JESPER. Yes, but you say that the earth turns round. Now. if a ship should turn over, wouldn't the people fall off then into the sea?
MONTANUS. No. I will explain it to you more plainly, if you will have the patience.
JESPER. Indeed, I won't hear anything about it. I should have to be crazy to believe such a thing. Could the earth turn over, and we not fall heels over head to the devil and clear down into the abyss? Ha, ha, ha! But, my Monsieur Berg, how is it that the moon is sometimes so small and sometimes so big?
MONTANUS. If I tell you why, you won't believe me.
JESPER. Oh, please tell me.
MONTANUS. It is because, when the moon has grown large, pieces are clipped off it to make stars of.
JESPER. That certainly is curious. I really didn't know that before. If pieces were not clipped off, it would get too large and grow as broad as all Sjaelland. After all, nature does regulate everything very wisely. But how is it that the moon doesn't give warmth like the sun, although it is just as big?
MONTANUS. That is because the moon is not a light, but made of the same dark material as the earth, and gets its light and brilliance from the sun.
JESPER. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Let us talk of something else.
That's stuff and nonsense; a man might go stark mad over it.