SCENE 6

(Enter Jacob)

Jacob.  Hello, Jeppe! back again?  I thought you had had too little.  What good is a farthing’s worth of brandy?  That’s hardly enough to wet your whistle.

Jeppe.  That’s so, Jacob!  I’ll spend another farthing! (Aside.) Once I’ve got it down, he’ll have to trust me whether he wants to or not.

Jacob.  Here’s your farthing’s worth of brandy, Jeppe, but money first.

Jeppe.  You certainly can trust me while I’m drinking, as the proverb says.

Jacob.  We don’t give credit on proverbs, Jeppe!  If you don’t pay up, you won’t get a drop; we have sworn off trusting any one, even the bailiff himself.

Jeppe (weeping).  Can’t you really trust me?  I’m an honest man.

Jacob.  No credit.

Jeppe.  Here’s your twopence, then, you beggar!  Now it’s done, drink,
Jeppe!  Oh, that goes to the right spot.

Jacob.  It certainly does warm a man’s insides.

Jeppe.  The best thing about brandy is that it gives you courage.  Now I don’t think any more about my wife or Master Eric, I’ve been so changed by that last glass.  Do you know this song, Jacob?

    Heir Peder and Kirsten sat at the table, Peteheia! 
    Said all the bad words that they were able, Polemeia! 
    In summer the happy starlings sing, Peteheia! 
    May devil take Nille, the dirty thing, Polemeia! 
    One day I went out upon the grass, Peteheia! 
    The deacon, he is a hangman’s ass, Polemeia! 
    On my dappled horse I ride to the east, Peteheia! 
    The deacon, he is a nasty beast, Polemeia! 
    If you would know my wife’s real name, Peteheia! 
    I’ll tell you:  it is Lust and Shame, Polemeia!

I made up that song myself, Jacob!

Jacob.  The devil you did!

Jeppe.  Jeppe’s not as dull as you think:  I’ve also made up a song about shoemakers, which goes like this: 

The shoemaker sits with his big bass viol, Philepom, Philepom!

Jacob.  You poor fool, that’s about a fiddler.

Jeppe.  So it is.  See here, Jacob!  Give me twopence worth more of brandy.

Jacob.  All right; I see you’re a good fellow; you don’t grudge spending a penny or two in my house.

Jeppe.  Hey, Jacob! make it fourpence.

Jacob.  Certainly.

Jeppe. (singing again).

                The earth drinks water,
                The sea drinks sun,
                The sun drinks sea,
                Everything on earth drinks;
                Why not me?

Jacob.  Your health, Jeppe!

Jeppe.  Mir zu!

Jacob.  Here’s to you in half of it!

Jeppe.  Ich tank you, Jacob.  Drink, man, and the devil take you and welcome!