Kitabı oku: «The Marvellous Adventures and Rare Conceits of Master Tyll Owlglass», sayfa 14

The Eighty and Fourth Adventure

How that in a city of Saxony Owlglass sowed knaves

Knaves abound in many places; there be knaves of every degree: there be black knaves, white knaves, copper-coloured knaves, red knaves, and yellow knaves. There be knaves which ride in coaches and waggons; there be knaves on horseback; there be knaves on foot. There be knaves of high degree; there be knaves of low estate. There be knaves in Holy Church, devout knaves, which cheat heaven in their prayers, and earth in their tithes; there be knaves out of Holy Church, which, for wise reasons, do simulate a contempt thereof; there be knaves which buy, and there be knaves which sell; there be knaves which, with honest mien, declare themselves no better than they be, for thou in thy vanity condemnest them not, but thinkest them better than their speech declareth, and yet be these very knaves, sorry knaves, and shallow knaves. There be knaves which bear rule, and there be knaves over which rule is borne; there be knaves which bow the knee to knavish kings, princes, and lords; and there be knaves which set foot forth against all rulers, princes, and governors. There be knaves which help ye with seeming good fellowship, and there be knaves which, by opposing ye, do ye true service; there be knaves which amuse ye; there be knaves which laugh in turn at that which ye do: lo! indeed, not in this world can ye find any place which is devoid of knaves, creeping like caterpillars through your gardens, and destroying your fairest flowers, to fatten and batten, and crawl and die like other things.

Knaves sit smiling by your own hearthstone, deluding ye with love and fair service—your children be knaves, your fathers were knaves;—for in this world are secrets hidden—and, indeed, are we unto ourselves not true, but knaves altogether, excusing, palliating, concealing, hugging, with not a little fear and trembling, our favourite vices, or our evil desires. O what a discourse of knavery would a history of our mad world be, what quaking terrors of evil doings, what fierce self-destructions, what insane flight from self-condemning would be unfolded! Let us rejoice, my masters, that a little spice of honesty leaveneth the whole lump and maketh life endurable, our meat not poison, our porridge not altogether rat’s-bane. And truly this chronicle affirmeth, averreth, and with loud voice saith, that an if such words as these had been set down in courteous phrase, and not hurled from the priest’s pulpit or babbled from the fool’s booth, ye had not received, but had denied utterly the gracious assent which I do perceive sitteth upon your heart; thus, therefore, like all other things, is this chronicle but a knavish matter.

Of a truth, it may be most certainly believed, that to such a world it was necessary and fit, that a pitying eye and brain should see, and purpose despatch, from highest heaven to insulted earth a Prince of peace and justice. But in this chronicle, as in this world, is all honesty discarded; for the world is so turned topside t’ other way, that it may not be that we should distinguish gentle from simple, wise from foolish, honest man from knave. “Yet be of good cheer,” saith One who is higher than any of us; “I have overcome the world.”

Yet in one little town of Saxony espied Owlglass, when that he was therein, that not within its walls there could be a knave; yet might this be, for that he was strange unto the devices and nature of the folk which dwelt therein; and he fell into a deep contemplation and musing upon such a marvellous matter. And he took his way beside of the river Weser, the more at ease to reflect thereover. For while that he abode in that city, beheld he all that was done by the folk therein; and so strangely honest appeared their dealings, that he was tired and sick at heart with folk among whom he could not have any profit. And as he took his way along the bank of the Weser, he looked, and, behold! of pebbles shiny and clear, rolled in mass by the stream, was there a goodly heap; and he bethought how that of old some wondrous one did, by casting stones over his shoulders, produce men and women, the which in knavery excelled greatly. “Nay,” quoth he thereat; “why should not in this place a like marvel happen?” and with no more ado, he catcheth me up a sackful of these so shining stones, and entereth with great joy and content into the city.

Then in that street which is hard by over against the town-house, he beginneth to sow his crop of marvellous nature; but the people came running unto him and inquired of him, and fain would know what it might be that he was doing. “Why,” quoth noble Master Owlglass, “in this town here be ye so woundily honest, that for fear ye should be altogether without praise for your virtue, I sow ye a crop of knaves.” With that, my masters, ye should have heard the outcry and hallabaloo which the burghers did make. “Nay, nay!” they cried, “this city be, indeed, so crammed with an abundance of knaves that an if ye sow not honest folk, we shall surely perish.” But Owlglass said: “That may not be, for in this town have grown virtues so long that ye must change the crop, or let the ground be for awhile fallow.” Then they laid hands upon him and took him, and bade him answer his deeds before the town council. And the town council admonished him, and would have none of his crop, and bade him therewith carry his seed-sack out of their bounds. So Owlglass gat him forth, and entered into another city; but the fame of what he bare had been noised abroad, and so entirely did they detest knavery, and loathe cheats, that neither to eat nor to drink nor to tarry for rest would they permit Owlglass. Aweary of such ware, at last he entered into a ship, and would have departed by water, but the seed brake the bottom through, and he was nigh drowned; so into the River Weser returned the stones he had taken; and unto this day, whenever that any man is seized of great virtue, they give unto him water of the Weser to drink, the which strangely promoteth chousing, coney-catching, and gulling.

Thus endeth a great feat of our modern Deucalion.

The Eighty and Fifth Adventure

How that in the good city of Hamburg Owlglass hired him unto a barber and went through the casement unto his service

On a time came Owlglass unto Hamburg and there stood upon the Hop-market, and gazed hither and thither as he was wont to do. And unto him came up a barber, and spake unto him and said: “Lo! what seekest thou, and whence comest thou?” Then Owlglass said: “Of a truth, I come now straightway from the last place in the which I abode.” Upon this saith the barber: “What art thou for a workman?” And Owlglass said: “I am a barber, an it please ye.” Thereat the master hired him, and spake unto him saying: “Mark me, dost thou see yon house over against us with the casement down unto the ground.” “Yea,” quoth the man. “Then do thou straightway enter in there, and soon will I follow,” said the master. “Most truly,” said our worthy Owlglass. Then he gat him unto the house, and brake the casement all in pieces, and entered in thereby, and saluted the barber’s wife, who sate spinning within, and spake courteous words and said: “God bless this handiwork.” But the barber’s wife was afeared, and cried: “What labour and handiwork be this that thou dost, breaking me the casement after this wise? The foul fiend seize thee, loon!” “Nay,” quoth Owlglass, “impute not the marring of the casement unto me, except as diligent service, for your good man bade me enter in thereby, and I ever perform that which is enjoined me.” Then the woman said: “Truly, a faithful servant is he who marreth his master’s substance!” But Owlglass said: “Should not a servant perform his master’s bidding?” With that, during such conference betwixt the twain, cometh the master, and looked upon the broken casement. And he said unto Owlglass: “What is this? Couldst thou not enter by my house door, and leave me the casement whole? What be the cause that thou shouldst thus enter by a window.” “Nay,” answered Owlglass, “beloved master, ye bade me look upon the tall window and there enter in; and I did but according to thy words.” Thereat was the master content, for he considered within himself: “I can but from the money of his hiring take what will pay the charges of making my casement whole.”

Thereafter they went forward in comfort for some days. Then did the barber enjoin Owlglass that he should take a razor, and he instructed him, and said: “Now do thus evenly with the edge grind me the back, so that no notches be.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea, most willingly.” And after a season had gone past, the barber cometh privily behind Owlglass to see after what manner he was performing his labour, and Owlglass had ground the back as sharp as the edge, and marred the work altogether. So the master spake unto him saying: “What vile thing is this that thou dost?” And the other to him answered: “I do not any vile thing? But only according to thy words; didst not bid me to grind the back evenly with the edge? And so do I.” Then did the master wax very wroth, and said unto him: “Lo! get thee forth hence, and return in manner that thou didst come.” Owlglass answered him: “Yea,” and taking his bundle, springeth me forth through the casement again, and breaketh it, and so departeth. And though the barber was lithe and active, as be the fashion with barbers, yet could he never seize Owlglass, who, indeed, was a match for a good fleet runner.

The Eighty and Sixth Adventure

How that Owlglass did cause the host of the inn at Eisleben to be beset with great terror, by showing unto him a wolf, of the which he professed no fear

In Eisleben there dwelt an innkeeper who was mocker of others, and who thought that of all great hosts he was the exemplar and flower. Unto him came Owlglass in the winter time; and he abode in the inn with him while that the snow was on the ground. And while that the night was dark, there came three merchants from Saxony unto the inn, who would fain come unto Nürnberg. The host, who was swift of speech, spake unto them, and, with ready words, said: “Whence come ye folk so late, and why have ye tarried so long by the way?” And the merchants answered him, and said: “Behold, master host! be not wroth with us by reason of our lateness; a wolf did lie in wait for us by the way and attacked us, and with him had we to contend and beat him off; from that cause is it that we be so late with thee.” And when that the host heard their words, he mocked them, and said unto them: “Great shame is it that ye do let yourselves be stayed by a wolf—for if that I met two wolves in the field, I would alone contend with them and slay them; little account would I make of such a pair! And there were of ye folk three people, and by a single wolf were ye affrighted.” And thus continued the host to mock them the whole even through until that they gat them to bed.

All this while sate Owlglass by the fire, and heard what was said. And when that the night was far spent, in the which this host so despised the merchants, they gat them to bed and Owlglass lay with them in one chamber; and then conferred the merchants one with the other, as to how it might be brought about that the host should be rightly recompenced for his mockery and scorn, so that they might make him to hold his peace, for that afterwards they might take their ease in the inn. Then did Owlglass open his mouth, and spake unto them, saying: “Lo! an it please ye, beloved friends, truly do I mark that our host is nought but a vain speaker. Now, if that ye are content to hear me what I would say unto ye, I will so do that never more shall he speak unto ye of the wolf.” Thereat rejoiced the merchants with great content, and did promise him money, the which should be given unto him; and his reckoning, likewise would they pay. Then he bade them depart freely unto their business; but as they returned, he would have them lie at that same inn, and he would then also be there present, and he would cause the host to hold his peace, thereafter in the matter of the wolf. To that agreed they, and gat them ready for their voyage on the next day, and paid their charges and those of Owlglass likewise, and they all rode away therefrom, and the host called after them with mockery: “Be ye sure, ye merchants, that no wolf doth beset ye by the way.” But they answered, and said unto him: “Great thanks do we give unto thee; and if the wolves devour us, then come we not hither again.”

Then did Owlglass ride unto the hunt, and chased the wolves, and by God his grace killed he one, and this one did he put in the ice until that it froze hard. And when that it was about the season that the merchants should again come unto Eisleben unto the inn, Owlglass took the dead wolf within a sack, and gat him unto the inn according unto his promise, and there found he the three merchants. At supper time did the host yet mock the three merchants about the wolf; but they said that of a truth it had so happened unto them as they had said unto him. But the host continued to speak words of vain import, and declared unto them, that if he did meet two wolves in the field, he would shake the one by the head until that he died, and then would cut the other in pieces.

Thus went all conversation forward, until that they departed unto bed. Yet kept Owlglass silence, and spake no word until they had entered into their chamber and shut the door. Then he opened his mouth, and said unto them: “Lo! gentlemen and good friends, do ye still keep watch for a space, and put ye not out the light.” And when the host had gat him to bed with all his folk, Owlglass crept privily from the chamber, and bare with him the dead wolf, the which was frozen hard, and carried it into the kitchen, and with sticks supported it that it stood upright; then did he open its mouth wide, and therein set two children’s shoes, and thereafter gat he him unto the chamber where he abode with the merchants. In no long time thereafter cried he aloud for the host. Then did the host hear him, for yet was he not asleep; and he called unto him and demanded what he would have. Then they cried aloud unto him: “Alas! worthy master host, send unto us the maid or the man, for of thirst shall we else die!”

When that the merchants cried aloud after this manner, the host waxed very wroth, and said: “Even thus is it ever with the folk from Saxony, for by day and by night are they always bibbing.” Then he called the maid, and bade her that she should arise and give them drink in their chamber. So the maid arose and went unto the fire, and would have taken a light; then beheld she the wolf, and looked straight into his jaws, and she was affrighted, and let the light which she had taken fall, and fled away into the court; for she believed nought else but that the wolf had devoured the children. But with a loud voice did Owlglass and the merchants yet cry for drink. Then thought the host that the maid had gone to sleep, and called the man, and he arose and would have taken a light; then beheld he the wolf, and he believed at once that the wolf had devoured the maid, and he fled and gat him unto the cellar. Thereat said Owlglass unto the merchants: “Be ye but patient! soon will ye have rare sport withal.” And he called the third time to know where the maid and man might be, for that they perished of thirst; therefore besought they the host that he should take a light and bring them to drink with his own hand, for that they could not come forth from their chamber.

The host was thereat very wroth, and believed in his heart that the man had slept as he went, and he said: “Of a truth these Saxons, with their continual drinking, cause me to have much labour!” Yet he arose and lighted a candle in the kitchen, and with that beheld he the wolf as he stood by the hearth, bearing the shoes between his jaws. Then fled he unto the merchants in the chamber, and cried aloud with fear: “Come hither to help me, beloved friends! By the hearth here standeth a terrible raging beast, the which hath eaten me the children, and maid, and man.” Then went the merchants and Owlglass with him; and the man came forth from the cellar, and the maid returned from the court, and his wife brought the children out of the chamber, and lo! they were all alive. Thereupon went Owlglass unto the wolf, and with his foot cast it down, and it lay quite still.

Then spake Owlglass unto the host, and said: “Behold! this wolf is a dead beast, and dost thou thereat cry out so lustily? What a craven man are ye? Think ye that a dead wolf will bite ye, and cause your people to flee into corners? Yet last night were ye so brave, that one wolf, the which was alive, would not have contented ye to strive withal? and with two such beasts would ye have fought in the field. But with thee is it in words, what with most others lieth only in the mind.” And the host heard these words of Owlglass, and perceived that he had been beguiled, and crept into his chamber, and was ashamed that he should by a dead wolf have been so cozened. But the merchants laughed hugely at the excellent wit and merry conceit of our prince of good fellows, honest Master Owlglass, and right willingly paid for his provisions with their own, and rode with him upon their way. Since that time, however, hath not the landlord extolled his own bravery in like manner.

The Eighty and Seventh Adventure

How that Owlglass paid his host with the ring of his money

One day Owlglass entered at Cologne into an inn, and it came to pass, that the provision was put unto the fire to cook when that it was very late, and the time for dinner came soon thereupon. And Owlglass loved good cheer, and therefore was he wroth thereat, for he loved fasting no more than a pious friar. This perceived the host, and spake unto him, saying: “He that cannot bide until that dinner be ready, may eat that he hath.” Then gat Owlglass a small loaf, and that did he eat; and thereafter sate down by the hearth at the fire, and he smelled the savour of the meat upon the spit, and it satisfied him. And when dinner-time came, the table was set and the meat brought up, and the host sate with the guests at the table, but Owlglass abode in the kitchen by the fire. Then said the host unto him: “Wilt thou not sit at meat with us?” “Nay,” quoth Owlglass, “I care not to eat; with the savour of the roast am I filled.”

Then the host held his peace, and continued to eat with the guests, and after dinner they paid him and departed this way and that way; yet abode Owlglass by the fire. To him entered the host with his pay-table, and would have of him two Cologne pence for his dinner. And Owlglass said unto him: “Sir host, are ye that kind of man which demandeth pay of one who hath not eaten?” Then was the host angry, and said “he should pay, for an if he had not eaten of the meat, had not he confessed himself filled with the savour thereof?” Then took Owlglass forth a Cologne penny and threw it on the table, and said unto the host: “Hearest thou the sound of that penny?” “Yea,” quoth the host. And Owlglass quickly took up his penny again, and put it into his pouch, and said: “As much reward the sound of my penny is unto thee, even so much have I profited of the savour of thy meat.” And when the landlord would have received the penny of him, Owlglass denied it unto him, and mocked him with much scorn, and departed thence over the Rhine water, and gat him back again into Saxony.

The Eighty and Eighth Adventure

How that Owlglass at Lübeck did escape from a house when that the watch would have taken him for his debts

Master Owlglass, like unto most other great and glorious personages, esteemed money but lightly; and he could not bear to look upon the same piece of coin oftener than twice—once when that he received it and put it in his pouch, and again when that he took it forth to spend it in joyous company. Therefore marvel ye not when that I say unto ye, that Master Owlglass did oftentimes make debts, the which he could not pay. And it fortuned, that on a time when that he was abiding in that good town of Lübeck, that he had not a penny, and the officers of the watch did go about to catch him, and cast him into gaol until that he paid every person to whom he owed aught. But he kept within his house, and went not forth but at eventide, when that darkness had with its black mantle covered the town. Yet on one evening he perceived that they had surrounded the house where he lay, and would have entered and have taken him. And he beheld, that for him was only one thing possible to be done—that he should in a church find sanctuary. Now, in that same house lay an old woman who was sick unto death, and sorely afflicted. Unto her went Owlglass, and took her hand, and did, with a most grave countenance, say unto her: “Behold, is it not time that thou shouldst think of thy soul, and make thee ready to depart; for near unto death dost thou lie.” And therewith sent he unto the priest of the parish, that he should come, that she might confess unto him, and receive extreme unction from his holy hands. Then when the host entered in at the door, did the watch arrive from the guardhouse, and beheld it, and they prostrated themselves before it; and then Owlglass, while that they saw him not, departed out of that house, and thereafter gat him unto the church, where he lay until even, and then departed he out of the town.