Jeppe.  That’s true, Jacob!  I can do that well enough.

Jacob.  Out with your penny.

Jeppe.  Here you are, but you must give me a penny change.

Jacob (coming in with the glass; drinks to him).  Your health, Jeppe!

Jeppe.  What a lot you take, you rogue!

Jacob.  Oh, yes, but it’s the custom for the host to drink his guest’s health.

Jeppe.  I know it is, but bad luck to the man that started the custom.  Your health, Jacob!

Jacob.  Thanks, Jeppe!  You’ll drink the other pennyworth next, so there’s no use your troubling about change.  Or do you want a glass to your credit when you come again?  For I give you my word I haven’t any change.

Jeppe.  I’m damned if I do!  If it’s got to be spent, it might as well be spent now, so that I can feel I have something under my belt; but if you drink any of it, I won’t pay.

Jacob.  Your health!

Jeppe.  God save our friends and ill befall our enemies.  That does my belly good.  Um-m-m.

Jacob.  Good luck on your way, Jeppe.

Jeppe.  Thanks, Jacob Shoemaker. (Exit Jacob.)

SCENE 5

(Jeppe feels happy and begins to sing.)

A white hen and a speckled hen
Got into a row with a rooster—­

Oh, if I only dared drink another pennyworth!  Oh, if I only dared drink another pennyworth!  I think I’ll do it.  No, ill will come of it.  If I could once get the inn out of my sight, I shouldn’t need to; but it’s as if some one were holding me back.  I’ve got to go in again.  But what is this you are doing, Jeppe?  I seem to see Nille standing in my path with Master Eric in her hand.  I must turn round again.  Oh, if I only dared drink another pennyworth!  My belly says, “Do it;” my back, “Don’t.”  Which shall I obey?  Isn’t my belly bigger than my back?  I think it is.  Shall I knock?  Hey, Jacob Shoemaker, come out here!  But that cursed woman comes before my eyes again.  If she only didn’t break the bones of my back when she beats me, I’d let her go to the devil, but she lays on like ...  Oh, God help me, miserable creature!  What shall I do?  Control your nature, Jeppe!  Isn’t it a shame to get into trouble for a paltry glass of brandy?  No, I shan’t do it this time; I must go on.  Oh, if I only dared drink another pennyworth!  It was my undoing that I got a taste of it; now I can’t get away from it.  Go on, legs!  May the devil split you if you don’t!  Marry, the rogues won’t budge.  They want to go back to the inn.  My limbs wage war on each other:  my belly and my legs want to go to the inn, and my back wants to go to town.  Will you go on, you dogs! you beasts! you scurvy wretches!  The devil take them, they will go back to the inn; I have more trouble getting my own legs away from the inn than I have getting my piebald horse out of the stable.  Oh, if I only dared drink another pennyworth!  Who knows but Jacob Shoemaker might trust me for a penny or two, if I begged enough?  Hey, Jacob!  Another twopenny glass of brandy!