Part 23

I watch[1] a flock[2] _of_ crows who, by some own correspondent of theirs, have learned that Farmer Blyth will hold a ploughing match on his grounds[3], and have in consequence summoned their brethren[4] to a diet _of_ worms. How unconcerned they look, as if worms were nothing to them[5]! How grave, as if it were an Ecclesiastical Convocation[6], and they had no thought of earthly things[7]! Yet point[8] a gun, or anything like it towards them, and in a moment (App. § 14) the young birds even whose backs seemed turned to you[9] will give a flutter[10] of their wings, which appears an involuntary struggle[11], but in reality is as significant a danger-signal as a red flag on a railway[12], and is sufficient to clear the field. Nor [= And yet ... not] are those crows exceptionally wise. All their feathered brethren[13] have made a sacred compact[14] that never with their consent shall salt be put upon their tails. The sparrows are not so idle that[15] they do not pass the word to each other when crumbs are falling thick[16] from some rich man’s table. The doves, though they look so innocent (S. 27, N. 8) do not spend[17] all their time in cooing love-songs and cradle-lullabies[18], or in pruning their rainbow-feathers. They have a Telegraphy of their own[19], and[20] by a mere peck, or a [+das+] ruffle of their feathers, can direct each other to the fields where the autumn wheat[21] is germinating best, or[22] the garden where the green peas are fullest and brightest[23].—PROFESSOR C. WILSON.

[1] +beobachten.+

[2] +Schar+, f.

[3] to hold a ploughing match on one’s grounds, +auf seinem Felde pflügen lassen+.

[4] = friends; ‘diet’, here +Gericht+, n.

[5] This is nothing to me, +dies geht mich nichts an+. See App. § 33.

[6] +Kirchenversammlung+, f.

[7] to have no thought of earthly things, +an nichts Irdisches denken+.

[8] The huntsman pointed a gun towards me, +der Jäger richtete eine Flinte auf mich+.

[9] whose — you = that apparently seemed to turn their (S. 43, N. 9, _B_) back to thee.

[10] to give a flutter, +eine leichte flatternde Bewegung machen+; of = with.

[11] an involuntary struggle = quite involuntary (+unwillkürlich+).

[12] = in the railway-service (S. 36, N. 7, _A_).

[13] = All birds.

[14] Supply ‘among (+unter+) one another’ here.

[15] +als daß+; to pass the word = to give a hint.

[16] to fall thick, +im Überflusse auf die Erde fallen+.

[17] +verbringen.+

[18] in — lullabies, +mit dem Girren von Liebes- und Wiegenliedern+.

[19] We have a library of our own, +wir haben unsere eigene Bibliothek+.

[20] Here follows the verb ‘can’; supply ‘with the beak’ after ‘peck’.

[21] = where the wheat in autumn.

[22] The prep. ‘to’ must be repeated here.

[23] = stand thickest and best (+schön+). See S. 183, N. 24.

_Section 194._

THE HANSE[1].

I.

About the end of the twelfth century commerce began to extend towards the north of Europe. Along the German shores of the Baltic (S. 36, N. 7, _A_) sprang up[2] thriving towns, which sent out ships to (S. 72, N. 4) Russia, Norway, England, and other parts, and exchanged the raw materials which they thus acquired (S. 48, N. 6) for the merchandise of Southern Europe and the Levant, which reached them both by land and sea[3]. Before[4] _the_ middle of the thirteenth century, this trade had become so valuable as to excite[5] the rapacity, not only of numerous pirates who infested[6] the seas, but[7] of princes (S. 3, N. 2) and nobles, who exacted arbitrary and excessive tolls.

To defend their interests against these assailants, the chief[8] ports entered into a league, binding themselves[9] to [+zu+] _afford_ mutual aid and protection. Lübeck and Hamburg stood at the head of this association; Bremen ranked next[10]; and one after another the principal towns gave in their adhesion, the movement spreading from east to west[11]. The numbers of the league[12] fluctuated, but at one time it is known (S. 4, N. 4, +man+) to have comprised more than ninety different towns. In the fourteenth century its authority[13] extended greatly, for[14] it rallied around it the chief commercial towns of the interior, such as Cologne, Dortmund, Münster, Brunswick, Magdeburg, etc. The Hanse had for its object the protection and development of commerce, the maintenance of existing and the acquisition of new privileges[15]. The association was governed by a Diet[16], to which each town sent representatives, and which met once in three years[17] in Lübeck. As the confederation expanded, it became necessary to divide it into several provinces[18], of which the capitals were Lübeck, Cologne, Brunswick, and Dantzic.

[1] +Die Hansa.+

[2] +entstehen+, insep. comp. irreg. v.

[3] +welche sie sowohl auf dem Land- als auch auf dem Seewege bezogen.+

[4] = Already before.

[5] = that it excited; place ‘not only’ before ‘rapacity’.

[6] +unsicher machen.+

[7] = but also that (to agree with ‘rapacity’).

[8] = most important; to enter into a league, +ein Bündnis mit einander schließen+.

[9] = whereby they bound themselves (+sich verpflichten+). Aid and protection, +Schutz und Trutz+.

[10] = hereupon came Bremen.

[11] and — west = and afterwards one great town after the other joined the league, which expanded (+sich aus´breiten+) from east to west.

[12] Liter. = The number of the towns in the league.

[13] = power.

[14] for — it, +denn es traten ihm ... bei+.

[15] The — privileges = The protection and the development of commerce, the maintenance of existing and the acquisition of new privileges were the object (+Zweck+, m.) of the Hanse.

[16] = The business (+Angelegenheiten+, pl.) of the league was conducted by (+durch+) a Diet (here +den Hansetag+).

[17] +alle drei Jahre einmal+.

[18] here +Bezirke+ (_or_ +Quartiere+).

_Section 195._

THE HANSE.

II.

In Russia the Hanse found a valuable and most virgin field[1] for its commercial enterprises. Thence it drew[2] large supplies of timber, flax, hemp, ropes, skins, furs, wax, and tallow; bestowing in return[3] (for the trade was only one of barter), salt, herrings, and coarse cloth, for the mass of the peasants; and[4] brocades, jewels, wines, and other articles of luxury, for the wealthy boyards and princes. A factory at Novgorod conducted these transactions. Another factory at Bergen placed the Hanse in direct contact[5] with Norway and Sweden. This was an establishment of considerable magnitude, comprising twenty-two courts, and serving not only as a lodging for the staff of agents and clerks[6], but as a warehouse[7] _for the goods_. The chief exports from this quarter were[8] timber, resin, sperm oil, _and_, above all[9], salted fish—a (S. 53, N. 9) commodity[10] in great demand at a time when Europe was still Catholic and fasted faithfully on the appointed days. The Hanse had[11] two other large factories, one in Bruges, employing three hundred agents, and another in London.

Year by year[12] the Hanse grew more rich and powerful. New branches of business were opened up, new factories _were_ founded. Kings and princes were glad[13] to be on good terms with so influential a body. Ambassadors from the Kings of England, France, Sweden, and Denmark, and even from the Emperor himself, waited on[14] the Diet, to ask[15] favours, and to offer trading privileges in return. The original object of the league—mutual protection—was reasonable and legitimate, but was gradually expanded into[16] a policy of forcible aggression and imperious monopoly. Not only were foreigners, in[17] their voyages to (S. 72, N. 4) the Hanse towns, compelled to employ Hanseatic ships, but[18] the commerce of the north-east and west of Europe was almost exclusively in the hands of the league.

[1] and most virgin field = and hitherto quite unused field.

[2] +beziehen+, insep. comp. irr. v. tr.

[3] bestowing in return = Liter. which it (+sie+, to agree with +die Hansa+) for (+gegen+) ... exchanged. The verb stands, of course, after ‘princes’, and the clause ‘for — barter’ is best placed after it.

[4] Repeat the preposition +gegen+ here.

[5] Place ‘in — contact’ after ‘Sweden’.

[6] for — clerks, +den Beamten und Unterbeamten+, which place after ‘only’. Render ‘as a’ by +zu+, contracted with the dat. of the def. art.

[7] = but was also used _as a_ (+als+) warehouse.

[8] +bestanden aus+.

[9] = but especially. The prep. +aus+ must be repeated here.

[10] +Artikel+, m.; in — demand, +welcher ... in großer Nachfrage stand+.

[11] Supply the adv. +noch+ here.

[12] +Von Jahr zu Jahr.+

[13] +froh+; to be on good terms, +auf freundschaftlichem Fuß stehen+; with — body, +mit dem mächtigen Städtebunde+, which place after ‘glad’.

[14] = appeared before (+vor+).

[15] +erbitten+; favours, +Gunstbezeugungen+; in return, +dafür+.

[16] +zu+; of — monopoly, +der Gewaltherrschaft und des Monopols+; ‘to expand’, here +umgestalten+.

[17] +auf+.

[18] but ... was, +sondern es befand sich auch+; of = in.

_Section 196._

THE HANSE.

III.

There were no bounds to its greed and selfishness[1]. It did its utmost to crush all growing trade[2], navigation, and even manufactures, which in the least interfered with its gains[3]. It warned away[4] all strangers[5] from the Baltic; and when it found them there, it seized and destroyed their vessels[6]. In order to maintain this monopoly, it[7] was ready to make[8] the greatest sacrifices, to equip fleets, and sustain long and costly campaigns. With Denmark it waged a desperate war; and it also came into collision[9] with Sweden and Norway. From[10] these contests it came off victorious, and the whole of Scandinavia was compelled to acknowledge its commercial supremacy[11]. It[12] had a rupture also with the Netherlands, whose flag it banished from the Baltic[13].

These unbounded pretensions naturally excited a great deal of ill feeling[14] against the Hanse, and, in the end, proved fatal[15] to it. One after another[16], the markets which it had been accustomed to regard as its own private estates, threw off their allegiance, and admitted[17] the traders of other nations. Then[18] _it was that_ the league began to suffer in another way from its narrow-minded selfishness. As long as it had exclusive command of[19] foreign sources of supply, it did not trouble itself to develop the resources of Germany—indeed it rather endeavoured[20] to repress them, when it thought that others were likely to profit by them; but when one by one its monopolies exploded[21], it found reason to repent that it had neglected to cultivate[22] the productive powers of its own country.

These causes, combined[23] with the change[24] of route to India, led to the gradual decline of this famous confederation[25]; and at the last general assembly, held at Lübeck in 1630, the deputies from the several cities appeared merely to declare their secession[26]. In a modified form[27], however, the Hanse lingered on[28] till the beginning of the present century—the[29] shadow of a great name. The Free Cities of Lübeck, Hamburg, Bremen, and Frankfort-on-the-Maine, are now only nominally the representatives of the Hanse.—J. H. FYFE.

[1] = Its greed and selfishness had no bounds.

[2] to crush all growing trade, +allen Handel ... im Keime zu ersticken+; the adj. ‘all’ must be repeated before the two following nouns.

[3] which — gains, +sobald die Interessen des Bundes im geringsten dadurch beeinträchtigt wurden+.

[4] = drove away.

[5] = foreign ships.

[6] their vessels = them. The passage ‘and — vessels’ is best rendered by the Passive Voice. ‘To seize’, here +mit Beschlag belegen+.

[7] = the league.

[8] to make a sacrifice, +ein Opfer bringen+.

[9] to come into collision with a person, +sich mit einem entzweien+.

[10] +Aus+; to come off, +hervorgehen+; it = the same.

[11] +dessen kommerzielle Überlegenheit.+

[12] It is better, for the sake of distinctness, to change the pronoun ‘it’ into ‘the league’.

[13] Use the Passive Voice to render ‘whose — Baltic’.

[14] a — feeling = great hatred.

[15] to prove fatal = to become dangerous.

[16] Place ‘one — another’ after ‘threw’, and commence the sentence with ‘The markets’; it = the same; as — estates, +als ihre eigenen Gebiete+; threw off their allegiance, +warfen ... das ihnen aufgedrungene Joch von sich+.

[17] ‘to admit a person’, here +einem den Zutritt gestatten+.

[18] = Upon that.

[19] +Herrschaft über+; sources of supply, +Zufuhrquellen+.

[20] +er bemühte sich vielmehr.+

[21] but — exploded = but when its monopolies (+Handelsprivilegien+) were one after another taken away (+entreißen+) from it (+ihm+, to be placed after ‘monopolies’).

[22] to cultivate = the cultivation (+Pflege+, f.); ‘the — country’ may be briefly rendered by +der inländischen Produktionskraft+.

[23] = in combination.

[24] +Verlegung+, f.; route, +Landweg+, m.

[25] +Städtebund+, m.

[26] +der Austritt aus dem Bunde+.

[27] +beschränkt.+

[28] however, the Hansa lingered on, +fristete die Hansa jedoch noch ... ein kümmerliches Dasein+.

[29] = the mere.

_Section 197._

COMING TO TERMS[1].

One of the most distinguished artists in Paris[2] painted for a lady occupying a brilliant position in society her portrait[3], with[4] the intention of placing it in an exhibition afterwards. The lady, although a long time celebrated for her beauty[5], had arrived at that age[6] which is seldom admitted (fifty years), but[7] endeavoured to conceal it through cosmetics, and showed herself as beautiful and captivating as in her younger days [= years]. Paris is full of resources, and ointments are to be obtained there[8] to heal the wounds of time.

Our heroine had her portrait taken[9] in the most graceful attitude; splendidly dressed, and leaning on an arm-chair, she looked smiling into the glass, which should return[10] her the most amiable compliments. The painter made[11] a most striking likeness, but this was a great mistake—a flattering one was expected[12], _and the lady_ subsequently[13] declared that she did not recognise herself (App. § 28) in this painting, and the portrait was left on the painter’s hands[14]. The artist, feeling himself hurt in his pride, was too good a philosopher to keep a portrait worth three thousand francs quietly on his hands[15], and an idea of vengeance presented itself to his mind[16], which he put into execution at once.

_A_ short time before the day fixed for[17] the opening of the art-exhibition at the Louvre[18], the lady was secretly informed that her portrait was ornamented with certain accessories rather compromising her[19]. She went immediately to the artist. There was the portrait! It was the same striking likeness certainly; but the painter had thinned the hair, and the lady so faithfully painted[20] held in her hand two large tresses of false hair. On the toilet table were several small bottles, labelled thus[21]: “White-Wash,” “Vegetable Red,” “Cosmetic[22], to efface wrinkles,” “Lotion, to dye the hair in a minute[23].”

“It is abominable,” said the lady, greatly excited.

“Of what do you complain?” coolly replied the artist. “Did you not declare (S. 48, N. 2, and App. § 28) that it was not your portrait? You are right, it is a mere fancy sketch[24], and as such I shall send it to the exhibition.”

“What, Sir, do you intend to exhibit this painting?”

“Certainly[25], Madam; but as _a_ cabinet picture[26], since the catalogue will indicate it under the title _of_ ‘The Coquette of Fifty Years.’”

At this the lady fainted, but soon recovered, and then paid at once for the portrait[27]. The accessories were effaced[28] in her presence, the portrait was restored to its original state, and the three thousand francs were transferred[29] to the purse of the painter.—THE YOUNG LADIES’ JOURNAL.

[1] = The Compromise.

[2] An artist in Berlin, +ein Berliner Künstler+.

[3] ‘painted — portrait’ may be briefly rendered = painted the portrait of a high-placed (+hochgestellt+) lady.

[4] +in.+

[5] = Although the lady was for a long time (+seit lange+) celebrated for (+wegen+) her beauty (see S. 27, N. 8).

[6] = she had now reached that age; admitted = confessed (+eingestanden+).

[7] = however, to be placed after ‘endeavoured’.

[8] and — time = and offers (+darbieten+) ointments, which heal all _the_ wounds of time.

[9] to have one’s portrait taken, +sich malen lassen+.

[10] = tell.

[11] +schaffen+, str. v. tr.; a most striking likeness, +ein höchst ähnliches Bild+.

[12] = the lady expected one that flattered her (S. 48, N. 6).

[13] +mithin+, to be placed after ‘declared’.

[14] and — hands = and refused the acceptance of the same (to agree with ‘painting’).

[15] to keep a portrait quietly on one’s hands, +ein Portrait ganz ruhig bei sich liegen lassen+.

[16] and — mind = and devised a plan of vengeance (S. 36, N. 7, _A_).

[17] +zu+.

[18] +im Louvre+.

[19] +daß ihr Portrait mit gewissen sie kompromittierenden Zusätzen verziert sei.+

[20] +und die treu nach der Natur gemalte Dame+; a tress of false hair, +eine falsche Haarflechte+.

[21] = with _the_ following labels (+Etikette+, f.).

[22] +Schönheitswasser.+

[23] +Haartinktur zum augenblicklichen Färben der Haare.+

[24] = it is only the production of my fancy.

[25] +Allerdings.+

[26] +als Genrebild+, the first component of which being pronounced as in French.

[27] for — portrait = the price of the picture.

[28] +beseitigen.+

[29] +ein´verleiben+, p. p. +einverleibt+.

_Section 198._

FALSE PRIDE.

Have pity on[1] the youth who is ashamed to be seen carrying[2] a parcel. Such a youth will never climb the hill[3]; he will never be honoured and respected by sensible, respectable[4] men. And yet how many there are (S. 82, N. 7) who have the failing[5]. Do you know the story of the young man who came _down_ from a country town of New Hampshire, and entered the great wholesale establishment of the Lawrences—Abbot and Amos—in Boston[6]? He was a young merchant who had just commenced business[7]. He had money enough _with which_ to purchase a certain quantity _of_ goods, and wished to get as many more on credit[8], if they (S. 134, N. 4) would trust[9] him.

Mr. Lawrence shook his head. The young man could offer no security, and the old[10] merchants did not consider it good _policy_ to give credit to an unknown and untried young man. The youthful customer did not blame them. He said he should probably do the same himself by one whom he did not know[11]. “However,” he added, “I hope I may grow into your confidence one of these days[12].”

Then he paid _for_ the goods he had purchased; and when they had been done up[13], he was asked where he would have them sent[14]. “I will take[15] them myself,” was the answer. “But the parcel is heavy,” said the clerk. “And I am young and strong,” answered the customer. “No, I will take the parcel on my shoulder. I cannot earn half a dollar more easily or more honestly.” And he had taken the parcel on his shoulder, and had approached the door, when Mr. Lawrence came out of his office, where[16] he had been a spectator of the scene, and called the youth back. “You can have all _the_ goods you want, young man[17],” he said. “Make your own selection, and set your own time for payment[18]. He who is willing to help himself, will not betray[19] those who are willing to help him.”

And the old merchant was not mistaken. That young man became one of his most valuable customers, and one of his valued[20] friends.

When Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, son of (S. 25, N. 5) King Jerome of Westphalia and nephew of the Emperor Napoleon I., was a student of[21] Harvard College, in Cambridgeshire, he was one day carrying a bundle of clothing[22] from his washer-woman’s to his dormitory[23], when he was met by a companion[24], who asked him, with much surprise, why he had not had the bundle sent to his room.

“Why should I do that?” asked the prince. “Why[25],” said his companion with a little touch of embarrassment, “you know it doesn’t look well to carry one’s own bundle like a common labourer.”

“Bah[26],” cried Jerome, laughing, “I trust I shall never be ashamed to be seen bearing[27] anything (S. 3, N. 7) that belongs to a Bonaparte!”—THE NEW YORK HERALD.

[1] +mit.+

[2] = with.

[3] = Such a one will never get on (+vorwärts kommen+).

[4] +solide+.

[5] = this fault.

[6] from — Boston = from (+aus+) a small town in N. H. to Boston, and there entered the great (+großartig+) wholesale establishment (+Warenlager+) of Messrs. Lawrence—Abbot and Amos?

[7] I have just commenced business, +ich habe mich soeben etabliert+.

[8] to get a thing on credit, +etwas auf Kredit entnehmen+; as many more, +noch einmal so viele+.

[9] to trust a person, +einem Vertrauen schenken+.

[10] = experienced.

[11] by — know, +einem Unbekannten gegenüber+, to be placed after ‘should’ and the grammatical object ‘+es+’. To do the same oneself, +es auch so machen+.

[12] I may — days = that I shall gain (+sich erwerben+) one of these days (+dermaleinst+) your confidence.

[13] = were packed.

[14] = where they should be sent.

[15] = carry.

[16] +von wo+; to be a spectator of a scene, +eine Scene mit an´sehen+.

[17] +Herr+.

[18] to set one’s own time for payment, +den Zahlungstermin selbst bestimmen+.

[19] +betrügen+.

[20] = best.

[21] was — of = studied in.

[22] +mit Wäsche+.

[23] = ‘lodging’ here.

[24] I was met by a companion, +ein Freund begegnete mir+.

[25] +Ei+; his = the; with — embarrassment, +etwas verlegen+; you know, +doch+, to be placed after the verb; to carry = if one carries.

[26] = Nonsense!

[27] to be seen bearing = to bear.

_Section 199._

ANECDOTES OF[1] GREAT STATESMEN.

I.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN[2].

The night previous to the meeting of the Convocation[3] of Chicago, Mr. Lincoln did not get home until[4] eleven o’clock _at night_. In the morning[5] Mrs. Lincoln, who possessed a most amiable disposition, remonstrated with her good husband at breakfast. She kindly, but firmly, informed him[6] that politics[7] were leading him into bad habits, especially (S. 87, N. 6) to keeping late hours[8] and drinking at the rum shops. She did not like it; she had to sit up[9], and also the children were kept awake[10]. “And now, Abraham,” she continued, “let me tell you[11] that to-night I will go to bed at ten o’clock. If you come before that hour, well and good[12]; if not[13], I will not get up and let you in[14].” Ten o’clock came that night, and true to her word, Mrs. Lincoln went to bed with her children[15]. About an hour later Mr. Lincoln knocked at[16] the door. He knocked once, twice, and even three times before[17] an upper window was raised and the nightcap of a female looked out. “Who is there?” “I.” “You know what I told you, Abraham?” “Yes, but, wife, I have _got_ something very particular to tell you. Let me in!” “I don’t want to hear. It is political stuff[18].” “Wife, it is very important. There is[19] a telegraphic despatch, and I have been nominated for the Presidency[20].” “Oh, Abraham, this is awful! Now I know you have been drinking. I only suspected it before, and you may just go and sleep where you got your liquor[21]!” And down went the window with a slam[22]. The next day confirmed the truth of the news that the humble husband had been nominated to rule[23] over millions.—THE NEW YORK HERALD.

II.

PRINCE BISMARCK (S. 138, N. 12) AND LORD BEACONSFIELD[24].