Part 112

Mr. Thomas Carlyle had lent the Manuscript of the first volume of his “French Revolution” to a neighbour to peruse. By some mischance or other, it had been left lying on the parlour-floor, and become forgotten. Weeks ran on, when at last the historian sent for his manuscript, the printers being loud for copy. Inquiries were made, and then it was found that the maid-of-all-work, finding what she conceived to be a bundle of waste paper on the floor, had used it to light the kitchen and parlour fires with. Such was the answer returned to Mr. Carlyle, and his consternation and despair may be imagined (S. 4, N. 4). There was, however, no help for him but to set himself resolutely to work to re-write his book; and he turned to and did it. He had no draft, and was compelled to rake up from his memory facts, ideas, and expressions, which had long since been dismissed. The composition of the book in the first instance had been a work of real pleasure; the re-writing of it, a second time, was one of pain and anguish almost beyond belief. That he persevered and finished the volume under such circumstances affords an instance of determination of purpose which has seldom been exceeded.—S. SMILES, “SELF-HELP.”

By — other = Through a mischance (+Mißgeschick+, n.).

it — lying, +hatte man es ... liegen lassen+.

and — forgotten = where it was forgotten.

ran on = passed away.

+nach.+

the — copy = since the printers desired (+verlangen+) the same.

to make inquiries, +Nachforschungen anstellen+.

+und nun stellte es sich heraus.+

finding — floor = in the opinion of finding a bundle of worthless papers on the floor.

had used (+benutzen ... zu+) the same. Read carefully S. 87, N. 6, and construe accordingly.

with = with it, S. 4, N. 5, B.

Such = that.

= which Mr. C. received.

+Es blieb ihm indessen nichts anderes übrig, als.+

+und er machte sich daran und führte es aus.+

+Entwurf+, m.

and — dismissed = and had to (= must) torture (+abmartern+) his memory in order to find again the from (+von+) him long forgotten facts, ideas, and expressions.

composition = work; in the first instance = at first. Supply ‘for him’ after ‘pleasure’.

Say ‘to write it for the (+zum+) second time was a painful and almost incredibly anxious (+angstvoll+) work.

+Daß er sie durchführte.+

= is; determination of purpose = strength of will, +Willenskraft+, f.; exceeded, +übertroffen+.

Section 140.

HERO WORSHIP.

Do not think it a mean thing to look up to (+zu+) those who are superior to yourselves. On the contrary, you will find in practice, that it is only the meanest hearts, the shallowest and the basest (S. 128, N. 11) who feel no admiration, but (S. 6, N. 10) only envy for those who are better than themselves, who delight in finding fault with them, blackening (S. 1, N. 3) their character, and showing that they are not after all so much superior to other people; while it is the noblest-hearted, the very men who are most worthy to be admired themselves, who feel most the pleasure, the joy, and the strength of reverence (S. 3, N. 2); of having some one whom they can look up to and admire; some one in whose company they can forget themselves, their own interest, their own pleasure, their own honour and glory, and cry: “Him I must hear; him I must follow; to him I must cling, whatever may betide!”

+Heldenverehrung+, f.

Do — thing, +Halte es nicht für zu gering+.

Use the second person plural; to be superior to a person, +einem weit überlegen sein+.