German composition

Section 117. THE BLESSEDNESS⁠[1] OF FRIENDSHIP. I.

Reading edition

Section 117. THE BLESSEDNESS⁠[1] OF FRIENDSHIP. I.

A⁠[2] blessed thing it is for any⁠[3] man or (S. 10, N. 9) woman to have a friend; one human soul whom we can trust utterly; a friend who knows the best and the worst⁠[4] of us, and who loves us, in spite of all our faults; who will⁠[5] speak the honest⁠[6] truth to us, while the world flatters us to⁠[7] our face, and laughs at us behind our backs; who will give⁠[8] us counsel and reproof in the days of (S. 3, N. 2) prosperity and self-conceit; but⁠[9] who, again, will comfort and encourage us in the days of difficulty⁠[10], and sorrow, when the world leaves⁠[11] us alone to⁠[12] fight our own battle as we can.

If we have had the good fortune to win such a friend, let us do anything⁠[13] rather⁠[14] than lose him. We must give and forgive; live and let live. If our friend have⁠[15] faults, we must bear⁠[16] with them (S. 4, N. 5, B). We must hope all things, believe all things, endure all things, rather⁠[17] than lose that most precious of all earthly possessions—a trusty⁠[18] friend.

Notes in this chapter

Note 2 · Use the gen. of the def. art. The definite article is always required before nouns representing the whole of a given class, and before abstr Note 5 · A. To sneer at something, über etwas spotten; B. ‘at it’ = there at, darüber. The English pronouns ‘it’, ‘them’, ‘that’, and ‘those’, depend Note 9 · Freiheit des Handelns. Repeat the article before the two following nouns. In German the articles, possessive adjective pronouns, and other d Note 1 · Segen, m.Note 2 · It is a blessing.Note 3 · [1] Segen, m. [2] It is a blessing. [3] every. [4] Superlative of schlimm. [5] will speak = always speaks. Use the Present likewise with the Note 4 · Superlative of schlimm.Note 5 · will speak = always speaks. Use the Present likewise with the following verbs in this passage.Note 6 · aufrichtig.Note 7 · ins Gesicht.Note 8 · to give counsel and reproof to a person, einem mit Rat und Tadel zur Seite stehen; self-conceit, Selbsttäuschung, f.—The adverbial clause ‘i Note 9 · but — again, der uns aber auch.Note 10 · Prüfung.Note 11 · ‘to leave a person alone’, here einen imstich lassen.Note 12 · und wir unsern Kampf, so gut wir können, allein auszufechten haben.Note 13 · um ihn nur nicht zu verlieren.Note 14 · to bear a thing, Geduld mit etwas haben.Note 15 · lieber, which place before the last ‘all’.Note 16 · zuverlässig.