Jeppe on the Hill Part 2

=Jakob=--We don't care for any old sayings here, Jeppe! If you won't pay in advance you'll not get a drop. We have sworn off trusting anybody, even the overseer himself.

=Jeppe= (weeping)--Can't you trust me, I am an honest man?

=Jakob=--No credit, Jeppe.

=Jeppe=--Take the money then, you rascal!. Now it is done, drink now, Jeppe! (drinks). Ah! that feels good.

=Jakob=--Yes, that's the kind of stuff to warm a fellow's inside!

=Jeppe=--The best thing about whiskey is that it gives a man such spirit.

Now I think neither of my wife nor Master Erik, so changed have I become after the last gla.s.s. Do you know this song, Jakob? (Sings.)

Little Kirsten and Herr Peder they sat at the table, Peteheia, A spoke so many a jesting word, Polemeia.

In the summer sing the merry starling, Peteheia, May the devil take Nille, the wicked wench, Polemeia, I took a walk in bright green wood, Peteheia, The s.e.xton, he is a rascally dog, Polemeia, I seated myself on my dapple gray horse, Peteheia, The s.e.xton, he is a downright beast, Polemeia, But, if you will know the name of my wife, ----!

I wrote that song myself, Jakob!

=Jakob=--The devil you did!

=Jeppe=--Jeppe is not so stupid as you think. I have also made a song about the shoemaker which runs thus:

The Shoemaker with his fiddle and his drum, Philebom, Philebom.

=Jakob=--Why, you fool, that's a song for fiddlers.

=Jeppe=--Yes, sure enough. Look here, Jakob. Give me another dram!

=Jakob=--Good, now I can see that you are a fine fellow and don't begrudge my house an honest penny.

=Jeppe=--Hey, Jakob! Just give me for tuppence.

=Jakob=--Very well!

=Jeppe= (sings again)--

The earth drinks up the water, The sea drinks up the sun; The sun drinks up the ocean, Everything drinks in this world.

Why should I not then Drink with all the rest?

=Jakob=--Your health, Jeppe!

=Jeppe=--Mir zu.

=Jakob=--Good luck with half of it!

=Jeppe=--Ich tank ju, Jakob! Drik man, datt dig di Dyvel haal, datt ist dig vel undt.

=Jakob=--I hear you can talk German, Jeppe.

=Jeppe=--Sure, that's nothing new, but I don't usually talk it except when I'm drunk.

=Jakob=--Then you surely talk at least once a day.

=Jeppe=--I have been in the army ten years and should I not know my own language?

=Jakob=--Why, that's right, Jeppe! We were in the same campaign for two years.

=Jeppe=--Sure enough, I remember now. You were hung, weren't you, when you deserted at Wismar?

=Jakob=--I was to have been hanged, but was pardoned. "There is many a slip between the cup and the lip."

=Jeppe=--It is too bad that you weren't hanged, Jakob; but weren't you along in that action which took place on the plain--well, you know where--

=Jakob=--Ah! where haven't I been along?

=Jeppe=--I'll never forget the first volley the Swedes fired. I believe there fell three thousand if not four thousand men at one time. (Hic.) Dasz ging fordyvelet zu, Jakob. Du kandst wohl das ihukommen; ich kann nich negten dat ik jo bange var in dat slag.

=Jakob=--Yes, yes, death is pretty hard to meet; a fellow is so pious when he meets the enemy.

=Jeppe=--Yes, quite true; I don't know how it was, but I lay and read the whole night before the action in David's "Psalter."

=Jakob=--I wonder that you who have been a soldier will let your wife tyrannize over you the way she does.

=Jeppe=--I! If I only had her here! Then you would see how I should pound her! One more gla.s.s, Jakob! I have eight pence left yet! (Aside) When I have drunk them up, I shall drink on credit. Give me a mug of beer on that.

In Leipsig was a man, In Leipsig was a man, In Leipsig was a good for nix, In Leipsig was a good for nix, The man he took himself a wife, etc., In Leipsig was a man.

=Jakob=--Your health, Jeppe!

=Jeppe=--Hey! He--y! He--Here's to you and to me and to all good friends!

He--Hey!

=Jakob=--Don't you want to drink the overseer's health?

=Jeppe=--Very well; give me another penny's worth. The overseer is a decent sort of fellow. When we put a dollar in his hand he will swear by his soul before his master that we cannot pay our land rent. I'll be hanged, if I have any money left--you will give me a few drinks more on credit, won't you?

=Jakob=--No, Jeppe, you can't stand any more now. I'm not the fellow who will allow his guests to overdo things in his house and let them drink more than is good for them. I would rather lose my living, for it is a sin.

=Jeppe=--Hey, one more drink.

=Jakob=--No, Jeppe, now I won't give you any more; remember that you have a long way to go.

=Jeppe=--Dog! Scoundrel! Beast! Rascal! Hey! He--y!

=Jakob=--Goodbye, Jeppe! happy journey!

Scene 7.

=Jeppe= (alone)--Ah, Jeppe, you are as full as a tick! My legs will hardly carry me. Will you stand, you rascals, or won't you? Hey, there, what time is it! Hey, Jakob, villain, scoundrel. Hey! Just one more drink!