Scene 2.
Jeppe. Nille.
Nille—I wonder if something has happened to him? What can this mean? Either the devil has taken him or (what I am more afraid of) he is sitting in an inn and drinking up the money. I was a fool when I trusted that drunkard with twelve pence at one time. But what do I see? Does he not lie there in the filth snoring? Ah! poor me, who must have such a beast of a husband! Your back shall pay dearly enough for this.
(Steals over to him and gives him a whack from Master Erik on the back.)
Jeppe—Hey! Hey! Help! Help! What is that? Where am I? Who am I? Who hits me? Why do you hit me? Hey!
Nille—I shall soon teach you what it is. (Strikes him again and pulls him around by the hair.)
Jeppe—Ah, Nille, my dear! Don't strike me any more, you don't know what has happened to me.
Nille—Where have you been so long, you drunken dog? Where is the soap you were to buy?
Jeppe—I could not get to town, Nille.
Nille—Why could you not get to town?
Jeppe—I was taken up to Paradise on the way.
Nille—To Paradise! (Strikes him.) To Paradise! (Strikes him again.) To Paradise! (Strikes him again.) Are you going to make fun of me besides?
Jeppe—Ow! Ow! Ow! As sure as I am an honest man it is not true.
Nille—What is true?
Jeppe—That I have been in Paradise.
(Nille repeats, "In Paradise," and strikes him again.)
Jeppe—Ah, Nille, my dear, don't hit me any more.
Nille—Quick! Confess where you have been or I will murder you!
Jeppe—Ah, I would gladly confess where I have been if you would not strike me any more.
Nille—Confess, then!
Jeppe—Swear that you will not strike me any more, then.
Nille—No.
Jeppe—As true as I am an honest man and my name is Jeppe on the Hill, I have been in Paradise and seen things that will make you wonder when you hear them.
(Nille thrashes him again and drags him in by the hair.)
NILLE POUNDING JEPPE.