I.

_Passing_ through an ante-chamber, where, in cupboards, stand his mineralogical collections, we enter (App. § 14) the study, a low-_roofed_, narrow room (+Gemach+, n.), somewhat dark (S. 128, N. 11), for it is (S. 2, N. 1) lighted only through two tiny windows, and[1] furnished with a simplicity quite touching to behold.

In the centre[2] stands a plain oval table of unpolished oak[3]. No arm-chair is to be seen, no sofa, nothing which (S. 3, N. 7) speaks[4] of comfort. A plain hard chair has[5] beside it the basket in which he used[6] to place his handkerchief. Against[7] the wall, on the right, is a[8] long pear-tree table, with book-shelves, on which stand lexicons and manuals. Here hangs a pincushion, venerable in[9] dust, with the visiting-cards, and other trifles which[10] death had made sacred. Here[11] also a medallion of Napoleon, with this[12] circumscription: “Scilicet[13] immenso superest ex nomine multum.” On the side-wall again, a book-case, with some works of poets. On the wall to the left is a long desk of soft wood, at[14] which he was wont[6] to write. A sheet of paper with notes of[15] contemporary history is fastened near[16] the door, and behind[17] this door tables[18] of music and geology.

[1] and — behold = and is (+ist+) furnished with an almost (+fast+) touching simplicity.

[2] middle.

[3] +Eichenholz+, n.; the oak = _oak-tree_, is rendered by +Eiche+, f., or +Eichbaum+, m.

[4] speaks = points to; to point to a thing, +auf etwas deuten+.

[5] has beside it = stands beside.

[6] used to place, +zu legen pflegte+. ‘=To use=’, when employed _transitively_, is generally rendered by +brauchen+, +gebrauchen+, +benutzen+, +an´wenden+, and +verbrauchen+, whilst _intransitively_ it is rendered by +pflegen+ or +gewohnt sein+, in the sense of ‘to be accustomed to’, ‘to be in the habit of’, ‘to be wont to do’.

[7] Against = on; on (_or_ to) the right, +rechts+; on (_or_ to) the left, +links+.

[8] +ein langer Tisch von Birnbaumholz.+

[9] in dust = through its age.

[10] which — sacred, +die durch den Tod geheiligt sind+.

[11] Insert ‘is’ or ‘hangs’.

[12] this = the.

[13] Scilicet — multum, Little honour is derived from a great name.

[14] at, +an+.

[15] +über die+ (or +aus der+) +Tagesgeschichte+.

[16] +in der Nähe der Thür+; to fasten, +an´heften.+

[17] +an+; supply ‘hang’ after ‘door’.

[18] +musikalische und geologische Tabellen.+

_Section 130._

GOETHE’S DAILY LIFE AT WEIMAR.