German composition : $b A theoretical and practical guide to the art of translating English prose into German · Hermann Lange
Chapter 1
Chapter 143 of 173 · 2 min read
I will now speak of a habit which I believe is, more than any other, debasing, degrading, and embruting to man, both physically, intellectually, and morally. I am not going to give you an address full of my favourite theme [temperance], but I must speak of it. I must speak of it before this assembly, for I shall never see you again till we meet on that day when we shall see things as they are. Let me then speak of one habit which, in its power, and influence, and fascination, seems to rear its head like a Goliath or Saul above all its kindred agencies of demoralization; I allude to the habit of using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, until that habit becomes a fascination. You will allow me to give my opinions upon these points freely. I consider drunkenness not merely to be a moral evil, but also a physical evil, and it depends a great deal more upon the temperament, and the constitution, and disposition of the young man, whether if he falls into the drinking usages of society, it becomes a habit or not, than it does upon his strength of mind or firmness of purpose.
Take a young man, and he shall be full of fire and poetry. He shall be of a nervous temperament and generous heart; fond of society, and open and manly in everything he does. Every one loves him. That is the man most liable to become intemperate.
= as I believe.
is ... to man, +auf den Menschen wirkt+.
‘both’, +hier und zwar+.
to give an address to a person, +einem eine Rede halten+; of, +über+.
+ich muß dasselbe aber wenigstens berühren+ (allude to).
Render ‘for — are’ Liter. = for we shall see one another only (S. 109, N. 5) on that day, when (+wo+) we shall see (+schauen+) the things in their true form (+Gestalt+, f.).
= in its.
= and its.
= I mean; of using — beverage = of drinking intoxicating liquors.
until — fascination, +bis diese Gewohnheit einen zauberhaften Reiz auf den Menschen ausübt+.
= express.
Say ‘and when a young man once follows the general habit of taking intoxicating liquors, it depends, etc.’
his — purpose, +seine Geistes- oder Willenskraft+.
= who is full of (+voller+) fire.
The student will do well to omit the words ‘He shall be’ and join this period to the preceding one.
Section 230.
AN ORATION ON THE POWER OF HABIT.
