BERNAIS' GERMAN GRAMMAR.*
BETWEEN thirty and forty years ago, the new-born po$trof the Germans made their language a popular study amongst us.' When our enthusiasm had burnt itself out, it was discovered that the fustian of these writers was fully equal to their sublimity ; that much of their * A compendious German Grammar, with a Dictionary of Prefixes and Affixes, Stc. By A. Burleys, editor-of the" German Poetical Anthology." London, 1830. knowledge of . human nature was mere twaddle ; and that their stove- heated sentimentality did not suit the air-braced constitution of other people. SCHILLER and KOTZEBUE were then despised, and their language was almost forgotten. At present the music of Germany is effecting what its plays formerly effected. That the words to which the expressive melodies of MOZART and WEBER were originally sung, cannot be deficient in harmony, is a palpable truth, of which, though it was long doubted by those who mistook crooked letters for discor- dant sounds, all London is now well convinced. Our Utilitarians, who sometimes grumble because the world does not go forward ex- actly in the course they wish, feel, we are told, a little offended, that the grand speculations of the philosophers, and the vast learning of the scholars of Germany, should have had less influence than its poets and composers : they may, however, find consolation in reflecting, that those who have learnt the language to comprehend an opera or sing at a concert, may hereafter study KANT or FICHHORN, and the philosophy and theology of Germany may gradually become known and generally appreciated. The paths that lead to learning and wis- dom are not always rugged and thorny. Alreadyf in the beau monde, the harmonious and stately Italian is rivalled by her more flexible and more energetic sister; while, among the plodding sons of commerce, the German, as a language by means of which vast stocks of casimeres and cottons can be sold at Leipsic or Frankfort, is much studied. These circumstances are now calling into existence a number of books calculated to teach it ; and good ones are much wanted. That of Mr. I3ERNAYS is a transcript Of his lessons at the City of London Literary and Scientific Institution, and has the great merit of being at once brief and practical : but no art, we must warn both teachers and stu- dents, can now reduce the multifarious forms of the German gram- mar to the simplicity of the first rules of arithmetic. The whole is complicated and perplexed; and will never be otherwise, till gram- marians shall think that concord and government, declension and case, gender and mood, ought to be subservient to the principles of reason in language. In the mean time, every student must be grate- ful to a teacher who endeavours, like Mr. BERNAYS, to lessen the dif- ficulties of an irksome task, which, when good sense shall guide the labours of grammarians, willsnot have to be performed.
Previous page
