vantage, both for the people and for art. There you have Hans
Sachs's opinion!"

No one agrees with him, of course. "You no doubt mean well, but
it would be a mistake.... If the people is to have a voice, I,
for one, shall keep my mouth shut.... If art is to run after the
favour of the people, it cannot fail to come to grief and
contempt."--"His success would be enormous, no doubt, who urges
this matter so stiffly," Beckmesser puts in spitefully; "His
compositions are nearly all popular street-songs!"

Pogner sets Sachs's suggestion aside with perfect civility and good
humour. "The thing I am about to do is novel already. Too much novelty
at one time might bring in its wake regret...."--"Sufficient to me,"
Sachs yields the point, "is the maiden's right of refusal!"--"That
cobbler always excites my wrath!" mutters Beckmesser.

They pass to the order of the day. "Who enters the lists as a candidate?
A bachelor he must be."--"Or perhaps a widower?" offers Beckmesser;
"Ask Sachs!"--"Oh, no, master Beckmesser," Sachs retorts; "Of younger
wax than either you or I must the suitor be, if Evchen is to bestow
the prize on him!"--"Younger than I, too?... Coarse fellow!"

At the question whether any be on the spot who wish to take the
song-trial, Pogner presents Walther von Stolzing, as one desirous
of being that same day elected master-singer. The motif of Wather's
presentation gives a clear idea of the knight's charming appearance,
his grace, his elastic step, his hat and feathers, the delicate
haughtiness of his bearing, in keeping with his proud name.

A black suspicion enters Beckmesser's breast at sight of him: he is
the card which Pogner has all along had up his sleeve. The town-clerk
declares promptly that it is too late now to enter the new-comer. The
masters exchange glances: "Anoble?... Is it a case for rejoicing?
Or is there danger in it?... The fact that Master Pogner speaks for
him has its weight, certainly..."--"If he is to be welcomed among
us," says Kothner, somewhat forbiddingly, "he must show proper
recommendations."--"Do not mistake me," Pogner hastens to say;
"Though I wish him good fortune, I have no thought of waiving any
rule. Put to him, gentlemen, the customary questions." At the very
first question, however, whether he be free and honourably born,
Pogner hurriedly prevents Walther's answer by his own, making himself
voucher for him in every respect such as that. The generous Sachs,
feeling the somet