He chooses to cut the knot
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Resolveo pois cortar o nó, usando de sua prepotencia, e protelando indefinidamente o cumprimento de seo dever,
He resolved, then, to cut the knot, using his high-handed power, and putting off indefinitely the fulfillment of his duty,
The decision, in the metaphor set up earlier: he will 'cortar o nó,' cut the knot, not untie it. His instrument is 'prepotencia' — raw, high-handed power, the abuse of authority that answers no law but its own will. And his tactic is delay: 'protelando indefinidamente o cumprimento de seo dever,' putting off his duty forever. Power plus procrastination — the oppressor's simplest method, to keep what he has no right to by simply never letting go.
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A Escrava Isaura 8.35 — The Great Library Project interlinear edition · greatlibraryproject.com/book/escravaisaura/8.35/