“Why,” said he, “having such clear spectacles, didst thou not blow a point on the trumpet at my coming?”
So saying, he passed his hand over his eyes, because of the brightness of the sun, and looked at Ulenspiegel.
Ulenspiegel also passed his hand over his eyes, and replied that since he had seen His Sacred Majesty looking between his fingers, he had no longer desired to make use of the spectacles.
The Emperor told him he was to be hanged, the town porter said it was well done, and the burgomasters were so terrified at this sentence that they made no word of answer, neither to approve it nor to oppose it.
The executioner and his assistants were sent for. They came carrying a ladder and a new rope, seized Ulenspiegel by the collar, as he walked in front of Kornjuin’s hundred reiters, keeping very quiet and saying his prayers. But they mocked him bitterly.
The people who were following said:
“It is a great cruelty to put to death a poor young man in this way for so small a fault.”
And the weavers were there in great numbers and under arms, and they said:
“We shall not leave Ulenspiegel to be hanged: it is contrary to the law of Audenaerde.”
By now they were come to the gallows field, Ulenspiegel was hoisted up on the ladder, and the executioner put the rope on him. The weavers flocked up around the gallows. The provost was there on horseback, resting the rod of justice on his horse’s shoulder, the wand wherewith at the Emperor’s word he should give the signal for the execution.