Sire, you are anticipating history

[Celal]

Hello, this is from Oscar Wilde's play Vera or the Nihilists:

Czar (nervous and frightened): Don't come too near me, boy! Don't come too near me, I say! There is always something about an heir to a crown unwholesome to his father. Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till to-morrow to confess, then hang him!—hang him!

Prince Paul: Sire, you are anticipating history. This is Count Petouchof, your new ambassador to Berlin. He is come to kiss hands on his appointment.

Can you tell what "anticipating history" means here? Could it be that Prince Paul is simply saying "Sire, you are being prejudiced" (or "prejudicial")?

 

[Tarheel]

It must have made sense to Oscar Wilde. However, history has already happened. You can't anticipate it.

 

[Celal]

It must have made sense to Oscar Wilde. However, history has already happened. You can't anticipate it.

It must have meant something in that time. This is an ai comment but I couldn't trust it: "The Czar is prematurely assuming or acting as if certain events, such as a conspiracy involving the ambassador Count Petouchof, have already occurred when, in reality, they haven't."

 

[emsr2d2]

It must have meant something in at that time. This is an ai AI comment but I couldn't don't trust it: "The Czar is prematurely assuming or acting as if certain events, such as a conspiracy involving the ambassador Count Petouchof, have already occurred when, in reality, they haven't."

On this occasion, AI got it right.

 

[jutfrank]

"The Czar is prematurely assuming ...

Yes, I also think that's right.

 

[Celal]

So, it is not wrong if we interpret as "being prejudiced" then, is it?

 

[5jj]

So, it is not wrong if we interpret as "being prejudiced" then, is it?

If we interpret what as "being prejudiced"?

 

[jutfrank]

So, it is not wrong if we interpret as "being prejudiced" then, is it?

You're on the right lines.

I'd say anticipating history is closer in meaning to 'jumping to conclusions'. You think something is true or real without taking time to check whether it really is.

 

[Celal]

If we interpret what as "being prejudiced"?

Interpret "anticipating history" as "being prejudiced"