Page talk:Novalis Schriften - Volume 2.djvu/140

Notdurft

"Notdurf" means call of nature, in the primary sense of urination. It is translated here call of necessity.

gemeine Volk parterre

"Parterre" is usually a noun. Thhis phrase roughly translates as common folk on the ground floor. Translated by analogy to the idea of groundling in theatres who had to stand on the ground to participate instead of being able to sit above in seats or balconies.

fortgehenden Köpfe

"fortgehenden" means wandering away, departing, but also includes a sense of heading off without thinking about where one is going, so it was translated as mindlessly wandering