..
KAHL
I couldn't live without my wine.
HELEN
[_To LOTH._] Do tell us why you don't drink?
LOTH
I'll do that very gladly, I ...
HOFFMANN
Oh, pshaw, old fellow. [_He takes the bottle from the servant in order to
press the wine upon LOTH._] Just think how many merry hours we used to
spend in the old days ...
LOTH
Please don't take the trouble ...
HOFFMANN
Drink to-day--this one time.
LOTH
It's quite useless.
HOFFMANN
As a special favour to me.
[_HOFFMANN is about to pour the wine; LOTH resists. A slight conflict
ensues._
LOTH
No, no ... as I said before ... No!... no, thank you.
HOFFMANN
Don't be offended, but that, surely, is a mere foolish whim.
KAHL
[_To MRS. SPILLER._] A man that don't want nothin' has had enough.
[_MRS. SPILLER nods resignedly._
HOFFMANN
Anyhow, if you let a man have his will what more can you do for him. But
I can tell you this much: without a glass of wine at dinner ...
LOTH
And a glass of beer at breakfast ...
HOFFMANN
Very well; why not? A glass of beer is a very healthy thing.
LOTH
And a nip of brandy now and then ...
HOFFMANN
Ah, well, if one couldn't get that much out of life! You'll never succeed
in making an ascetic of me.
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