SCENE 5
[Enter Magnus.]
MAGNUS. Ha, ha, ha! I'll tell you the damn'dest tale, about a man called Jeppe of the Hill, who was found lying on the ground dead drunk: they changed his clothes and put him in the best bed up at the baron's castle, made him believe that he was the baron when he woke up, got him full, and laid him in his own dirty clothes back on the dungheap again, and when he came to, he thought he had been in paradise. I nearly laughed myself to death when I heard the story from the bailiff's men. By the Lord, I'd give a rix-dollar to see the fool! Ha, ha, ha!
JEPPE. What do I owe, Jacob?
JACOB. Twelvepence.
[Jeppe strokes his chin and goes out looking very shame-faced.
MAGNUS. Why is that fellow in such a hurry?
JACOB. It's the very man they played the joke on.
MGNUS. Is that possible? I must run after him. Listen, Jeppe! Just a word—How are things in the other world?
JEPPE. Let me be.
MAGNUS. Why didn't you stay longer?
JEPPE. What business is that of yours?
MAGNUS. Come, do tell us a little about the journey.
JEPPE. Let me be, I say, or there'll be a calamity coming to you.
MAGNUS. But, Jeppe, I am so anxious to know about it.
JEPPE. Jacob Shoemaker, help! Will you let this man do me violence in your house?
MAGNUS. I'm not doing you any harm, Jeppe, I'm just asking you what you saw in the other world.
JEPPE. Hey, help, help!
MAGNUS. Did you see any of my forefathers there?
JEPPE. No, your forefathers must all be in the other place, where you and all the rest of the carrion go when they die.
[Shakes himself loose and runs away.