German composition

Section 32. REYNARD⁠[1] CAUGHT.

Reading edition

Section 32. REYNARD⁠[1] CAUGHT.

A fox observed⁠[2] some fowls at roost, and wished to⁠[3] gain access to them by smooth speeches. “I have charming news⁠[4] to tell you,” he⁠[5] said. “The animals have concluded⁠[6] an agreement of universal peace with one another. Come down and celebrate⁠[7] with me this decree⁠[8].” An old cock, who was well on his guard, looked⁠[9] cautiously all around, and the fox, perceiving (S. 16, N. 4) this, inquired⁠[10] the reason. “I was only observing⁠[11] those two dogs which are coming this way⁠[12],” replied the cock. Reynard prepared⁠[13] to set off. “What⁠[14],” cried the cock, “have not the animals concluded an agreement of universal peace?” “Yes,” returned the fox, “but those dogs (S. 5, N. 2) perhaps have not yet⁠[15] heard of it (S. 4, N. 5, B).”—Anonymous.

Notes in this chapter

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 2 · after all ... but, doch immer nur; a — thing, etwas Relatives.Note 4 · ‘leaning — musket’. This passage must be changed into a relative clause, thus: ‘who leant (sich stützen) pensively (gedankenvoll) upon the b Note 1 · Der überlistete Reineke (or Reinhard).Note 2 · to observe = to see; at roost, auf ihrer Stange sitzen.Note 3 · to — speeches, durch glatte Worte ihrer habhaft zu werden.Note 4 · charming news = something pleasant. To render ‘you’ use the dat. of the persnl. pron. of the 2nd pers. pl. For the construction see App. § 7 Note 5 · The words indicating the speaker, after a quotation, must be rendered in an inverted form (see App. § 13).Note 6 · to conclude, ab´schließen, str. v. tr.; the agreement of universal peace, der allgemeine Friedensvertrag; to come down, herun´terkommen; sup Note 7 · feiern.Note 8 · Beschluß, m.Note 9 · to look all around, sich nach allen Seiten um´sehen.Note 10 · to inquire the reason, sich nach der Ursache erkundigen.Note 11 · I was observing = I observed (beobachten). Which are coming = which come. The English compound forms of the verb with the auxiliary and the Note 12 · dieses Weges.Note 13 · sich zum Davonlaufen bereit machen.Note 14 · [1] Der überlistete Reineke (or Reinhard). [2] to observe = to see; at roost, auf ihrer Stange sitzen. [3] to — speeches, durch glatte Worte Note 15 · ‘not yet’, here noch nichts.