Chapter 63

(Enter Geske, Engelke, Peiter, Henrich.)

HERMAN. My dear wife! Go back to work; our burgomaster business is all over.

GESKE. Over?

HERMAN. If I were sure that you used that title out of malice, it would go hard with you.

HENRICH. No, indeed, I didn't, master, but it's hard to get things straight again so quickly.

HERMAN. Take hands, you two. So, that's the way. To-morrow we shall have a wedding. Henrich!

HENRICH. Mr. Burgomaster--Beg your pardon, I mean master!

HERMAN. Burn up all my political books, for I can't have them before my eyes any more, after the foolish ideas they put into my head. (To the audience.)

To take the leading statesman's part Is harder far than sneering, For squinting at a seaman's chart Is not the whole of steering: With books on politics at hand A dolt may criticise, But judging right our fatherland Is only for the wise. All craftsmen who have seen my fate, Pray, profit by its ending: Though all's not sound within the state, That's not our kind of mending. And when we drop our humble tools And set us up as thinkers, We look the sorry lot of fools That statesmen would as tinkers.

ERASMUS MONTANUS OR RASMUS BERG

A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS

1731

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

JEPPE BERG, a well-to-do peasant.

NILLE, his wife.

RASMUS BERG, called ERASMUS MONTANUS, their elder son a student at the University.

JACOB, the younger son.

JERONIMUS, a wealthy freeholder.

MAGDELONE, his wife.

LISBED, their daughter, betrothed to Rasmus.

PEER, the deacon.

JESPER, the bailiff.

A Lieutenant.

NIELS, the corporal.

ACTS I, IV, AND V

SCENE: A milage street, showing Jeppe's house.

ACTS II AND III A room in Jeppe's house.