Volume I Part 33 (1/2)

Ulenspiegel answered:

”When the rat is in the cheese, doth he ask to leave it?”

”Nay,” said they.

”And when a man eats well and drinks well, does he seek out the dust of the roads and the water from springs full of leeches?”

”Nay, indeed,” said they.

”Well, then,” said Ulenspiegel, ”let us stay here as long as my florins and daelders serve us as funnels to pour into our throats the drinks that bring us to laughter.”

And he bade the host bring still more wine and more sausage.

While they drank and ate, Ulenspiegel said:

”'Tis I who pay, I am landgrave for the nonce. If my wallet were empty, what would you do, comrades? You might take my soft felt headgear and you might find it full of carolus, in the crown as well as round the brim.”

”Let us feel,” cried they all with one accord. And sighing they felt in it between their fingers large coins of the size and dimensions of gold carolus. But one among them handled it so lovingly that Ulenspiegel took it back, saying:

”Impetuous dairy man, you must learn to await the milking hour.”

”Give me the half of your hat,” said the Smaedelyke broeders.

”Nay,” answered Ulenspiegel, ”I don't want you to have a madman's brain, one half in the shade and the other in the sun.”

Then giving his headgear over to the baes:

”You,” said he, ”do you keep it in any case, for it is hot. For my part, I am going out to ease me.”

He went, and the host took charge of the hat.

Presently he left the inn, went to the peasant's cottage, got up upon his a.s.s, and went off full speed along the road that leads to Embden.

The Smaedelyke broeders, not seeing him come back, said one to another:

”Has he gone? Who will pay the charges?”

The baes, seized with fear, cut open Ulenspiegel's hat with a knife. But instead of the carolus, he found nothing in it between the felt and the lining but worthless copper counters.

Raging then against the Smaedelyke broeders he said to them:

”Brothers of roguery, ye shall not stir out of here save leaving behind all your clothes except only your s.h.i.+rts.”

And they had every man to strip off his clothes to pay his shot.

In this fas.h.i.+on they went in their s.h.i.+rts over hill and dale, for they would by no means sell their horse nor their cart.

And all that beheld them in so pitiable a plight, gave them freely bread to eat, beer, and sometimes meat; for everywhere they told the tale how they had been despoiled by robbers.