came unto him, and looked upon it, and desired to buy it. And this buyer
spake unto Owlglass saying: “Hath this horse any fault with him, the
which thou oughtest to reveal unto me; and if that he hath shall it be
no break to the bargain, I will yet buy him of thee, and in good money
pay thee the price therefor.” And Owlglass answered and said unto him:
“Verily I say unto you, that I find no scathe in him, but this one, the
which I confess openly, over the trees will he not go.” And the merchant
said: “I crave not that he should go over the trees, and therefore will
I pay thee the price, if thou wilt let me have him for an easy penny.”
Then answered Owlglass and said: “Of a truth for a penny canst thou not
have him; but for five pieces of gold mayest thou receive him from me,”
and they twain agreed the purchase. And when that he would have ridden
the horse forth from the town, came he unto the town bridge, over the
which would the horse not go, for it was a wooden bridge, and built of
trees. And he returned again unto Owlglass, and would have his money
back; but Owlglass said unto him: “That most clearly had he told him the
fault the which was in the horse.” And the merchant gat him unto the
judge, who said: “Most certainly should Owlglass give back unto him the
money.” Then summoned they Owlglass, but he came not; neither at any
time would he make restitution for that he had said the horse would not
go over trees.
The Ninety and Fourth Adventure.
_How that of a horse-dealer Owlglass bought a horse, and only paid half
of the money therefor._
When that Owlglass came unto the town of Hildesheim he encountered there
a horse-dealer, who, for twenty-five pieces of silver, did offer him a
good horse. And they marketed together for twenty-four pieces; and
Owlglass said unto him: “Lo! the half of it will I pay thee straightway,
and the rest shall I remain indebted unto thee. Thus will I now give
unto thee twelve pieces of silver.” And the horse-dealer (for he knew
him not) said unto him: “Agreed; take thou the horse.” And Owlglass took
him.
And some three months fled by; then came the horse-dealer unto him, and
demanded the twelve pieces of silver. Then said Owlglass unto him:
“Behold, did we not agree that I should remain indebted unto thee for
these twelve pieces of silver?” Thereat the other answered him, and they
strove together, and came unto the house where the judge sate, and
entered in, and would therewith have it appointed how the matter should
stand. And then did Owlglass say he would remain faithful unto his
bargain, according as he had bought the horse; and said unto the judge:
“For twenty and four pieces of silver bought I the horse, and I paid him
twelve thereof in good money; the other twelve agreed we that I should
remain indebted unto him. If now that I do give him the money shall I
falsify my word; and that have I never yet done, but always performed
the thing which was commanded unto or required of me. And so let it be.”
Then was the suit before the judge withdrawn; and so stands the
business, as if it were in the Chancery Court, unto this day.
The Ninety and Fifth Adventure.
_How that in the land of Brunswick Owlglass turned shepherd._
[Illustration]
Owlglass was a man that, with all his endeavours, could never grow rich,
the which is a marvel, considering how it is that so many knaves prosper
right well; and here was one that in honesty could never be approached,
and yet was poor. Now he took counsel within himself, and said: “I have
heard it said, that peradventure if one turneth shepherd, by the cunning
of the patriarch Jacob one may grow rich.” And he also had heard it
said, that in the Duke of Brunswick’s service all men grew rich in no
long season. So he gat him unto the duke; and when that he had come unto
him he spake unto him, saying: “Most gracious duke, do thou, with thy
marvellous goodness, appoint me that I shall be a shepherd in thy
service for some years; for I would fain have money, that in mine old
age I may live; and for my service I desire no other recompence.” And
the duke did grant the post unto him for ten years. Then was Owlglass an
excellent shepherd; and when that he heard that in any part of the
duke’s country there was good grazing land, then wrote he straightway
letters unto that land, and told the people thereof that he would bring
thither his master’s cattle to graze. And in great terror did the farmer
boors assemble, and did, for fear that the cattle should eat up all
their substance, make collection, and send unto him five and twenty
pieces of gold to go elsewhere. Then thought Owlglass: “A most fair
thing is this;” and wrote unto another city, and thence also came money
unto him; and this went forward so long, until the duke himself asked
Owlglass how that his post prospered. “Truly,” quoth he, “I have a fair
inheritance thereby, and a coat of delicate workmanship; for there is no
office so little, that by it one may not have profit.” “Nay,” answered
the duke; “I must unto this see myself.” Hence comes it that dukes,
princes, kings, emperors, and all their lackeys, do continually take
into their own hands the work and labour of lesser men; for the duke
said unto Owlglass, he himself would do this thing; and Owlglass
answered him, saying: “No office is so little, that the hangman may not
from it draw an inheritance. For the great be in marvellous peril
alway.”
The Ninety and Sixth Adventure.
_How that without money Owlglass bought a pair of shoes._
Now it fortuned, that on a time Owlglass was at Erfurt, and there went
through the Shoemaker’s street; and a woman called loudly unto him, that
he should come unto her and buy a good pair of shoes. Then came he
straightway unto her, and took a shoe, and put it on his foot; then took
he up its fellow, and put it upon the other foot, and said unto her:
“Lo! they do suit me marvellous well,” and therewith ran off. Then made
the woman a great outcry, and said: “Stop me yonder thief, ye good
folk!” And they would have held him. “Nay,” said he, “good people, now
do we run for a wager; therefore let me go, and then shall I win a pair
of shoes.” Thus came he off with the pair of shoes; but so ill made were
they, that he gave them unto the servant at the inn where that he lay.
The Ninety and Seventh Adventure.
_How that Owlglass sold unto the furriers at Leipzig a live cat, the
which was sewed into the skin of a hare; and how rare sport came
thereof._
In no long space of time was Owlglass ever ready with a knavish device.
This proved he to be a great truth when that he was at Leipzig, among
the furriers on Easter Even when altogether they held their feast. And
it came to pass that most willingly would they have had some kind of
game to make them a hunt therewith. Of this heard Owlglass, and in his
knavery he bethought him: “The furrier at Berlin gave thee nought for
thy labour, therefore shall these men pay thee thy pains.” With that
departed he into his inn, where he lay, and there found he that the host
had a fine fat cat. This took Owlglass, and under his frock he carried
it off; and then gat he him to the cook and besought him that he should
give unto him the skin of a hare. For therewith would he play off a
knavery of great and merry conceit. The cook gave unto him the skin
which he demanded of him; and then he took needle and thread and sewed
up the cat therewith in the skin. After did our master put on a boor’s
frock, and gat him to the town-house, and stood over against it. But his
hare held he concealed under his coat until that a furrier came by. Then
said Owlglass to the furrier: “Would his honour buy a good hare?” and
then shewed it unto him, where that he held it under his frock. And the
furrier and Owlglass conferred together; and they agreed that he should
give unto him four silver bits for the hare, and six pennies for the old
sack, in the which Owlglass had put the hare. Then the furrier carried
the hare into the house of their alderman, and they rejoiced with great
merriment, and were content in that they had got such a good live hare,
for the furrier was right proud of getting such an one. Then did all the
furriers feel and punch the hare to see how fat he was; and not that
year, did they all agree had they seen such an one—the which was very
true! And at the time they would hold their games, they fetched dogs and
let the hare run in the garden, for they would have a hunt.
[Illustration: HOW OWLGLASS SOLD PUSS.]
Now when that the hare could run no more, it leaped up into a tree, and
cried out _Miaow_, for most willingly would it again have been at home.
And when that the furriers beheld this, they cried aloud: “Brethren,
brethren, come let us pursue the wicked knave, which hath beguiled us,
and strike him dead!” And so would it have been if Owlglass had not put
on other clothes, so that they knew him not. But now, my worshipful
masters, hence came the proverb: “The cat hath leaped up into the tree.”
Yet were the furriers beguiled, and so remained.
The Ninety and Eighth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass hired himself unto a boor._
It came to pass on a time that Owlglass served a boor; and the boor did
desire that they twain should, with a horse and cart, get them unto the
forest to cut wood. And Owlglass sate upon the horse’s back, while his
master sate behind him upon the shafts of the cart. Then ran a hare
across the road whither they journeyed; and the master, when that he
beheld it, said: “Lo! my man, turn we back again upon this day; for it
is a most evil fortune when that a hare doth run across the way. To-day
will we do some other thing.” So they gat themselves home again.
On the next day departed they as before unto the forest; and Owlglass
spake unto his master, and said unto him: “A wolf hath run across the
road, master; what shall we do?” “Ha! sayest thou so?” quoth the boor.
“Drive forth, drive forth; great good fortune is it when that a wolf
doth cross thy road.” So Owlglass drave the horse into the forest; and
when that they gat thither, they took the horse out of the traces, and
left the cart standing, while they gat them to their labour. And when
that they had done, the boor despatched Owlglass, and bade him fetch the
horse and cart, that they might load and get them home once more.
Now when that the excellent Owlglass came before the forest, he beheld
the horse lying dead, and the wolf was inside thereof devouring him with
great appetite. And at this sight was Owlglass secretly glad, and ran
back and said unto the boor: “Come hither, boor come hither! the good
fortune is within the horse!” Thereat said the boor unto him: “What dost
thou mean?” Yet Owlglass hastened him, and said: “Do thou lose no time;
but get thee forward, or thou wilt have lost the good fortune.” When
that they came thither, lo! the wolf lay within the carcase of the
horse, and eagerly tore and devoured him. Then said Owlglass: “Boor! an
if ye had gone into the forest yesterday, when that the hare crossed our
path, would your horse have been whole! But I crave not to abide with
one that on signs and omens setteth his trust. Farewell!” And so
departed.
The Ninety and Ninth Adventure.
_How that Owlglass gat him to the High School of Paris._
Once Owlglass gat him as far as Paris, that learned city, at a season
when the examination for licentiate was going forward. And he went in
and stood over against the one who on the stool sate and looked upon
him. Then the learned doctor said unto him: “What wouldst thou have!
Dost thou desire to say aught unto me?” Then Owlglass took counsel
within himself, and said: “Yea, most learned, I have a most difficult
question I would desire resolved. Thus: Is it better for a man to do
that which he knoweth, or to learn that which he knoweth not? Make the
doctors the books, or the books the doctors?” And at this question
marvelled everyone, and disputed thereupon; and the greater number
thought that it was better that a man should do that which he knoweth,
than that he should first learn that which he knoweth not. Then said
Owlglass: “Then what fools must all of ye here be, in that ye ever crave
to learn that which ye know not, and what ye know, that do none of ye.”
Then departed he with great scorn of pedants and scholars.
The Hundredth Adventure.
_How Owlglass would fain have been an innkeeper at Rouen, but was
beguiled by a one-eyed man, and again, in turn, cozened him._
In the town of Rouen, it fortuned that there was a certain tax to be
taken from those who desired to keep an inn, which was named the
Sign-tax, for to set up a sign you must give a crown, and of this tax a
one-eyed man was the receiver. Owlglass thought to keep an inn, but
could never have permission from this man to put up a sign unless he
would give him a piece of gold, for that they had had a quarrel at some
time before. But at last he was obliged to give a piece of gold, and he
set his mind to make the receiver sorry for having taken it. So soon,
therefore, as he might set up a sign, Owlglass had a one-eyed man
painted, to whom another man was giving a piece of gold, and underneath
he had written, “_Au Borgne qui prend_.”[11] Those who beheld that sign,
and who knew the story, laughed much thereat; and when it came unto the
ears of the tax-receiver, he was very angry, and went and laid his
complaint before the judge. Owlglass was cited to come to answer the
complaint, the which he did at once, and confessed that he had set up
the sign in shame of the man who had so cheated him; upon which the
judge commanded the other to be sworn, who then said it was true he had
taken so much money, and offered to return it. This he was ordered to
do; and Owlglass was commanded to alter his sign, but all that he did
was to paint out the p in the writing, which thus read: “_Au Borgne qui
rend_;”[12] for in sooth it was not easy to discover in the painting
whether the man was giving or taking the gold-piece. Thus Owlglass
satisfied justice, and the judge would not hear the second complaint.
-----
Footnote 11:
To the one-eyed man who takes.
Footnote 12:
To the one-eyed man who returns.
The Hundred and First Adventure.
_How in Berlin Owlglass was an officer, and collected taxes of the
boors._
When, unto his shame, Owlglass forgat his noble and virtuous estate, and
became a tax-officer, he was on a time sent forth unto a village, to
demand money of a boor, who either loved not to pay money, or was poor
and could not. And as Owlglass with his little lance went forth, the
following matter came to pass. For as an evil and wicked office bringeth
shame unto the mind, so also leadeth it every man into bad company;
therefore marvel ye not when that I say unto ye that the Devil, that
prince of evil and darkness, encountered Owlglass as he ran. And his
high estate had the devil put off, and appeared in the likeness of a
boor, yet did Master Owlglass perceive right well who it was. Then ’gan
they to confer together, and walked together on the way. The boor said
unto him: “Thou goest about to receive money, let us now make
fellowship; for I go to find a concealed treasure, and of that will I
give thee half, and do thou the same with me.”
Now Owlglass had heard it said of old time, that the devil knoweth full
well of many a hidden treasure, so he agreed with him, and they departed
together. And it came to pass, that as they went through a village, they
heard a child crying and screaming. Then came its mother by, and said
unto it: “Hold thy peace, wilt thou? May the foul fiend take thee!”
Thereat said Owlglass unto the devil: “Lo! hearest thou, there hast thou
a child given unto thee?” The devil said: “My good friend, the mother
meaneth not that she saith; I dare not take it, for it is but spoken in
choler.” Then went they forward unto the field, and came unto a herd of
swine; and lo! a great fat sow had departed from the herd, and the
swineherd pursued it, and cried aloud, as he ran: “May the devil take
thee!” That heard Owlglass, and for as much as he loved bacon, would
fain have received his share, and said unto the devil: “Lo! dost thou
not hear? Now hast thou a fat sow given unto thee. Put forth thine hand
and take it, for it is thine. With thee will I have no further
fellowship.” Then said the devil: “Worthy Master Owlglass, what could I
do with a sow? Nor hath he any grave intent to give it unto me; and if
that I took it, the poor swineherd would have to pay for it. Nay, I will
await something better than this.” For the devil was tenderhearted; but
Owlglass thought upon the treasure.
Thereafter came they unto the court-yard of the boor of whom Owlglass
was to receive the money; and he stood in the barn and thrashed the
corn. When that he looked up and beheld Owlglass, he opened his mouth,
and spake unto him, saying: “Art thou there again? The devil take thee,
for I would fain never see thee again.” Thereat said the devil unto
Owlglass: “Now dost thou see? He meaneth this thing most devoutly; do
thou, therefore, come with me, for of a truth have I found my treasure,
the which was hidden.” But Owlglass answered, and said unto the devil:
“Nay, but now will we reckon with each other; for I said unto thee that
I would no longer have fellowship with thee, and now do I fulfil my
saying; therefore do thou nothing contrary to law.” Therewith cited he
the devil before the judge, and bade him hold his hand not to touch him,
for was he not a government officer? I know not, my good masters,
whether the devil,—who is contrary unto all law, and existeth contrary
thereunto,—had no great love for judges, or whether they were so steeped
in evil-doing that even the foul fiend held them in contempt; yet most
true it is, that he came not unto Owlglass his citation. Thereafter grew
Owlglass greater in virtue, and left off his evil ways, and laid down
his office.
The Hundred and Second Adventure.
_How that in his latter days Owlglass became a pious monk, and what came
thereof._
Unto all men is there appointed a time when that their manifold and
heavy sins sit upon their remorse-laden souls, and they groan for mercy,
and writhe under the pangs of repentance. And though Owlglass had,
throughout his life, been a virtuous man (as I have clearly manifested
unto ye, my masters!) yet after he had journeyed hither and thither in
all lands, there came unto him a gallows-repentance; and he bethought
him how that he unto a convent might depart, taking the vows of poverty,
and there end his days, and cast forth all that old leaven of his
evil-doings, and be a pious and a good man henceforth, so that his soul
should not be lost. Therefore he gat him unto the Abbot of the convent
at Marienthal, and entreated of him that he would receive him as a
brother, and unto the convent would he in his testament give all that he
had. Now, the which was not a most marvellous thing, the abbot with such
fools was greatly contented, and therefore spake he unto Owlglass, and
said: “For that thou hast yet some gear of valuable treasure, art thou
welcome unto me. But, seest thou, some office must thou have, for among
our fraternity is no one without somewhat to do; every one among us hath
an employment, and therefore must thou too labour.” And Owlglass
answered, and said: “Yea, reverend father, that would I cheerfully do.”
Thereat said the abbot: “Then, with God’s grace, as thou lovest not much
labour, do I receive thee, and be thou our gatekeeper. So wilt thou stay
within thy chamber, and wilt have neither sorrow nor great work, only to
fetch thy provision and beer from the cellar, and to lock and unlock the
gate.” And the pious Owlglass said: “Reverend father abbot! God give you
guerdon therefore, that ye do so kindly consider the infirmities of a
poor old man, borne down with the weight of his sins and broken with
sickness, of a truth will I perform everything that ye do enjoin me.”
Then said the abbot: “Behold, do ye now receive of me the keys, but let
not every one enter herein, or will the convent soon grow poor, for the
robbers will waste our substance, and eat up all our provision;
therefore do thou let but few in, scarcely more than the third or
fourth.” And Owlglass answered, and said: “Yea, reverend sir, I will do
your bidding as ye command me.” Then did he never let more than the
fourth person enter into the convent, it recked not whether they
belonged unto the convent or no.
And a complaint came unto the abbot of this action of Owlglass, and he
called him and spake unto him after this wise: “What a vile and doubly
condemned knave art thou, that thou wilt not let such enter in that unto
the convent do belong.” “Reverend Lord Abbot,” answered Owlglass, “lo!
unto the fourth have I let them enter, according as thou didst signify
unto me. Thy words have I fulfilled with great diligence.” “Like unto a
knave hast thou fulfilled those words of mine,” said the abbot, and
would fain have again been free of him. Then the abbot appointed another
door-keeper, for he marked well that Owlglass would not hold from his
ancient beguilings. And he gave unto him another office, and bade him
count the monks in order as they gat them down unto matins, and he spake
unto him, saying: “And behold, if thou dost overlook one of them then
must thou get thee hence.” Then said Owlglass to the abbot: “Verily is
this a heavy business; yet an if none other hath command to do it, must
I fulfil it as well as may be.”
Thereafter brake he privily by night some boards from the staircase, by
the which the monks came down unto the chapel. Now the Prior of that
convent was an old man and a pious, and ever was he the first the which
entered into the chapel to be at matins. And he came unto the stairs and
sought the steps the which by Owlglass had been broken away, and found
them not, but fell through and brake his leg. Then cried he out with a
loud voice, so that all the other monks ran with great haste unto that
place to see what had come to pass, and fell one after the other over
the prior. Then did Owlglass get him unto the abbot, and said unto him:
“Most reverend sir! I have fulfilled mine office as thou wouldst have
from me.” Therewith gave Owlglass unto the abbot the piece of wood, the
tally on the which he had nicked down the number of the monks as he
stood thereby. And the abbot said unto him: “Like unto a most vile knave
hast thou fulfilled my command; get thee now straightway forth from this
place.” So Owlglass departed, and put from him his monk’s frock, and
came unto Möllen, where he thereafter lay sick and died.
The Hundred and Third Adventure.
_How that when at Möllen Owlglass lay sick, his mother came unto him._
In sickness and in health hath a man but one ever kind friend, who in
him can see no fault, whose good counsel abideth within his heart, and
bitter sore is it when he followeth not the words spake unto him with
such noble and truthful intent; yet such was the action of Owlglass. For
when that in his youth his mother would have restrained him from his
knavery, would he not be persuaded. Now at Möllen lay he grievously
sick, and not one of his noble friends, unto the which he had caused
such great laughter, cared to come nigh unto him; yet came his mother,
who with fear and trembling had, in her solitude and desolate home,
marked the courses of our noble master; and she besought him, saying:
“Soon wilt thou depart unto the land of darkness and shadow, the which
men traverse with shuddering, quaking with fear for the evil they have
done, for of a truth is no man good, no man worthy of grace! Therefore
do thou, I pray of thee, bequeath unto me of thy substance, that in my
old age and decrepitude I may have some comfort; for I perish of sadness
and sorrow, the which killeth more than an empty stomach, and destroyeth
more than the bitterness of winter frost.”
And, as he lay sick before her, did his evil youth rise up against him,
and proclaim him a cunning and deceitful knave. Then took he his
mother’s hand between his twain, and opened his mouth and said unto her:
“Lo! evil gotten riches reward not any man, neither canst thou on them
place thy comfort. Now in this world is it a rule, the which none doth,
that of him which hath anything should you take of his substance, and to
him that hath not allot ye a part. Yet is my good fortune so great that
my treasure is hidden where no man can find it. If that thou canst
discover aught that is mine take it and use it freely. But an if thou
findest it not, be not grieved, for my treasure is subtle and lieth most
privily concealed.” Then understood his mother the words which he spake
unto her, and cared not any more to receive from him aught that by guile
and cunning he had received of others. Yet may we perceive, in another
place, what that treasure was, and how eagerly men strove thereafter.
The Hundred and Fourth Adventure.
_How that when Owlglass was sick unto death, he made confession of three
things, the which it sorely troubled him he had not done._