Part 24
Amongst a number of amusing anecdotes of Lord Beaconsfield is one of[25] the State banquet given at Berlin at the time of the Congress, when[26] he sat next to Prince Bismarck and opposite to the crown Princess of Germany. Near to him was a trophy of “bonbons,” on the papers of which were[27] miniature photographs of the German Emperor and other members of the Prussian royal family. After the feast was over[28], the lord was busily engaged (S. 87, N. 6) in securing[29] some of these sweets to take home as a [+zum+] remembrance of the occasion[30], when Prince Bismarck suddenly caught him by the arm and so startled him that he dropped his spoil and exclaimed: “I see, not only does Prince Bismarck give nothing away, but (S. 6, N. 10) he does not allow anybody to help himself.” The German Chancellor, on discovering (S. 55, N. 1) that he had interrupted Lord Beaconsfield in a feat of annexation[31], burst into a hearty laugh, and retorted: “It is true that[32] I give nothing away; but, as you see, I am always ready for an honest alliance.” So saying, he turned to the table and executed an energetic raid upon[33] the “bonbons,” part of which he handed over to his British colleague.—THE CORRESPONDENT OF “THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH.”
[1] +über+, with Acc.
[2] +=Abraham Lincoln=, Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Nord Amerika, war der Sohn eines einfachen Landmannes und wurde am 12. Februar 1809 im Staate Kentucki geboren. Seine Jugenderziehung war nur eine höchst mangelhafte, denn man sagt, er habe nur ein Jahr die Schule besucht; trotz der ungünstigsten Verhältnisse gelang es ihm aber dennoch, sich durch beharrliches Selbststudium zum gewandten Advokaten, tüchtigen Redner und einflußreichen Politiker heranzubilden. Er wurde Abgeordneter für die Legislatur des Staates Illinois, Mitglied des Kongresses und des Senats, und ward endlich im Jahre 1860, gerade in dem kritischen Augenblicke, wo die Südstaaten, welche die Ausdehnung der Sklaverei forderten, sich wegen Verweigerung dieser Forderung von der Union lossagten, von den Republikanern zum Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten gewählt. Gleich nach seiner Wahl zur Führung des Staatsruders erfolgte der Ausbruch jenes stets denkwürdigen Bürgerkrieges seitens der Union und der sich empörenden Südstaaten, welcher fünf Jahre lang mit mörderischer Wut das Land zerrüttete und endlich mit der gänzlichen Abschaffung der Sklaverei und der Besiegung der Südstaaten endete. Kaum war er jedoch im März 1865 zum zweiten Male durch ungeheure Stimmenmehrheit von der Union zum Präsidenten erwählt worden, und kaum waren die Streitkräfte der Südstaaten auf immer gebrochen und vernichtet, als der gefeierte Staatsmann am 14. April 1865 bei Gelegenheit einer Theatervorstellung im Ford’schen Theater zu Washington der ruchlosen Hand eines von der demokratischen Partei angereizten Mörders, des Schauspielers John Wilkes Booth, zum Opfer fiel. So endete das Leben eines Mannes, welcher als guter, rechtschaffener Bürger, als einflußreicher Staatsmann und als edelmütiger Befreier von fünf Millionen Sklaven von seinem Vaterlande stets in dankbarem Andenken gehalten werden wird.+
[3] +Konvent+, m.; of, +zu+.
[4] not until, +erst+.
[5] Say ‘The next morning at (+beim+) breakfast’, and comp. App. § 14. She remonstrated with her good husband, +sie machte ihrem guten Manne einige Vorstellungen über sein langes Ausbleiben+. The words ‘+einige — Ausbleiben+’ must stand at the end of the period.
[6] = She told him _a_ kind, but (+doch+) determined tone.
[7] +die Politik+, always used in the Sing., into, +zu+.
[8] to keep late hours, +spät nach Hause kommen+. App. § 28 and 30. To drink at the rum shops, +die Wirtshäuser besuchen+.
[9] +auf´bleiben.+
[10] = could not sleep.
[11] = I will tell you.
[12] = well, then, I will be glad.
[13] Liter. = comest thou however not.
[14] +ins Haus lassen.+
[15] Say ‘Now, when it (+Als es nun+) struck ten that night, Mrs. Lincoln with her children went to bed, as she had promised.’
[16] +an+, with Acc.
[17] +ehe+; an — raised = a window was opened up-stairs (+oben+).
[18] +Unsinn.+
[19] +Es ist ... gekommen.+
[20] for the Presidency = President. Comp. S. 27, N. 4.
[21] = go again and sleep there where you have been drinking!
[22] = and the window was closed with a slam (+wieder zugeworfen+).
[23] to rule = ruler.
[24] +=Benjamin Disraeli=, =Lord Beaconsfield=, geboren in London am 21. Dezember 1804, gestorben am 19. April 1881 auf seinem Landsitze Hughenden, ausgezeichneter Litterat, berühmter Staatsmann, glänzender Redner und langjähriger Führer der konservativen Partei, steht bei seinen bewundernden Landsleuten jetzt noch in so frischem Andenken, daß es dem Verfasser der Kürze wegen erlaubt sein möge, auf seine glänzenden Erfolge weiter nicht einzugehen.+
[25] +in Bezug auf+; use the attributive construction, as explained in S. 7, N. 3, _A_, and S. 48, N. 6.
[26] +bei dem.+
[27] on — were = which were ornamented with.
[28] +nach aufgehobener Tafel.+
[29] here +sich an´eignen+.
[30] +an das Fest.+
[31] +Annexionsversuch+, m.
[32] It — that, +Freilich+.
[33] = and made an energetic (+tüchtig+) attack upon (+auf+).
_Section 200._
THE POWER OF MUSIC.
On one occasion when young Chopin[1] had been travelling for several days in the slow _fashion of_ German diligences, he was delighted and surprised, on stopping at a small post-house, to discover a grand pianoforte in one of the rooms[2], and still more surprised to find it in tune[3]—thanks, probably, to the musical taste of the postmaster’s family. He sat down instantly and began to improvise in[4] his peculiarly happy manner. One by one the travellers were attracted by the unwonted sweet sounds. One of them even allowed[5] his beloved pipe to go out in his ecstasy, and the postmaster, his wife, and his two daughters joined the group of listeners. Unmindful of his audience, of the journey, the lapse of time[6], and everything but the music, Chopin continued to play, and his companions[7] to listen in rapt attention, when they were suddenly roused by a stentorian[8] voice, which made the windows rattle, calling out[9]: “The horses are ready, gentlemen!” The postmaster roared out an anathema[10] against the disturber—the postillion—and the passengers cast angry glances at him. Chopin started from his seat, but was instantly surrounded by his audience, who entreated him to continue. “But we have been here for some time,” said Chopin, consulting his watch, “and are due in Posen already[11].” “Stay and play, noble young artist,” cried the postmaster, “I will find you courier’s horses if you will only remain a little longer.” “Do be persuaded[12],” added the postmaster’s wife, almost threatening the artist with an embrace[13]. What could he do but resume his place at the instrument? When at last he paused, the servant appeared with wine; the host’s daughter served the artist first, and then the travellers, upon which the postmaster proposed a cheer for[14] the musician, in which all joined[15]. The ladies in their gratitude filled the carriage pockets with the best eatables and wine the house contained; and when at last the artist rose to go[16], his gigantic host seized him in his arms and triumphantly bore him to[17] the carriage! Long[18] years afterwards Chopin would recall (S. 101, N. 22) this little incident with pleasure, and declare that the plaudits of the press had never given him more delight than the homage[19] of these simple music-loving Germans.—MANCHESTER TIT-BITS.
[1] +~Fréderic François Chopin~, der berühmte Klaviervirtuose und Komponist, dessen melodieenreiche Masurkas, Walzer, Notturnos, Balladen, Polonaisen und Etüden seinen Namen überall bekannt gemacht haben, wurde im Jahre 1810 zu Zelazowawola bei Warschau geboren, und starb am 17. Oktober 1849 in Paris, wo er sich seit dem Jahre 1831 niedergelassen hatte.+ On one occasion, +einst+.
[2] he — rooms = and was stopping at (+vor+) a small post-house, he was delighted and surprised to discover a grand pianoforte (+Flügel+, m.) in one of the rooms.
[3] to — tune = when he found it in good tune.
[4] +auf+; peculiarly = peculiar; happy = charming.
[5] +lassen.+
[6] +Zeitverlauf+, m.
[7] Say ‘whilst his travelling-companions listened to him’, etc.
[8] = mighty.
[9] = through which even the windows rattled (+erklirren+), and which cried.
[10] +einen Fluch ausstoßen.+
[11] I am due in London already, +ich sollte bereits in London sein+. The words ‘said — watch’ are best placed after the quotation.
[12] +sich überreden lassen.+
[13] +die in ihrem Entzücken den Künstler fast umarmt hätte.+
[14] to propose a cheer for a person, +ein Hoch auf einen ausbringen+.
[15] here +einstimmen+.
[16] here +zur Abreise+.
[17] +in ... hinein.+
[18] +Noch viele.+
[19] +die Ehrenbezeugungen.+
_Section 201._
THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES[1].
I.
“Well, Robert, where have you been walking[2] this afternoon?” said a tutor to one of his pupils, at the close[3] of a holiday.
ROBERT.—I have been to Millthorp-Heath, and so round by[4] the windmill upon Camp-Mount, and home through the meadows by the river side.
TUTOR.—Well, that is a pleasant round[5].
ROBERT.—I thought[6] it very dull, sir; I scarcely met with a single person. I would much rather have gone[7] along the turnpike-road.
TUTOR.—To be sure, if seeing men and horses is your object[8], you are, indeed, better entertained on the high-road. But did you not see William (S. 48, N. 2)?
ROBERT.—We set out together[9]; but he lagged behind in the lane, and so[10] I walked on and left him.
TUTOR.—That was a pity. He would have been company for you.
ROBERT.—Oh, he is so tedious, always stopping to look at this thing or that! I would rather walk alone[11]. I dare say he is not come yet.
TUTOR.—Here he comes. Well, William, where have you been?
WILLIAM.—Oh, the pleasantest walk[12]! I went all over Millthorp-Heath, and so up to the mill at the top of the hill, and then down among the green meadows by the side of the river home again.
TUTOR.—Why, that is just the round Robert has been taking, and he complains of _its_ dulness and prefers the high-road.
WILLIAM.—I wonder at that. I am sure I hardly took a step that did not delight me; and I have brought home my handkerchief full of curiosities[13].
TUTOR.—Suppose[14], then, you give us an account of what amused you so much. I fancy it will[15] be as new to Robert as to me.
WILLIAM.—I will do it readily. The lane leading to the heath, you know, is close[16] and sandy, so I did not mind it much, but made the best of my way[17]. However, I spied a curious thing enough[18] in the hedge. It was an old crab-tree, out of which grew a bunch of something green[19], quite different from the tree itself. Here is a branch of it.
TUTOR.—Ah! this is mistletoe, a plant of great fame[20] for the use made of it by the Druids of old[21], in their religious rites and incantations. It bears[22] a very slimy, white berry, of which bird-lime may be made, whence[23] its Latin name “viscum.” It is one of those plants which do not grow in the ground by a root of their own[24], but fix themselves upon other plants; whence[25] they have been humourously[26] styled “parasitical,” as being hangers on, or dependents. It was the mistletoe of the oak that the Druids particularly honoured.
[1] +oder Sehen und nicht Sehen.+
[2] walking, +auf deinem Spaziergange+. Use the 2nd pers. sing. when the tutor addresses the boy, but the 3rd pers. pl. when the boy addresses the tutor.
[3] +am Abend.+
[4] and — by = +dann bei ... vorüber+. Camp-Mount, +der Lagerberg+; Millthorp-Heath, +die Millthorper Heide+.
[5] = tour or walk.
[6] = I have found.
[7] Use the Pluperfect Subj. accord. to App. § 32; along — road, +die Chaussee+.
[8] = if you want to see men and horses.—I am better entertained there, +ich werde mich dort besser amüsieren+.
[9] = We went away from home together.
[10] = therefore; and left him = and troubled no more about him (+sich um einen kümmern+).
[11] +Ich gehe viel lieber allein.+ I dare say, +wohl+, adv., to be placed after the auxiliary.
[12] = Oh, it was a splendid walk! All over = through the whole _of_; and so = then; and then = and from there; among = through.
[13] = curious things.
[14] +Nun.+
[15] = It will certainly.
[16] +eingepfercht.+
[17] so — way = and therefore I left almost everything unnoticed there and went on as fast as possible.
[18] = something most curious.
[19] a — green = a green plant.
[20] = a well (+allgemein+) known plant.
[21] = the old Druids; in, +bei+.
[22] = has.
[23] +und daher.+
[24] which — own, +welche nicht in der Erde wurzeln+.
[25] +weshalb.+
[26] +scherzhafterweise+; parasitical, +Parasiten+; as — dependents, +das heißt Schmarotzer oder Abhänglinge+.
_Section 202._
THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES.
II.
WILLIAM.—A little further on I saw a green woodpecker[1] fly to a tree, and run up the trunk like a cat.
TUTOR.—That was[2] to seek _for_ insects which live in the bark of trees. For that purpose the woodpeckers bore holes into the bark with their strong bills, whereby they do[3] a great deal of damage to the trees.
WILLIAM.—What beautiful birds they are[4]!
TUTOR.—Yes; the woodpecker has, from its colour and size, been called the English parrot (S. 4, N. 4, +man+).
WILLIAM.—When I got upon the heath, how charming it was[5]! The air was so fresh, and the prospect on every side[6] so free and unbounded! The heath was all covered with gay flowers, many of which I had never observed before. There were[7] at least three different kinds (S. 36, N. 7, _A_) of heath (I have them in my handkerchief here) and gorse, and broom, and bell-flowers; and many others of all colours, of which I will beg you presently to tell me the names[8].
TUTOR.—That I will do readily.
WILLIAM.—I saw, too, several birds that were new to me. There was a pretty grayish one, of the size of a lark, that was hopping about some great stones; and when he flew he showed a great deal of white above his tail[9].
TUTOR.—That was a wheat-ear[10]. They are reckoned very delicious birds to eat[11], and frequent the _open_ downs in[12] Sussex, and some other counties, in great number.
WILLIAM.—There was a flock of lapwings upon a marshy part of the heath[13] that amused me much. As I came near them, some of them kept flying round and round[14], just over my head, and crying, “Pewit,” “Pewit,” so distinctly, one might almost fancy they spoke[15]. I thought I should have caught[16] one of them, for he flew as if one of his wings was broken (App. § 33), and often tumbled close to the ground; but as I came near, he always contrived[17] to get away.
TUTOR.—Ha, ha! you were finely taken in, then[18]! This was all an artifice of the bird’s, to entice you away from its nest, for the lapwings build upon the bare ground, and their nests would easily be observed, did they not draw off[19] the attention of intruders, by their loud cries and counterfeit lameness.
WILLIAM.—I wish I had known that[20], for the bird led me a long chase[21], often over shoes in water. However, this was the cause [+davon+, S. 161, N. 21] of my falling in with[22] an old man and a boy, who were cutting[23] and piling up turf for fuel. I had a great deal of talk with them about the manner of preparing the turf, and the price it sells at[24]. They gave me, too, a creature I never saw before—a young viper, which they had just killed. I have seen several common snakes, but this is thicker in proportion, and of a darker colour than they _are_.
[1] +Grünspecht+, m.; to, +auf+.
[2] = That he did.
[3] +zu´fügen.+
[4] = They (+Es+) are really charming birds!
[5] = But upon the heath it was charming!
[6] +nach allen Seiten hin+; all = quite.
[7] +Es waren dort.+
[8] +deren Namen ich mir noch von Ihnen erbitten will.+
[9] and — tail, +und beim Fliegen über dem Schwanze weiß befiedert war+.
[10] +Steinpacker+, m.; or +Weißkelchen+, n.
[11] They — eat = These birds are very much valued (+schätzen+) on account of their flesh.
[12] = and live in the downs of.
[13] = In the marshy part of the heath I saw a flock (+Schar+) _of_ lapwings.
[14] round and round, +immer im Kreise herum+.
[15] one — spoke, +daß ich fast wähnte, sie sprechen zu hören+.
[16] = I should be able to catch.
[17] +gelang es ihm immer.+
[18] +dann bist du schön angeführt worden!+
[19] did — off, +suchten sie nicht ... davon abzulenken+, intruders = unbidden guests.
[20] +Das hätte ich vorher wissen sollen.+
[21] = for the bird caused (+veranlassen+) me to run a long time after it (+hinter einem herjagen+).
[22] of — with = that I met.
[23] +stechen+, str. v.
[24] about — at, +über die Zubereitungsweise und die Verkaufspreise des Torfes+.
_Section 203._
THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES.
III.
TUTOR.—True. Vipers frequent[1] those turfy, boggy grounds[2] pretty much, and I have known several turf-cutters bitten by them.
WILLIAM.—They are very venomous, are they not?
TUTOR.—Enough so[3] to make their wounds painful and dangerous, though they seldom prove fatal.
WILLIAM.—Well, I then took my course[4] up to the windmill on the mount. I climbed up the steps of the mill, in order to get a better view of the country round[5]. What an extensive prospect! I counted fifteen church steeples; I saw several gentlemen’s houses[6] peeping out from the midst of green woods and plantations[7]; and I could trace the windings[8] of the river all along the low grounds, till it was lost behind a ridge of hills[9]. But I will tell you what I mean to do[10], if you will give me leave.
TUTOR.—What is that[11]?
WILLIAM.—I will go again and take with me Carey’s county map[12], by which I shall probably be able to make out most of the places.
TUTOR.—You shall have it; and I will go with you, and take my pocket spying-glass.
WILLIAM.—I shall be very glad of that. Well, a thought struck me, that, as the hill is called Camp-Mount, there might probably be some remains of ditches and mounds[13] with which I have read that camps were surrounded. And I really believe I discovered something of that sort[14] running one side of the mount.
TUTOR.—Very likely you might[15]. I know antiquaries have described such remains as existing there, which some suppose to be Roman, others Danish[16]. We will examine them when we go.
WILLIAM.—From the hill I went straight down to the meadows below, and walked on the side of a brook that runs[17] into the river. It[18] was all bordered with reeds and tall flowering-plants (S. 16, N. 10), quite different from those I had seen on the heath. As I was getting down[19] the bank to reach one of them, I heard something plunge into the water near me. It was a large water-rat, and I saw it swim over to the other side, and go[20] into its hole. There were[21] a great many large dragon-flies all about the stream. I caught one of the finest, and have him here in a leaf. But how I longed to catch a bird that I saw hovering[22] over the water, and every now and then darting into it! It was all over a mixture of the most beautiful green and blue, with some orange colour[23]. It was somewhat less than a thrush, and had a large head and bill, and a short tail.
[1] = live in.
[2] +Gegenden.+
[3] = venomous enough.
[4] = thereupon I went.
[5] I had a fine view of the country round, +ich konnte die Umgegend gut überblicken+.
[6] +herrschaftliche Häuser.+
[7] +Parkanlagen.+
[8] +der sich schlängelnde Lauf+, as Nom.; low grounds = meadows.
[9] +Hügelrücken+, m.
[10] = will do. Supply ‘+dazu+’ after ‘leave’.
[11] +Was denn?+
[12] +Bezirkskarte+; by which = by (+mit+) the help of which; ‘to make out’, here +bestimmen+, w. v. tr.; places, +Ortschaften+.
[13] Well — mounds. This passage may be construed thus: ‘Now, since (+Da nun+) the hill is called Camp-Mount, a thought struck me that there are (+sich befinden+) probably some remains of ditches and mounds (+Erdwall+, m.)’. I have read = as I have read.
[14] +etwas derartiges+; running one side = on the one side.
[15] = That is quite (+gerne+) possible.
[16] to be — Danish, +daß sie römischen, andere aber, daß sie dänischen Ursprungs sind+.
[17] +sich ergießen.+
[18] = The brook; bordered = overgrown, +bewachsen+.
[19] +hinuntersteigen+; to reach = to pluck.
[20] = creep. Read S. 78, N. 14, _B_.
[21] +Es waren dort+, after which place the words ‘all — stream’, +am Bache+.
[22] +umherfliegen+; every — then, +dann und wann+; ‘to dart’, here +hinunterschießen+; into it = into the same.
[23] It — colour = His plumage (+Gefieder+) consisted of (+aus+) a mixture of the finest green and blue with a small addition (+Zusatz+, m.) of orange colour (+Orangengelb+).
_Section 204._
THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES.
IV.
TUTOR.—I can tell you what that bird was—a kingfisher, the celebrated halcyon of the ancients, about which so many tales are told. It lives on[1] fish, which it catches in the manner you saw. It builds in holes on the banks, and is a shy, retired[2] bird, never to be seen far from the stream it inhabits.
WILLIAM.—I must try to get another sight of him, for I never saw (S. 48, N. 2) a bird that pleased me so much. Well, I followed this little brook till it entered[3] the river, and then took[4] the path that runs along the bank. On the opposite side, I observed several little birds running along the bank, and making a piping noise[5]. They were[6] brown and white, and about as big as a snipe.
TUTOR.—I suppose they [+es+] were sand-pipers[7]; one of the numerous family of birds (S. 36, N. 7, _A_) that get their living[8] by wading among the shallows and picking up worms and insects.
WILLIAM.—There were a great many swallows, too, sporting[9] above the surface of the water, that entertained me with their motions. Sometimes[10] they dashed down into the stream[11]; sometimes they pursued one another so quickly, that the eye could scarcely follow them. In one place, where a steep sand-bank rose high above the river, I observed many of them go in and out of holes with which the bank was bored full[12].
TUTOR.—Those [+Das+] were sand-martins[13], the smallest of our species of swallows. They are of a mouse-colour above, and white beneath. They[14] make their nests, and bring up their young, in these holes, which run a great depth, and by their situation are secure from all plunderers.
WILLIAM.—A little further I saw a man in a boat, who was catching eels in an odd way[15]. He had a long pole with broad iron prongs[16] at the end; just like Neptune’s trident[17], only there were five prongs instead of three. This he pushed straight down into the mud, in the deepest parts of the river, and fetched up the eels sticking between the prongs.
TUTOR.—I know the method. It is called the spearing of eels[18].
WILLIAM.—While I was looking at him, a heron came flying over my head, with his large flagging wings. He alighted[19] at the next turn of the river, and I crept softly behind the bank to watch his motions. He had waded into the water as far as his long legs would allow him[20] and was standing there motionless with his neck drawn in, looking[21] intently on the stream. Presently he darted his long bill as quick as lightning into the water, and drew out a fish, which he swallowed. I saw him catch another in the same manner. He then took alarm[22] at some noise I made, and flew away slowly to a wood at some distance, where he settled.
[1] +von+; in — saw, +auf die von dir beobachtete Weise+.
[2] +die Einsamkeit liebend+; never — inhabits = which goes never far away (+sich entfernen+) from the stream (+Gewässer+, n.) where it has its nest.
[3] +sich ergießen+, str. v. refl.
[4] +betreten+, str. v. tr.
[5] running — noise, +am Ufer entlang hüpfen und pfeifen+.
[6] = looked; and = and were.
[7] +Strandläufer+.