Section 17. The World Is A Looking-Glass

We⁠ may be pretty certain that persons⁠ whom all the world treat ill, deserve entirely⁠ the treatment they⁠ get. The world is a looking-glass, and gives⁠ back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown⁠ at it, and⁠ it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh⁠ at it and with it, and⁠ it is a jolly, kind companion⁠.—W. M. Thackeray.

We — certain. Wir können uns ziemlich sicher darauf verlassen.

persons — ill = those who have to suffer from everybody.

vollkommen.

they get, welche ihnen zuteil wird.

to give back the reflection = to reflect, zurück´werfen; every man, jeder; face = image.

to frown at a person, here ‘einen mürrisch an´blicken’; use the second pers. sing.

and — you, und sie wird auch auf dich verdrießlich hernie´derschauen.

‘Laugh at it’ seems to be used here in the sense of: ‘Smile at it’. Say: ‘Smile at it, laugh with it’, etc. ‘To smile at a person’, here ‘einen freundlich an´blicken’.

‘and — is’, say: ‘and it will be for thee (dir)’.

Gefährtin.