Marie is the daughter of General Werrig von Leuthen, whose name would become extinct if the grace and favor of the king had not prevented it, by permitting the husband whom we have chosen for our daughter to take our name, and therewith become our son.

You may think, in your arrogance of commoner, and the pride you take in having won the love of the daughter of General von Leuthen, that you could be this husband and son-in-law.
But two things fail you: first, the necessary fortune; and, secondly, the king's consent, and that of her father.

If you were rich, it might be possible that we should be touched by the tender amorousness of our daughter, and conquer our aversion to you for her sake.

You are of low birth, and take a subordinate position in society.

It would be extremely laughable for the schoolmaster Moritz to change suddenly into a Herr von Werrig Leuthen.