Section 163. Tacitus

I am glad to find⁠, by your (= thy) letter just received, that you are reading Tacitus⁠ with some relish. His style is rather quaint⁠ and enigmatical, which (S. 3, N. 7) makes⁠ it difficult to the student; but then⁠ his pages⁠ are filled with such admirable apothegms and maxims of political wisdom, as⁠ infer the deepest knowledge of human nature; and it is particularly necessary that any one intending to become a public speaker should⁠ be master of his works, as⁠ there is neither an ancient nor a modern author who affords such a selection of admirable quotations. You should exercise yourself frequently in⁠ trying to make translations of the⁠ passages which most strike⁠ you, trying⁠ to invest⁠ the sense of (S. 25, N. 5) Tacitus in as good English as you can. This will answer⁠ the double purpose of making yourself familiar with the Latin author, and giving you the command of⁠ your own language, which no person will ever have⁠ who⁠ does not study composition in early life.—Sir Walter Scott, “Letters To His Son.”

here ersehen; by, aus.

Use the def. art. accord. to S. 25, N. 5.

= unusual and unclear (dunkel).

to make difficult, erschweren; student = pupil.

= on the other hand, andererseits.

= writings, Schriften; filled with such, so voll von.

as infer = that they prove.

Say ‘should thoroughly (gründlich) know his works’.

Say ‘as there is (S. 82, N. 7) no classical nor (noch) modern author (Schriftsteller)’.

in trying = in the attempt, in dem Versuche.

= such.

This passage struck me most, diese Stelle machte am meisten Eindruck auf mich.

trying = and try.

wie´dergeben, sep. comp. str. v. tr.

This does not answer my purpose, dies entspricht meinem Zwecke nicht.

über.

= obtain.

welcher sich nicht schon in der Jugend in schriftlichen Aufsätzen übt.