Kitabı oku: «The Marvellous Adventures and Rare Conceits of Master Tyll Owlglass», sayfa 9
The Fifty and Third Adventure
How that Owlglass hired him unto a tailor, and sewed so secretly that it was not seen of any one
And when that Owlglass approached unto Berlin, he there hired him unto a tailor of that town. Then said his master unto him, as he sate in the workshop: “If that thou sewest for me, sew for me after that wise that it shall be seen of no one.” To him answered Owlglass: “Yea;” and with that took his work, and crept him under the counter, and put his work across his knee, and began there to sew. The tailor stood thereby, and looked upon him, and said unto him: “What doest thou? Of a truth that is a marvellous way to sew thy coat.” And Owlglass answered: “Master, said ye not that I should sew in such wise as that it should be seen of no one, and can any one behold me where I sew?” Then said the tailor: “Nay; but, my dear serving-man, sew ye no longer after that wise, but begin to sew that all may see.”
So fared they on for a matter of three days; and it fortuned one night, that a peasant’s great over-coat, such as in that country is called a wolf, lay unfinished in the shop. This took the tailor, and gave it unto Owlglass, and said unto him: “Here, take the wolf and make it ready, and thereafter mayest thou get thee to bed.” Then answered Owlglass: “Yea; and if ye go will I right quickly do it as ye enjoin.” Then departed the master; and Owlglass took the coat, and he cut it up, and made first a wolf’s head, and then legs and body, and with sticks set it upright on the bench, so that it looked like unto a wolf, and then gat he him unto bed. And when that it was day, the master gat him up, and awakened Owlglass also, and found the wolf standing in the shop. And he marvelled with great wonderment at this doing of Owlglass; and he said unto him when that he came: “I’ the prince of mischief’s name, what is this thing thou hast done?” And Owlglass answered, and said: “A wolf have I made, as ye enjoined me.” Then said the tailor: “Such a wolf would I not have; but a peasant’s great coat. That called I a wolf.” Thereat answered Owlglass, and spake unto the tailor, saying: “Dear master, that knew not I. An ye had said unto me, that ye would have a peasant’s coat, then would I have made it; but ye said I should make a wolf, and, lo! have I not done it? And with greater content would I have made a coat than a wolf.” And the tailor forgave him; for as it was ended, what should he do?
And after four days had passed, was the tailor fain again to sleep, and yet he judged that it was too soon for his man to get him to bed. And there lay a coat in the shop, the which had been finished, all save the arms, which should be sewed on. This took he, and gave it unto Owlglass, saying: “Whip me these arms to the coat, and then mayest thou sleep.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and therewith departed the tailor. Then did Owlglass light two candles, and he hung the coat on a hook, and made him a whip with whipcord, and ’gan to whip the sleeves, so that he might get them unto the coat. Yet stirred they not. And when that his candles were burned down, gat he two more, and lighted them, and burned candles through the whole night. At last arose the master, and came unto Owlglass into the shop, and said unto him: “What mystery play ye here?” And Owlglass answered gravely, and said: “No mystery is this, but hard labour; for the whole night through have I stood here, and whipped me these sleeves with whipcord, yet move they not unto the coat. Better had it been if that ye had bid me sleep; for ye surely knew that I must lose my labour.” Then answered the tailor, and said: “Lay ye that to my charge? Am I ever to be finding ye brains to understand that which I say? Didst not see that I meant that ye should sew the sleeves on to the coat?” Answered straightway unto him Owlglass: “Nay; but, in the evil one’s name, how can ye think that it be my fault, that when ye say one thing I should understand ye to mean another thing? If that I had known what ye would have done, would I not have sewn the sleeves on, and then slept an hour or twain? Now may ye sit ye down, for I will get me unto my bed.” Thereat said the tailor: “Not so; I will not receive into my house folk that lazy be and sleep.” Then did they strive together in anger; and the tailor would have payment of Owlglass for the candles he had burned, but this would not Owlglass give him; therefore took he that which belonged unto him, and departed.
The Fifty and Fourth Adventure
How that Owlglass caused three tailors to fall from their board, and then would have persuaded the people that the wind had blown them down
On the market at Brandenburg, Owlglass abode in an inn for a matter of fourteen days. And hard by there dwelt a tailor, and on his board had he three of his men sitting at work. And when that Owlglass passed by over against them, they did nothing but mock him, and throw rags after him. And all this time kept Owlglass silence; and one day when that it was a full market-day, did he secretly the night before saw through the posts which held up the board, and so left them standing. In the morning did the men put the board on the posts, and sate them down as usual, and sewed. At the time when that the swineherd blew his horn that every one might drive forth his swine, came the tailor’s swine forth likewise, and ran under the window, and against the posts began to rub themselves; then came down the three tailors, and fell upon the ground, and sorely hurt themselves. And when Owlglass marked that they fell, he cried with a loud voice: “Behold, ye people, of what light account are tailors, when that by the wind three are blown down from the board!” These words of Owlglass heard the whole market, and the people therein. Then ran all the market-place in great haste, and laughed, and mocked the tailors with great scorn; and then did the tailors abuse each one the other with much evil language, for they wist not how it had come to pass that they had fallen. At last did they behold that the posts were sawed through, and knew well that it was Owlglass. Then did they set new posts in the ground, but mocked him no longer.
The Fifty and Fifth Adventure
How that Owlglass assembled all the tailors throughout the whole land of Saxony, by proclaiming that he would teach them a mighty useful thing, that would get bread both for them and their children
On a time, Owlglass made proclamation in the whole of the Wendic Union, and in the land of Saxony, that is, in Holstein, Pommern, Stettin, and Mecklenburg, and likewise in Lübeck, Hamburg, in the Sound, and at Wismar; and in his letters said, that truly the tailors in those parts should come unto him, for tidings of great joy and content did he bring, and a cunning and rare art would he disclose unto them, by the which they should have great comfort and gain, and their children after them. And he said, that they should come unto him into the town of Rostock, and so should assemble together. Then did they all make answer unto Owlglass, that for so great an art would they willingly come, and learn that art of which he spake.
And so came they all together upon occasion to Rostock; and the folks were all amazed as to why so great a number of tailors came and abode in that town. When that Owlglass also heard that they had approached and entered into the town, he was right glad; and he let them grow in multitude until that among these tailors were a goodly number of men. Thereafter spake they unto Owlglass, and said unto him, that, according unto his word, they had come together, and that they would fain learn of him what that art was which they should be taught, and the which should benefit both them and their children. Then besought they him that he should soon teach them; and rarely would they recompence him therefor. And Owlglass answered, and said unto them: “Yea; do ye all together come into a field, so that all may hear.” And according unto his saying did they.
Then gat him Owlglass up into a house, which overlooked the field, and there looked he forth from a window; and he lifted up his voice, and said unto them: “Honourable artificers in the tailoring trade, I bid ye mark and perceive, that when ye have by ye scissors, ellwand, thread, thimble, needle, and a smoothing-iron, the which ye call a goose, then have ye enough tools for your business; and to get them, therein is no art, for common is it, and cometh of itself. But do ye steadfastly learn of me this art, and bear ye me in mind when that ye do it. When that ye take a thread, forget ye not at the end thereof that is contrary unto that which ye thread in the needle to make a knot, or, in good sooth, ye will make many a stitch in vain.” Thereat did one tailor look upon his neighbour; and they each one said unto the other: “Lo! was not this a thing well known unto all of us, and of old time a rule among us?” Then did they ask him whether he had anything further to tell them. “Verily! for phantasy’s sake would not we have come twelve weary miles, or despatched from one to the other messengers of speed; and this art ye have told us have we known these thousand years.” Then answered Owlglass unto the tailors, and said unto them: “That which hath been known these thousand years is marked of no man; and when that people are bidden to think upon it, do they not in any wise thank the speaker.” Therefore might they depart again unto where they had come from. Then were the tailors who had come from afar very wroth with Owlglass, and would fain have come to him, and beaten him; but he was nimble and escaped them. Then conferred they one with the other, and laughed, and said: “Truly was it their own fault that they were thus befooled; for knew they not of old what a slippery fellow was this same Owlglass?”
The Fifty and Sixth Adventure
How that Owlglass beat wool upon a saint’s day, and that very high
And when that Owlglass came unto Stendal, he gave it out, that he was a woolstapler, and hired himself unto a master in that town. Then upon a Sunday spake the master unto him, saying: “Mark ye, my good fellow, upon a Monday do ye commonly keep holiday, and that love I not in any man who cometh into my house; for here must all diligently labour.” And Owlglass made answer: “That pleaseth me right well, master.” So he gat him up early on the Monday, and laboured hard, and the same thing did he on Tuesday; and that pleased the master exceedingly. And on the Wednesday there fell a saint’s day, the which was a holy day and should be kept; yet gat Owlglass to his labour again, and ’gan to work and beat his wool, so that ye might hear him right down the street. The master arose from his bed when that he heard the noise, and cried unto Owlglass with a loud voice: “Be ye still; be ye still; to-day is a holy day, and we may not labour.” Then said Owlglass: “Dear master, said ye not on Sunday, that ye loved not that one should be idle on a holy day; but ye said, that I should work the whole week through.” And the woolstapler answered him: “Nay; but I meant not that. Leave thy labour now, and that which thou wouldst have earned to-day will I pay thee.” And this fitted Owlglass right well; and he kept the holy day, and at eventide he supped with his master. Then conferred they; and the master said unto him, that the wool contented him not, and he bade Owlglass, that he should beat it up a little higher. And Owlglass said: “Yea;” and in the morning he arose from his bed early, and fixed up the frame to the beam, and gat him a ladder, and mounted thereupon, and with his rod beat the wool, so that all the town could hear the noise. The while lay the master in bed, and he perceived right certainly that Owlglass was not beating the wool as he should do; therefore he gat up, and went, and looked upon him. And he spake unto him jestingly: “By my troth, and if ye stood upon the roof so would ye be yet higher; and little would it rede whether ye stood on the ladder or the roof.” And therewith departed he unto the church. Thereupon did Owlglass take the frame, and climbed up on the roof, and there beat the wool. That saw his master from the street as he came along; and he cried aloud unto him, and came running: “Ha! ho! what do ye there upon the roof? Is that a thing ye should do, to beat the wool upon the roof?” And Owlglass said: “Truly did I according unto thy words. For thou didst say, that it would be better upon the roof than the ladder, for that the roof was higher than the beam.” And the woolstapler said: “Play ye no more of your knaveries; get ye forth from my house, nor do ye again come hither.” Thereat departed Owlglass, and lamented that he could never earn any thanks.
The Fifty and Seventh Adventure
How that Owlglass was hired by a furrier, and did sleep among the skins
On a time did Owlglass take service with a furrier, and when that it was night, he bade Owlglass get him to work and hang out the skins. But Owlglass loved not the labour, and would fain have escaped therefrom. And he spake unto his master, saying: “How is this that with so ill savour this smelleth. I’ faith, I cannot bear it!” And the furrier answered him and said: “Verily, it seemeth unto me that of this trade knowest thou nought. For an if thou hadst slept only four nights among the furs, then wouldst thou no longer mark their ill savour.” Then said Owlglass: “Four nights will I sleep among the skins, master, and then shall I not mark it.” So the furrier gat him to bed. And behold, Owlglass took the skins which were prepared, and which hung upon the wall, and he took also the skins which were dry; and lastly, took he the wet skins; and he cast them together upon the floor of the loft, and crept in among them and slept until the morning. When that it was day, then rose up his master, and he beheld that the skins were taken from the wall; and he ran unto the loft, and spake unto Owlglass to inquire of him what it might fortune that he knew about the skins. And he perceived not Owlglass; but lo! his eyes fell upon the skins, which, wet and dry, lay together in a heap one with the other. Thereat was he strangely moved, and with a weeping voice called the maid and the women folk; and these cries did cause Owlglass to awake, and he looked forth from among the skins, and said: “Honoured master, what may it be that doth move ye so to cry out and to clamour?” Then did the furrier marvel greatly, and knew not what might be in the heap of skins.
And he opened his mouth, and said unto Owlglass: “Where art thou?” And Owlglass to him answered: “Behold, here am I.” Then said the master: “That good fortune may never come unto thee! Hast taken me the dry furs from the wall, and the wet from the lime-pit, and cast me them together in this heap, so that they be spoiled. What wilt thou with this phantasy?” But the wise and prudent Master Owlglass answered him and said: “How, master, be ye not angry! for an if ye be angry for that I have slept one night amidst the skins, what will ye be when that I have slept the four nights ye enjoined me; for ye said that I knew nought of the labour.” Then said the furrier: “Now liest thou like unto a false and ready knave! I bid thee not carry together the wet and the dry, and sleep amid them after this wise!” Then sought the furrier for a stick, and tried to beat Owlglass. But then went Owlglass towards the door to depart thence; and as he went he met the wife of the furrier, and the maid servant, and they would fain have held him. But he said unto them: “Peace be with ye, good friends, let me hasten for a chirurgeon, for my master hath fallen, and his leg hath broken!” Then they let him go, and ran up the stairs unto the master; but he came running down at a great pace, and overthrew the maid and his good wife, and they all stumbled and fell together. Yet our good master had speedily departed, and gotten him thence with all haste.
The Fifty and Eighth Adventure
How that Owlglass on a time, at Berlin, did make wolves
Of a cunning and wily mind are the Swabians, and where they come and find not victual, ye may approve it of a certainty that other folk will starve. Yet are they more lovers of the beer jug, and of drinking, than thoughtful of their labour, so comes it likewise that their business lieth but sadly. Now it happened on a time that at Berlin lived a furrier, and he was in Swabia born, and in his art was he most handy, and had much business, and thereto was rich, with a good workshop, by the which he had gained much, as he served those which held lands, and moneys, and houses, and goodly titles. And it came to pass that one winter season a great and noble prince, with all his court, desired to hunt; and they commanded the furrier to prepare for them not a few wolf skins to wear. Of this was Owlglass told, so he gat him unto the furrier, and besought him that he would give unto him work, that he might have money and food. At that time, also, did the master lack people, and was right glad that Owlglass had come unto him; and he spake unto him, and asked him, if that he would make such wolves. And Owlglass answered: “That he was of the land of Saxony, and knew well how to make them.” Then said the furrier unto him: “Truly art thou well come unto me, and I bid thee stay. And touching the reward of thy pains will we agree, and thou shalt abide with me, and have a good time while that thou stayest.” Owlglass answered and said unto the furrier: “Yea, master, I do bethink me that thou art right honest and true; and I crave nothing so much as that ye shall know me for what manner of man I am, when that ye behold my labour. But I work not in fellowship with other men; but ever alone in mine own company.”
Then did the furrier allot unto Owlglass a small chamber wherein he abode; and he received from the furrier the metage of certain furs, and the wolves’ skins. Then took Owlglass the wolves’ skins as they were, and cut them, and made of them a number of wolves; and these he stuffed full of hay, and gat feet made of sticks, and they stood up in manner as if they lived. And when that he had thus cut up all the furs, and made an end of his labours, he cried aloud to his master: “Ho! master, come hither; truly have I ended my labour, and made the wolves.” And the master answered and said: “Yea, my good man, verily have I yet much labour to do! Be thou diligent, and continue as thou art.” Then turned he about to go thence, and he beheld the wolves standing in the chamber, and he lifted up his voice thereat, and cried aloud in great anger: “What is this that thou hast done! Thou bird of unhappy fortune! what evil hast thou wrought unto me? For this will I have thee cast into gaol, and thou shalt suffer therefor.” Then answered Owlglass and said: “Master, call ye that my reward and my thanks. Ye commanded me that I should make wolves, and wolves have I also made. Had ye but said that I should make wolf furs, then had I understood ye, and also have done it with great joy. In the beginning should ye have explained carefully unto one that is a stranger that which ye would have. And, indeed, had it appeared unto me that I should have gained no greater thanks than that which hath been given me, then would I not have wrought thy work in any wise.” Then departed Owlglass from Berlin, and gat him into the city of Leipzig.
The Fifty and Ninth Adventure
How that Owlglass, being servant unto a great lord, did fetch for him wine and beer together in a most delectable manner
Once again did Owlglass take service with a noble lord, and became unto him body servant. And it fortuned, that this master of his loved good cheer,—the which is a thing not rare among all manner of men,—and especially loved he a cup of generous wine, or a deep draught of good beer.
It came to pass, that on a time Owlglass and his master journeyed together, and lay at an inn. And the day was hot, and they twain were faint, for they had ridden hard. Then spake the lord unto his serving-man Owlglass, and said: “Go thou and find mine host the landlord of this inn, and fetch him unto me.” That did Owlglass on that instant; for well knew he, that when the master drank the man was seldom dry. And his lord spake unto the host, and said unto him: “Lo! we have come far, and the sun hath burned us so that we be dry, and would have some drink.” And the host answered him: “Verily, in all the wide world, and the Duchy of Mecklenburg to boot, is there no such liquor as in my cellar. Therefore have ye come unto the best place to slake your thirst.” Then commanded the master, that Owlglass should depart with the host; and he said unto him: “I know not the which is best, therefore do thou bring me good store of both wine and beer, and bring ye them together.” And Owlglass said: “Yea;” and departed with the host. Then the host meted unto him both of wine and of beer; and Owlglass said unto himself: “If that I faint then loseth my master his good servant; therefore, that I may truly serve him, will I first drink, for peradventure I shall not have strength to bring the liquor unto my lord.” Therefore drank he merrily the half of the wine and the half of the beer, and remembered his lord’s words, that they should be together; therefore mingled he the wine and the beer in one measure, and gave unto his lord to drink. And when that the lord found how delectable was the mixture, he waxed very wroth, and said unto Owlglass: “What is this that thou hast done, and what vile liquor is this?” “Truly, my lord,” quoth honest Owlglass, “it is wine and beer mingled together, as ye enjoined me to bring unto ye.” But his master perceived it was a knavery, and bade Owlglass to depart from his sight; for, of a truth, was his beguiling most evilly done. But sorrowfully departed Owlglass, for he thought that he wrought no harm in doing the thing which was commanded unto him. Indeed, my masters, often times falleth the evil temper of the one upon the other; and for the too exact enactment of the commands of the master is the man chidden.
