After all, other people are not
necessarily savages, even if they are married. But some men act as though
they had a monopoly of all the good deeds that are to be done in the
world.
LOTH
[_With some heat._] Not at all! I'm not thinking of such a thing. If you
hadn't abandoned your life's work, your happy material situation would be
of the greatest assistance ...
HOFFMANN
[_Ironically._] So that would be one of your demands, too?
LOTH
Demands? How? What?
HOFFMANN
I mean that, in marrying, you would have an eye on money.
LOTH
Unquestionably.
HOFFMANN
And then--if I know you at all--there's quite a list of demands still to
come.
LOTH
So there is. The woman, for instance, must have physical and mental
health. That's a _conditio sine qua non_.
HOFFMANN
[_Laughing._] Better and better! I suppose then that a previous medical
examination of the lady would be necessary.
LOTH
[_Quite seriously_.] You must remember that I make demands upon myself
too.
HOFFMANN
[_More and more amused._] I know, I know! I remember your going through
all the literature of love once in order to determine quite
conscientiously whether that which you felt at that time for a certain
lady was really the tender passion.
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