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ON
- You are Norwegian?
PEER
- Yes, by birth;
- but cosmopolitan in spirit.
- For fortune such as I've enjoyed
- I have to thank America.
- My amply-furnished library
- I owe to Germany's later schools.
- From France, again, I get my waistcoats,
- my manners, and my spice of wit,-
- from England an industrious hand,
- and keen sense for my own advantage.
- The Jew has taught me how to wait.
- Some taste for dolce far niente
- I have received from Italy,-
- and one time, in a perilous pass,
- to eke the measure of my days,
- I had recourse to Swedish steel.
TRUMPETERSTRALE [lifting up his glass].
- Ay, Swedish steel-?
VON EBERKOPF
- The weapon's wielder
- demands our homage first of all!
[They clink glasses and drink with him. The wine begins to go to his head.] MR. COTTON
- All this is very good indeed;-
- but, sir, I'm curious to know
- what with your gold. you think of doing.
PEER [smiling]
