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.
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.+