Part 94

Admiral Jervis, Earl of St. Vincent, tells us the story of his early struggles, and, among other things, of his determination (S. 1, N. 2) to keep out of debt. “My father had a very large family,” said he, “with limited means. He gave me twenty pounds (S. 58, N. 3) at starting, and that was all (S. 3, N. 7) he ever gave me. After I had been a considerable time at the station at sea I drew for twenty more, but the bill came back protested. I was mortified at this rebuke, and made a promise, which I have ever kept, that I would never draw another bill without a certainty of its being paid. I immediately changed my mode of living, quitted my mess, lived alone, and took up the ship’s allowance, which I found quite sufficient; washed and mended my own clothes; made a pair of trousers out of the ticking of my bed, and, having (S. 55, N. 1) by these means saved as much money as would redeem my honour, I took up my bill. From (S. 102, N. 4) that time to this I have taken care to keep within my means.”

Jervis (S. 5, N. 2) for six years endured pinching privation, but preserved his integrity, studied his profession with success, and gradually rose by merit and bravery to the highest rank.—S. SMILES, SELF-HELP.

Early Privations, +Jugendentbehrungen+; the story — struggles. This passage, literally rendered, is not clear in German, and should be turned thus: of (+von+) the struggles with privations, which he had to go through (+bestehen+), when he was a youth (+als Jüngling+, which place after the subject ‘he’).

among other things = +unter anderem+.

+sich von Schulden freihalten.+

at starting, +beim Beginn meiner Laufbahn+; see App. § 9.

+je+; for the position of the pronoun ‘me’ see App. § 9, and use the verb in the Perfect, omitting, however, the auxiliary according to App. § 22.

+auf meinem Posten zur See.+

I — more = I drew another (+noch ein+) bill of twenty pounds. To draw a bill, +einen Wechsel ziehen+.

to come back protested, +mit Protest wieder zurück´kommen+.

I felt (+sich fühlen+).

mortified = humbled, +gedemütigt+; at, +durch+.

‘to make a promise’, here +ein Gelübde ablegen+.

ever = always, +stets+.

that — bill. This clause is best changed into a shortened subordinate clause in form of a supine: never to draw a bill again. Place ‘again’ after ‘never’.

without — paid, +ohne auch sicher zu sein, daß man ihn honorieren würde+.

‘To quit’, here to give up.

+Offizierstisch.+

To live, equivalent to reside or dwell, is generally rendered by +=wohnen=+; but equivalent to exist is rendered by +=leben=+.

+und hielt mich an die Schiffsrationen+; quite, +durchaus+.

here +flicken+.

bed = bed-covering; Comp. n. S. 36, N. 7, A.

by these means = in (+auf+) this manner.

as — honour = in order to redeem (+wieder ein´lösen+) my honour.

to take up one’s bill, +seinen Wechsel bezahlen+.

Say ‘I have always endeavoured’.

to keep within one’s means, +nicht über seine Mittel hinaus leben+; for six years, +sechs Jahre lang+.

We would use the superlative here; pinching, +drückend+.