JEPPE. Oh, before you kill me, would you do me the kindness of telling me who I am?
VALET. Does not your lordship know who he is?
JEPPE. Yesterday I was Jeppe of the Hill, but to-day—Oh, I don't know what to say.
VALET. We are glad that his lordship is in such good humor to-day as to deign to jest. But, God help us, why does my lord weep?
JEPPE. I'm not your lordship. I can take my oath on it, for, as far as I can remember, I am Jeppe Nielsen of the Hill, and one of the baron's peasants. If you will send for my wife, she'll bear witness to it, but don't let her bring Master Eric along.
ERIC. This is strange. What is the matter? Perhaps my lord is not awake, for he is not accustomed to joke like this.
JEPPE. Whether I am awake or not, I can't say, but I do know and can say that I am one of my lord's peasants, who is called Jeppe of the Hill, and I never have been a baron nor a count in all my life.
VALET. Eric! what can this mean? I am afraid my lord has been taken ill.
ERIC. I imagine he is walking in his sleep, for it often happens that people get out of bed, dress, talk, eat, and drink—all while they are still asleep.
VALET. No, Eric! I think that his lordship is having hallucinations brought on by an illness, run quickly and fetch some doctors. (Exit Eric.) Oh, my lord, pray drive such thoughts from your head. His lordship will otherwise strike fear into the whole household. Does not my lord know me?