再则，让我们回忆一下：康德与叔本华已经使得出自同源的德国哲学精神可能指定科学苏格拉底主义的界限了，从而破坏了它沾沾自喜的生存欲，既已限定了科学，就引进一种无限地更深刻更严肃的道德观，我们可以毫不踌躇地称之为概念化的酒神智慧。
Let us recollect further that Kant and Schopenhauer made it possible for the spirit of German philosophy, streaming from similar sources, to destroy scientific Socratism's complacent delight in existence by establishing its boundaries; how through this delimitation was introduced an infinitely profounder and more serious view of ethical problems and of art, which we may designate as Dionysian wisdom comprised in concepts.
那么，德国音乐与德国哲学之一致，这奥妙到底指示我们甚么呢？
To what then does the mystery of this oneness of German music and philosophy point if not to a new form of existence, concerning whose character we can only inform ourselves by surmise from Hellenic analogies?
可不是指示一种新的生活方式。我们唯有从希腊的先例来推测，始能了解这种生活的涵义吗？对于我们站在两种不同生活方式的界线上的今人，希腊人的楷模还保持着无比价值，因为以前一切转变和斗争在那儿留下其典范的痕迹；不过现在我们要颠倒次序来经历希腊天才的各个伟大主要时代，例如，从亚历山德里亚时代倒退到希腊悲剧时代。
For to us who stand on the boundary line between two different forms of existence, the Hellenic prototype retains this immeasurable value, that all these transitions and struggles are imprinted upon it in a classically instructive form; except that we, as it were, pass through the chief epochs of the Hellenic genius, analogically in reverse order, and seem now, for instance, to be passing backward from the Alexandrian age to the period of tragedy.
同时，我们也会感觉到：好象悲剧时代的诞生不过表示德国精神之返回自己，在强大入侵势力长期间强迫它奴役于其治下，过着绝望的野蛮生活之源泉，它敢于在所有民族面前高视阔步，无须罗马文明牵着它学步了，只要它能够坚定地学习一个民族，学习古希腊人——向希腊人学习毕竟是一种高尚的光荣和出众的优越。
At the same time we have the feeling that the birth of a tragic age simply means a return to itself of the German spirit, a blessed self-rediscovery after powerful intrusive influences had for a long time compelled it, living as it did in a helpless and unchaste barbarism, to servitude under their form. Now at last, upon returning to the primitive source of its being, it may venture to stride along boldly and freely before the eyes of all nations without being attached to the lead strings of a Romanic civilization; if only it can learn constantly from one people--the Greeks, from whom to be able to learn at all itself is a high honor and a rare distinction.
今日正当我们经历着悲剧的再生，而只患不知它从何处来，也不了解它往何处去的时候，我们再没有比今日更需要那些最高明的先师吧？
And when were we in greater need of these highest of all teachers than at present, when we are experiencing a rebirth of tragedy and are in danger alike of not knowing whence it comes and of being unable to make clear to ourselves whither it tends?