Rip.
Rip Van Winkle! that's me to a certainty.
Music.—[Swaggrino, the grotesque dwarf, enters],[117] bending beneath the weight of a large cask which he bears on his shoulder.—He pauses, examines Rip, then invites him to assist him in placing the cask on the ground, which Rip complies with.
Rip.
Hang me, if he hasn't brought my heart up into my mouth: what an outlandish being, [118] by dunder!
Music.—[Swaggrino,][119] pointing to the cask, [entreats] Rip's assistance in bearing it up the mountains.
Rip.
Want me to help you up mit it? Why not say so at first, my old codger? What a queer old chap, to be sure; but I can't let him toil up the mountain with such a heavy load as dat, no, no, and so, old [broad][120] chops, I'll help you.
Music.—[Dwarf][121] assists in placing cask on Rip's shoulder. A loud laugh is heard; Rip is alarmed, but [Dwarf] signs him to proceed and be of good courage—leads way up rocks. Another peal of laughter, and Rip hastily follows him.
Footnotes