No More Learning

_Iden. _ You don't know what has happened, then?

_Jos. _ How should we?

_Iden. _ The river has o'erflowed.

_Jos. _ Alas! we have known 210
That to our sorrow for these five days; since
It keeps us here.

_Iden. _ But what you don't know is,
That a great personage, who fain would cross
Against the stream and three postilions' wishes,
Is drowned below the ford, with five post-horses,
A monkey, and a mastiff--and a valet[163].

_Jos. _ Poor creatures! are you sure?

_Iden.
_ Yes, of the monkey,
And the valet, and the cattle; but as yet
We know not if his Excellency's dead
Or no; your noblemen are hard to drown, 220
As it is fit that men in office should be;
But what is certain is, that he has swallowed
Enough of the Oder[164] to have burst two peasants;
And now a Saxon and Hungarian traveller,
Who, at their proper peril, snatched him from
The whirling river, have sent on to crave
A lodging, or a grave, according as
It may turn out with the live or dead body.

_Jos. _ And where will you receive him? here, I hope,
If we can be of service--say the word. 230

_Iden. _ Here? no; but in the Prince's own apartment,
As fits a noble guest:--'tis damp, no doubt,
Not having been inhabited these twelve years;
But then he comes from a much damper place,
So scarcely will catch cold in't, if he be
Still liable to cold--and if not, why
He'll be worse lodged to-morrow: ne'ertheless,
I have ordered fire and all appliances
To be got ready for the worst--that is,
In case he should survive.

_Jos. _ Poor gentleman! 240
I hope he will, with all my heart.

_Wer. _ Intendant,
Have you not learned his name? (_Aside to his wife_. ) My Josephine,
Retire: I'll sift this fool. [_Exit_ JOSEPHINE.

_Iden.