Page:Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (IA diemeistersinger68wagn).pdf/49

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

The Master Singers of Nuremberg.

45

Let's hasten away!
Oh would that we were gone!

Walter.

Here, through this alley: on!
Servants at the gate
With my horses wait.

(As they turn to dive into the alley Sachs places his lamp behind a water-globe and sends a bright stream of light through the now wide open door across the street, so that Eva and Walter suddenly find themselves illuminated.)

Eva (hastily pulling Walter back).

Ah me! the cobbler! What would he say!
Hide thee!—keep well out of his way!

Walter.

What other road leads to the gate?

Eva (pointing R).

Round by the street here, but 'tis not straight;
I know it not well; besides, we should meet
With the watchman.

Walter.

Well then, through the alley?

Eva.

The cobbler must first leave his window-seat.

Walter.

I'll force him then. Here's for a sally!

Eva.

Shew not yourself: he knows you!

Walter.

Who is he?

Eva.

'Tis Sachs.

Walter.

Hans Sachs? my friend?

Eva.

Not quite!
With slanders against you he is busy.

Walter.

What, Sachs? He too?—I'll put out his light!

(Beckmesser comes up the alley slinking at some distance in the rear of the Watchman. He peers up at Pogner's windows and, leaning against Sachs' house, seeks out a stone seat on which he places himself, still looking at the upper windows, and now he commences to tune a lute he has brought with him.)

Eva (restraining Walter).

Forbear!—Now hark!

Walter.

A lute I hear.

Eva.

What a mishap!

Walter.

Why need you fear?
The cobbler's light has ceased to glare:
Let's make the attempt!

Eva.

Ah! see you not there?
Some other comes to spoil our plan.

Walter.

I hear and see: some player man.
What wants he here so late at night?

Eva.

'Tis Beckmesser!

Sachs
(on hearing the first sounds of the lute has, as if struck with a new idea, withdrawn his light, gently opened the lower half of his shop-door and placed his work-bench on the threshold. He now hears Eva's exclamation).

Aha! I'm right!

Walter.

The Marker here? and placed in my pow'r?
Here goes! The fool shall rue this hour!

Eva.

Oh heav'n! Forbear. Would you wake my father?
He'll sing his song and quit us then.
Let's hide behind the foliage rather,
Oh dear! what trouble you give, you men!

(She draws Walter behind the bushes on the bench under the lime-tree.)

(Beckmesser impatiently tinkles on his lute waiting for the window to open. As he is about to commence his song, Sachs turns his light full on the street again and begins to hammer loudly on his last, singing lustily the while.)

Sachs.

Tooral looral!
Tiddy fol de rol!
Oho! Tralala! Oho!
When mother Eve from Paradise
Was by the Almighty driven,
Her naked feet, so small and nice,
By stones were sorely riven.
This troubled much the Lord,
Her footsies he ador'd;
And angel he did straightway choose:
"Go make that pretty sinner shoes!
And as poor Adam limps around
And breaks his toes on stony ground,
That well and wide
His legs may stride,
Measure him for boots beside!"

x