,
And has done miracles i' the way of business.
Perhaps you are related to my relative?

_Wer._ To yours?

_Jos._ Oh, yes; we are, but distantly.
(_Aside to_ WERNER.) Cannot you humour the dull gossip till
We learn his purpose?

_Iden._ Well, I'm glad of that;
I thought so all along, such natural yearnings
Played round my heart:--blood is not water, cousin;
And so let's have some wine, and drink unto
Our better acquaintance: relatives should be 200
Friends.

_Wer._ You appear to have drunk enough already;
And if you have not, I've no wine to offer,
Else it were yours: but this you know, or should know:
You see I am poor, and sick, and will not see
That I would be alone; but to your business!
What brings you here?

_Iden._ Why, what should bring me here?

_Wer._ I know not, though I think that I could guess
That which will send you hence.

_Jos._ (_aside_). Patience, dear Werner!

_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'