
[2] here +Tisch+; the plate was let into the table, +die Platte war in den Tisch hineingelegt+.
[3] = lies.
[4] and — spots = and upon the same one sees still some spots.
[5] +das Lecken+; render ‘from the’ by the Gen. of the def. art., and turn ‘used — negotiations’ by ‘during the momentous negotiations’.
[6] +~Jules Favre~, geboren den 21. März 1809 zu Lyon, machte sich zuerst als Redner und gewandter Advokat einen Namen, beschäftigte sich jedoch später auch mit der Politik, wo er stets zur demokratischen Partei gehörte. Nach der Februarrevolution von 1848 wurde er Generalsekretär im Ministerium des Innern, dann Mitglied der Nationalversammlung, in der er als Gegner des zum Präsidenten gewählten Prinzen Ludwig Napoleon auftrat. Im Jahre 1858 in den gesetzgebenden Körper gewählt, wurde er nach dem Sturze des Kaiserreichs und der Erklärung der Republik Mitglied der Regierung der Nationalverteidigung und Minister des Äußern, als welcher er im Jahre 1871 zu Versailles und Frankfurt a/M mit dem Fürsten Bismarck über den Frieden unterhandelte. Am 2. August 1871 zog er sich jedoch vom politischen Leben zurück und starb am 19. Januar 1880.+
[7] = lived (S. 116, N. 17).
[8] richly sculptured, +mit reicher Bildhauerarbeit verziert+, which use attributively, as explained in S. 7, N. 3, _A_; ‘wardrobe’, here +Wandschrank+.
[9] +aus+.
[10] when a = as.
[11] Supply ‘intended’ (+bestimmt+) here, and place the words ‘intended for (+zu+, contracted with the def. art.) — reference’ before ‘library’.
[12] +über+.
[13] +höchst künstlerisch+; and — origin = and made (+verfertigen+) in Asia, all to be placed before ‘screen’.
[14] +trägt die vom Kaiser eigenhändig geschriebenen Worte.+
[15] +Dem.+
[16] +von.+
[17] = are, +sich befinden+.
_Section 192._
ROYAL BENEVOLENCE.
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia[1], once rang the bell[2] of his cabinet; but as nobody answered[3], he opened the door of the ante-chamber, and there found his page fast asleep[4] upon a chair[5]. He went up to awake him, but, coming nearer, he observed a paper in his pocket, upon which something was written[6]. This excited his curiosity. He pulled it out, and found that it was a letter from the page’s mother, the contents of which were nearly as follows[7]: “She returned her son many thanks[8] for the money he had saved out of his salary and sent to her, which had proved a very timely assistance[9]. God would certainly reward him for it, and if he continued to serve God and his king faithfully and conscientiously, he could not fail of success[10] and prosperity in this world[11].” Upon reading (S. 55, N. 1) this, the king stepped softly into his closet, fetched a rouleau[12] _of_ ducats, and put it with the letter into the page’s pocket (S. 43, N. 9, _B_). He then rang again till the page awoke and came into his closet. “You have[13] been asleep, I suppose?” said the king. The page could not deny it, stammered out an excuse[14], put, in his embarrassment, his hand into his pocket, and felt the rouleau _of_ ducats. He immediately pulled it out, turned[15] pale, and looked at the king with tears in his eyes. “What is the matter with you?” said the king. “Oh!” replied the page, “somebody has contrived[16] my ruin: I know nothing of this money.” “What God bestows[17],” resumed the king, “He bestows in sleep. Send the money to your mother (App. § 5), give my respects to her[18], and inform her that I will take care[19] of both her and you.”—W. BUCK.
[1] +=Friedrich der Große=, König von Preußen, wurde am 24. Januar 1712 in Berlin geboren und war der Sohn des Königs Friedrich Wilhelm I, der den den Künsten und Wissenschaften ergegeben Jüngling oft tyrannisch und hart behandelte und ihn selbst gegen seine Neigung im Jahre 1733 mit der Prinzessin Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Bevern vermählte. Nach dem Tode seines Vaters bestieg er am 31. Mai 1740 den preußischen Thron, auf dem er bald Gelegenheit fand, seine bedeutenden Talente als Staatsmann und Feldherr zu bethätigen. Die Geschichte nennt ihn wohl mit Recht den größten Fürsten, Feldherrn und Staatsmann seiner Zeit, und als er am 17. August 1786 auf seinem Lustschlosse zu Sanssouci starb, hinterließ er seinem Nachfolger ein um 1325 Quadratmeilen vergrößertes Reich, einen Schatz von über 70 Millionen Thalern, eine Armee von 200,000 Mann und einen kräftig emporblühenden Staat.+
[2] to ring the bell, +die Glocke ziehen+; of = in.
[3] = appeared.
[4] +in tiefem Schlafe+.
[5] Supply here +sitzen+.
[6] The clause ‘upon — written’ may be briefly rendered by ‘+beschrieben+’, to be placed before paper, inflected as an adj.
[7] were ... as follows, +folgendermaßen lautete+.
[8] to return a person many thanks, +einem vielmals danken+. Construe this and the following passages according to App. §§ 28, 30 and 31.
[9] Place the words ‘sent to her’ before ‘money’, attributively, and render ‘which — assistance’ by +und ihr sehr gelegen gekommen sei+.
[10] You cannot fail of success, +das Glück kann dir nicht fehlen+.
[11] = life.
[12] +Rolle+, f.
[13] = Thou hast, after which place the adv. +wohl+ = I suppose.
[14] = stammered some words of (+der+) excuse.
[15] = became.
[16] +ersonnen+.
[17] = gives.
[18] give — her, +grüße sie von mir+.
[19] to take care of a person, +für einen sorgen+; of — you = of both of you. He saw both of us, +Er sah uns beide+.
_Section 193._
TELEGRAPHY (S. 3, N. 2) AMONG BIRDS.