Читать книгу Comedies by Holberg : Jeppe of the Hill, The Political Tinker, Erasmus Montanus - Ludvig Holberg - Страница 15
SCENE 6
Оглавление(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!
JACOB. I see that you can talk German.
JEPPE. Yes, I have for a long time, but I don't like to except when
I'm full.
JACOB. Then you must speak it at least once a day.
JEPPE. I was ten years m the militia, don't you think I ought to understand the language?
JACOB. I know, Jeppe! We were in the same company for two years.
JEPPE. So we were; I remember it now. You were hanged once when you ran away at Vissmar.
JACOB. I was going to be hanged, but I was pardoned. A miss is as good as a mile.
JEPPE. It's too bad you weren't hanged, Jacob! But weren't you with us at the auction on the heath—you know the one?
JACOB. Why, where wasn't I with you?
JEPPE. I never shall forget the first salt the Swedes made. I think 3000 men—or even 4000—fell all at once. Das ging fordeviled zu, Jacob! Du kannst das wohl rememberen. Ich kan nicht deny dass ich bange war at dat battle.
JACOB: Yes, yes, death is hard to face; a man always feels pious when he goes against the enemy.
Jeppe. Yes, that's so. I don't know how it happens. For I spent the whole night before the auction reading the Qualms of David.
JACOB. I wonder that you, who have been a soldier, should let yourself be browbeaten by your wife.
JEPPE. I? If I only could have her here now, you'd see how I should drub her! Another glass, Jacob! I still have eightpence, and when that's all drunk up I shall drink on credit. Give me a mug of ale, too. (Sings.)
In Leipzig war ein Mann,
In Leipzig war ein Mann,
In Leipzig war ein lederner Mann,
In Leipzig war ein lederner Mann,
In Leipzig war ein Mann.
Der Mann sie nahm ein Frau—
JACOB. Your health, Jeppe!
JEPPE. Hey! he—y! he—y!
Here's to you, and here's to me,
And here's to all the company!
JACOB. Won't you drink the bailiff's health?
JEPPE. Sure enough; give me credit for another penny-worth. The bailiff is an honest man; when we slip a rix-dollar into his fist, he'll swear to his lordship that we can't pay our rent. Now I'm a villain if I have any more money; you must trust me for a farthing or two.
JACOB. No, Jeppe, you can't stand any more now. I'm not the kind of man to let his patrons force themselves to drink more than is good for them. I'd rather lose my trade than do that. It would be a sin.
JEPPE. Just another farthing's worth!
JACOB. No, Jeppe, you can't have any more. Just think what a long way you have to walk.
JEPPE. Cur! Carrion! Beast! Scoundrel! Hey, hey, h—e—y!
JACOB. Good-bye, Jeppe! Good luck to you!
[Exit Jacob.]
