Section 17. THE WORLD IS A LOOKING-GLASS.
Reading edition
We[1] may be pretty certain that persons[2] whom all the world treat ill, deserve entirely[3] the treatment they[4] get. The world is a looking-glass, and gives[5] back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown[6] at it, and[7] it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh[8] at it and with it, and[9] it is a jolly, kind companion[10].—W. M. Thackeray.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · We — certain. Wir können uns ziemlich sicher darauf verlassen.Note 2 · persons — ill = those who have to suffer from everybody.Note 3 · vollkommen.Note 4 · they get, welche ihnen zuteil wird.Note 5 · to give back the reflection = to reflect, zurück´werfen; every man, jeder; face = image.Note 6 · to frown at a person, here ‘einen mürrisch an´blicken’; use the second pers. sing.Note 7 · and — you, und sie wird auch auf dich verdrießlich hernie´derschauen.Note 8 · ‘Laugh at it’ seems to be used here in the sense of: ‘Smile at it’. Say: ‘Smile at it, laugh with it’, etc. ‘To smile at a person’, here ‘eiNote 9 · ‘and — is’, say: ‘and it will be for thee (dir)’.Note 10 · Gefährtin.