about them;
But I discovered, betimes, they made ever a laughing-stock of me. 
And I was vexed when I saw it,—­it wounded my pride; but more deeply
Felt I aggrieved that they the good-will should so far misinterpret
That in my heart I bore them,—­especially Minna the youngest. 
It was on Easter-day that last I went over to see them;
Wearing my best new coat, that is now hanging up in the closet,
And having frizzled my hair, like that of the other young fellows. 
Soon as I entered, they tittered; but that not at me, as I fancied. 
Minna before the piano was seated; the father was present,
Hearing his daughters sing, and full of delight and good-humor. 
Much I could not understand of all that was said in the singing;
But of Pamina I often heard, and oft of Tamino: 
And I, besides, could not stay there dumb; so, as soon as she ended,
Something about the words I asked, and about the two persons. 
Thereupon all were silent and smiled; but the father made answer: 
‘Thou knowest no one, my friend, I believe, but Adam and Eve?’
No one restrained himself longer, but loud laughed out then the maidens,
Loud laughed out the boys, the old man held his sides for his laughing. 
I, in embarrassment, dropped my hat, and the giggling continued,
On and on and on, for all they kept playing and singing. 
Back to the house here I hurried, o’ercome with shame and vexation,
Hung up my coat in the closet, and pulled out the curls with my fingers,
Swearing that never again my foot should cross over that threshold. 
And I was perfectly right; for vain are the maidens, and heartless. 
E’en to this day, as I hear, I am called by them ever ‘Tamino.’”

Thereupon answered the mother, and said:  “Thou shouldest not, Hermann,
Be so long vexed with the children:  indeed, they are all of them children. 
Minna, believe me, is good, and was always disposed to thee kindly. 
’Twas not long since she was asking about thee.  Let her be thy chosen!”

Thoughtfully answered the son:  “I know not.  That mortification
Stamped itself in me so deeply, I never could bear to behold her
Seated before the piano or listen again to her singing.”

Forth broke the father then, and in words of anger made answer: 
“Little of joy will my life have in thee!  I said it would be so
When I perceived that thy pleasure was solely in horses and farming: 
Work which a servant, indeed, performs for an opulent master,
That thou doest; the father meanwhile must his son be deprived of,
Who should appear as his pride, in the sight of the rest of the townsmen. 
Early with empty hopes thy mother was wont to deceive me,
When in the school thy studies, thy reading and writing, would never
As with the others succeed, but thy seat would be always the lowest. 
That comes about, forsooth, when a youth has no feeling of honor
Dwelling within his breast, nor the wish to raise himself higher. 
Had but my father so cared for me as thou hast been cared for;
If he had sent me to school, and provided me thus with instructors,
I should be other, I trow, than host of the Golden Lion!”