BARON. That makes no difference. The peasants are always better off
in good seasons.

SECRETARY. I don't know how that may be, my lord, but the peasants
always complain and ask for seed-corn, no matter whether the year is
fruitful or not. When they have something, they drink so much the
more. There is an inn-keeper who lives near here, called Jacob
Shoemaker, who helps a good deal to keep the peasants poor; they say
he puts salt in his ale to make them thirsty so they will drink
more.

BARON. We shall have to drive the fellow out. But what is that lying
in the road? It must be a dead man. One hears of nothing but
misfortune nowadays. Run and see what it is, one of you!

LACKEY. That is Jeppe of the Hill, whose wife is such a terror. Get
up, Jeppe! No, he wouldn't wake even if we pummelled him and pulled
his hair.

BARON. Let him be, then. I want to play a little joke on him. You
are usually full of ingenious ideas. Can't you think of something to
divert me?

SECRETARY. I think it would be good fun to tie a paper collar round
his neck, or else cut off his hair.

VALET. I think it would be more amusing to smear his face with ink
and then send some one to see how his wife takes it when he comes
home in that condition.