But Lamme, not hearkening Ulenspiegel, also looked upon the pairs of lovers:
“In the old days we, too, used to pass, my wife and I, loving each other under the eyes of those who like you and me, on the edge of ditches, were stretched out solitary and without a woman.”
“Come and drink,” said Ulenspiegel, “we shall find the Seven at the bottom of a quart.”
“A drinker’s word,” answered Lamme: “you know the Seven are giants who could not stand upright under the big dome of the church of Saint Sauveur.”
Ulenspiegel, thinking wretchedly of Nele, and also that in some hostelry he might perchance find a good bed, good supper, a comely hostess, said yet again:
“Let us go and drink!”
But Lamme paid no heed, and said, looking at the tower of Notre Dame:
“Madame Holy Mary, patroness of lawful loves, grant me to see again her white bosom, that soft pillow.”
“Come and drink,” said Ulenspiegel, “you shall find her, displaying it to the drinkers, in a tavern.”
“Dost thou dare think so ill of her?” said Lamme.