After the death of Soetkin Ulenspiegel grew dreamy, sorrowful,
and angry, and he would wander about the fields, hearing nothing,
taking what food or drink was put before him, and never choosing for
himself. And oftentimes he rose from his bed in the middle of the
night and went out into the country alone.
In vain did the gentle voice of Nele urge him not to despair, in
vain did Katheline assure him that Soetkin was now in Paradise with
Claes. To both alike Tyl answered:
"The ashes beat upon my breast."
And he was as one mad, and Nele was sorrowful because of him.
Meanwhile, Grypstuiver the fishmonger dwelt alone in his house, like
a parricide, daring only to come out in the evening. For if any man
or woman passed him on the road they would shout after him and call
him "murderer." And the little children ran away when they saw him,
for they had been told that he was a hangman. So he wandered about by
himself, not venturing to enter any of the taverns that are in Damme,
for the finger of scorn was pointed at him, and if ever he stood in
the bar for a minute, they that were drinking there left the tavern.
The result was that no innkeeper desired him as a customer any more,
and whenever he presented himself at their houses they would shut
the door on him. The fishmonger would make a humble remonstrance,
but they answered that they had a licence to sell wine certainly,
but that they were not obliged to sell it against their will.
The fishmonger grew impatient at this, and in future when he wanted
a drink he would go to the In 't Roode Valck--at the sign of the Red
Falcon--a little cabaret outside the town on the banks of the Sluys
canal. There they served him, for they were hard up at that inn, and
glad to get anything from any one. But even so, the innkeeper never
entered into conversation with him, nor did his wife either. Now
in that house there were also two children and a dog; but when the
fishmonger made as though he would kiss the children they ran away,
and the dog, when he called him, tried to bite him.
One evening Ulenspiegel was standing on his doorstep in a dream, and
Mathyssen, the cooper, happening to pass by, saw him standing there,
and said to him:
"If you worked with your hands belike you would forget this grievous
blow."