Henrich.  Yes, yes, you shall see how much respect sailors have for a woman.  If she goes out there, they may rape her, and then you would be worse off in the end than you were in the beginning.

Herman.  Oh, but she is an old woman.

Henrich.  Sailors aren’t so particular.  I shouldn’t risk my wife like that.  They are knocking again.  Shall I open the door?

Herman.  No, I’m afraid it’s the sailors.  Oh, I wish I were in my grave.  Henrich, run to the door and listen to see who it is.

Henrich.  Look, they are coming right in.  It is two councillors.

SCENE 7

(Enter Abrahams and Sanderus.)

Abrahams. Isn’t the burgomaster at home?

Henrich.  Yes, he’s sitting under the table.  Mr. Burgomaster!

Sanderus.  What?  Are you sitting under the table, your Honor?

Herman.  Oh, good sirs, I never asked to be made burgomaster.  Why have you got me into all this trouble?

Abrahams. You certainly accepted it at one time.  Do come out, your Honor!  We have come to point out the great wrong you did the foreign minister when you dismissed him so haughtily-because of which the city may get into difficulties.  We thought that the burgomaster understood Jus publicum and ceremony better than that.

Herman.  Oh, good gentlemen, you can depose me, and then I shall be relieved of a burden I am too weak to bear, and the foreign minister will get satisfaction at the same time.

Sanderus.  Far be it from us, your Honor, to depose you!  You must come with us straight to the City Hall to consider with the syndics how the error can be remedied.

Herman.  I won’t go to the City Hall, even if I’m dragged by the hair.  I don’t want to be burgomaster, I never did want to be burgomaster, and I’d rather you killed me.  I am a tinker, before God and honor, and a tinker I shall die.

Sanderus.  Will you make fools of the entire council?  Listen, colleague, did he not accept the office of burgomaster?

Abrahams. Certainly, and it is a fact which we have already reported to the council.

Sanderus.  We must consider the matter.  The whole Senate is not going to allow itself to be made game of in this way. [Exeunt Abrahams and Sanderus.]

SCENE 8

HERMAN.  Henrich! (He comes out from under the table.)

Henrich.  Mr. Burgomaster!

Herman.  What do you think these councillors are going to do to me?

Henrich.  I don’t know; they were very angry, I could see.  I am surprised that they dared use such language in the burgomaster’s own room.  If I had been burgomaster, I should have come right out and said to them:  “Shut up, you scurvy-necks!  Stick your fingers on the floor and smell whose house you are in!”