Page:Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (IA diemeistersinger68wagn).pdf/55
(Beckmesser, keeping his eyes fixed on the window, has perceived with rising chagrin Magdalena's evident signs of dissatisfaction; he has sung louder and more hurriedly in order to overpower the continued hammering of Sachs.—He is about to continue when the latter, knocking the key of the last out and withdrawing the shoe, rises from his stool and looms out over the shop-door:)
Sachs.
Beckmesser (in great trepidation).
Sachs
(triumphantly holding out the shoes from the door).
I call that a famous Marker's shoe:
Now hear my Marker's maxim too.—
By long and short strokes dinted
Here on the sole 'tis printed!
Behold it here,
Let it be clear,
And hold it ever dear.—
"Good songs must scan."
On any man,
E'en the Town-clerk, who'd transgress it
The cobbler's strap shall impress it.—
Now run along,
Your shoes are strong;
Trust henceforth to your feet:
They'll keep you on the beat.
(He laughs loudly.)
Beckmesser
(who has retired into the alley again and leaned against the wall between Sachs's two windows, hastens on with third verse, shouting breathlessly with violent efforts to drown Sachs's voice).
Willingly I'd show her.
To win the reward burning
I'm with thirst and hunger.
Now I call the nine Muses
To witness whose is
The poetic gift true.
I lay no faulty stresses,
In the rules I'm no dunce;
Some little awkwardnesses
May excused be for once,
When one's heart fear is swaying
At thus essaying
A fair maiden to woo.
A bachelor,
I'd give my gore,
My place, rank, honorary, all my store,
If you would my song not abhor;
And the maiden would me adore
If she admires it too."
Neighbors
(first a few, then more, open their windows in the alley during the song and peep out).
So late at night, is that allowed?—
'Tis time for bed! Be still, I say!
Just listen to that donkey's bray!—
You there! Shut up and beat retreat!
Go halloa in some other street!
David
(who has opened his shutter close to Beckmesser).
'Tis Magdalena, I declare!
'Oddzounds that's it—I clearly see
'Tis he she favors more than me!—
You'll catch it! Just wait! I'll tan your skin!
The devil help you when I begin!
(David, arming himself with a cudgel, springs out of the window, knocks Beckmesser's lute out of his hands and throws himself upon him.)
Magdalena
(who at last, to make the Marker go, has made exaggerated gestures of pleasure at him, now cries aloud).
A rescue! a rescue! or both will be killed!
Beckmesser (struggling with David).
David.
(They continue to struggle and fight.)
Neighbors (at the windows).
Other Neighbors
(coming into the alley).
You there! stand back! Give him fair play!
If you don't part we'll join the fray.
One Neighbor.
A Second.
First Neighbor.
Second Neighbor.
First Neighbor.
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