but in vain, for he merely dismissed them with scorn, asserting that
it was contrary to all rule for the dead to eat and drink. At last
an experienced physician undertook to cure him by this unusual
method: He got a servant to pretend that he too was dead, and had
him laid out in the same place with the patient. For a long time the
two lay and looked at each other. After a while the patient began to
ask the other man what he was doing there, and he answered that he
was dead. Then they began to question each other as to how they had
died, and both explained in full. Later, some people who had been
instructed what to do came and brought the second man his supper,
whereupon he sat up in his coffin and ate a hearty meal, saying to
the other, "Aren't you going to eat pretty soon?" The sick man
pondered over this, and asked if it was proper for a dead man to
eat, and was answered that if he did not eat soon, he could not stay
dead very long. He therefore allowed himself to be persuaded first
to eat with the other man, subsequently to sleep, get up, dress,--in
fact, in all matters copy the other, until finally he came to life
and regained his senses.

I could give innumerable other examples of such odd illusions. That
is just what has happened in this case to make his gracious lordship
think that he is a poor peasant. But if my lord will get the notion
out of his head, he will speedily be himself again.

JEPPE. But can it be only illusion?

FIRST DOCTOR. Certainly; my lord has heard from these stories what
illusions can do.

JEPPE. Am I not Jeppe of the Hill?