human
and therefore do not mean a wretched
gpt
For their life is the property even of those who cannot work; if we (no matter for what reason) want them not to withdraw this life from us, we can mean to bring this to pass only by purchase; nay, we shall perhaps (maybe because we like to have friendly faces about us) even want a life of comfort for them. In short, we want nothing presented by you, but neither will we present you with anything. For centuries we have handed alms to you from good-hearted--stupidity, have doled out the mite of the poor and given to the masters the things that are--not the masters'; now just open your wallet, for henceforth our ware rises in price quite enormously. We do not want to take from you anything, anything at all, only you are to pay better for what you want to have. What then have you?
human
I have an estate of a thousand acres. And I am your plowman, and will henceforth attend to your fields only for one thaler a day wages.
gpt
Then I'll take another. You won't find any, for we plowmen are no longer doing otherwise, and, if one puts in an appearance who takes less, then let him beware of us. There is the housemaid, she too is now demanding as much, and you will no longer find one below this price.
human
Why, then it is all over with me. Not so fast! You will doubtless take in as much as we; and, if it should not be so, we will take off so much that you shall have wherewith to live like us.
gpt
But I am accustomed to live better. We have nothing against that, but it is not our lookout; if you can clear more, go ahead. Are we to hire out under rates, that you may have a good living? The rich man always puts off the poor with the words,
human
What does your want concern me? See to it how you make your way through the world; that is _your affair_, not mine. Well, let us let it be our affair, then, and let us not let the means that we have to realize value from ourselves be pilfered from us by the rich.
gpt
But you uncultured people really do not need so much. Well, we are taking somewhat more in order that for it we may procure the culture that we perhaps need.
human
But, if you thus bring down the rich, who is then to support the arts and sciences hereafter? Oh, well, we must make it up by numbers; we club together, that gives a nice little sum,--besides, you rich men now buy only the most tasteless books and the most lamentable Madonnas or a pair of lively dancer's legs.
gpt
O ill-starred equality!