German composition

Section 93 A Curious Instrument. — VI

Father. “Its⁠1 uses are so various that I know not which⁠2 to specify. It⁠3 has been found very useful in deciphering (S. 1, N. 3) old manuscripts, and⁠4, indeed, has its use in modern prints. It⁠5 will assist us greatly in acquiring⁠6 all kinds of knowledge, and without it⁠7 some of the most sublime parts⁠8 of⁠9 creation would be matters⁠10 of mere conjecture. It⁠11 must be confessed, however, that very much depends on a⁠12 proper application of it, being (S. 30, N. 4) possessed by many persons who appear to have no⁠13 adequate sense of its value, but⁠14 who employ it only for the most low and common purposes, without even thinking, apparently, of the noble uses⁠15 for which it is designed, or of the exquisite⁠16 gratification⁠17 (S. 16, N. 10) it is capable of affording. It⁠18 is indeed in order to excite in your minds some higher sense of its value than you might otherwise have entertained, that I am giving you this previous description.”

George. “Well then, tell us something more about it (S. 4, N. 5, B).”

Father. “It is also of⁠19 a very penetrating quality, and it can often discover secrets which can be detected by no other means. It⁠20 must be owned, however, that⁠21 it is equally prone to reveal them⁠22.”

Notes

1 Its — various = It serves for (zu) such (so) various purposes (Zweck, m.).

2 which — specify = which I shall specify (anführen).

3 It — useful = One has found it of great use.

4 and — prints = and also in (bei) our modern printing it is indeed of great use.

5 It — greatly = It helps us much.

6 sich erwerben; all kinds of, allerlei.

7 it = the same.

8 ‘parts’ here Gebiete.

9 Use the gen. of the def. art.

[10] matters = objects.

11 It — however = I must however confess.

12 Use the def. art.; proper = right; of it = of the same.

13 no — sense = a wrong idea (Begriff, m.).

14 und.

15 uses = purposes (Zweck, m.).

16 unvergleichlich, i.e. incomparable.

17 Genuß, m., i.e. enjoyment.

18 Say ‘Only to awaken in you a higher idea of its value than you probably (vermutlich) otherwise (sonst) would have had (Pluperfect Subj.), I give you this previous (vorläufig) description’.

19 of — quality = very penetrative (scharfsichtig).

20 Say ‘But (Doch) I must confess.

21 that — prone = that it is just as much (eben so sehr) prone; prone = disposed, geneigt.

22 them = the same, to agree with ‘secrets’.