JEPPE. That's a little too sour. Put some mead in it, and it will be
all right; I am for sweet things.

VALET. Here is some port-wine, if my lord would like to taste it.

Jeppe. That's fine wine. Shout, all of you! (Each time he drinks,
trumpets blow.) Hurry up, lad! another glass of pork-wine. Do you
understand?--Where did you get that ring on your finger?

SECRETARY. My lord gave it to me himself.

JEPPE. I don't remember it; give it back to me. I must have been
drunk when I did it. A man doesn't give away rings like that for
nothing. Later on I'll look into things and see what else you've got
away with. Servants ought not to get anything more than board and
wages. I can swear I don't remember making you any special present;
why should I? That ring must be worth more than ten rix-dollars. No,
no, my good fellows! That won't do at all. You must not take
advantage of your master's feebleness and drunkenness. When I'm
drunk, I'm perfectly ready to give away my breeches; but when I have
slept off my liquor, I take back my gifts. Otherwise I should get
into trouble with Nille, my old woman. But what am I saying? I am
falling back into my mad notions again and don't realize who I am.
Give me another glass of pork-wine. More noise! (Trumpets.) Pay
attention to what I say, lads. I want you to understand that after
this, if I give anything away in the evening when I'm drunk and you
don't bring it back in the morning, you will have to answer for it.
When servants are given more than they can eat, they get proud and
turn up their noses at the master. What wages do you get?