II.

Let us act in this spirit, and our work is[1] easy. The noble lord (S. 5, N. 2), towards[2] the conclusion of his speech, spoke of the cloud which is at present hanging[3] over Ireland. It is a dark and heavy cloud, and its darkness expands[4] over the feelings of men in all parts of the British Empire. But[5] there is a consolation that we may all take to ourselves. An inspired king, bard, and prophet has left[6] us words which[7] are not only the expression of a fact, but we may take them as the utterance of a prophecy. He says: “To[8] the upright there arises light in the darkness.”

Let us try in this matter to be upright[9]. Let us try to be just, and that cloud will[10] be dispelled; the dangers which we see will vanish; and we[11] may have the happiness of leaving[6] (S. 1, N. 3) to our children the heritage of an honourable citizenship in a united and prosperous[12] empire.—THE RIGHT HON. JOHN BRIGHT.

[1] is easy = will be easy for us (Dat. of persn. pron.).

[2] +an+, contr. with the dat. of the def. art.

[3] +schweben.+

[4] +sich erstre´cken.+

[5] Say ‘But one consolation we can all gather from it’. To gather, +entnehmen+; from, aus. Read S. 4, N. 5, _B_.

[6] +hinterlassen+, insep. comp. str. v.

[7] Say ‘which not merely designate (+bezeichnen+) a fact (S. 115, N. 2), but (S. 6, N. 10) which we may (= can) also take (+hin´nehmen+) as a prophecy (read App. § 18)’.

[8] “+Für den Gerechten erhebt sich ein Licht in der Finsternis+”.

[9] I think there is but the adj. ‘+gerecht+’ to render both ‘upright’ and ‘just’ in the underlying sense.

[10] +wird sich verteilen.+

[11] we may have = we shall perhaps have; happiness = joy.

[12] prosperous, +glücklich+; empire = state.

_Section 123._

DR. GUTHRIE ON RAGGED SCHOOLS[1].