Quickly he then drew aside the excellent clergyman, saying: 
“Help me, O worthy sir, and speedily out of this trouble;
Loosen, I pray thee, this knot, at whose untying I tremble. 
Know that ’tis not as a lover that I have brought hither the maiden;
But she believes that as servant she comes to the house, and I tremble
Lest in displeasure she fly as soon as there’s mention of marriage. 
But be it straightway decided; for she no longer in error
Thus shall be left, and I this suspense no longer can suffer. 
Hasten and show us in this a proof of the wisdom we honor.”

Towards the company then the clergyman instantly turned him;
But already, alas! had the soul of the maiden been troubled,
Hearing the father’s speech; for he, in his sociable fashion,
Had in these playful words, with the kindest intention addressed her: 
“Ay, this is well, my child! with delight I perceive that my Hermann
Has the good taste of his father, who often showed his in his young days,
Leading out always the fairest to dance, and bringing the fairest
Finally home as his wife; our dear little mother here that was. 
For by the bride that a man shall elect we can judge what himself is,
Tell what the spirit is in him, and whether he feel his own value. 
Nor didst thou need for thyself, I’ll engage, much time for decision;
For, in good sooth, methinks, he’s no difficult person to follow.”

Hermann had heard but in part; his limbs were inwardly trembling,
And of a sudden a stillness had fallen on all of the circle.

But by these words of derision, for such she could not but deem them,
Wounded, and stung to the depths of her soul, the excellent maiden,
Stood, while the fugitive blood o’er her cheeks and e’en to her bosom,
Poured its flush.  But she governed herself, and her courage collecting,
Answered the old man thus, her pain not wholly concealing: 
“Truly for such a reception thy son had in no wise prepared me,
When he the ways of his father described, the excellent burgher. 
Thou art a man of culture, I know, before whom I am standing;
Dealest with every one wisely, according as suits his position;
But thou hast scanty compassion, it seems, on one such as I am,
Who, a poor girl, am now crossing thy threshold with purpose to serve thee;
Else, with such bitter derision, thou wouldst not have made me remember
How far removed my fortune from that of thyself and thy son is. 
True, I come poor to thy house, and bring with me naught but my bundle
Here where is every abundance to gladden the prosperous inmates. 
Yet I know well myself; I feel the relations between us,
Say, is it noble, with so much of mockery straightway to greet me,
That I am sent from the house while my foot is scarce yet on the threshold?”