Herman.  I wish you were burgomaster, Henrich!  I wish you were burgomaster!  Oh—­oh—­oh’

Henrich.  If I might interrupt your business, sir, I should like to make one humble request, and that is that henceforth I might be called “von Henrich.”

Herman.  You shameless rogue!  Is this the time to come to me with such talk, now, when you see that I am caught in a net of nothing but misfortunes and troublesome business!

Henrich.  On my word, I don’t ask out of ambition, but only to command a little respect in the house from my fellow servants, especially from Anneke, who—­

Herman.  If you don’t shut up, I’ll break your neck into little pieces!  Henrich!

Henrich.  Mr. Burgomaster!

Herman.  Can’t you help me get this straightened out, you stupid dog?  Look here, if you don’t clear up my affairs for me, there’ll be trouble.

Henrich.  It’s a wonder that you should ask such a thing of me, you who are such a clever man, and have been called to this high station solely on account of your wisdom.

Herman.  Are you going to make fun of me into the bargain? (He picks up a chair and makes as if to hit him.  Henrich runs out.)

SCENE 9

Herman (sits down with his head in his hands and ponders a long time.  Then he jumps up, startled).  Didn’t some one knock? (Goes softly to the door, but sees no one.  He sits down again, and ponders; falls to weeping, and dries his eyes with papers; he jumps up again and yells as if he were in a frenzy.) A whole pack of papers from the syndics!  The alderman of the hatters!  The alderman’s opponent!  Complaint in twenty headings!  Riot of sailors!  A foreign president!  Impeachment by the council!  Threats!  Isn’t there a rope here at hand?  Yes, I think there really is—­there’s one behind the stove. (Takes the rope and prepares a noose.) It was predicted of me, that I should be elevated by my political studies.  The prophecy will come true, if only the rope holds.  Let the council come, then, with all their threats, I scoff at them, once I am dead.  But there is one thing I could wish for—­to see the author of The Political Stockfish hanged by my side with sixteen copies of The Council of State and Political Dessert hung round his neck. (Takes the book from the table and tears it apart.} You brute!  You shall never mislead another honest tinker.  So, that’s the last bit of comfort before I die!  Now I must look for a hook to hang myself from.  It will be especially noteworthy to have it said after my death:  “What burgomaster in Hamburg was ever more vigilant than Herman von Bremenfeld, who in his whole term of office never slept a wink?”

SCENE 10

(Herman climbs up on a chair, where he remains all through the scene.  Enter Antonius.)