Then sate the noble knights and gentlemen silently upon their stools, and perceived that with cunning they had been beguiled; nor could they in any wise murmur thereat. So one scratched his head, and his neighbour sought for comfort in his neck, and they were sorely troubled for the loss of their oxen. But it could not be otherwise answered, and therefore comforted they themselves in that unto their gracious lord the profit had fallen; yet grieved they for their foolishness. But Owlglass rejoiced thereat, and departed with his booty. Thus may ye see, my masters, that when a wise man like unto Owlglass, with a bishop sitteth under one cap, ye may expect not a little knavery to come thereof! Therefore take heed and let not knaves approach near unto holy bishops of the Church, lest they be defiled, and much mischief come unto the commonwealth thereafter.
The Ninety and Third Adventure.
How that Owlglass sold a horse, the which would not go over trees.
On a time had Owlglass a horse, the which he would fain sell, and one came unto him, and looked upon it, and desired to buy it. And this buyer spake unto Owlglass saying: “Hath this horse any fault with him, the which thou oughtest to reveal unto me; and if that he hath shall it be no break to the bargain, I will yet buy him of thee, and in good money pay thee the price therefor.” And Owlglass answered and said unto him: “Verily I say unto you, that I find no scathe in him, but this one, the which I confess openly, over the trees will he not go.” And the merchant said: “I crave not that he should go over the trees, and therefore will I pay thee the price, if thou wilt let me have him for an easy penny.” Then answered Owlglass and said: “Of a truth for a penny canst thou not have him; but for five pieces of gold mayest thou receive him from me,” and they twain agreed the purchase. And when that he would have ridden the horse forth from the town, came he unto the town bridge, over the which would the horse not go, for it was a wooden bridge, and built of trees. And he returned again unto Owlglass, and would have his money back; but Owlglass said unto him: “That most clearly had he told him the fault the which was in the horse.” And the merchant gat him unto the judge, who said: “Most certainly should Owlglass give back unto him the money.” Then summoned they Owlglass, but he came not; neither at any time would he make restitution for that he had said the horse would not go over trees.
The Ninety and Fourth Adventure.
How that of a horse-dealer Owlglass bought a horse, and only paid half of the money therefor.
When that Owlglass came unto the town of Hildesheim he encountered there a horse-dealer, who, for twenty-five pieces of silver, did offer him a good horse. And they marketed together for twenty-four pieces; and Owlglass said unto him: “Lo! the half of it will I pay thee straightway, and the rest shall I remain indebted unto thee. Thus will I now give unto thee twelve pieces of silver.” And the horse-dealer (for he knew him not) said unto him: “Agreed; take thou the horse.” And Owlglass took him.
And some three months fled by; then came the horse-dealer unto him, and demanded the twelve pieces of silver. Then said Owlglass unto him: “Behold, did we not agree that I should remain indebted unto thee for these twelve pieces of silver?” Thereat the other answered him, and they strove together, and came unto the house where the judge sate, and entered in, and would therewith have it appointed how the matter should stand. And then did Owlglass say he would remain faithful unto his bargain, according as he had bought the horse; and said unto the judge: “For twenty and four pieces of silver bought I the horse, and I paid him twelve thereof in good money; the other twelve agreed we that I should remain indebted unto him. If now that I do give him the money shall I falsify my word; and that have I never yet done, but always performed the thing which was commanded unto or required of me. And so let it be.” Then was the suit before the judge withdrawn; and so stands the business, as if it were in the Chancery Court, unto this day.
The Ninety and Fifth Adventure.
How that in the land of Brunswick Owlglass turned shepherd.
Owlglass was a man that, with all his endeavours, could never grow rich, the which is a marvel, considering how it is that so many knaves prosper right well; and here was one that in honesty could never be approached, and yet was poor. Now he took counsel within himself, and said: “I have heard it said, that peradventure if one turneth shepherd, by the cunning of the patriarch Jacob one may grow rich.” And he also had heard it said, that in the Duke of Brunswick’s service all men grew rich in no long season. So he gat him unto the duke; and when that he had come unto him he spake unto him, saying: “Most gracious duke, do thou, with thy marvellous goodness, appoint me that I shall be a shepherd in thy service for some years; for I would fain have money, that in mine old age I may live; and for my service I desire no other recompence.” And the duke did grant the post unto him for ten years. Then was Owlglass an excellent shepherd; and when that he heard that in any part of the duke’s country there was good grazing land, then wrote he straightway letters unto that land, and told the people thereof that he would bring thither his master’s cattle to graze. And in great terror did the farmer boors assemble, and did, for fear that the cattle should eat up all their substance, make collection, and send unto him five and twenty pieces of gold to go elsewhere. Then thought Owlglass: “A most fair thing is this;” and wrote unto another city, and thence also came money unto him; and this went forward so long, until the duke himself asked Owlglass how that his post prospered. “Truly,” quoth he, “I have a fair inheritance thereby, and a coat of delicate workmanship; for there is no office so little, that by it one may not have profit.” “Nay,” answered the duke; “I must unto this see myself.” Hence comes it that dukes, princes, kings, emperors, and all their lackeys, do continually take into their own hands the work and labour of lesser men; for the duke said unto Owlglass, he himself would do this thing; and Owlglass answered him, saying: “No office is so little, that the hangman may not from it draw an inheritance. For the great be in marvellous peril alway.”