Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/277

 (The words of the song make a strong impression on Old Baumert. Deeply agitated, he struggles against the temptation to interrupt Moritz. At last he can keep quiet no longer.)

(to his wife, half laughing, half crying, stammering):—"Stretched on the rack day after day." Whoever wrote that, mother, knew the truth. You can bear witness eh, how does it go? "Our heavy sighs their witness bear" what's the rest?


 * —"To spirit slowly breaking."

day and night, sleepin' an' wakin'.
 * —You know the way we sigh, mother,

(Ansorge has stopped working, and cowers on the floor, strongly agitated. Mother Baumert and Bertha wipe their eyes frequently during the course of the reading.)

(continues to read):—

The Dreissigers true hangmen are, Servants no whit behind them; Masters and men with one accord Set on the poor to grind them. You villains all, you brood of hell

(trembling with rage, stamping on the floor):—Yes, brood of hell!!!

(reads):—

You fiends in fashion human, A curse will fall on all like you, Who prey on man and woman.


 * —Yes, yes, a curse upon them!

(clenching his fist, threateningly):—You prey on man and woman.