Section 93. A Curious Instrument. Vi

Father. “Its⁠ uses are so various that I know not which⁠ to specify. It⁠ has been found very useful in deciphering (S. 1, N. 3) old manuscripts, and⁠, indeed, has its use in modern prints. It⁠ will assist us greatly in acquiring⁠ all kinds of knowledge, and without it⁠ some of the most sublime parts⁠ of⁠ creation would be matters⁠ of mere conjecture. It⁠ must be confessed, however, that very much depends on a⁠ proper application of it, being (S. 30, N. 4) possessed by many persons who appear to have no⁠ adequate sense of its value, but⁠ who employ it only for the most low and common purposes, without even thinking, apparently, of the noble uses⁠ for which it is designed, or of the exquisite⁠ gratification⁠ (S. 16, N. 10) it is capable of affording. It⁠ is indeed in order to excite in your minds some higher sense of its value than you might otherwise have entertained, that I am giving you this previous description.”

George. “Well then, tell us something more about it (S. 4, N. 5, B).”

Father. “It is also of⁠ a very penetrating quality, and it can often discover secrets which can be detected by no other means. It⁠ must be owned, however, that⁠ it is equally prone to reveal them⁠.”

Its — various = It serves for (zu) such (so) various purposes (Zweck, m.).

which — specify = which I shall specify (anführen).

It — useful = One has found it of great use.

and — prints = and also in (bei) our modern printing it is indeed of great use.

It — greatly = It helps us much.

sich erwerben; all kinds of, allerlei.

it = the same.

‘parts’ here Gebiete.

Use the gen. of the def. art.

matters = objects.

It — however = I must however confess.

Use the def. art.; proper = right; of it = of the same.

no — sense = a wrong idea (Begriff, m.).

und.

uses = purposes (Zweck, m.).

unvergleichlich, i.e. incomparable.

Genuß, m., i.e. enjoyment.

Say ‘Only to awaken in you a higher idea of its value than you probably (vermutlich) otherwise (sonst) would have had (Pluperfect Subj.), I give you this previous (vorläufig) description’.

of — quality = very penetrative (scharfsichtig).

Say ‘But (Doch) I must confess.

that — prone = that it is just as much (eben so sehr) prone; prone = disposed, geneigt.

them = the same, to agree with ‘secrets’.