German composition

Section 77 Absolution Beforehand⁠1

When Tezel⁠2 was at Leipzig, in the sixteenth century (App. § 9), and had collected⁠3 a great deal of money from all ranks⁠4 of people, a nobleman, who suspected imposition, put⁠5 the question to him: “Can you⁠6 grant absolution for a sin which a man⁠7 shall intend to commit in future?” “Yes,” replied the frontless commissioner, “but on⁠8 condition that a proper⁠9 sum of money be actually⁠10 paid down.” The noble (S. 5, N. 2) instantly produced the sum demanded, and in return⁠11 received a diploma⁠12, sealed and signed by Tezel, absolving⁠13 him from the unexplained crime which he intended to commit. Not⁠14 long after, when Tezel was about (S. 6, N. 4) to leave Leipzig, the nobleman made⁠15 inquiry respecting the road he would probably travel⁠16, waited⁠17 for him in ambush at a convenient place, attacked and robbed him, then⁠18 beat him soundly with a stick, sent him back to Leipzig with⁠19 his chest empty, and⁠20 at parting said: “This is the fault⁠21 I intended to commit, and for which I have your absolution⁠22.”—Rev. R. K. Arvine.

Notes

1 Der im voraus erteilte Ablaß.

2 Johann Tezel (eigentlich Diezel) wurde um 1460 zu Leipzig geboren, trat 1489 in den Dominikanerorden, ward 1502 vom Papst zum Ablaßprediger bestellt, später zum apostolischen Kommissar ernannt und mit dem Ablaßhandel in Sachsen betraut, zog sich jedoch, von Luther seit dem 31ˢᵗᵉⁿ Oktober 1517 wegen seiner unverschämten Anmaßungen bekämpft, in das Paulinerkloster zu Leipzig zurück, wo er im Jahre 1519 verstarb.

3 ein´nehmen; a great deal of, eine Masse. Construe accord. to App. § 5.

4 ranks = classes; people, Bevölkerung, f., see S. 3, N. 2.

5 ‘to put a question to somebody’ here = to ask somebody.

6 I propose to use the 2nd pers. pl. in this case, and to supply the adverb auch after the pron.

7 a — future = which one only (erst) intends to commit. See App. § 19.

8 unter, followed by the def. art.

[9] angemessen; to render ‘sum of money’ form a comp. n. of which the noun ‘money’ forms the first component and the noun ‘sum’ the last.

10 actually = directly; to pay down, aus´zahlen.

11 in return, dafür, which place after the verb.

12 ‘diploma’, here Ablaßbrief, m.

13 absolvieren. See S. 16, N. 4; unexplained, ungenannt.

14 Not — after = Soon upon that. See S. 4, N. 5, B.

15 to make inquiry respecting something, sich nach etwas erkundigen.

16 ‘to travel’, here ein´schlagen.

17 to wait in ambush for somebody, einen in einem Hinterhalte auf´lauern.

18 the adverb dann must be placed after the object. To beat a person soundly with a stick, einen tüchtig durch´prügeln.

19 Say ‘with empty chest (Kasten, m.)’, which place immediately after the object.

20 und rief ihm beim Abschied noch zu.

21 ‘fault’, here = sin.

22 Supply here the adverb schon.