Scene 2.
Valet. A lackey. Jeppe.
Valet—I wish your lordship a hearty good morning! Here's a gown if your lordship wishes to arise. Erik, fetch a towel and a wash basin.
Jeppe—Ah, my worshipful valet! I should be glad to arise, but I beg of you that you do not hurt me.
Valet—The Lord deliver me from doing your lordship any harm!
Jeppe—Ah, before you kill me, will you not do me the favor to tell me who I am?
Valet—Does not my lord know who he is?
Jeppe—Yesterday I was Jeppe on the Hill, but to-day—ah, I hardly know what to say!
Valet—We are glad to see that your lordship is in such good humor to-day, that you are pleased to jest; but heaven defend us, why does your lordship weep?
Jeppe—I am not your lordship. I can make my oath that I am not; for so far as I can remember I am Jeppe Nielsen on the Hill, one of the Baron's peasants. If you will send for my wife you shall find it out; but don't let her take Master Erik along.
Erik, lackey—This is strange. What can it be? Your lordship cannot be awake, since you never used to jest in this way.
Jeppe—Whether I am awake or not I cannot say; but one thing I can say and that is that I am one of the Baron's peasants who is called Jeppe on the Hill, and I have never been either Baron or Count in my life.
Valet—Erik, what can that be? I am afraid that his lordship is suffering from some strange disease.
Erik—I imagine that he is walking in his sleep, since it frequently happens that people arise, dress, eat and drink in their sleep.
Valet—No, Erik, I perceive that his lordship is delirious. Go and fetch a doctor immediately. Ah, your lordship, put all such thoughts away; your lordship is frightening the whole house. Does your lordship not know me?
Jeppe—I don't know myself; how can I then know you?
Valet—Ah, is it possible that I should hear such words from the lips of my gracious lord, and see him in such a pitiable condition? Ah, our unfortunate house, which must be plagued by such sorcery! Can my lord not remember what he did yesterday when he was out on the hunt?
Jeppe—I have never been either hunter or poacher in my life; you know that is work which may send you to prison! Never shall any soul be able to prove that I have ever hunted a hare on the lord's estate!
Valet—Ah, gracious lord, I was with you on the hunt myself yesterday.
Jeppe—Yesterday I sat at Jakob Skomager's and drank up twelve pence worth of whiskey. How could I then have been on a hunt?
Valet—Ah, I implore my gracious lord on my knees that he do not indulge in such talk. Erik, were the doctors sent for?
Erik—Yes, they are coming soon.
Valet—Let us assist our lord in putting on his dressing gown. Perhaps when he comes out in the fresh air it will be better. Does our lord wish to have on his gown?
Jeppe—Most willingly. You may do with me what you like, if only you do not take my life, for I am as innocent as an unborn babe.