Section 139. A Great Loss

Mr. Thomas Carlyle had lent the Manuscript of the first volume of his “French Revolution” to a neighbour to peruse. By⁠ some mischance or other, it⁠ had been left lying on the parlour-floor, and⁠ become forgotten. Weeks ran on⁠, when at last the historian sent for⁠ his manuscript, the⁠ printers being loud for copy. Inquiries⁠ were made, and⁠ then it was found that the maid-of-all-work, finding⁠ what she conceived to be a bundle of waste paper on the floor, had⁠ used it to light the kitchen and parlour fires with⁠. Such⁠ was the answer returned⁠ to Mr. Carlyle, and his consternation and despair may be imagined (S. 4, N. 4). There⁠ was, however, no help for him but to set himself resolutely to work to re-write his book; and⁠ he turned to and did it. He had no draft⁠, and⁠ was compelled to rake up from his memory facts, ideas, and expressions, which had long since been dismissed. The composition⁠ of the book in the first instance had been a work of real pleasure; the⁠ re-writing of it, a second time, was one of pain and anguish almost beyond belief. That⁠ he persevered and finished the volume under such circumstances affords⁠ an instance of determination of purpose which has seldom been exceeded.—S. Smiles, “Self-Help.”

By — other = Through a mischance (Mißgeschick, n.).

it — lying, hatte man es ... liegen lassen.

and — forgotten = where it was forgotten.

ran on = passed away.

nach.

the — copy = since the printers desired (verlangen) the same.

to make inquiries, Nachforschungen anstellen.

und nun stellte es sich heraus.

finding — floor = in the opinion of finding a bundle of worthless papers on the floor.

had used (benutzen ... zu) the same. Read carefully S. 87, N. 6, and construe accordingly.

with = with it, S. 4, N. 5, B.

Such = that.

= which Mr. C. received.

Es blieb ihm indessen nichts anderes übrig, als.

und er machte sich daran und führte es aus.

Entwurf, m.

and — dismissed = and had to (= must) torture (abmartern) his memory in order to find again the from (von) him long forgotten facts, ideas, and expressions.

composition = work; in the first instance = at first. Supply ‘for him’ after ‘pleasure’.

Say ‘to write it for the (zum) second time was a painful and almost incredibly anxious (angstvoll) work.

Daß er sie durchführte.

= is; determination of purpose = strength of will, Willenskraft, f.; exceeded, übertroffen.