ed
for obstacle, excuses the bridegroom's absence volubly, and sings his
praise loudly, at the same time touching upon the elder son's absence,
and hinting, that he may probably be dead. When Mary steps in, Kezul
wooes her in due form, but is at once repulsed by her. The young girl
owns to having given her heart to the humble servant Hans, in whom
nobody has yet recognized Micha's son. Father Kruschina angrily
asserts his promise to Kezul, cursing Wenzel's timidity, which hindered
him, from making his proposal in person. Kezul however resolves to
talk Hans over to reason.

We find him in the second act, singing and highly praising the god of
love. Afterwards the {364} would-be bridegroom Wenzel finds himself
face to face with Mary, whom he does not know. When he tells her of
his purpose, timidly and stammeringly, she asks him, if he is not
ashamed to woo a girl, who loves another man, and who does not love him
in the least. She at last so frightens the lad, that he promises to
look out for another bride, if his mother permits it. Mary flirts with
him, until he swears never to claim Kruschina's daughter.--Meanwhile
Kezul does his best to convert Hans. He promises to provide for him
another bride, much richer than Mary, but Hans refuses. He offers him
money, first one, than two, than three hundred florins. Hans looking
incredulous, asks "For whom are you wooing my bride?" "For Micha's
son," the matchmaker replies. "Well," says Hans, "if you promise me,
that Micha's son shall have her and no other, I will sign the contract,
and I further stipulate, that Micha's father shall have no right to
reclaim the money later; he is the one to bear the whole costs of the
bargain." Kezul gladly consents and departs to fetch the witnesses,
before whom Hans once more renounces his bride in favour of Micha's
son. He cooly takes the money, at which they turn from him in disgust,
and signs his name Hans Ehrentraut at the foot of the document.

The third act opens with a performance by tight-rope dancers. Wenzel,
who has been quite despondent about his promised bride, is enraptured
by their skill. He especially admires the Spanish {366} dancer
Esmeralda, who bewitches him so entirely, that he wooes her. The
director of the band being in want of a dancing-bear, is not loth to
take advantage of the lad's foolishness. He engages him as a dancer,
and easily overcomes Wenzel's scruples by promising him Esmeralda's
hand. Just