“These are the prisoners of our teeth,” answered Ulenspiegel; “they will pay ransom of fricassees. Messire Admiral shall have the choicest.”
“As for these folk, the knaves and the maidservants, among whom are sprightly and pretty women, I will fetch them back aboard my ship.”
Having done so, he addressed them as follows:
“Goodfellows and goodwives, ye are here upon the best ship in the world. Here we pass our time in jollity, feast, and revel without end. If it please you to depart herefrom, pay ransom; if it please you to stay here, ye shall live like us, toiling hard and eating well. As for these dear women, I accord them, with the admiral’s sanction, full freedom of their persons, giving them to know that it is all one to me whether they are fain to keep to their lovers that came upon the ship with them or to make their choice of some stout Beggar here present in order to bear him conjugal company.”
But the fair women were all faithful to their lovers, save only one, who, smiling and looking upon Lamme, asked him if he would have her.
“All thanks, dear one,” said he, “but I am otherwise bound.”
“He is married, poor fellow,” said the Beggars, seeing the girl vexed.
But she, turning her back on Lamme, chose another who like him had a good round belly and a good round face.
That day and the following days there were great revels and feastings on board with wines, fowl, and meats. And Ulenspiegel said:
“Long live the Beggar! Blow, sharp wintry winds, we will warm the air with our hot breath. Our heart is afire for freedom of conscience; our stomachs on fire for the enemy’s meats. Drink we wine, the milk of men. Long live the Beggar!”