On the two hundred and forty-fifth day of the seventh year, when the plum-trees were in bloom, Smetse, dumb as a stone, was taking a little noonday rest. He sat on a wooden bench opposite his door, and with melancholy mien looked at the trees planted all along the quay, and the small birds playing among the branches or squabbling and pecking one another over some morsel of food, and blinked in the bright sun which made these birds so merry, and heard at his back the goodly sounds of his forge, his wife preparing dinner, and his workmen hurrying at their work so that they might be off to their meal, for it was nearing the time; and he said to himself that in hell he would see neither the sun, nor the birds, nor the trees with their load of green leaves, nor hear any more the sounds of his forge, nor the smiths hurrying, nor his good wife preparing dinner.
By and by the workmen came out, and Smetse was left sitting alone on his bench, pondering in his mind whether there were not some way whereby he might outwit the devil.
Suddenly there drew up at his door a man of piteous appearance, with brown hair and beard, dressed like a ragged townsman, and carrying a great staff in his hand. He was walking beside an ass, and leading it along by a rein. On the ass rode a sweet and beautiful young woman with a noble mien, suckling a little child, who was quite naked, and of such gentle and winsome countenance that the sight of it warmed Smetse’s heart.
The ass stopped at the door of the smithy and began to bray loudly.
“Master smith,” said the man, “our ass has cast one of his shoes on his way hither, wilt thou be pleased to give orders that another should be given him?”
“I will do it myself,” said Smetse, “for I am alone here.”
“I should tell thee,” said the man, “that we are beggars, without money.”
“Have no care for that,” said Smetse, “I am rich enough to be able to shoe in silver without payment all the asses in Flanders.”
Hearing this the woman alighted from the ass and asked Smetse if she might sit down on the bench.
“Yes,” said he.