The Seventy and Fifth Adventure.
How that Owlglass wrought a great knavery upon a pipemaker at Lüneburg.
At Lüneburg abode a pipemaker, and he once had been a pedlar, and, with a pack, had trudged many a league; and this man fortuned to sit drinking his beer. And to him entered Owlglass, and much company found he there. And in jest did the pipemaker bid Owlglass to dine with him, and said unto him: “To-morrow do thou come unto meat with me, and eat that which thou wouldst have, an thou art able.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and took his words to be serious, and the next day came unto the pipemaker’s house, and would have entered in and eaten at his table. But there found he that above and below was the door bolted and the windows shut. Then Owlglass walked up and down before the house a few times, until that the dinner-hour came; but the door was fast shut all this time, and he perceived that he had been beguiled of the pipemaker. So he departed from that place, and said not a word, but held his peace. And it came to pass, that on the next day Owlglass beheld the pipemaker in the market-place, and he stood before him, and spake unto him, saying: “Thou dost bid guests unto the feast, and when that they come, find they the door fast closed, so that they cannot enter therein.” Then answered the pipemaker unto Owlglass, and said unto him: “Behold, I bid thee to be my guest, but with certain words; for I said unto thee that thou shouldst eat with me, an thou wert able; but that couldst thou not, for when that thou camest were the doors shut, and thou mightst not enter therein.” “Truly,” quoth Master Owlglass, “we live and learn. That wist not I before, so have thou my thanks.” And the pipemaker laughed, and said: “Yet shalt thou not fast this day. Go thou unto my house, and, behold, there wilt thou find boiled and roast, and the doors are open. Enter therein and eat, and in no long time will I follow thee; and thou shalt be alone, and no other guest but thee will I have.” And Owlglass meditated within himself, and said, privily: “Bravely goeth this forward.” Then gat he him unto the pipemaker’s house, and findeth it as the master said unto him. And the pipemaker’s wife stood cooking by the fire. Then said Owlglass unto her: “Behold, thy good man is at the market, and hath received a great fish as a gift, and he desireth that thou shouldst depart unto him, and help him to carry it home. Meanwhile will I turn the spit for thee.” The good wife answered Owlglass, and said: “Alas! good Master Owlglass, that will I do; and with my maid will I get me quickly unto him, and soon return.” And Owlglass said: “Peace go with thee.” Then departed the good wife and her maid unto the market, and as they went forward met they the pipemaker coming towards his house; and he said unto them: “What do ye here?” And they answered, and said: “Owlglass came unto us, and bade us hasten unto thee upon the market, for thou hast had a large fish given unto thee, and thou wouldst have help to carry it home. And Owlglass hath remained in the house, and turneth the spit.” And the pipemaker waxed very wroth, and said unto his wife: “Here is a knavery. Why didst thou not stay within; for he hath not done this without thereby signifying some deceitful work. Behold, I have no fish.” Then turned they, and altogether came unto the house; and while they were conferring together, Owlglass had shut both door and windows, and that found they when that they came unto the house. Then spake the pipemaker unto his wife: “Now seest thou what manner of fish thou shouldest fetch?”
Then beat they upon the door. Thereat came Owlglass behind the door, and said: “Beat ye the door no longer, for to no one will I open it. The host said unto me, that I should be alone within the house, and no other guest would he have but myself. Therefore depart ye, and after dinner come hither again.” The pipemaker said: “It is true, I said according unto thy words, but I meant not that it should be thus.” And the pipemaker said unto his wife: “I’ good faith, let him now eat and drink, for I have in my pate that which shall reward him for his knavery.”
So the three departed, and abode in a neighbour’s house until that Owlglass had made an end of eating and drinking. Then set Owlglass to his labour, and boiled the meat, and roasted the roast, and set it upon a dish, and brought a stool unto the table, and with great content ate and drank and made good cheer; and he drank health unto his worthy host, the pipemaker. And when he had filled himself, then arose he and opened the door, and set the dishes unto the fire again. Then entered in the pipemaker, his wife and maid; and he said unto Owlglass: “After this wise, the which thou hast done, do not honest folk.” But Owlglass answered and said: “How might it be that I should do otherwise? For, behold, thou didst say I should be alone and the only guest; and if that I had let more guests in, shame would it have been to me, for my host would have brooked it not.” And therewith departed he. Then looked the pipemaker upon him as he went, and said: “Be not afraid, this matter will I richly repay unto thee, thou knave!” Thereat said Owlglass: “He is the best man who is ever the master.” Then in that same hour went the pipemaker unto the hangman, who also gat money by carting dead horses; and he said unto him: “At the inn lieth a pious man, named Owlglass, and this night hath his horse died. This would he have carted away.” And the pipemaker showed the hangman the house where lodged Owlglass. And the hangman perceived that it was the pipemaker, and agreed with him that he would do it, and took his cart and went unto the house. Then said Owlglass unto him: “What wouldst thou have?” And the hangman answered Owlglass, and said unto him: “Lo! the pipemaker hath been with me, and said unto me that thy horse was dead and should be carried away. Is it truly so?” But Owlglass mocked him, and bade him carry the pipemaker unto the gallows. Then was the hangman wroth, and departed unto the pipemaker’s house, and made complaint, and with six shillings did the pipemaker satisfy him. But Owlglass saddled his horse and rode forth from the town.
The Seventy and Sixth Adventure.
How that an old woman mocked the good Master Owlglass when that at Gerdau he lost his pocket.
Of old time lived there at Gerdau, in the Lüneburg country, an aged and venerable couple, who for fifty years lived there together, being good man and wife; and had goodly sons and daughters, the which had grown to ripe age. And it came to pass, that the priest of the town was a merry good-humoured wight, who loved jolly company; and wherever there was a cup of wine to be quaffed, there would he fain be. With his parishioners had he so fitted it, that every boor in the country side did at least receive him and his cook once in each year; and then stayed he some day or twain, and made excellent cheer. Now, the two old people had for many a year kept neither dedication, nor christening, or any feast at which the priest could have content for his fair round belly; and thereat was he greatly moved and vexed. Therefore he meditated much within himself, how that he might bring it about that they should give a feast.
Then sendeth he unto the boor a messenger, and asketh how long that it had been since he had by Holy Church been married unto his good wife? To him answered the boor: “Reverend father, so long is it ago, that I have forgotten how many years it hath been.” And the priest rejoined unto him: “That such forgetfulness was an evil thing for the salvation of his soul, and he should strive to remember that thing.” Then did the boor confer with his wife, and considered the matter; yet could they not find the true time to tell it unto the priest. Therefore came they both unto the priest, and were greatly troubled, and entreated of him that he should give unto them some wholesome counsel wherewithal they might comfort themselves. Then said the priest unto them: “Forasmuch as ye know not the time at the which ye were married, will it be best that next Sunday I marry you again, and then will ye be comforted. Therefore do ye prepare a feast, and kill an ox, and a sheep, and a pig, and bid your children and good friends to rejoice with ye on that day, and with all favour give unto them good cheer; and I promise ye that I also will be with ye.” Then said the boor: “In good sooth, reverend father, is thy counsel most comforting unto the spirit. It shall go hard, but I will have a feast which shall be fitting unto the day; for it would not be well that after fifty years we should be put forth from the marriage state.” These words spoken, he departed unto his house, and failed not to do as the priest had advised him.
And the priest bid unto the feast several of his own friends, other priests and dignitaries of the most Holy Church. Among these was the Dean of Epsdorf, who in his stables had always a horse or twain, the which were not to be despised; and, like unto other priests, he loved good cheer. And with him had Owlglass served some time. And the dean said unto him: “Sit ye upon my young horse and ride with me, and to that are ye right welcome.” To that agreed Owlglass. And when that they were right merry, and did eat and drink with marvellous content, the old woman, the which was the bride, sat at the head of the table. And after so much labour was she tired; so she gat up and departed out of her house, at the back, down to the river Gerdau, and therein bathed she her feet. By this time did the Dean of Epsdorf and Owlglass set forth to ride home; and when that they approached unto her, Owlglass caused his horse to prance and curvet, that the bride might have content thereof; and so lustily did he this, that his girdle came unfastened, and his side-pocket fell down upon the ground. And when that the woman beheld this, she rose up and took the pocket, and sat down thereupon by the water. So it came to pass, that when Owlglass had got about a field’s length from the place where the woman sate, he found that he had lost his pocket, and therefore turneth he about and cometh again unto Gerdau, and he saith unto the woman: “Hast thou seen an old pocket anywhere upon the ground?” And the woman said: “Aye, upon my wedding-day did I find an old rusty pocket, and that have I yet unto this hour.” And Owlglass said unto her: “Thy wedding-day? Oho! long since was it that thou wast a bride! truly must it be an old rusty pocket, such an one will not I have!” Then said the woman: “Is it this?” but would not give it unto him; and so cunning might he be, yet gat he not his pocket, and he was fain to leave it behind him; and at Gerdau it is unto this day, and thither mayest thou travel if that thou desirest to look upon it.
