A room in Herman’s house.

ACT I

SCENE I

(A Street in front of Herman von Bremen’s house.  Antonius is standing before the door.)

Antonius.  I swear my heart’s in my mouth, for I’ve got to talk to Master Herman and ask him for his daughter, to whom I’ve been engaged for ever so long, but secretly.  This is the third start I have made, but each time I have turned back again.  If it were not for the disgrace of it, and the reproaches I should have to take from my mother, it would be the same story over again.  This bashfulness of mine is an inborn weakness, and it’s not easy to get the better of it.  Each time I go to knock on the door, it is as if some one were holding back my hand.  But courage, Antonius, is half the battle!  There is no help for it, you must go on.  I should spruce myself up a bit first, for they say Master Herman is getting finicky of late. (He takes off his neck-band and ties it on again, takes a comb from his pocket and combs his hair, and dusts his shoes.) Now, I think I will do.  This is the moment to knock.  See! as sure as I’m an honest man, it’s just as if someone were holding back my hand.  Come, courage, Antonius!  I know that you haven’t done anything wrong.  The worst that can happen to you is a “no.” (He knocks.)

SCENE 2

Enter Henrich, eating a sandwich.

Henrich.  Your servant, Master Antonius.  Whom do you want to see?

Antonius.  I wanted to talk with Master Herman, if he was alone.

Henrich.  Oh, yes, certainly he is alone.  He is at his reading.

Antonius.  Then he is more God-fearing than I am.

Henrich.  If an ordinance were issued decreeing that the Herculus should count as a book of sermons, I believe he could qualify as a preacher.

Antonius.  Then has he time to spare from his work for reading such books as that?

Henrich.  You must realize that the master has two professions:  he is both tinker and politician.

Antonius.  The two don’t seem to go together very well.

Henrich.  The same idea has occurred to us.  For when he does a piece of work, which is rarely, there is such a political look to the job that we have to do it all over again.  But if you want to talk to him, go right into the sitting-room.

Antonius.  I have an important errand, Henrich, for between you and me, I want to ask him for his daughter, whom I’ve been engaged to for a long time.

Henrich.  My word, that is an important errand, indeed.  But listen, Master Antonius, you must not take it amiss if I warn you of just one thing:  if you want your suit to prosper, you must tune up your language and make a graceful speech, for he has become devilish particular recently.