that it cannot, for if it could, neither fornication nor murder
could be punished, for every criminal could seek that escape and
assert that he had committed his crime while intoxicated. And
although he can prove that he was drunk, his case is none the
stronger, for the law is: What a man does under the influence of
drink he shall answer for when sober. It is well known that in a
recent case of the same nature the misdeed was punished, although
the criminal was led into passing himself off as a lord through his
own simplicity; his ignorance and foolishness could not save him
from death. The penalty is imposed purely as a warning to others. I
would tell the circumstances, were it not that I fear to delay
justice thereby.

SECOND LAWYER. Your honor! This story appears so remarkable to me
that I cannot accept it without the testimony of several witnesses.
How could a simple peasant get into his lord's house and impersonate
his lordship unless he could imitate his very form and features? How
could he get into the lord's bedroom, how could he put on his
clothes, without any one being aware of it? No, your honor, one can
plainly see that this is the outcome of a conspiracy on the part of
this poor man's enemies. I hope, therefore, that he may be
discharged.

JEPPE [weeping]. God bless your mouth. I have a bit of tobacco in my
breeches pocket which perhaps you won't refuse; it's good enough for
any honorable man to chew.

SECOND LAWYER. Keep your tobacco, Jeppe! I speak for you not in the
hope of receiving gifts, but merely from Christian charity.