Section 111 Goethe’s Death. — II
In silent anguish they1 now awaited the close now so surely approaching (S. 48, N. 6). His speech was becoming less and less distinct. The last words audible2 were: “More Light!” The final3 darkness4 grew apace, and he5 whose eternal longings had been for more light, gave a parting cry for it as he was passing under the shadow of death.
He continued to express himself by signs, drawing6 letters7 with his forefinger in the air, while he8 had strength, and finally, as life (S. 3, N. 2) ebbed9, drawing10 figures slowly on the shawl which covered his legs. At11 half-past twelve he composed12 himself in the corner of the easy chair. His faithful watcher13 placed a finger on her lips to intimate that he was asleep14. It was a sleep in which a life glided15 from the world. He16 woke no more.—G. H. Lewes, Life of Goethe.
Notes
1 they = his friends, die Seinen.
2 In ordinary prose adjectives qualifying a noun should precede it.
3 final = last.
4 Dunkel (n.) stieg hernieder.
5 he — death = he who had always longed (sich sehnen) for (nach) more light, cried still parting for it (danach) when the night of death overshadowed him.
6 The conjunction indem with a finite verb is frequently employed for rendering the English Participle in -ing used in adverbial clauses of manner; as—
Supporting himself on her arm he slowly ascended the stairs. Indem er sich auf ihren Arm stützte, stieg er langsam die Treppe hinauf.
7 Buchstaben, which place after ‘forefinger’.
8 After ‘he’ insert the adverb noch.
9 dahin´fluten.
10 drew he slowly figures (Zahlen), etc.
11 Um halb eins.
12 to compose oneself in the corner, sich ruhig in die Ecke zurück´legen.
13 Wärterin.
14 Use the Present of the Subj. App. § 28 and § 30.
15 scheiden; from, aus.
16 Say ‘Goethe’ instead of ‘he’; woke = awoke; no more, nicht wieder.