And Ulenspiegel continued to run.
As he was at the entrance to Damme, the dogs that were on the doorsteps jumped out at his legs yelping and barking. The goodwives came out at the noise and said to him, all talking at once:
“Whence come you?” “Have you news of your father?” “Where is your mother?” “Is she with him in prison, too?” “Alas! if only they do not burn him!”
Ulenspiegel ran the harder.
He met Nele, who said to him:
“Thyl, do not go to your house: the town governors have put a guard in it on behalf of His Majesty.”
Ulenspiegel stopped.
“Nele,” said he, “is it true that my father Claes is in prison?”
“Yea,” said Nele, “and Soetkin weeps on the threshold.”
Then the heart of the prodigal son was swollen with anguish and he said to Nele: