The Ninety and Sixth Adventure.
How that without money Owlglass bought a pair of shoes.
Now it fortuned, that on a time Owlglass was at Erfurt, and there went through the Shoemaker’s street; and a woman called loudly unto him, that he should come unto her and buy a good pair of shoes. Then came he straightway unto her, and took a shoe, and put it on his foot; then took he up its fellow, and put it upon the other foot, and said unto her: “Lo! they do suit me marvellous well,” and therewith ran off. Then made the woman a great outcry, and said: “Stop me yonder thief, ye good folk!” And they would have held him. “Nay,” said he, “good people, now do we run for a wager; therefore let me go, and then shall I win a pair of shoes.” Thus came he off with the pair of shoes; but so ill made were they, that he gave them unto the servant at the inn where that he lay.
The Ninety and Seventh Adventure.
How that Owlglass sold unto the furriers at Leipzig a live cat, the which was sewed into the skin of a hare; and how rare sport came thereof.
In no long space of time was Owlglass ever ready with a knavish device. This proved he to be a great truth when that he was at Leipzig, among the furriers on Easter Even when altogether they held their feast. And it came to pass that most willingly would they have had some kind of game to make them a hunt therewith. Of this heard Owlglass, and in his knavery he bethought him: “The furrier at Berlin gave thee nought for thy labour, therefore shall these men pay thee thy pains.” With that departed he into his inn, where he lay, and there found he that the host had a fine fat cat. This took Owlglass, and under his frock he carried it off; and then gat he him to the cook and besought him that he should give unto him the skin of a hare. For therewith would he play off a knavery of great and merry conceit. The cook gave unto him the skin which he demanded of him; and then he took needle and thread and sewed up the cat therewith in the skin. After did our master put on a boor’s frock, and gat him to the town-house, and stood over against it. But his hare held he concealed under his coat until that a furrier came by. Then said Owlglass to the furrier: “Would his honour buy a good hare?” and then shewed it unto him, where that he held it under his frock. And the furrier and Owlglass conferred together; and they agreed that he should give unto him four silver bits for the hare, and six pennies for the old sack, in the which Owlglass had put the hare. Then the furrier carried the hare into the house of their alderman, and they rejoiced with great merriment, and were content in that they had got such a good live hare, for the furrier was right proud of getting such an one. Then did all the furriers feel and punch the hare to see how fat he was; and not that year, did they all agree had they seen such an one—the which was very true! And at the time they would hold their games, they fetched dogs and let the hare run in the garden, for they would have a hunt.
HOW OWLGLASS SOLD PUSS.
Now when that the hare could run no more, it leaped up into a tree, and cried out Miaow, for most willingly would it again have been at home. And when that the furriers beheld this, they cried aloud: “Brethren, brethren, come let us pursue the wicked knave, which hath beguiled us, and strike him dead!” And so would it have been if Owlglass had not put on other clothes, so that they knew him not. But now, my worshipful masters, hence came the proverb: “The cat hath leaped up into the tree.” Yet were the furriers beguiled, and so remained.
The Ninety and Eighth Adventure.
How that Owlglass hired himself unto a boor.
It came to pass on a time that Owlglass served a boor; and the boor did desire that they twain should, with a horse and cart, get them unto the forest to cut wood. And Owlglass sate upon the horse’s back, while his master sate behind him upon the shafts of the cart. Then ran a hare across the road whither they journeyed; and the master, when that he beheld it, said: “Lo! my man, turn we back again upon this day; for it is a most evil fortune when that a hare doth run across the way. To-day will we do some other thing.” So they gat themselves home again.
On the next day departed they as before unto the forest; and Owlglass spake unto his master, and said unto him: “A wolf hath run across the road, master; what shall we do?” “Ha! sayest thou so?” quoth the boor. “Drive forth, drive forth; great good fortune is it when that a wolf doth cross thy road.” So Owlglass drave the horse into the forest; and when that they gat thither, they took the horse out of the traces, and left the cart standing, while they gat them to their labour. And when that they had done, the boor despatched Owlglass, and bade him fetch the horse and cart, that they might load and get them home once more.