Ernst and Falk: Dialogues for Freemasons

Or should I take what they boast about themselves in these speeches and songs to be their deeds?

If they do not merely boast about it.

And what exactly do they boast about? — Nothing but things that are expected of every good man, every upright citizen. In the 18th-century context, a "rechtschaffener Bürger" (upright citizen) was the ideal of the Enlightenment—a person who fulfilled their social and moral duties to the community. — They are so friendly, so charitable, so obedient, so full of love for their country!

Is that, then, nothing?

original vocabulary: Ernst, Falk, Deeds, Speeches, Songs, Boast, People, Upright Citizen, Friendly, Charitable, Obedient, Love of Country