Section 163 Tacitus
I am glad to find1, by your (= thy) letter just received, that you are reading Tacitus2 with some relish. His style is rather quaint3 and enigmatical, which (S. 3, N. 7) makes4 it difficult to the student; but then5 his pages6 are filled with such admirable apothegms and maxims of political wisdom, as7 infer the deepest knowledge of human nature; and it is particularly necessary that any one intending to become a public speaker should8 be master of his works, as9 there is neither an ancient nor a modern author who affords such a selection of admirable quotations. You should exercise yourself frequently in10 trying to make translations of the11 passages which most strike12 you, trying13 to invest14 the sense of (S. 25, N. 5) Tacitus in as good English as you can. This will answer15 the double purpose of making yourself familiar with the Latin author, and giving you the command of16 your own language, which no person will ever have17 who18 does not study composition in early life.—Sir Walter Scott, “Letters To His Son.”
Notes
1 here ersehen; by, aus.
2 Use the def. art. accord. to S. 25, N. 5.
3 = unusual and unclear (dunkel).
4 to make difficult, erschweren; student = pupil.
5 = on the other hand, andererseits.
6 = writings, Schriften; filled with such, so voll von.
7 as infer = that they prove.
8 Say ‘should thoroughly (gründlich) know his works’.
9 Say ’as there is (S. 82, N. 7) no classical nor (noch) modern author (Schriftsteller)’.
10 in trying = in the attempt, in dem Versuche.
11 = such.
12 This passage struck me most, diese Stelle machte am meisten Eindruck auf mich.
13 trying = and try.
14 wie´dergeben, sep. comp. str. v. tr.
15 This does not answer my purpose, dies entspricht meinem Zwecke nicht.
16 über.
17 = obtain.
18 welcher sich nicht schon in der Jugend in schriftlichen Aufsätzen übt.