Section 34. The⁠ Means of Conveyance in the Time of Charles II. II

The rich⁠ (S. 5, N. 2) commonly travelled in⁠ their own iron carriages with at least four horses. A⁠ coach and six is in our time never seen, except as part of some procession. The frequent mention, therefore, of such equipages⁠ in old books is likely to mislead us. We⁠ attribute to magnificence what was really⁠ the effect of⁠ disagreeable necessity. People⁠ in the time of Charles II travelled with six horses, because⁠ with a smaller number there was danger of sticking⁠ fast in the mire.—Abridged from Macaulay’s History of England.

Adjectives used as nouns are declined as they would be if the noun, which is understood, were to follow them. They are always written with a capital initial.

in ihren eigenen mit wenigstens vier Pferden bespannten eisernen Kutschen.

‘A — seen’. This clause must be construed thus: ‘Except (Außer) in processions a coach and six (eine sechsspännige Kutsche, see App. § 14) is now never seen’. Supply the words ‘bei uns’ before the p. p.

Staatsfuhrwerke; therefore ... is likely to mislead us = can therefore easily mislead (irre führen) us. The object ‘us’ must be placed immediately after the copula ‘can’.

Wir schreiben der Prachtliebe zu.

really = in reality; ‘effect’, here = consequence.

Say ‘of a’.

One (S. 5, N. 2).

because ... there was danger, weil man ... Gefahr lief; ‘small’, here gering.

to stick fast, stecken bleiben. Use the Supine, for: When the English Gerund (i.e. the verbal in -ing) is governed by a noun, a verb, or an adjective, it is generally rendered by the Supine. Comp. S. 78, N. 14. Examples:

He possesses the gift of speaking well. Er besitzt die Gabe gut zu sprechen.

Do not begin talking! Fangen Sie nicht an zu sprechen!