German composition : $b A theoretical and practical guide to the art of translating English prose into German · Hermann Lange
Chapter 4
Chapter 11 of 173 · 1 min read
The officer replied that he would rather lose his own life than take away that of his deliverer. The Indian, bending down his (S. 43, N. 9, A) head, and covering his face with both his hands, stood some time silent. Then, looking earnestly at his prisoner, he said, in a voice that was at once softened by tenderness and grief: “Hast thou a father?” “My father,” said the young man, “was alive when I left my country.” “Alas!” said the Indian, “how wretched must he be!” He paused a moment, and then added: “Dost thou know that I have been a father? I am a father no more. I saw my son fall in battle. He fought at my side. I saw him expire. He was covered with wounds, when he fell dead at my feet.”
that — deliverer = that he would rather die than kill his deliverer. See App. §§ 28 and 30.
The two Participles in -ing are best rendered by using the Imperfect.
stood — silent, +und stand so eine Weile schweigend da+.
Say ‘Upon this (+Hierauf+) he looked’, etc.
he — grief, +und fragte mit von Zärtlichkeit und Kummer gedämpfter Stimme+.
+war noch am Leben.+
+Heimat+, f.
exclaimed.
unhappy.
+zögern+, i.e. to hesitate.
+daß auch ich einst Vater war?+
Say ‘But now I (App. § 14) am it no more’.
We use here the def. art.
+nie´derfallen.+
Section 45.
THE INDIAN CHIEF.
