German composition

Section 94 A Curious Instrument. — VII

Charles. “What! can it speak then?”

Father. “It is sometimes said (S. 54, N. 13) to⁠1 do so, especially when⁠2 it happens to meet with⁠3 one of its own species.”

George. “What colour are⁠4 these instruments?”

Father. “They vary⁠5 considerably in this respect.”

George. “Well, what colour is yours?”

Father. “I believe it is of a darkish colour; but if I shall confess the truth (S. 27, N. 8), I must say that I never saw (S. 48, N. 2) it⁠6 in my life.”

Both. “Never⁠7 saw it in your life?”

Father. “No, nor⁠8 do I wish; but I have seen a representation of it, which (S. 48, N. 6) is so exact that my curiosity is quite satisfied.”

George. “But why don’t you look⁠9 at the thing itself?”

Father. “I should be in great danger⁠10 of losing it, if I⁠11 did.”

Charles. “Then you could buy (S. 58, N. 8) another.”

Father. “Nay⁠12, I believe I could not prevail⁠13 upon any one to part with such (S. 28, N. 9) a thing⁠14.”

George. “Then, how did you get yours?”

Father. “I am so fortunate as⁠15 to be possessed of more than one; but⁠16 how I got them I really cannot recollect⁠17.”

Charles. “Not recollect! Why⁠18, you said you brought⁠19 them from London to-night!”

Father. “So⁠20 I did; I should be sorry if I had left them behind me (see App. § 36).”

Charles. “Now⁠21, father, do tell us the name of this curious instrument!”

Father. “It is—the Eye.”—Jane Taylor.

Notes

1 ‘to do so’, referring to the preceding verb ‘speak’, must be rendered by the infinitive of that verb.

2 when — with = when it accidentally comes together with.

3 with — species, mit einem seinesgleichen.

4 are = have.

5 to vary considerably, sehr verschieden sein.

6 Supply the adverb noch after the object.

7 Never — life? = You have never seen it in your life?

8 ich wünsche es auch nicht.

9 to look at a thing, sich ein Ding an´sehen.

10 ‘to be in great danger’, here Gefahr laufen.

11 Supply here the object ‘es’.

12 O nein.

13 to prevail upon any one, jemand überr´eden.

14 ‘thing’, here Gegenstand, m.

15 noch mehr als eines zu besitzen.

16 but — them, aber wie ich dazu gekommen bin.

17 to recollect, sich etwas ins Gedächtnis zurück´rufen.

18 The English ‘why’ is, in this instance, best rendered by the adverb ‘ja’, which place after the verb.

19 Use the Perf. Subj., according to App. §§ 28 and 30; here mit´bringen.

20 Gewiß habe ich das.

21 Say ‘But father, tell us at last,’ and supply the adverb ‘doch’ after the pron. ‘us’. Comp. Lange’s German Manual, p. 354, L. 31, N. 4.