Volume Ii Part 43 (1/2)
”The mad she-devil,” cried Lamme. ”If she loves G.o.d more than her husband, why does she show herself to me lovely and desirable? And if she loves me, why does she leave me?”
”Dost thou see clear in a deep well?” asked Ulenspiegel.
”Alas!” said Lamme, ”I shall die before long.”
And he stayed upon the deck, livid and distraught.
Meanwhile, had come up the men of Simonen-Bol, with a great artillery.
They fired against the s.h.i.+p, which replied to them. And their cannon b.a.l.l.s broke the ice all about it. Towards evening a warm rain fell.
The wind blowing from the west, the sea grew angry under the ice, and heaved it up in immense blocks, which were seen rising up on high, falling back again, clas.h.i.+ng against one another, one mounting on top of another, not without peril to the s.h.i.+p, which when dawn broke through the clouds of night, opened out its canvas wings like a bird of freedom and sailed towards the free ocean.
There they joined up with the fleet of Messire de Lumey de la Marche, admiral of Holland and Zealand, and chief and captain-general, and as such carrying a lantern at his s.h.i.+p's peak.
”Look well at him, my son,” said Ulenspiegel; ”that one will never spare thee, if thou shouldst wish to leave the s.h.i.+p against orders. Hearest thou his voice breaking forth like thunder? See how broad and strong he is in his great stature! Look at his long hands with the crooked nails! See his round eyes, eagle eyes and cold, and his long pointed beard that he means to leave to grow until he has hanged all the monks and priests to avenge the death of the two counts! See him redoubtable and cruel; he will have thee hanged high on a short rope, if thou dost continue to whine and cry always: 'My wife!'”
”My son,” replied Lamme, ”he that talks of a halter for his neighbour has already the hempen cravat on his own neck.”
”Thou thyself shalt be the first to wear it. Such is my vow as a friend,” said Ulenspiegel.
”I shall see thee on the gallows,” replied Lamme, ”thrust out thy poisonous tongue a fathom out of thy mouth.”
And both were in mere jest.
On that day Tres-Long's s.h.i.+p took a s.h.i.+p from Biscay laden with mercury, gold dust, wines, and spices. And the s.h.i.+p was emptied of its marrow, men, and booty, as a beef bone under a lion's teeth.
It was at this time also that the duke ordained in the Low Countries cruel and abominable imposts, obliging all the inhabitants who sold real or personal estate to pay one thousand florins in ten thousand. And this tax was a permanent one. All sellers and buyers whatsoever must pay the king the tenth part of the purchase price, and it was said among the people that if goods were sold ten times within a week the king should have all.
And thus commerce and industry took the way towards Ruin and Death.
And the Beggars took Briele, a strong seaboard fortress that was christened the Orchard of Freedom.
II
In the first days of May, under a clear sky, with the s.h.i.+p sailing proudly along the sea, Ulenspiegel sang:
”The ashes beat upon my heart.
The butchers are come; they have struck With poignard, fire, violence, the sword.
They have paid for foulest spying.
Where once were Love and Faith, mild virtues, They have set Denunciation and Mistrust.
May the butchers be smitten, Beat the drum of war.
”Long live the Beggar! Beat upon the drum!
Briele is taken, Flessingue, too, the key of the Scheldt; G.o.d is good, Camp-Veere is taken, Where Zealand kept her artillery!
We have bullets, powder, and shot, Iron shot and leaden shot.
G.o.d is with us, who then is against?
”Beat upon the drum of war and glory!
Long live the Beggar! Beat upon the drum!