found fault with lately about the people in the house is that we
have such vulgar ways with us all, and myself especially--he never
mentions me without calling me "You low, dirty rascal." A week or so
ago he swore by the devil that Mother Geske should wear an Adrienne;
still, he didn't make any headway, because mistress is an
old-fashioned God-fearing woman, who had rather lay down her life
than part with her lapelled bodice. He is always about to bring
forth something or other, the devil knows what. So if you wish to
succeed in your wooing, you had better take my advice.

ANTONIUS. Well, on my word, I don't believe in beating about the
bush. I go straight to the point. [Exit into house.



SCENE 3


HENRICH. The greatest difficulty about proposing is to hit on
something to start off with. I went courting once myself, but for
two weeks I couldn't make up my mind what to say. I knew, of course,
that you ought to begin with "Whereas" or "Inasmuch," but the
trouble was that I couldn't pick out the next word to hitch on to
that "Whereas." So I didn't bother about it any longer, but went and
bought a formula for eightpence from Jacob tke schoolmaster--he
sells them for that. But it all went wrong with me, for when I got
into the middle of my speech I couldn't remember the rest of it, and
I was ashamed to pull the paper out of my pocket. I swear I could
recite the thing both before and afterwards like my paternoster; yet
when I came to use it I stuck fast. It went like this: