Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/24

 thing about which I do not trouble myself, Rosa is hardly eighteen years of age, and truly, at this age, a daughter ought not to think of quitting a father for a husband. God only knows what awaits her in the future; but I can answer for, as a man assured of the fact, that no noble or citizen, were he rich in mountains of gold, would have the slightest right to the hand of my daughter, if he had not given proof before all of the most finished skill in the labors of the profession I honor, and which I have followed for a half century. All that I ask of him, besides that, is to obtain the love of my daughter, whose inclination I will never force."

Spangenberg and the counsellor fixed their astonished gaze upon master Martin. "So then," said one of them, after a pause, "your daughter is condemned to marry no one except a mechanic, a journeyman cooper?"

"God wills it," replied master Martin.

"But," said Spangenberg, "if the master of another profession, or an artist already celebrated by his works, should ask of you her hand, and if your daughter loved him, how would you decide?"

"My young friend, I should say to this spark," replied master Martin, throwing himself back in his chair, "show me for masterpiece a fine mammoth tun like that which I made in my youth. And if he could not satisfy so legitimate a desire, I would not positively turn him out of doors, but I should desire him, very politely, never to step his foot into my house again."

"Nevertheless," replied Spangenberg, "if the young lover replied to you humbly that he could not offer you such a piece of workmanship, but that this magnificent house, which rises with pride at the corner of the market-place, was built after his plans, certainly a like labor would be worth as much as the workmanship of any other profession."

"Well, for heaven's sake, my worthy guest," exclaimed the cooper, "do not give me ideas which are of little use at this time, and to which I would accord, in any case, very little