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  3. Poetry & Literature

alles das abschlagen

English translation: refuse any

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:alles das abschlagen
English translation:refuse any
Entered by: Angie Schneider

12:39 May 15, 2008
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Short Story
German term or phrase: alles das abschlagen
come from the short story, "Gerechtigkeit" by Werner Bergengruen. This is the musings of a land steward who feels he's been wronged by a farmer.

Der Vogt redete ihm zu, allein der Mann blieb stoerisch, sei es, dass er in baeuerlichem Misstrauen glaubte, der Vogt werde den Mantel fuer sich behalten, sei es, dass des Herzogs Sorge fuer die Bauern ihn zu der Meinung gebracht hatte, nun duerfe und muesse er einem Herrn getrost alles das abschlagen, was nicht als seine Schuldigkeit im Gesetz oder Fronbuch verzeichnet stand.

Is this talking about the fact that he had been denied the coat by the farmer?
Angie Schneider
Local time: 04:47
refuse any
Explanation:
made him believe that he could and must confidently refuse any requests from a squire that were not recorded as an obligation under the law or in the socage register

David's translation of the last part seems a bit awkward and leaves out "getrost".
Selected response from:

Ineke Hardy
Netherlands
Local time: 11:47
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4deny anything
David Seycek
4 +2refuse any
Ineke Hardy


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
deny anything


Explanation:
Below is my attempt of a simple English version of this sentence:

The steward tried to persuade him, yet the man remained stubborn, be it because he believed that the steward would keep the coat to himself or because the duke’s concern for the peasantry made him believe that he may and must deny a master’s requests which are not required by law or the socage register.

David Seycek
Austria
Local time: 11:47
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  seehand
34 mins
  -> Danke, Birgitt.
agree  Reinhard Ursprung: Please not: " a master’s requests which are not required by ...", but "a master’s request, which was not required by "
43 mins
agree  franglish: yes, and " master's request" in the singular
1 hr
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): w/ eur0tec; otherwise very good
3 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
refuse any


Explanation:
made him believe that he could and must confidently refuse any requests from a squire that were not recorded as an obligation under the law or in the socage register

David's translation of the last part seems a bit awkward and leaves out "getrost".

Ineke Hardy
Netherlands
Local time: 11:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mill2
2 hrs
agree  Lancashireman: Agree with your point concerning 'getrost'. There is more to this text than meets the eye. Bergengruen seems to be keenly observing the attitudes of both parties here and expressing mock indignation.
20 hrs
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