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.
The Eighty and Ninth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass at Stassfurt of a dog took the skin, the which he
gave unto his hostess for her charges._
On a time it came to pass, that Owlglass entered into an inn, and there
found the hostess quite alone. And this hostess had a little dog, of the
which she was greatly enamoured; and ever mote it be, that, when she had
nought to do, this dog must lie in her lap. And Owlglass stood by the
fire, and drank from the beer-can. Now it was the custom with that
hostess, that when she drank beer, she did always, in a small dish, give
thereof unto the dog. So when that Owlglass drank, the dog arose, and
came unto him, and would, by leaps and look, have entreated him for some
beer. That saw the hostess, and she said unto Owlglass: “Behold, beloved
guest, do thou give him to drink in the dish of thy beer for so would he
signify unto thee.” And Owlglass said unto her: “That will I do
cheerfully.” Then departed the hostess to perform whatever business she
had about the house; and Owlglass gave him to drink in the dish, and
therein put likewise a little piece of meat; and when that the dog had
eaten thereof, goeth he to the fire and lieth sleeping thereby. Then
said Owlglass unto the hostess: “Let us now reckon our charges.” And he
asked her: “Good, my hostess, if that a guest eat of thy meat and drink
of thy beer, yet hath not any coin, would ye also unto such an one give
credit?” Then thought the woman not of the dog, but had great suspicion
of his own worthy person (the which, as ye know, my masters, was most
unjust!); therefore she answered quickly unto him: “Master traveller,
here must I have money, or a pledge in place thereof.” And Owlglass said
unto her: “Truly am I right content therewith for mine own part; let the
other look to it for his.”
Then departed the hostess again, and Owlglass took the dog beneath his
cloak, and went into the stable, and there took he his skin off, and
entered again into the house, carrying it privily beneath his coat. Then
called he the hostess again, and took out his money, and said: “Lo! let
us now reckon.” And the hostess reckoned up the charges. Then did
Owlglass lay down half the reckoning upon the table, and said: “There
have ye my part.” And the hostess asked of him: “Who then shall pay the
rest? Have ye not eaten and drank alone in my house?” But he said unto
her: “Nay, but I had another with me, who ate of thy meat and drank of
thy beer. Yet hath he no money, but a pledge can he give thee, the which
is his coat; and therewith will he pay the other half.” And the hostess
said: “What guest mean ye?” Then Owlglass drew forth the dog’s skin, and
spake unto her saying: “Behold, mine hostess, here have ye the best coat
that he hath.” Then was the hostess moved, and saw that it was the skin
of her dog; and she waxed wroth, and said unto Owlglass: “May the evil
thing be upon ye ever! Wherefore didst thou take the skin from off my
dog?” And Owlglass answered her, and said: “Woman, this is thine own
fault, for thou didst demand either money or a pledge. And thou thyself
didst desire that thy dog should drink, and I said unto ye the guest had
no money; and thus, as he had nought else to give ye, take ye now his
skin for the beer the which he drank.” Then waxed the hostess yet more
wroth, and commanded and enjoined him to go out of her house. “Nay,”
quoth Owlglass, “out of thy house will I not go, but ride.” And
therewith did he saddle his horse, and rode forth, and said unto her:
“Hostess, do thou keep the pledge until that thou dost receive the
money; and once again will I visit thee, to see if that thou hast had it
redeemed. Farewell.”
The Ninetieth Adventure.
_How that our noble master gave assurance unto the same hostess, that
Owlglass lay upon the wheel._
Hear ye now that which Owlglass did on another day at Stassfurt. It
fortuned, that thither he came again to lie in the same inn; and he took
other clothes, and so disguised himself, and came thither, and entered
in unto the court there, and lo! he perceived in that place a great
wheel. Now did a knavery enter into his sconce therewith, and he lay
down upon it, and gave the hostess a good day. And he inquired of her,
if that she had heard aught said of the famous Master Owlglass? And she
straightway answered him, and said: “Why should I desire to hear tidings
of the knave? Truly, his name hath an ill savour in my nostrils!” And he
said unto her: “Woman, what hath he done unto ye that ye should speak so
bitterly concerning him?” And she answered, and said: “Truly should I
speak bitterly of him. Came he not hither, and stripped me the skin of
my dog from off his back, and gave me the skin for the beer, the which
he drank; for, of a truth, should he have had shame to consort with a
dog as a guest, and thereafter take off his skin in such wise?” And
Owlglass spake unto her, saying: “Hostess, that was not well done.” And
the hostess said: “Aye, and unto a knave’s death will he also come.”
Then said Owlglass to her: “It goes not well with him even now, for he
lieth upon the wheel.” And thereat said she: “As the labour so the hire.
God be praised for all good things.” And Owlglass stood up, and said
unto her: “I am Owlglass; have ye forgotten me? Farewell, I depart
hence.”
The Ninety and First Adventure.
_How that Owlglass caused a Hollander from a plate to take an apple, the
which evilly ended for the eater._
Honest and true was the payment the which Owlglass gave unto a Hollander
at the village of Andorf, in an inn at that place, where that they
abode, and whither many merchants of Holland did resort. Now Owlglass
was somewhat sick, and did not care to eat meat, and in place thereof
did seethe him soft eggs. Now when that the guests sate at table, came
Owlglass and brought the eggs with him, and the Hollander looked upon
him as a boor, and said: “How is this, boor; dost not like the fare the
which our host giveth unto us, and must eggs be seethed for thee?”
Therewith taketh he the twain eggs, and breaketh them, and the one after
the other doth he swallow; thereafter layeth he the shells before
Owlglass, and saith unto him: “Lo! do thou lick the vessel, forth have I
taken the yolk.” And at this merry jest of the Hollander laughed the
guests, and Owlglass with them.
[Illustration]
But the same evening went Owlglass forth, and bought him a handsome
apple, of the which did he scoop out the inside, and filled the same
with flies and gnats. Then set he the apple to the fire to roast, and
thereafter peeled it, and with sweet honey did cover the outside. And at
night, when that all the guests once again sat at table to supper, came
Owlglass with the apple on the plate, and turned his back upon the table
as if he would have fetched some other thing. And when the Hollander saw
it, he put forth his hand, and plucked the plate unto him, and took the
apple, and swallowed it. Thereupon was he grievously sick, and did vomit
forth the apple and all that in his stomach was beside, so that the host
and all the guests thought that Owlglass had put poison therein. Then
said Owlglass: “Nay, therein is no poison; it is but an apple to cleanse
the stomach; an he had but said unto me that he would have eaten the
apple, would I have warned him; for in the eggs which I seethed were
there not any flies or gnats, but within the apple lay there a goodly
company.” Thereafter was the Hollander well enough again, and he opened
his mouth, and spake unto Owlglass, saying: “Of a truth do thou eat
roast or boiled, whatever thou wilt; even if thou hadst quails like unto
those the which ate the children of Israel in the wilderness, would I
not eat with thee.”
The Ninety and Second Adventure.
_How that Owlglass caused a woman to break in pieces the whole of her
wares in the market-place at Bremen._
Now that so happily had Owlglass, unto his great comfort and content,
brought to pass this knavery, departed he again, and journeyed unto the
Bishop at Bremen, who loved Owlglass much; and by reason of his great
wit and continual jests, did hold him in great honour. And he caused the
bishop oftentimes to laugh right merrily, so that he gave unto Owlglass
a house, in the which he had free provisions granted unto him by the
bishop. When that he arrived there, Owlglass did as if he were tired,
and desired to give up his knaveries, and was fain to enter unto the
church there to pray. At that mocked the bishop—as bishops have done
before that time and since—at the resolve of Owlglass—yet would he not
be persuaded, but gat him unto the church, and prayed until that time
that he could not any longer bear the quips and quiddities, the which
were put upon him by the bishop. And privily had Owlglass with a market
woman agreed, and she was the wife of a potter, and in the market-place
sat she with pots and pans to sell: then did Owlglass pay unto the woman
the price of all her ware, and enjoined her what she should do when that
he gave unto her a sign.
Thereafter departed Owlglass, and came unto the bishop, as if he had
come from the church, and the bishop reviled and mocked Master Owlglass,
in that he was so pious and not any longer the same man. At last
Owlglass said unto the bishop: “Gracious prince and reverend father! do
ye now grant me to come unto the market-place, and there sitteth a
potter’s wife, and a wager will I set with you, that without my speaking
unto her, or making a sign unto her with mine eye I will cause, by
magical words, the which I will mutter, that she shall arise up and take
a stick and herself break in pieces all her ware.” Then said the bishop
unto Owlglass: “Such a thing would I fain behold.” Therefore with him
made the bishop a wager of thirty pieces of gold that the woman did it
not. And Owlglass did accept the wager, and with the bishop gat him unto
the market-place. Then did Owlglass shew unto the bishop the woman where
she sate, and they departed, and sate upon the house of the town council
hard by. Then ’gan Owlglass to make incantation and conjuration, at the
which stirred the potter’s wife not a whit, and in good sooth the bishop
rejoiced that he had most truly won his wager. At last gave Owlglass the
sign unto the woman, the which they had agreed, thereupon arose she up
and taking a stick, doth soundly belabour the ware, and breaketh it all
in pieces very small. And with much content laughed the bishop; yet was
vexed in the matter of the thirty pieces of gold, the which he had
manifestly lost unto Master Owlglass. And when that they came again unto
the bishop’s court, did he confer privily with Owlglass, and said unto
him: “If that he would discover unto him after what manner he had so
brought it to pass that the woman should, after that wise, have broken
her wares in pieces, then would he pay unto him the thirty pieces of
gold.” Then answered Owlglass unto the bishop, and said unto him: “Yea,
gracious lord, that will I most cheerfully do.” And therewith said unto
him: “Most simple was this matter in every particular, for I paid unto
the woman the price of her wares before that she brake them, and I made
agreement with her beside.”
Then laughed the bishop right merrily, and paid unto him the thirty
pieces of gold, requiring of him that he should not disclose unto any
one that which had come to pass. And if he kept his counsel, the bishop
promised him that he would help him to a good fat ox thereto. “Yea,”
quoth Master Owlglass, and thereafter departed thence. Now when that the
bishop sate at meat with his knights and gentlefolk, he opened his mouth
and said unto them: “That he had learned an art whereby he might cause
the potter’s wife to break in sunder all her ware.” Then the knights and
gentlefolk craved much to know how this was done, and desired much to
see the same performed; and this sheweth that in all times are men
rather desirous to know how a mystery may be unfolded than patiently to
follow it and wait until it doth itself give unto them the explication
they would have. Then said the bishop: “Lo! an if ye will each of ye
give unto me a good fat ox for my kitchen, will I teach ye all this
art.”
And it came to pass that it was the autumn season when the oxen were at
the best. Then thought each noble knight and gentleman: “This will not
be a great charge unto me, truly then will I do it for in this art to
become learned.” Thus did the bishop have of them sixteen fat oxen, and
such was their price, that thereby was the bishop recompenced some
three-fold for the thirty pieces of gold which he had paid unto
Owlglass. And at this time came Owlglass riding thither upon his horse,
and he said unto the bishop: “Of this booty is the half mine.” And the
bishop answered, and said unto him: “If that thou dost hold thy promise
unto me, will I faithfully perform unto thee our contract; do thou leave
me that which I have won.” Then gave the bishop unto Owlglass a good fat
ox, the which, with great reverence, did Owlglass receive from him.
Thereupon did the bishop, discover unto his knights and gentlefolk in
what manner they could perform the same marvellous thing, according to
that wise by which he had learned it himself; for that Owlglass had paid
unto the woman the price of her wares ere she brake them.
Then sate the noble knights and gentlemen silently upon their stools,
and perceived that with cunning they had been beguiled; nor could they
in any wise murmur thereat. So one scratched his head, and his neighbour
sought for comfort in his neck, and they were sorely troubled for the
loss of their oxen. But it could not be otherwise answered, and
therefore comforted they themselves in that unto their gracious lord the
profit had fallen; yet grieved they for their foolishness. But Owlglass
rejoiced thereat, and departed with his booty. Thus may ye see, my
masters, that when a wise man like unto Owlglass, with a bishop sitteth
under one cap, ye may expect not a little knavery to come thereof!
Therefore take heed and let not knaves approach near unto holy bishops
of the Church, lest they be defiled, and much mischief come unto the
commonwealth thereafter.
The Ninety and Third Adventure.
_How that Owlglass sold a horse, the which would not go over trees._
[Illustration]