Soest.  Stands it so?

Vansen.  I’ll show it you, as it was written down two or three centuries ago.

A Citizen.  And we tolerate the new bishops?  The nobles must protect us, we will make a row else!

Others.  And we suffer ourselves to be intimidated by the Inquisition?

Vansen.  It is your own fault.

People.  We have Egmont!  We have Orange!  They will protect our
interests.

Vansen.  Your brothers in Flanders are beginning the good work.

Soapboiler.  Dog! (Strikes him.)

(Others oppose the Soapboiler, and exclaim,) Are you also a Spaniard?

Another.  What!  This honourable man?

Another.  This learned man?

(They attack the Soapboiler.)

Carpenter.  For heaven’s sake, peace!

(Others mingle in the fray.)

Carpenter.  Citizens, what means this?

(Boys whistle, throw stones, set on dogs; citizens stand and gape, people come running up, others walk quietly to and fro, others play all sorts of pranks, shout and huzza.)

Others.  Freedom and privilege!  Privilege and freedom!

[Enter Egmont, with followers.

Egmont.  Peace!  Peace! good people.  What is the matter?  Peace, I say! 
Separate them.

Carpenter.  My good lord, you come like an angel from heaven.  Hush!  See you nothing?  Count Egmont!  Honour to Count Egmont!

Egmont.  Here, too!  What are you about?  Burgher against burgher!  Does not even the neighbourhood of our royal mistress oppose a barrier to this frenzy?  Disperse yourselves, and go about your business.  ’Tis a bad sign when you thus keep holiday on working days.  How did the disturbance begin?

(The tumult gradually subsides, and the people gather around Egmont.)

Carpenter.  They are fighting about their privileges.

Egmont.  Which they will forfeit through their own folly,—­and who are you?  You seem honest people.

Carpenter.  ’Tis our wish to be so.

Egmont.  Your calling?

Carpenter.  A Carpenter, and master of the guild.

Egmont.  And you?

Soest.  A shopkeeper.

Egmont.  And you?

Jetter.  A tailor.

Egmont.  I remember, you were employed upon the liveries of my people. 
Your name is Jetter.

Jetter.  To think of your grace remembering it!

Egmont.  I do not easily forget any one whom I have seen or conversed with.  Do what you can, good people, to keep the peace; you stand in bad repute enough already.  Provoke not the king still farther.  The power, after all, is in his hands.  An honest burgher, who maintains himself industriously, has everywhere as much freedom as he wants.

Carpenter.  That now is just our misfortune!  With all due deference, your grace, ’tis the idle portion of the community, your drunkards and vagabonds, who quarrel for want of something to do, and clamour about privilege because they are hungry; they impose upon the curious and the credulous, and, in order to obtain a pot of beer, excite disturbances that will bring misery upon thousands.  That is just what they want.  We keep our houses and chests too well guarded; they would fain drive us away from them with fire-brands.