German composition

Section 128 Character of Charlemagne. — II

As a scholar⁠1, his acquisitions⁠2 were little superior⁠3 to those of his unrespected son; and in⁠4 several points of view the glory of Charlemagne might be⁠5 extenuated by an analytical dissection. But⁠6 rejecting a mode of judging equally uncandid and fallacious, we shall find that he possessed in everything that grandeur of⁠7 conception which distinguishes extraordinary minds⁠8. Like Alexander, he seemed born⁠9 for universal innovation⁠10; in a life restlessly active⁠11, we see him reforming (S. 78, N. 14, B) the coinage⁠12, and establishing the legal divisions of money⁠13; gathering⁠14 about him the learned of every country, founding schools and collecting libraries; interfering⁠15, but with the tone of a King, in religious controversies; aiming⁠16, though prematurely, at the formation of a naval force; attempting⁠17, for⁠18 the sake of commerce, the magnificent⁠19 enterprise of uniting (S. 1, N. 3) the Rhine and⁠20 Danube; and⁠21 meditating to mould the⁠22 discordant codes of Roman and barbarian laws into one uniform system.—Hallam, “The Student’s Middle Ages.”

Notes

1 Scholar = ‘pupil or schoolboy’ is rendered by Schüler; = ‘student’ by Student, and = ‘learned man’ by Gelehrter. The last sense is applicable here.

2 acquisitions = knowledge.

3 superior, überlegen, with dat. unrespected = unnoticed.

4 in many respects, in mancher Hinsicht, after which place ‘might’.

5 be — dissection, durch eine eingehende Untersuchung geschmälert werden.

6 Say ‘But if we reject an equally (eine ebenso) partial (parteiisch) and (als) fallacious (trügerisch) mode of judging (Beurteilungsweise, f.)’.

7 Use the gen. of the def. art.

[8] ‘mind’, here Geist, m.

9 born = created; ‘universal’, here weitumfassend.

10 innovations = reforms.

11 All parts qualifying a noun must be placed before it.

12 Münzsystem, n.

13 form a comp. n. according to S. 36, N. 7, A; both nouns are combined in the sing.

14 Complete the clause by saying: ‘we see him gathering’, etc.,—to gather, versammeln; about, um; of every country = of all countries.

15 interfering in religious controversies, sich mit religiösen Streitigkeiten befassen; after which place the clause ‘but — King’, and supply ‘always’ after ‘but’; ‘tone’, here = dignity.

16 This sentence should likewise be introduced by supplying ‘We see him’, after which place ‘though prematurely’ (zu frühzeitig); to aim, streben (nach).

17 Begin this clause with ‘see him’.

18 for the sake of, um... willen, with Gen.

19 attempt the magnificent enterprise, den großartigen Versuch machen.

20 and = with the.

21 und darauf sinnen.

22 the — laws, die sich widersprechenden römischen und sonstigen Gesetze; uniform, einheitlich; to mould, verschmelzen.