II.

As _a_ scholar[1], his acquisitions[2] were little superior[3] to those of his unrespected son; and in[4] several points of view the glory of Charlemagne might be[5] extenuated by an analytical dissection. But[6] rejecting a mode of judging equally uncandid and fallacious, we shall find that he possessed in everything that grandeur of[7] conception which distinguishes extraordinary minds[8]. Like Alexander, he seemed born[9] for universal innovation[10]; in a life restlessly active[11], we see him reforming (S. 78, N. 14, _B_) the coinage[12], and establishing the legal divisions of money[13]; gathering[14] about him the learned of every country, founding schools _and_ collecting libraries; interfering[15], but with the tone of a King, in religious controversies; aiming[16], though prematurely, at the formation of a naval force; attempting[17], for[18] the sake of commerce, the magnificent[19] enterprise of uniting (S. 1, N. 3) the Rhine and[20] Danube; and[21] meditating to mould the[22] discordant codes of Roman and barbarian laws into one uniform system.—HALLAM, “THE STUDENT’S MIDDLE AGES.”

[1] Scholar = ‘pupil or schoolboy’ is rendered by +Schüler+; = ‘student’ by +Student+, and = ‘learned man’ by +Gelehrter+. The last sense is applicable here.

[2] acquisitions = knowledge.

[3] superior, +überlegen+, with dat. unrespected = unnoticed.

[4] in many respects, +in mancher Hinsicht+, after which place ‘might’.

[5] be — dissection, +durch eine eingehende Untersuchung geschmälert werden.+

[6] Say ‘But if we reject an equally (+eine ebenso+) partial (+parteiisch+) and (+als+) fallacious (+trügerisch+) mode of judging (+Beurteilungsweise+, f.)’.

[7] Use the gen. of the def. art.

[8] ‘mind’, here +Geist+, m.

[9] born = created; ‘universal’, here +weitumfassend.+

[10] innovations = reforms.

[11] =All parts qualifying a noun must be placed before it.=

[12] +Münzsystem+, n.

[13] form a comp. n. according to S. 36, N. 7, _A_; both nouns are combined in the sing.

[14] Complete the clause by saying: ‘we see him gathering’, etc.,—to gather, +versammeln+; about, +um+; of every country = of all countries.

[15] interfering in religious controversies, +sich mit religiösen Streitigkeiten befassen+; after which place the clause ‘but — King’, and supply ‘always’ after ‘but’; ‘tone’, here = dignity.

[16] This sentence should likewise be introduced by supplying ‘We see him’, after which place ‘though prematurely’ (+zu frühzeitig+); to aim, +streben (nach)+.

[17] Begin this clause with ‘see him’.

[18] for the sake of, +um ... willen+, with Gen.

[19] attempt the magnificent enterprise, +den großartigen Versuch machen.+

[20] and = with the.

[21] +und darauf sinnen.+

[22] the — laws, +die sich widersprechenden römischen und sonstigen Gesetze+; uniform, +einheitlich+; to mould, +verschmelzen.+

_Section 129._

GOETHE’S DAILY LIFE AT WEIMAR.