« Nous sommes venus, continua Stangerson, sur l’avis de nos peres vous demander la main de votre fille. Choisissez, elle et vous, entre nous deux ; mais comme je n’ai que quatre femmes, tandis que frere Drebber ici présent en a sept, il me semble que c’est ma demande qui doit etre le plus favorablement accueillie.
"We have come," continued Stangerson, "at the advice of our fathers to solicit the hand of your daughter for whichever of us may seem good to you and to her. As I have but four wives and Brother Drebber here has seven, it appears to me that my claim is the stronger one."