the winter season, and the weather was very cold. And it did freeze
hard, and all things soever waxed very dear, and at great price could
you alone get victual, so that serving-men went with scant lining to
their stomachs. Like unto many others, Owlglass was without money in his
pouch, and he came unto a village, where was another smith. Now Owlglass
craved not again to become a smith’s man; but great hunger and thirst
and cold drave him thereto, and merciless masters be they. So went he
unto the smith, but the smith would have none of him, by reason of
little work which there was; yet did Owlglass beseech him, so that at
last the smith took him. And Owlglass promised that he would eat
whatever that the smith set before him. Now the smith was a knave, and
thought in himself, he shall not eat me until that I am poor.
And it came to pass in the morning, that they fell to labour, and
laboured very hard until that it was dinner time. Then took the smith
Owlglass, and led him unto the court unto the lime-pit, and he said unto
him: “Thou didst promise to eat that which I set before thee. Now take,
eat, and make thee good cheer.” But he departed into the house, and ate
roast and boiled. Then Owlglass abode without, and thought within
himself: “Unto many hast thou wrought great knaveries, thou art repaid
in that coin which thou didst pass to others. Yet shall master smith
dearly pay for this deceitful practise.” And after the dinner hour did
Owlglass return in silence unto his labour, and said nought at all, and
so went it until supper time. Then had the smith pity for Owlglass, and
gave unto him some supper, and said unto him: “Rise ye up early in the
morning, and do ye begin in good time. Then shall ye knock together what
ye shall find, and make me a round number of horse nails. The maid may
stand at the bellows until that I come unto thee.” Then did Owlglass go
to rest, and when that it was morning he rose up early, and thought:
“Now shall he pay for the dinner.” So he took the tongs and hammers,
fire-irons, sand-ladles, and everything that he could find, which was of
iron, and hammered it into one mass in the fire. The same did he with
the horse-nails; and when that he heard the master coming, departed he.
And when that the smith came in and found the pretty business, he waxed
wroth, and asked the maid how it came that this was so, and where might
his man be? And the maid answered and said: “He hath gone forth without
the door.” The smith said: “Like unto a knave hath he gone; and if that
I wist whither that he went, I would beat him with heavy stripes.” Then
said the maid: “Before he departed, he wrote somewhat over the door.”
Then went the smith and beheld that Owlglass had, as his fashion was,
painted over the door an owl and a glass, the which signified his name.
Then knew the smith thereby who his man had been, and was glad that
Owlglass had done him no worse knavery than that he had practised. But
Owlglass returned not again unto that village, or that master. And the
smith had heavy work to make his tools again as they should be.
The Forty and Sixth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass did speak a word of truth unto a smith, his wife,
man, and maid, each one before the house._
Unto Wismar came Owlglass upon a holy day, and when he passed by over
against the smithy, he then beheld before the smithy door a good wife
standing dressed in her best clothes, and with her was her maid, and she
was the smith’s wife. And Owlglass went and lay at the inn opposite that
night, and in the night time he brake from off his horse’s feet all his
shoes, and the next day went over unto the smithy. On this wise came he
to know them. And when that he approached unto the smithy, lo! they
perceived that he was Owlglass; and the good wife, and her maid, came
forth before the house door, so that they might behold that which
Owlglass said and did. And Owlglass lifted up his voice, and spake unto
the smith saying: “Wilt thou now shoe these my horse’s feet?” And the
smith answered him “Yea”; and it pleased the smith that he should talk
with so wonderful a man as was Owlglass. After that they had talked and
conferred together awhile, the smith said unto him: “Behold now, if that
thou canst unto me say a word of truth, then will I give unto thee a
shoe therefor.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea”; and thus spake unto him:
“An if hammer and iron and coals have ye,
And wind enow in the bellows free,
Brave smith of might then can ye be.”
Then said the smith: “That word is truth,” and gave unto him a shoe.
Then did the apprentice put the shoe on the horse’s foot; and he spake
unto Owlglass and said: “That an if Owlglass would say unto him also
such a word of verity, he would likewise bestow upon him a shoe.” Then
answered Owlglass: “Yea”; and said unto him:
“The master and the man they two,
If that work they fain would do,
Hard labour should they never rue.”
“True is thy saying,” answered the smith’s man, and gave him a shoe.
Thereat marvelled the good wife, and her maid; and they came unto him,
and conferred with him, and the good wife said unto him: “That an if he
said also to her words of true meaning, she would give unto him a shoe.”
And thereat answered Owlglass, and said: “Yea”; and spake thus:
“Good wife, good wife, eye that’s bright,
Sparkling with such knavish light,
Loves a trysting place at night.”
Then said the good wife: “Marry but thou sayest truth,” and therewith
gave him a shoe. Then would the maid fain have a true word also spoken
unto her; and if that Owlglass did it, she would give him a shoe. And he
said:
“When that thou dost dine on veal,
Eat with care, or thou shalt feel
Tooth-ache pangs thee over-steal.”
And the maid said thereat: “O and alas! how true is that saying,” and
gave him a shoe. Then departed Owlglass from that place with his horse
well shod. But if any of us, my masters, went unto a blacksmith, I fear
me greatly we should have no satisfaction, or horseshoes, for telling
truths unto him. This sheweth that of old time were the people wiser
than now.
The Forty and Seventh Adventure.
_How that Owlglass, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, did with guile delude two
Jews of rings._
On a time came Owlglass unto the city of Frankfort-on-the-Main, and it
was yearly market day when that he entered therein. And in that town
dwelt many Jews, and those that dwelt not there, dwelt in other places;
and some have come out thence, and go not thither again. Then did
Owlglass send for two rich Jews, and he spake unto them, saying: “That
he would have two pair of ear-rings of them, beset with precious stones;
but they must all be of one pattern and size, nor one in the least
larger or smaller than the other.” And it was for a noble lady that he
said he would have them. Then the Jews brought a great number of costly
rings, and Owlglass dealt with each alone, and of each did he have a
pair. But unto the first he gave back a ring, and said: “That he should
take it unto the goldsmith and have it made a little larger.” And this
the Jew agreed should be done, and departed with the ring, and promised
that he would return ere long; but he left the other ring with Owlglass.
And Owlglass did likewise with the second Jew, and kept one of the twain
rings. And the Jews departed each alone. Then had Owlglass wan him a
pair of ear-rings, and therewith did he go forth from Frankfort, and
came not again. But the Jews were beguiled; yet cared not Owlglass a jot
therefor.
The Forty and Eighth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass served a shoemaker, and how that he inquired of him
what shapes he should cut; and the master answered him, and said: “Great
and small, as the herdsman driveth forth to field.” Therefore cut he
oxen, cows, calves, sheep, and pigs._
Now in a place where Owlglass sojourned on a time, was there a
shoemaker, who loved rather to walk about in the market than to labour,
and he hired Owlglass for his servant, and he bade Owlglass cut out the
shapes himself. Then said Owlglass unto him: “Master, what would you
have me to cut?” And the shoemaker answered him, and said: “Cut ye out
great and small, as the herdsman driveth forth to field.” And Owlglass
spake unto him, and said: “Yea, master, that will I.” And therewith
departed the master unto the market. Then fell Owlglass to work, and
began to cut out pigs, and oxen, and calves, and sheep, and goats, and
all kind of cattle. When that it was night, the master returned him home
again, and fain would see what his serving-man had done; then found he
these animals cut out of the leather. Thereat grew he angry, and said
unto Owlglass: “What is it that thou hast done, so to cut and destroy my
leather?” And Owlglass said: “Dear master, I have done it as thou
wouldst most desire it should be.” The master answered, and said: “Nay,
thou liest; I would not have thee to destroy the leather; that did I not
command thee that thou shouldst do.” Then answered Owlglass to him:
“Master, wherefore be ye angry? Ye commanded me that I should cut the
leather great and small, like as the herdsman driveth forth to field;
and most truly to be seen is it that I have thus done.” Then said the
master: “Nay, but I meant ye should cut out shoes great and small.”
Thereupon said Owlglass: “Had ye said that unto me so that I understood
it, then would I have done it with great joy; and yet would I do it.”
Then agreed Owlglass and his master, the one with the other; and he
forgave him the leather he had cut up, for Owlglass promised him that he
would do him content thereafter, and as he told him that would he do.
Then did the shoemaker cut a number of soles for shoes, and laid them
before Owlglass, and said unto him: “Look ye, sew ye them little and
great as they be altogether.” And Owlglass said: “Yea” thereunto, and
began to sew them. Then tarried the master awhile, and departed not
forth, for he desired to see how Owlglass did sew. For well knew he that
which he had told him, and he craved to behold how he would do according
to his words. And Owlglass took a small shoe and a great shoe, and with
his needle and thread he sewed them together. And thereat stole the
master secretly up to him, and he perceived that which he did. Then said
he unto Owlglass: “Thou art truly a man after mine own heart; thou doest
that which I desire thee to do.” And Owlglass answered, and said unto
him: “He that doeth his master’s bidding will receive no stripes.” Then
said the master: “Yea, my good servant, my words were so, but my meaning
was other. What I meaned was, that thou shouldst first make a pair of
small shoes, and then make a pair of large, or the great first and the
small ones after; but thou sewest them altogether, according to my words
and not my meaning.” And then waxed he wroth, and took the leather which
was cut up, and said: “Now take thee other leather, and cut me new shoes
on one last.”
Thereafter thought he no more about the matter, and departed forth to
walk. And when that he had been out for more than an hour, he remembered
him that he had told Owlglass to cut all on one last; and he hastened
him home to see what was done. And Owlglass had sate him still the
while, and taken a small last, and cut all the shoes thereunto. So that
when the master came, he found he had cut it all according to the little
last; and he said unto him: “What dost thou mean, that thou hast on the
one last cut me all these shoes? How can the great sole belong to the
little shoe?” And Owlglass said unto him: “That will I do after, and the
other will I cut.” Then said the master: “But thou takest only one last,
and makest them all for one foot; what dost thou expect can I do with
thy work?” Then answered Owlglass unto him: “Of a truth, master, thou
didst bid me to cut them over one last only, and that have I done.”
Thereat said the master: “If that I had much to do with thee, should I
have to run with thee to the hangman;” and he furthermore said unto him:
“Pay thou me for the leather thou hast marred.” Then said Owlglass: “If
that I have marred thy leather, the currier can he not make more?” Then
arose he, and stood in the door, and turning himself round unto the
master, said: “If that I come not again, have I yet been with thee.
Farewell.” And he departed from that city.
The Forty and Ninth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass bought eggs and had them tightly packed._
On a time Owlglass came into a village in Swabia, where abode a man very
stupid, who with lard and eggs drave a trade. And Owlglass did become
serving-man unto him, and much business did for his master, by the which
he gained greatly. In this wise and after this manner was it that
Owlglass did all that his master required. His master sent him unto the
market, that he might cheaply buy and dearly sell; for according to such
modes grow all merchants rich. And it came to pass on a day, that
Owlglass had bought so much, that his baskets, panniers, and chests were
all full of lard and butter and eggs, and yet craved he to buy much
more. Then lifted he up his voice, and spake unto his master, saying:
“Behold, master, between each egg is there a great room; might it not
be, that we might get more in if that, like unto cabbages, we trod them
closer together?” And the stupid egg-merchant perceived that to be most
true; and then bid he the folk which helped him to tread the eggs close
together. And so did they; but, lo! then were their feet all yellow, and
the eggs were soon broken to pieces. Then did the master of Owlglass cry
out upon his man, and despatched him hastily to do business elsewhere;
for the egg-trade did he not understand. Yet was the story soon noised
abroad; and thenceforward laughed the people, and called the Swabians
yellow-feet, the which name remaineth even unto days of this chronicler.
The Fiftieth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass made a soup for a boor, and put therein shoemaker’s
oil; for that, in his nobility, he thought it good enow for the boor._
Now after these knaveries came Owlglass unto Stade, and there he again
hired him unto a shoemaker. And when that he began the first day to
work, his master went unto market, and of a boor bought a load of wood,
and then came home, and commanded that the boor should have a soup given
unto him. But he found no one at home; for the goodwife and the maid had
gone forth, and Owlglass was alone within the house; and he was sewing
shoes. And the master was obliged again to go to the market. So spake he
to Owlglass, and said, that he should make ready a soup for the boor;
for that had he promised him into their bargain. And Owlglass answered:
“Yea;” then the boor unloaded the wood, and came into the house. But
when that Owlglass sought in the cupboard, and had made ready the soup,
he found nothing to flavour it save shoemaker’s oil; so he took the
bottle, and poured therefrom a goodly measure into the soup, and a fine
flavour was there then therein. And when that the boor began to eat, he
tasted that it was very evil; but he was an hungered, and he soon ate up
the soup. In no long time thereafter came the shoemaker home, and asked
the boor how the soup tasted. And the boor answered him: “That it was
good all but one thing, and that was, that it savoured woundily of new
shoes.” Then departed the boor. And the shoemaker laughed, and said unto
Owlglass: “What didst thou put in the soup thou gavest to the boor?” And
Owlglass answered, and said: “Thou commandest me that I should take that
I found and put in the soup; and I found nought but the shoemaker’s oil.
Therefore put I that in.” And the shoemaker said: “It is well, and quite
good enough to give for a bargain to a boor.” And so were the two knaves
contented; but as two of a trade never can agree together, in no long
time parted they, and Owlglass continued his journey.
The Fifty and First Adventure.
_This chapter is a special chapter, telling how that a bootmaker sought
to beguile Owlglass by greasing his boots, and how that Owlglass looked
through the window, and brake it._
Christopher was the name of a bootmaker, who, in Brunswick, lived upon
the Cabbage-market. Unto him on a time went Owlglass, that he might have
his boots greased. And when that he came into the house, he opened his
mouth, and said: “Master, an if ye will smear me these boots well and
throughly, I will pay your demand, so that I have them by Monday.” And
the master answered, and said: “Yea, truly shall ye have them.” Then
departed Owlglass from the house, and thought no longer thereupon; for
when wise men say things shall be done, it is the fool’s fault if they
be not. And after that he had gone his way, the bootmaker’s man said:
“Behold, master, have a care; for that is Owlglass, and to all men doth
he work knavery. Do, therefore, that he said, or he will work ye a vile
turn.” Then answered the master, and said: “What would he have?” And the
man said: “He said, smear me these boots and throughly. Therefore do ye
according to his words, and smear ye them within and without.” Then
answered the master unto him, and said: “That will I do.” So did he, in
truth.
And on the Monday cometh Owlglass, and he saith unto them: “Have ye my
boots ready?” And the master had hung them upon a hook in his shop, and
answered unto him, and said, as he pointed unto them: “Behold, there
have ye your boots as they hang.” And Owlglass looked, and saw that they
were so smeared within and without; and he laughed, and said: “How good
and pious a master bootmaker have I found, that he doth smear me my
boots throughly. And what may ye desire to have for your pains?” Then
spake the master: “An old penny will I have.” Then did Owlglass give him
an old penny he had by him, and departed from the house; and then
laughed the master and his man, and said one to the other: “How may he
take that? Surely now hath he been made a fool!” That heard our good
Master Owlglass; and he put his head within the window so that it brake,
and head and shoulders followed after, to the great wonderment of all
thereby. And Owlglass said unto the bootmaker: “Master, what lard used
ye? Tell me if it be lard from a sow or a boar?” Thereat was the master
amazed with his man, and at last perceived that Owlglass lay in the
window, and he had broken it. Then the bootmaker grew angry, and said:
“The genius of evil take thee! What meanest thou? With this lapstone
will I break thy head!” Then said Owlglass: “Honourable sir, be not
angry. It is but a simple answer I would have. Which is it from which ye
have taken the lard, from a sow or a boar?” And the master wished his
window whole. But he answered never a word; and thereat said Owlglass:
“If that ye will not tell me, I must depart to foreign lands to have it
certified, and of another must I learn whether it be of a sow or a
boar.” Therewith departed Owlglass.
Then waxed the master wroth with his man, and said unto him: “That
counsel gavest thou me; now give me other counsel how that my window may
be whole.” But the servant was dumb. So said the master: “Which hath
been the greatest fool among these, and who shall pay the damage?” But
the comrade held his tongue; and the master continued: “Who is it that
hath mocked the other? How shall my window be made whole? I have always
heard it said: He that is heavy laden with a fool may soon rejoice to
lose his pack from his shoulders; and if I had done that might I have
kept my window, nor would I have cared an if it had been in that wise.”
Therefore departed the apprentice, and bootmaker Christopher paid for
his broken window himself.
The Fifty and Second Adventure.
_Telleth how that Owlglass at Einbeck became a brewer’s man, and did
seethe a dog which was called Hops._
Owlglass tarried not at any time in doing his evil knavery. And he came
unto Einbeck after a time, and in that town did he hire him unto a
brewer to be his man. Then came it to pass, that the brewer his master
desired to go unto a wedding; and he spake unto Owlglass, and said unto
him: “Do thou brew with the maid while I am away from hence, and
to-morrow will I return to help thee in thy labour. Yet, above all, do
ye not forget to put hops into the beer, so that it shall savour
strongly thereof, and be a most desirable thing to buy.” And Owlglass
answered and said unto his master, that would he diligently perform unto
his content. Then did the brewer with his wife depart out of the door to
the wedding. Then began Owlglass to brew the beer; and the serving-woman
taught him what he should do, forasmuch as she understood it better than
he did. And when it came to be time that the hops should be put therein,
the maid said unto him: “Lo! my dear fellow-servant, thou canst boil the
hops alone as well as while I am with thee. Therefore do thou boil them,
and I will go for an hour unto the dance.” And Owlglass said: “Yea;” and
thought within himself: “When that she hath departed out of the way,
then canst thou better do thy knavery. What shall it be that thou wilt
do unto this brewer?”
Now the brewer had in his house a great dog, whose name was Hops; and
when the water was hot, took Owlglass the poor beast, and threw him into
the vat, and boiled him therein, so that the flesh was boiled from off
the bones, and the skin and hair was sodden altogether. Thereafter
thought the maid, that it was time she should return home unto Owlglass,
for the hops must have been seethed enough. She entered in unto him, and
spake unto him: “Lo! my brother, now have the hops seethed enough; draw
off.” Then took she a sieve and strained the beer, but found nought
therein; then said she unto Owlglass: “Hast thou also put therein the
hops, as I said unto ye? I find nought therein.” But Owlglass said:
“Thou wilt find all at the bottom.” And the woman took a shovel, and
found the bones of the dog at the bottom. Then cried she aloud: “What is
this thing thou hast put therein? The evil one defend me from this
beer!” And Owlglass answered: “What our master commanded me that did I.
I seethed therein Hops our dog.”
It fortuned that the brewer then entered in unto them, and he had
drunken himself drunk at the wedding; and he said unto them: “Ha! ha!
what is it that ye do, my children?” Then answered the maid, and said
unto him: “Lo! I did but go for half an hour unto the dance, and bade
this our new man to seethe the hops in the beer; and he hath taken our
dog, and hath seethed him. Behold, ye may see his bones.” Then spake
Owlglass, and said: “Truly did I nothing more than ye enjoined me to do.
Ye said that Hops should I seethe, and that have I done. But ye are
ungrateful when that I am obedient. Had ye servants which ever did that
which ye commanded as I have done, would ye surely have great content.”
Then departed he, and was wroth that they thanked him not.
[Illustration: HOW OWLGLASS BOILETH HOPS.]
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?