Then spake Owlglass unto the host, and said: “Behold! this wolf is a dead beast, and dost thou thereat cry out so lustily? What a craven man are ye? Think ye that a dead wolf will bite ye, and cause your people to flee into corners? Yet last night were ye so brave, that one wolf, the which was alive, would not have contented ye to strive withal? and with two such beasts would ye have fought in the field. But with thee is it in words, what with most others lieth only in the mind.” And the host heard these words of Owlglass, and perceived that he had been beguiled, and crept into his chamber, and was ashamed that he should by a dead wolf have been so cozened. But the merchants laughed hugely at the excellent wit and merry conceit of our prince of good fellows, honest Master Owlglass, and right willingly paid for his provisions with their own, and rode with him upon their way. Since that time, however, hath not the landlord extolled his own bravery in like manner.
The Eighty and Seventh Adventure.
How that Owlglass paid his host with the ring of his money.
One day Owlglass entered at Cologne into an inn, and it came to pass, that the provision was put unto the fire to cook when that it was very late, and the time for dinner came soon thereupon. And Owlglass loved good cheer, and therefore was he wroth thereat, for he loved fasting no more than a pious friar. This perceived the host, and spake unto him, saying: “He that cannot bide until that dinner be ready, may eat that he hath.” Then gat Owlglass a small loaf, and that did he eat; and thereafter sate down by the hearth at the fire, and he smelled the savour of the meat upon the spit, and it satisfied him. And when dinner-time came, the table was set and the meat brought up, and the host sate with the guests at the table, but Owlglass abode in the kitchen by the fire. Then said the host unto him: “Wilt thou not sit at meat with us?” “Nay,” quoth Owlglass, “I care not to eat; with the savour of the roast am I filled.”
Then the host held his peace, and continued to eat with the guests, and after dinner they paid him and departed this way and that way; yet abode Owlglass by the fire. To him entered the host with his pay-table, and would have of him two Cologne pence for his dinner. And Owlglass said unto him: “Sir host, are ye that kind of man which demandeth pay of one who hath not eaten?” Then was the host angry, and said “he should pay, for an if he had not eaten of the meat, had not he confessed himself filled with the savour thereof?” Then took Owlglass forth a Cologne penny and threw it on the table, and said unto the host: “Hearest thou the sound of that penny?” “Yea,” quoth the host. And Owlglass quickly took up his penny again, and put it into his pouch, and said: “As much reward the sound of my penny is unto thee, even so much have I profited of the savour of thy meat.” And when the landlord would have received the penny of him, Owlglass denied it unto him, and mocked him with much scorn, and departed thence over the Rhine water, and gat him back again into Saxony.
The Eighty and Eighth Adventure.
How that Owlglass at Lübeck did escape from a house when that the watch would have taken him for his debts.
Master Owlglass, like unto most other great and glorious personages, esteemed money but lightly; and he could not bear to look upon the same piece of coin oftener than twice—once when that he received it and put it in his pouch, and again when that he took it forth to spend it in joyous company. Therefore marvel ye not when that I say unto ye, that Master Owlglass did oftentimes make debts, the which he could not pay. And it fortuned, that on a time when that he was abiding in that good town of Lübeck, that he had not a penny, and the officers of the watch did go about to catch him, and cast him into gaol until that he paid every person to whom he owed aught. But he kept within his house, and went not forth but at eventide, when that darkness had with its black mantle covered the town. Yet on one evening he perceived that they had surrounded the house where he lay, and would have entered and have taken him. And he beheld, that for him was only one thing possible to be done—that he should in a church find sanctuary. Now, in that same house lay an old woman who was sick unto death, and sorely afflicted. Unto her went Owlglass, and took her hand, and did, with a most grave countenance, say unto her: “Behold, is it not time that thou shouldst think of thy soul, and make thee ready to depart; for near unto death dost thou lie.” And therewith sent he unto the priest of the parish, that he should come, that she might confess unto him, and receive extreme unction from his holy hands. Then when the host entered in at the door, did the watch arrive from the guardhouse, and beheld it, and they prostrated themselves before it; and then Owlglass, while that they saw him not, departed out of that house, and thereafter gat him unto the church, where he lay until even, and then departed he out of the town.
The Eighty and Ninth Adventure.
How that Owlglass at Stassfurt of a dog took the skin, the which he gave unto his hostess for her charges.
On a time it came to pass, that Owlglass entered into an inn, and there found the hostess quite alone. And this hostess had a little dog, of the which she was greatly enamoured; and ever mote it be, that, when she had nought to do, this dog must lie in her lap. And Owlglass stood by the fire, and drank from the beer-can. Now it was the custom with that hostess, that when she drank beer, she did always, in a small dish, give thereof unto the dog. So when that Owlglass drank, the dog arose, and came unto him, and would, by leaps and look, have entreated him for some beer. That saw the hostess, and she said unto Owlglass: “Behold, beloved guest, do thou give him to drink in the dish of thy beer for so would he signify unto thee.” And Owlglass said unto her: “That will I do cheerfully.” Then departed the hostess to perform whatever business she had about the house; and Owlglass gave him to drink in the dish, and therein put likewise a little piece of meat; and when that the dog had eaten thereof, goeth he to the fire and lieth sleeping thereby. Then said Owlglass unto the hostess: “Let us now reckon our charges.” And he asked her: “Good, my hostess, if that a guest eat of thy meat and drink of thy beer, yet hath not any coin, would ye also unto such an one give credit?” Then thought the woman not of the dog, but had great suspicion of his own worthy person (the which, as ye know, my masters, was most unjust!); therefore she answered quickly unto him: “Master traveller, here must I have money, or a pledge in place thereof.” And Owlglass said unto her: “Truly am I right content therewith for mine own part; let the other look to it for his.”
Then departed the hostess again, and Owlglass took the dog beneath his cloak, and went into the stable, and there took he his skin off, and entered again into the house, carrying it privily beneath his coat. Then called he the hostess again, and took out his money, and said: “Lo! let us now reckon.” And the hostess reckoned up the charges. Then did Owlglass lay down half the reckoning upon the table, and said: “There have ye my part.” And the hostess asked of him: “Who then shall pay the rest? Have ye not eaten and drank alone in my house?” But he said unto her: “Nay, but I had another with me, who ate of thy meat and drank of thy beer. Yet hath he no money, but a pledge can he give thee, the which is his coat; and therewith will he pay the other half.” And the hostess said: “What guest mean ye?” Then Owlglass drew forth the dog’s skin, and spake unto her saying: “Behold, mine hostess, here have ye the best coat that he hath.” Then was the hostess moved, and saw that it was the skin of her dog; and she waxed wroth, and said unto Owlglass: “May the evil thing be upon ye ever! Wherefore didst thou take the skin from off my dog?” And Owlglass answered her, and said: “Woman, this is thine own fault, for thou didst demand either money or a pledge. And thou thyself didst desire that thy dog should drink, and I said unto ye the guest had no money; and thus, as he had nought else to give ye, take ye now his skin for the beer the which he drank.” Then waxed the hostess yet more wroth, and commanded and enjoined him to go out of her house. “Nay,” quoth Owlglass, “out of thy house will I not go, but ride.” And therewith did he saddle his horse, and rode forth, and said unto her: “Hostess, do thou keep the pledge until that thou dost receive the money; and once again will I visit thee, to see if that thou hast had it redeemed. Farewell.”