NEIGHBOUR. Thank you. I"ll just run and fetch a sack.
LABOURER [aside] He keeps to his old ways ... still goes on giving. He doesn"t always obey me. But just wait a bit. He"ll soon stop giving away.
Exit Neighbour.
PEASANT [sitting down on the threshold] Why should one not give to a good man?
LABOURER. Giving is one thing, getting back another! You know--
"It"s a good world to lend in, a good world to spend in, But to get back one"s own, it"s the worst world that"s known."
That"s what the old folk say.
PEASANT. Don"t worry. We"ve plenty of corn.
LABOURER. Well, what of that?
PEASANT. We"ve enough, not only till next harvest but for two years ahead. What are we to do with it all?
LABOURER. What are we to do with it? I could make such stuff of this corn as would make you rejoice all the days of your life.
PEASANT. Why, what would you make of it?
LABOURER. A kind of drink. Drink, that would give you strength when you are weak, satisfy you when you are hungry, give you sleep when you are restless, make you merry when you"re sad, give you courage when you"re afraid. That"s the drink I"d make!
PEASANT. Rubbish!
LABOURER. Rubbish indeed! It was just the same when I told you to sow in the bog, and then on the hill. You did not believe me then, but now you know! You"ll find out about the drink the same way.
PEASANT. But what will you make it of?
LABOURER. Why, of this same corn.
PEASANT. But won"t that be a sin?
LABOURER. Just hear him! Why should it be a sin? Everything is given for a joy to man.
PEASANT. And where did you get all your wisdom from, Nick? You seem a very ordinary man to look at, and hard-working too. Why, I don"t remember you so much as ever taking your boots off all these two years you"ve been with me. And yet you seem to know everything. Where did you learn it?
LABOURER. I"ve been about a good deal!
PEASANT. And so you say this drink will give one strength?
LABOURER. Just wait till you try it and see the good that comes of it.
PEASANT. And how are we to make it?
LABOURER. It"s not hard to make when you know how! Only we shall want a copper and a couple of iron vessels.
PEASANT. And does it taste nice?
LABOURER. As sweet as honey. When once you"ve tasted it you"ll never give it up.
PEASANT. Is that so? Well, I"ll go to the neighbour"s; he used to have a copper. We"ll have a try!
Curtain.
ACT IV
A barn. In the middle a closed copper on the fire, with another vessel, under which is a tap.
LABOURER [holds a tumbler under the tap and drinks the spirit] Well, master, it"s ready now.
PEASANT [sitting on his heels and looking on] What a queer thing. Here"s water coming out of the mixture. Why are you letting this water off first?
LABOURER. It"s not water. It is the very stuff itself!
PEASANT. Why is it so clear? I thought it would be yellow like grain.
This is just like water.
LABOURER. But you just smell it!
PEASANT. Ah, what a scent! Well, well, let"s see what it"s like in the mouth. Let me taste! [Tries to take the tumbler out of the Labourer"s hand].
LABOURER. Mind, you"ll spill it! [Turns the tap off, drinks and smacks his lips] It"s ready! Here you are. Drink it!
PEASANT [drinks, first sipping, then taking more and more, till he empties the gla.s.s and gives it back] Now then, some more. One can"t tell the taste from such a drop.
LABOURER [laughing] Well, you seem to like it! [Draws some more].
PEASANT [drinks] Eh, that"s the sort! Let"s call the missis. Hey, Martha! Come along! It"s ready! Come on there!
Enter Wife and little girl.
WIFE. What"s the matter? Why are you kicking up such a row?
PEASANT. You just taste what we"ve been distilling. [Hands her the gla.s.s] Smell! What does it smell of?
WIFE [smells] Dear me!
PEASANT. Drink!
WIFE. But perhaps it may do one some harm?