Section 73. Peter the Great and the Monk

Peter the Great ordered⁠ many foreign books to be translated into the Russian language, and among others⁠ “Puffendorf’s⁠ Introduction to the Knowledge of the States of Europe.” A monk, to whom the translation of this book was committed⁠, presented⁠ it some time after⁠ to the Emperor. The monarch examined⁠ the translation; at⁠ a certain chapter, however, he suddenly changed⁠ countenance, turned indignantly to the monk, and said: “Fool, what did I order⁠ thee to do? Is this a translation?” He⁠ then referred to the original and showed the poor monk a paragraph in which the author had spoken with great asperity⁠ of the Russians, but which had not been translated. “Go,” resumed the monarch, “and instantly carry out⁠ what I have bidden thee to do. It is not to (S. 19, N. 7) flatter my subjects that I⁠ have ordered this book to be translated, but (S. 6, N. 10) to instruct⁠ and reform⁠ them!”—Anonymous.

Use the auxiliary verb of mood ‘lassen’ as a translation of ‘to order’, ‘to command’, and ‘to cause’, when these verbs are connected with the auxiliary ‘to be’ and the Past Participle of another verb; as—

The emperor ordered the ringleaders to be shot. Der Kaiser ließ die Anführer erschießen.

The admiral commanded the ships to be drawn up in order of battle. Der Admiral ließ die Schiffe in Schlachtordnung aufstellen.

He caused the money to be paid to me. Er ließ mir das Geld auszahlen.

Supply here the adverb auch.

Puffendorfs Beiträge zur europäischen Staatenkunde.

an´vertrauen.

überrei´chen; it = the same, which must agree with its antecedent ‘translation’.

after, darauf.

prüfen.

bei.

to change countenance, die Farbe wechseln.

‘to order’, here befehlen. See S. 48, N. 2.

Say ‘Hereupon he opened (auf´schlagen) the original’.

Schärfe, f.; had spoken ... of = had expressed himself (sich aus´sprechen) ... about.

verrichten.

Inverted construction.

belehren.

reformieren; the prep. zu must be repeated before this verb.