[_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 ... OLD BAUMERT [_Trembling with rage, stamping on the floor._] Yes, brood of hell!!! JAEGER [_Reads._] You fiends in fashion human, A curse will fall on all like you, Who prey on man and woman. ANSORGE Yes, yes, a curse upon them! OLD BAUMERT [_Clenching his fist, threateningly._] You prey on man and woman. JAEGER [_Reads._] The suppliant knows he asks in vain, Vain every word that's spoken. "If not content, then go and starve-- Our rules cannot be broken." OLD BAUMERT What is it? "The suppliant knows he asks in vain"? Every word of it's true ... every word ... as true as the Bible. He knows he asks in vain. ANSORGE Yes, yes! It's all no good. JAEGER [_Reads._] Then think of all our woe and want, O ye who hear this ditty! Our struggle vain for daily bread Hard hearts would move to pity. But pity's what _you've_ never known, You'd take both skin and clothing, You cannibals, whose cruel deeds Fill all good men with loathing. OLD BAUMERT [_Jumps up, beside himself with excitement._] Both skin and clothing. It's true, it's all true! Here I stands, Robert Baumert, master-weaver of Kaschbach. Who can bring up anything against me?... I've been an honest, hard-workin' man all my life long, an' look at me now! What have I to show for it? Look at me! See what they've made of me! Stretched on the rack day after day, [_He holds out his arms._] Feel that! Skin and bone! "You villains all, you brood of hell!!" [_He sinks down on a chair, weeping with rage and despair._ ANSORGE [_Flings his basket from him into a corner, rises, his whole body trembling with rage, gasps._] An' the time's come now for a change, I say. We'll stand it no longer! We'll stand it no longer! Come what may! END OF THE SECOND ACT THE THIRD ACT