Rip Van Winkle, and as he has rendered no
opposition during this lengthened time--

HERMAN.

'Tis not very probable, sir, that he will alter his intentions by
appearing to do so within the few brief hours that will complete the
day. Can the grave give up its inmates? No, no! Who dare pretend to
dispute my rights? The only one who could do so has been dead these
twenty years.

_Enter_ GUSTAFFE _and_ RIP.

GUSTAFFE.

'Tis false! Rip Van Winkle stands before you!

OMNES.

Rip Van Winkle!

HERMAN.

You, Rip Van Winkle! Van Winkle come back after such a lapse of time?
Impossible!

RIP.

Nothing at all impossible in anything Rip Van Winkle undertakes, and,
though all of you are in the same story, dat he has been gone so long,
he is nevertheless back soon enough, to your sorrow, my chap.

HERMAN.

If this, indeed, be Rip Van Winkle, where has he hid himself for twenty
years?

JUDGE.

What answer do you make to this?

RIP.

Why, dat I went up in de mountains last night, and got drunk mit some
jolly dogs, and when I come back dis morning I found myself dead for
twenty years.

HERMAN.

You hear him, sir.

JUDGE.

This is evidently an impostor; take him into custody.

GUSTAFFE.

Stay! delay your judgement one moment till I bring the best of
proofs--his child and sister. [_Exit._

HERMAN.

If you are Rip Van Winkle, some one here would surely recognize you.

RIP.

To be sure dey will! every one knows me in Catskill. [_All gather round
him and shake their heads._] No, no, I don't know dese peoples--dey don't
know me neither, and yesterday dere was not a dog in the village but
would have wagged his tail at me; now dey bark. Dere's not a child but
would have scrambled on my knees--now dey run from me. Are we so soon
forgotten when we're gone? Already dere is no one wot knows poor Rip Van
Winkle.

HERMAN.

So, indeed, it seems.

RIP.

And have you forgot de time I saved your life?

HERMAN.

Why, I--I--I--

RIP.

In course you have! a short memory is convenient for you, Herman.

HERMAN.

[_Aside_] Should this indeed be he! [_Aloud._] I demand judgement.

JUDGE.

Stay! If you be Rip Van Winkle you should have a counterpart of this
agreement. Have you such a paper?

RIP.

Paper! I don't know; de burgomaster gave me a paper last night. I put it
in my breast, but I must have loosed him.