Nuremberg, is bidden by his sweetheart Magdalena, Eva's servant, to
instruct the young knight in the hundred and one rules which beset the
singer's art. The list of technicalities which David rattles off fills
Walther with dismay, and he makes up his mind to trust to his native
inspiration. The Mastersingers now assemble, and Pogner announces that
Eva's hand is to be the prize of the singing contest next day. Walther
now steps forward as a candidate for admission to the guild. First he
must sing a trial song, and Beckmesser, the malicious little ape of a
town-clerk, is appointed marker, to sit in a curtained box and note down
upon a slate every violation of the rules of singing which may occur in
the candidate's song. Walther sings from his heart of love and spring.
The untutored loveliness of his song fills the hide-bound Mastersingers
with dismay, and Beckmesser's slate is soon covered. Walther, angry and
defeated, rushes out in despair, and the assembly breaks up in
confusion. Only the genial Hans Sachs finds truth and beauty in the
song, and cautions his colleagues against hasty judgment.

The scene of the second act is laid at a delightfully picturesque
street-corner. Sachs is musing before his shop-door when Eva comes to
find out how Walther had fared before the Mastersingers. Hans tells her
of his discomfiture, and, by purposely belittling Walther's claims to
musicianship, discovers what he had before suspected, that she loves the
young knight. Sachs loves Eva himself, but finding out the state of her
affections, nobly determines to help her to win the man of her heart.
Walther now comes to meet his love, and, full of resentment against the
Masters, proposes an elopement. Eva readily agrees, but Sachs, who has
overheard them, frustrates the scheme by opening his window and throwing
a strong light upon the street by which they would have to pass.
Beckmesser, lute in hand, now comes down the street and begins a
serenade under Eva's window. Sachs drowns his feeble piping with a lusty
carol, hammering away meanwhile at a pair of shoes which he must finish
that night for Beckmesser to wear on the morrow. Beckmesser is in
despair. Finally they come to an arrangement. Beckmesser shall sing his
song, and Sachs shall act as 'marker,' noting every technical blunder in
the words and tune with a stroke of his hammer. The result is such a din
as disturbs the slumbers of the neighbours. David, the apprentice, comes
out and rec