Magdalena, seeing her beloved David in peril screams aloud, until Pogner, deceived by her apparel, pulls her into the room and closes the window, declaring he must go and see that all is safe.  Sachs, who has closed his shutter at the first sounds of the fight, steals out into the street, approaches the young lovers, and, pretending to take Eva for Magdalena, he thrusts her quickly into Pogner’s house, and drags Walther into his own dwelling just as the sound of the approaching night watch is heard.  As if by magic the brawlers suddenly disappear, the windows close, the lights are extinguished, and as the watchman turns the corner the street has resumed its wonted peaceful aspect.

The third act opens on the morrow, in Hans Sachs’s shop, where the cobbler is absorbed in reading and oblivious of the presence of his apprentice David, who comes sneaking in with a basket which he has just received from Magdalena.  Taking advantage of his master’s absorption, David examines the ribbons, flowers, cakes, and sausages with which it is stocked, starting guiltily at his master’s every movement, and finally seeking to disarm the anger he must feel at the evening’s brawl by offering him the gifts he has just received.

Hans Sachs, however, good-naturedly refuses to receive them, and after making his apprentice sing the song for the day he dismisses him to don his festive attire, for he has decided to take him with him to the festival.  Left alone, Sachs soliloquises on the follies of mankind, until Walther appears.  In reply to his host’s polite inquiry how he spent the night, Walther declares he has been visited by a wonderful dream, which he goes on to relate.  At the very first words the cobbler discovers that it is part of a beautiful song, conforming to all the Master Singers’ rigid rules, and he hastily jots down the words, bidding the young knight be careful to retain the tune.

As they both leave the room to don their festive apparel, Beckmesser comes limping in.  He soon discovers the verses on the bench, and pockets them, intending to substitute them for his own in the coming contest.  Sachs, coming in, denies all intention of taking part in the day’s programme, and when Beckmesser jealously asks why he has been inditing a love song if he does not intend to sue for Eva’s hand, he discovers the larceny.  He, however, good-naturedly allows Beckmesser to retain the copy of verses, and even promises him that he will never claim the authorship of the song, a promise which Beckmesser intends to make use of so as to pass it off as his own.

Triumphant now and sure of victory, Beckmesser departs as Eva enters in bridal attire.  She is of course devoured by curiosity to know what has become of her lover, but, as excuse for her presence, she petulantly complains that her shoe pinches.  Kneeling in front of her, Sachs investigates the matter, greatly puzzled at first by her confused and contradictory statements and by her senseless replies to his questions.