Volume Ii Part 29 (1/2)

”You hit thick and fast, my belly boy.”

”As hail,” said the baes, seizing Lamme's purse lightly and giving it to Ulenspiegel.

”Rogue,” said he, ”pay for me to drink now that you have been restored to your property.”

”Thou shalt drink, scandalous rascal,” replied Ulenspiegel.

”See how impudent he is,” said the Stevenyne.

”As insolent as thou art lovely, darling,” answered Ulenspiegel.

Now the Stevenyne was full sixty years old, and had a face like a medlar, but all yellowed with bile and anger. In the middle of it was a nose like an owl's beak. Her eyes were the eyes of a flinty-hearted miser. Two long dog-tusks jutted from her fleshless mouth. And she had a great port-wine stain on her left cheek.

The girls laughed, mocking her and saying:

”Darling, darling, give him somewhat to drink”--”He will kiss you”--”Is it long since you had your first spree?”--”Take care, Ulenspiegel, she will eat you up”--”Look at her eyes; they are s.h.i.+ning not with hate but with love”--”You might say she will bite you to death”--”Don't be afraid”--”All amorous women are like that”--”She only wants your money”--”See what a good laughing humour she is in.”

And indeed the Stevenyne was laughing and winking at Gilline, the girl in the brocade dress.

The baes drank, paid, and went. The seven butchers made faces of intelligence at the catchpolls and the Stevenyne.

One of them indicated by a gesture that he held Ulenspiegel for a ninny and that he was about to fool him to the top of his bent. He said in his ear, putting out his tongue derisively on the side of the Stevenyne who was laughing and showing her fangs:

”'Tis van te beven de klinkaert” ('tis time to make the gla.s.ses clink).

Then aloud, and pointing to the catchpolls:

”Gentle reformer, we are all with thee; pay for us to drink and to eat.”

And the Stevenyne laughed with pleasure and also put out her tongue at Ulenspiegel when he turned his back to her. And Gilline of the brocade dress put out her tongue likewise.

And the girls said, whispering:

”Look at the spy who by her beauty brought to cruel torture and more cruel death more than twenty-seven of the Reformed faith; Gilline is in ecstasy thinking of the reward for her informing--the first hundred florins carolus of the victim's estate. But she does not laugh when she thinks that she must share them with the Stevenyne.”

And all, catchpolls, butchers, and girls, put out their tongues to mock at Ulenspiegel. And Lamme sweated great drops of sweat, and he was red with anger like a c.o.c.k's comb, but he would not speak a word.

”Pay for us to drink and to eat,” said the butchers and the catchpolls.

”Well, then,” said Ulenspiegel, rattling his carolus again, ”give us to drink and to eat, O darling Stevenyne, to drink in ringing gla.s.ses.”

Thereupon the girls began to laugh anew and the Stevenyne to stick out her tusks.

Nevertheless, she went to the kitchens and to the cellar; she brought back ham, sausages, omelettes of black puddings, and ringing gla.s.ses, so called because they were mounted on felt and rang like a chime when they were knocked.

Then Ulenspiegel said:

”Let him that is hungry eat; let him that is thirsty drink!”