German composition

Section 132. THE⁠[1] PROGRESS IN THE ART OF PRINTING.

Reading edition

Section 132. THE⁠[1] PROGRESS IN THE ART OF PRINTING.

(Conclusion⁠[2] of a speech delivered at the Caxton Celebration, June 30, 1877, in London.)

I now call⁠[3] attention, in⁠[4] a few words, to the progress of this art. I hold up a volume in my (S. 43, N. 9) hand, to⁠[5] which I beg everyone to direct his eye, because I think it⁠[6] may be called the climax and consummation of this art. This⁠[7] volume is bound, as you see, and stamped with the arms of the University of Oxford. It is a Bible bound⁠[8] in a manner that commends itself to the reader—I believe⁠[9] in every sense an excellent piece of workmanship, containing more than one⁠[10] thousand pages. Well⁠[11], you will say: “That is very⁠[12] commonplace, why bring it before us?” I do so⁠[13] in order to tell⁠[14] you that this book sixteen hours ago did not exist—it⁠[15] was not bound, it was not folded, it was not printed. Since the clock struck twelve last night at⁠[16] the University Press in Oxford, the people (man) there have printed and sent us this book. They (man) have sent several copies⁠[17] to⁠[18] be distributed here in the midst of your festival. That shows what can be done, and that is what has been done, and⁠[19] it shows the state to which this great art is now happily arrived. If⁠[20] I began with a humiliating confession as to the small share we could claim in contributing to the early history of printing, we may⁠[21] leave off, ladies and gentlemen, in a better spirit, because I think that such a performance as this is⁠[22] one that will be admitted to be a credit in any portion of the world. Now I will trouble you no longer, but (S. 6, N. 10) will ask⁠[23] you to⁠[24] drink with me to the memory of this most distinguished name: “To⁠[25] the memory of⁠[26] William Caxton, the (S. 53, N. 9) first English printer, and a native⁠[27] of this our beloved country⁠[28].”—The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.

Notes in this chapter

Note 10 · The co-ordinative conjunction ‘but’ must be rendered by ‘sondern’, when, after a negative statement, the subsequent clause expresses an idea Note 9 · A. The definite article is often used instead of the possessive adjective pronoun in cases where the possessor is clearly seen from the cont Note 9 · nehmen; the appositional clause ‘the sole relater (Überbringer) of the dismal (traurig) tale (Kunde)’ must be placed immediately after the p Note 1 · Die Fortschritte in der Buchdruckerkunst. The noun ‘progress’ is generally rendered by the corresponding plural form in German.Note 2 · Schluß einer am 30. Juni 1877 bei Gelegenheit der Caxtonfeier in London gehaltenen Rede. William Caxton, der erste Buchdrucker Englands, wur Note 3 · to call a person’s attention to a thing, einen auf etwas aufmerksam machen. Begin with the adv. ‘now’, and supply the personal object ‘Sie’.Note 4 · in a = with; of = in.Note 5 · = which I beg you all to look at (betrachten, v. tr.).Note 6 · it — art = we may (dürfen) consider (an´sehen) it the climax and consummation (als die höchste Stufe der Vollendung) of (= in) this art.Note 7 · Say ‘As you see, this volume (here Einband) is stamped with the arms’, etc.Note 8 · bound — reader = the binding of which must commend (App. § 18) itself at once (sich von selbst) to the reader.Note 9 · Here insert ‘it is’; sense = respect, Beziehung, f.; piece of workmanship = ‘work of art’, which render by forming a comp. n. according to S Note 10 · ’One’ or ‘a’ before ‘hundred’ and ‘thousand’ is, as a rule, not translated in German.Note 11 · Say ‘But (which place after the copula ‘will’) you will perhaps say’.Note 12 · etwas ganz Gewöhnliches, wozu es uns noch zeigen?Note 13 · The English ‘so’ in connection with a transitive verb is generally to be rendered by ‘es’. If we want to emphasize the object, however, we u Note 14 · sagen or mit´teilen.Note 15 · Say ‘it was neither bound, nor ... nor ...’Note 16 · Render ‘at the’ by the gen. of the def. art.; and place the clause ‘at — Oxford’ after ‘clock’. Last night, vergangene Nacht.Note 17 · ‘Copy’ in the signification of ‘specimen’ is rendered by Exemplar, n.; pl. e (= e); Kopie, f., is the written copy of any book, document or Note 18 · Say ‘in order to distribute them here during this festival’.Note 19 · and — arrived = and it shows the high degree (Stufe, f.) of (der) perfection which this great art has reached now-a-days (heutzutage) (App. Note 20 · If — printing = If I began with the humiliating confession that we in respect to (auf) our contribution to the (zur) early (früheren) histor Note 21 · may = can; leave off = conclude; spirit = mood, Stimmung, f.; performance, Leistung, f.Note 22 · is — world, überall in der Welt mit Ehren anerkannt werden wird.Note 23 · ‘To ask’ in the signification of ‘asking a question’ is rendered by fragen or eine Frage stellen, but in that of ‘to request’ by bitten.Note 24 · to — name = to empty your glasses with me to the (zum) memory (Andenken) of (an) this most (höchst) distinguished name; (‘your glasses to em Note 25 · Zum Gedächtnis.Note 26 · Use the Anglo-Saxon genitive here.Note 27 · native = son.Note 28 · country = fatherland.