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112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1810
§ 1. Also das von Zeit diser Verkündung niemand, von was Wirden, Stats oder Wesens der sey, den andern bevechden, bekriegen, berauben, vahen, überziehen, belegern, auch dartzu durch sich selbs oder yemand anders von seinen wegen nicht dienen, noch auch ainich Schloß, Stet, Märckt, Bevestigung, Dörffer, Höff oder Weyler absteigen oder on des andern Willen mit gewaltiger Tat frevenlich einnemen oder gevarlich mit Brand oder in ander Weg dermassen beschedigen sol, auch niemands solichen Tätern Rat, Hilf oder in kain ander Weis kain Beystand oder Fürschub thun, auch sy wissentlich oder gevarlich nit herbergen, behawsen, essen oder drencken, enthalten oder gedulden, sonder wer zu dem andern zu sprechen vermaint, der sol sölichs suchen und tun an den Enden und Gerichten, da die Sachen hievor oder yetzo in der Ordnung des Camergerichts zu Außtrag vertädingt sein oder künftigklich werden oder ordenlich hin gehörn.
As the third night was falling he assaulted the castle with this handful of men, riding down the toll-keeper and the guard who were standing in conversation in the gateway. They set fire to every outhouse in the curtilage, and as these burst into flames Kohlhaas rushed into the castle to find the Junker, while Herse dashed up the spiral staircase into the warden's tower and fell with cut and thrust upon him and the steward, who were sitting half undressed playing cards together. It was as if the avenging angel of heaven had descended on the place. The Junker, amid much laughter, was in the act of reading aloud to a gathering of young friends the edict issued to him by the horse-dealer: but no sooner had he heard the latter's voice in the courtyard than, turning white as a sheet, he cried out to the company: 'Brother's, save yourselves!' and vanished. Kohlhaas entered the hall, seized Junker Hans von Tronker, as he came towards him, by the jerkin and hurled him into a corner, dashing out his brains against the stones.
the Squire, who, to the accompaniment of immoderate laughter, was just reading aloud to a crowd of young friends the decree which the horse-dealer had sent to him, had no sooner heard the sound of his voice in the courtyard than, turning suddenly pale as death, he cried out to the gentlemen—"Brothers, save yourselves!" and disappeared.
"I call that man cast out," answered Kohlhaas, clenching his fist, "who is denied the protection of the laws. For I need this protection, if my peaceable business is to prosper. Yes, it is for this that, with all my possessions, I take refuge in this community, and he who denies me this protection casts me out among the savages of the desert; he places in my hand—how can you try to deny it?—the club with which to protect myself."