And after the four weeks were gone by, and all things had been duly accomplished according to the promise made unto him, came the council and the priest and the friends of Owlglass to open the treasure, and enter upon the enjoyment thereof. And, behold! when they opened the chest, found they nought but stones. Then grew they angry, and strove together; and each believed that the other had from the chest taken the treasure. But it was not so; for of a truth understood they not until afterward, that all treasure is indeed of no greater account than stones. For a lusty frame and a cheerful heart be the best of riches.
The Hundred and Seventh Adventure.
How that at Möllen Owlglass died, and the swine did cast down the coffin when that the good priests sang the vigil.
Now after that time that Owlglass had given up the ghost, the people entered in unto the hospital where he lay, and took him, and put him in a coffin, and set it upon tressels. Then came the good priests to sing a vigil round his coffin, and they lifted up their voices and sang. But as they sang came the swine of the master of that hospital, and entered in unto the room where lay Owlglass, and they ran underneath the coffin, and cast it down. Then came the nuns and monks, and much folk likewise, and would have driven forth the swine, but that could they not do; and the swine leaped and ran, and upset the nuns and monks, so that it was a most lamentable sight to look upon. Afterwards gat the swine forth into the street, and the nuns entered in, and laid Owlglass within his coffin again; and they bare him forth unto the graveyard to bury him.
The Hundred and Eighth Adventure.
How that our for ever prized Master Owlglass was buried.
And at the burying of Owlglass was there a most wondrous strange thing. For when that they all stood in the graveyard round the coffin in the which he lay, they took ropes to let it down into the grave, and, of these twain ropes, brake the one which was under his feet, and the coffin fell down, and stood on end. Thus stood Owlglass in his grave. And the folks around marvelled greatly thereat, and said: “Nay, let him stand an if he will; for in his life wrought he many great marvels, and he will be strange in death likewise.” Then they filled the grave with earth, and above his head set a stone, and on it did they cunningly hew the likeness of an owl, who within his claws bare a glass, and upon the stone set the words which stand written in the chapter which here followeth.
The Hundred and Ninth Adventure.
Telleth what stood upon his gravestone.[[13]]
EPITAPHIUM.
This stone dare none to overthrow,
For Owlglass upright stands below.
