Dor. Sir, I do indeed remember your coming; but as for your sayings, I was silent, for I understood them not. Is—is Sir Jasper at hand?
Enter Dan’l Druce, unobserved, at back.
Reu. He will be here anon. Some village clowns are plaguing him with an address—a scurvy long one, and writ in very false jingle. I heard the first lines thereof; it began:
“Sir Jasper Combe, to welcome you
We do as much as we can do:
Here live and die—to House and Tomb
We welcome you, Sir Jasper Combe!”
It did so move me to laughter that Sir Jasper, who hath no sense of the ridiculous, did order me to ride on. But I doubt not that even he is laughing heartily thereat, by this time!
Dan. (who has heard the last few lines). Nay, sir, but if Sir Jasper deserve all that men say of him, he will scarcely hold in scorn that which poor humble folks have writ in his praise.