German composition

Section 206 The Two Schoolboys, or Eyes and No Eyes. — VI

Tutor.—It does so⁠1; and you may probably have observed the same apparent enlargement of the moon at its rising⁠2.

William.—I have⁠3; but pray what is the reason of this?

Tutor.—It is an optical deception, depending upon principles which I cannot well explain to you, till you know more of that branch of science. But what a number of new ideas this afternoon’s walk has afforded you. I do not wonder that you found it amusing⁠4, and it has been very instructive too. Did you see (S. 48, N. 2) nothing of all these sights, Robert?

Robert.—I saw some of them, but I did not take particular notice of them.

Tutor.—Why not?

Robert.—I do not know. I did not care about them; and I made the best of my way home⁠5.

Tutor.—That would have been (App. § 33) right, if you had been sent on a message⁠6; but as you only walked for amusement⁠7, it would have been wiser to have sought out as many sources of it as possible⁠8. But as it is⁠9: one man walks through the world with the eyes open, and another with them shut, and⁠10 upon this difference depends all the⁠11 superiority the one acquires above the other. I have known sailors⁠12 who have been in all the quarters of the world, and could tell you nothing but⁠13 the signs of the tippling houses they frequented⁠14 in different ports, and the price and quality of the liquor. On the other hand⁠15, a Franklin could not even cross the Channel without making some observation useful to mankind⁠16. While many a vacant, thoughtless youth is whirled throughout Europe⁠17, without gaining⁠18 a single idea worth crossing a street for⁠19, the observing eye and inquiring mind find matter of improvement and delight⁠20 in every ramble in town or country. Do you then, William, continue to make use of your eyes; and you, Robert, learn that eyes were given you to use.—Dr. Aikin.

Notes

1 = Quite right.

2 of — rising, beim Aufgange des Mondes.

3 = Yes.

4 = interesting.

5 and — home = and went home as quickly as possible.

6 if — message, hätte man dich ausgeschickt, um eine Besorgung zu verrichten.

7 to walk for amusement, einen Spaziergang machen.

8 to — possible, hättest du denselben so viel wie möglich auszubeuten gesucht.

9 Es ist aber nun einmal so; one man, der eine; another, der andere.

10 and just (gerade).

11 = the great.

12 Schiffer.

13 and — but, dennoch aber von nichts anderem zu erzählen wußten, als von.

14 = visited.

15 Andererseits hingegen.

16 Use the attributive construction.

17 ganz Europa durchfliegt.

18 sich an´eignen.

19 worth — for = for (wegen) which it would have been worth while to go over the street.

20 zur Belehrung und zum Genusse. The words ‘in every ramble’ must be placed after ‘mind’.