The Forty and Sixth Adventure.
How that Owlglass did speak a word of truth unto a smith, his wife, man, and maid, each one before the house.
Unto Wismar came Owlglass upon a holy day, and when he passed by over against the smithy, he then beheld before the smithy door a good wife standing dressed in her best clothes, and with her was her maid, and she was the smith’s wife. And Owlglass went and lay at the inn opposite that night, and in the night time he brake from off his horse’s feet all his shoes, and the next day went over unto the smithy. On this wise came he to know them. And when that he approached unto the smithy, lo! they perceived that he was Owlglass; and the good wife, and her maid, came forth before the house door, so that they might behold that which Owlglass said and did. And Owlglass lifted up his voice, and spake unto the smith saying: “Wilt thou now shoe these my horse’s feet?” And the smith answered him “Yea”; and it pleased the smith that he should talk with so wonderful a man as was Owlglass. After that they had talked and conferred together awhile, the smith said unto him: “Behold now, if that thou canst unto me say a word of truth, then will I give unto thee a shoe therefor.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea”; and thus spake unto him:
“An if hammer and iron and coals have ye,
And wind enow in the bellows free,
Brave smith of might then can ye be.”
Then said the smith: “That word is truth,” and gave unto him a shoe. Then did the apprentice put the shoe on the horse’s foot; and he spake unto Owlglass and said: “That an if Owlglass would say unto him also such a word of verity, he would likewise bestow upon him a shoe.” Then answered Owlglass: “Yea”; and said unto him:
“The master and the man they two,
If that work they fain would do,
Hard labour should they never rue.”
“True is thy saying,” answered the smith’s man, and gave him a shoe. Thereat marvelled the good wife, and her maid; and they came unto him, and conferred with him, and the good wife said unto him: “That an if he said also to her words of true meaning, she would give unto him a shoe.” And thereat answered Owlglass, and said: “Yea”; and spake thus: