The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete — Page 15
On the other hand, should he yield to the transports of gratitude or affection, which is always apt to exaggerate, and produce no more than the genuine effusions of his heart, the world will make no allowance for the warmth of his passion, but ascribe the praise he bestows to interested views and sordid adulation.
Andererseits, sollte er den Ausbrüchen der Dankbarkeit oder Zuneigung nachgeben, die stets zur Übertreibung neigen, und nichts weiter hervorbringen als die echten Ergüsse seines Herzens, so wird die Welt keinerlei Nachsicht für die Wärme seiner Leidenschaft zeigen, sondern das Lob, das er spendet, eigennützigen Absichten und schmutziger Schmeichelei zuschreiben.
Sometimes too, dazzled by the tinsel of a character which he has no opportunity to investigate, he pours forth the homage of his admiration upon some false Maecenas, whose future conduct gives the lie to his eulogium, and involves him in shame and confusion of face.
Manchmal auch, geblendet vom Flitter eines Charakters, den er keine Gelegenheit hat zu ergründen, ergießt er die Huldigung seiner Bewunderung über irgendeinen falschen Mäzen, dessen künftiges Betragen seinem Lobgesang Lügen straft und ihn in Schande und Verwirrung stürzt.
Whatever may have been the fate of other dedicators, I, for my own part, sit down to write this address, without any apprehension of disgrace or disappointment; because I know you are too well convinced of my affection and sincerity to repine at what I shall say touching your character and conduct.
Was auch immer das Schicksal anderer Widmungsschreiber gewesen sein mag, ich für meinen Teil setze mich hin, um diese Anrede zu verfassen, ohne jegliche Befürchtung von Schande oder Enttäuschung; denn ich weiß, dass Sie zu sehr von meiner Zuneigung und Aufrichtigkeit überzeugt sind, um sich über das zu beklagen, was ich hinsichtlich Ihres Charakters und Verhaltens sagen werde.
Vocabulary
- Andererseits
- On the other hand; conversely
- sollte
- should; ought to (conditional auxiliary verb)
- er
- he; masculine third person singular pronoun
- den
- the; masculine accusative singular article
- Ausbrüchen
- outbursts; eruptions (plural dative form)
- der
- the; feminine/plural genitive singular article
- Dankbarkeit
- gratitude; thankfulness for received benefits
- oder
- or; conjunction offering alternative choices
- Zuneigung
- affection; fondness or tender feeling toward someone
- nachgeben
- to yield; to give in to persuasion
- die
- the; feminine singular nominative/accusative article
- stets
- always; continually; at all times
- zur
- to the; contraction of zu + der
- Übertreibung
- exaggeration; overstatement of facts
- neigen
- to tend; to be inclined toward something
- und
- and; basic conjunction connecting words
- nichts
- nothing; not anything at all
- weiter
- further; more; additionally
- hervorbringen
- to produce; to bring forth or generate
- als
- than; as (comparative conjunction)
- echten
- genuine; authentic; real (adjective)
- Ergüsse
- effusions; outpourings of emotion or words
- seines
- his; masculine genitive singular possessive pronoun
- Herzens
- heart's; genitive form of heart (Herz)
- so
- so; thus; in that case or manner
- wird
- will; future tense auxiliary verb
- Welt
- world; the earth and its inhabitants
- keinerlei
- no kind of; not any whatsoever
- Nachsicht
- indulgence; lenient or merciful treatment
- für
- for; preposition indicating purpose
- Wärme
- warmth; heat or emotional intensity
- seiner
- his; masculine dative singular possessive pronoun
- Leidenschaft
- passion; strong emotion or intense enthusiasm
- zeigen
- to show; to display or demonstrate
- sondern
- but; rather (contrasting conjunction)
- das
- the; neuter nominative/accusative singular article
- Lob
- praise; expression of approval or admiration
- spendet
- gives; donates (third person singular present)
- eigennützigen
- selfish; self-interested motivations (adjective)
- Absichten
- intentions; purposes or planned actions
- schmutziger
- dirty; morally unclean or dishonorable
- Schmeichelei
- flattery; insincere praise or compliments
- zuschreiben
- to attribute; to ascribe or assign
- Manchmal
- sometimes; occasionally or at times
- auch
- also; too; even as well
- geblendet
- blinded; dazzled or deceived (past participle)
- vom
- from the; contraction of von + dem
- eines
- of a; neuter genitive singular indefinite article
- Charakters
- character's; genitive form of character
- keine
- no; not a single (feminine/plural)
- Gelegenheit
- opportunity; suitable occasion or chance
- hat
- has; third person singular present of haben
- zu
- to; infinitive marker or preposition
- ergründen
- to fathom; to investigate thoroughly
- ergießt
- pours out; effuses (third person singular)
- Bewunderung
- admiration; respect and approval of someone
- über
- over; about; across (preposition)
- irgendeinen
- some; any whatsoever (accusative masculine)
- falschen
- false; deceiving or dishonest (adjective)
- dessen
- whose; relative possessive pronoun
- künftiges
- future; coming or forthcoming (adjective)
- Betragen
- conduct; behavior or demeanor displayed
- seinem
- his; masculine dative singular possessive pronoun
- Lügen
- lies; falsehoods or untruths
- straft
- punishes; inflicts penalty (third person singular)
- ihn
- him; masculine accusative third person pronoun
- in
- in; into; within (preposition)
- Schande
- shame; disgrace or dishonor
- Verwirrung
- confusion; state of bewilderment or disorder
- stürzt
- plunges; falls or rushes (third person singular)
- Was
- what; interrogative pronoun
- immer
- always; ever; at any time
- Schicksal
- fate; destiny or fortune predetermined
- anderer
- other; different or remaining (plural)
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