Thereupon spoke the maiden, and said to her guide and companion: 
“Friend, unto whom I soon am to owe so kindly a fortune,
Shelter and home, while many an exile’s exposed to the tempest,
Tell me concerning thy parents, I pray thee, and teach me to know them,
Them whom with all my heart I desire to serve in the future. 
Who understands his master, more easily gives satisfaction,
Having regard to the things which to him seem chief in importance,
And on the doing of which his firm-set mind is determined. 
Tell me therefore, I pray, how to win thy father and mother.”

And to her question made answer the good and intelligent Hermann: 
“Ah, what wisdom thou showest, thou good, thou excellent maiden,
Asking thus first of all concerning the tastes of my parents! 
Know that in vain hitherto I have labored in serving my father,
Taking upon me as were it my own, the charge of the household;
Early and late at work in the fields, and o’erseeing the vine-yard. 
But my mother I fully content, who can value my service;
And thou wilt also appear in her eyes the worthiest of maidens,
If for the house thou carest, as were it thine own thou wast keeping. 
Otherwise is it with father, who cares for the outward appearance. 
Do not regard me, good maiden, as one who is cold and unfeeling,
That unto thee a stranger I straightway discover my father. 
Nay, I assure thee that never before have words such as these are
Freely dropped from my tongue, which is not accustomed to prattle;
But from out of my bosom thou lurest its every secret. 
Some of the graces of life my good father covets about him,
Outward signs of affection he wishes, as well as of honor;
And an inferior servant might possibly give satisfaction,
Who could turn these to account, while he might be displeased with a
          
                                                 better.”

Thereupon said she with joy, the while him hastening footsteps
Over the darkening pathway with easy motion she quickened: 
“Truly I hope to them both I shall equally give satisfaction: 
For in thy mother’s nature I find such an one as mine own is,
And to the outward graces I’ve been from my childhood accustomed. 
Greatly was courtesy valued among our neighbors the Frenchmen,
During their earlier days; it was common to noble and burgher,
As to the peasant, and every one made it the rule of his household. 
So, on the side of us Germans, the children were likewise accustomed
Daily to bring to their parents, with kissing of hands and with curtseys,
Morning good-wishes, and all through the day to be prettily mannered. 
Every thing thus that I learned, and to which I’ve been used from my
          
                                               childhood,
All that my heart shall suggest, shall be brought into play for thy
          
                                                father. 
But who shall tell me of thee, and how thyself shouldst be treated,
Thou the only son of the house, and henceforth my master?”