The gallows was set up on the great marketplace. The news ran swiftly about the town that they were about to hang Ulenspiegel, the valiant Beggar. And the people were moved with pity and compassion. And they ran together in a crowd to the great market; Messire de Lumey came thither also on horseback, wishing himself to give the signal for the execution.
He looked with no mildness upon Ulenspiegel on the ladder, arrayed for death, in his shirt, his arms tied to his body, his hands folded, the rope about his neck, and the executioner ready to do his work.
Tres-Long said to him:
“Monseigneur, pardon him; he is no traitor, and no one ever saw a man hanged because he was sincere and merciful.”
And the men and women of the people, hearing Tres-Long speak, cried: “Pity, Monseigneur, grace and pity for Ulenspiegel.”
“That mule-headed fellow braved me,” said de Lumey: “let him repent and say I did right.”
“Wilt thou repent and say that he did right?” said Tres-Long to Ulenspiegel.
“Word of a soldier is no more word of gold,” replied Ulenspiegel.
“Put on the rope,” said de Lumey.
The executioner was about to obey; a young girl, all clad in white and garlanded with flowers, ran up the stairs of the scaffold, leaped on Ulenspiegel’s neck, and said: