The Marvellous Adventures and Rare Conceits of Master Tyll Owlglass

The Forty and Sixth Adventure

How that Owlglass did speak a word of truth unto a smith, his wife, man, and maid, each one before the house

Unto Wismar came Owlglass upon a holy day, and when he passed by over against the smithy, he then beheld before the smithy door a good wife standing dressed in her best clothes, and with her was her maid, and she was the smith’s wife. And Owlglass went and lay at the inn opposite that night, and in the night time he brake from off his horse’s feet all his shoes, and the next day went over unto the smithy. On this wise came he to know them. And when that he approached unto the smithy, lo! they perceived that he was Owlglass; and the good wife, and her maid, came forth before the house door, so that they might behold that which Owlglass said and did. And Owlglass lifted up his voice, and spake unto the smith saying: “Wilt thou now shoe these my horse’s feet?” And the smith answered him “Yea”; and it pleased the smith that he should talk with so wonderful a man as was Owlglass. After that they had talked and conferred together awhile, the smith said unto him: “Behold now, if that thou canst unto me say a word of truth, then will I give unto thee a shoe therefor.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea”; and thus spake unto him:

“An if hammer and iron and coals have ye,
And wind enow in the bellows free,
Brave smith of might then can ye be.”

Then said the smith: “That word is truth,” and gave unto him a shoe. Then did the apprentice put the shoe on the horse’s foot; and he spake unto Owlglass and said: “That an if Owlglass would say unto him also such a word of verity, he would likewise bestow upon him a shoe.” Then answered Owlglass: “Yea”; and said unto him:

“The master and the man they two,
If that work they fain would do,
Hard labour should they never rue.”

“True is thy saying,” answered the smith’s man, and gave him a shoe. Thereat marvelled the good wife, and her maid; and they came unto him, and conferred with him, and the good wife said unto him: “That an if he said also to her words of true meaning, she would give unto him a shoe.” And thereat answered Owlglass, and said: “Yea”; and spake thus:

“Good wife, good wife, eye that’s bright,
Sparkling with such knavish light,
Loves a trysting place at night.”

Then said the good wife: “Marry but thou sayest truth,” and therewith gave him a shoe. Then would the maid fain have a true word also spoken unto her; and if that Owlglass did it, she would give him a shoe. And he said:

“When that thou dost dine on veal,
Eat with care, or thou shalt feel
Tooth-ache pangs thee over-steal.”

And the maid said thereat: “O and alas! how true is that saying,” and gave him a shoe. Then departed Owlglass from that place with his horse well shod. But if any of us, my masters, went unto a blacksmith, I fear me greatly we should have no satisfaction, or horseshoes, for telling truths unto him. This sheweth that of old time were the people wiser than now.

The Forty and Seventh Adventure

How that Owlglass, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, did with guile delude two Jews of rings

On a time came Owlglass unto the city of Frankfort-on-the-Main, and it was yearly market day when that he entered therein. And in that town dwelt many Jews, and those that dwelt not there, dwelt in other places; and some have come out thence, and go not thither again. Then did Owlglass send for two rich Jews, and he spake unto them, saying: “That he would have two pair of ear-rings of them, beset with precious stones; but they must all be of one pattern and size, nor one in the least larger or smaller than the other.” And it was for a noble lady that he said he would have them. Then the Jews brought a great number of costly rings, and Owlglass dealt with each alone, and of each did he have a pair. But unto the first he gave back a ring, and said: “That he should take it unto the goldsmith and have it made a little larger.” And this the Jew agreed should be done, and departed with the ring, and promised that he would return ere long; but he left the other ring with Owlglass. And Owlglass did likewise with the second Jew, and kept one of the twain rings. And the Jews departed each alone. Then had Owlglass wan him a pair of ear-rings, and therewith did he go forth from Frankfort, and came not again. But the Jews were beguiled; yet cared not Owlglass a jot therefor.

The Forty and Eighth Adventure

How that Owlglass served a shoemaker, and how that he inquired of him what shapes he should cut; and the master answered him, and said: “Great and small, as the herdsman driveth forth to field.” Therefore cut he oxen, cows, calves, sheep, and pigs

Now in a place where Owlglass sojourned on a time, was there a shoemaker, who loved rather to walk about in the market than to labour, and he hired Owlglass for his servant, and he bade Owlglass cut out the shapes himself. Then said Owlglass unto him: “Master, what would you have me to cut?” And the shoemaker answered him, and said: “Cut ye out great and small, as the herdsman driveth forth to field.” And Owlglass spake unto him, and said: “Yea, master, that will I.” And therewith departed the master unto the market. Then fell Owlglass to work, and began to cut out pigs, and oxen, and calves, and sheep, and goats, and all kind of cattle. When that it was night, the master returned him home again, and fain would see what his serving-man had done; then found he these animals cut out of the leather. Thereat grew he angry, and said unto Owlglass: “What is it that thou hast done, so to cut and destroy my leather?” And Owlglass said: “Dear master, I have done it as thou wouldst most desire it should be.” The master answered, and said: “Nay, thou liest; I would not have thee to destroy the leather; that did I not command thee that thou shouldst do.” Then answered Owlglass to him: “Master, wherefore be ye angry? Ye commanded me that I should cut the leather great and small, like as the herdsman driveth forth to field; and most truly to be seen is it that I have thus done.” Then said the master: “Nay, but I meant ye should cut out shoes great and small.” Thereupon said Owlglass: “Had ye said that unto me so that I understood it, then would I have done it with great joy; and yet would I do it.” Then agreed Owlglass and his master, the one with the other; and he forgave him the leather he had cut up, for Owlglass promised him that he would do him content thereafter, and as he told him that would he do.

Then did the shoemaker cut a number of soles for shoes, and laid them before Owlglass, and said unto him: “Look ye, sew ye them little and great as they be altogether.” And Owlglass said: “Yea” thereunto, and began to sew them. Then tarried the master awhile, and departed not forth, for he desired to see how Owlglass did sew. For well knew he that which he had told him, and he craved to behold how he would do according to his words. And Owlglass took a small shoe and a great shoe, and with his needle and thread he sewed them together. And thereat stole the master secretly up to him, and he perceived that which he did. Then said he unto Owlglass: “Thou art truly a man after mine own heart; thou doest that which I desire thee to do.” And Owlglass answered, and said unto him: “He that doeth his master’s bidding will receive no stripes.” Then said the master: “Yea, my good servant, my words were so, but my meaning was other. What I meaned was, that thou shouldst first make a pair of small shoes, and then make a pair of large, or the great first and the small ones after; but thou sewest them altogether, according to my words and not my meaning.” And then waxed he wroth, and took the leather which was cut up, and said: “Now take thee other leather, and cut me new shoes on one last.”

Thereafter thought he no more about the matter, and departed forth to walk. And when that he had been out for more than an hour, he remembered him that he had told Owlglass to cut all on one last; and he hastened him home to see what was done. And Owlglass had sate him still the while, and taken a small last, and cut all the shoes thereunto. So that when the master came, he found he had cut it all according to the little last; and he said unto him: “What dost thou mean, that thou hast on the one last cut me all these shoes? How can the great sole belong to the little shoe?” And Owlglass said unto him: “That will I do after, and the other will I cut.” Then said the master: “But thou takest only one last, and makest them all for one foot; what dost thou expect can I do with thy work?” Then answered Owlglass unto him: “Of a truth, master, thou didst bid me to cut them over one last only, and that have I done.” Thereat said the master: “If that I had much to do with thee, should I have to run with thee to the hangman;” and he furthermore said unto him: “Pay thou me for the leather thou hast marred.” Then said Owlglass: “If that I have marred thy leather, the currier can he not make more?” Then arose he, and stood in the door, and turning himself round unto the master, said: “If that I come not again, have I yet been with thee. Farewell.” And he departed from that city.

The Forty and Ninth Adventure

How that Owlglass bought eggs and had them tightly packed

On a time Owlglass came into a village in Swabia, where abode a man very stupid, who with lard and eggs drave a trade. And Owlglass did become serving-man unto him, and much business did for his master, by the which he gained greatly. In this wise and after this manner was it that Owlglass did all that his master required. His master sent him unto the market, that he might cheaply buy and dearly sell; for according to such modes grow all merchants rich. And it came to pass on a day, that Owlglass had bought so much, that his baskets, panniers, and chests were all full of lard and butter and eggs, and yet craved he to buy much more. Then lifted he up his voice, and spake unto his master, saying: “Behold, master, between each egg is there a great room; might it not be, that we might get more in if that, like unto cabbages, we trod them closer together?” And the stupid egg-merchant perceived that to be most true; and then bid he the folk which helped him to tread the eggs close together. And so did they; but, lo! then were their feet all yellow, and the eggs were soon broken to pieces. Then did the master of Owlglass cry out upon his man, and despatched him hastily to do business elsewhere; for the egg-trade did he not understand. Yet was the story soon noised abroad; and thenceforward laughed the people, and called the Swabians yellow-feet, the which name remaineth even unto days of this chronicler.

The Fiftieth Adventure

How that Owlglass made a soup for a boor, and put therein shoemaker’s oil; for that, in his nobility, he thought it good enow for the boor

Now after these knaveries came Owlglass unto Stade, and there he again hired him unto a shoemaker. And when that he began the first day to work, his master went unto market, and of a boor bought a load of wood, and then came home, and commanded that the boor should have a soup given unto him. But he found no one at home; for the goodwife and the maid had gone forth, and Owlglass was alone within the house; and he was sewing shoes. And the master was obliged again to go to the market. So spake he to Owlglass, and said, that he should make ready a soup for the boor; for that had he promised him into their bargain. And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” then the boor unloaded the wood, and came into the house. But when that Owlglass sought in the cupboard, and had made ready the soup, he found nothing to flavour it save shoemaker’s oil; so he took the bottle, and poured therefrom a goodly measure into the soup, and a fine flavour was there then therein. And when that the boor began to eat, he tasted that it was very evil; but he was an hungered, and he soon ate up the soup. In no long time thereafter came the shoemaker home, and asked the boor how the soup tasted. And the boor answered him: “That it was good all but one thing, and that was, that it savoured woundily of new shoes.” Then departed the boor. And the shoemaker laughed, and said unto Owlglass: “What didst thou put in the soup thou gavest to the boor?” And Owlglass answered, and said: “Thou commandest me that I should take that I found and put in the soup; and I found nought but the shoemaker’s oil. Therefore put I that in.” And the shoemaker said: “It is well, and quite good enough to give for a bargain to a boor.” And so were the two knaves contented; but as two of a trade never can agree together, in no long time parted they, and Owlglass continued his journey.

The Fifty and First Adventure

This chapter is a special chapter, telling how that a bootmaker sought to beguile Owlglass by greasing his boots, and how that Owlglass looked through the window, and brake it

Christopher was the name of a bootmaker, who, in Brunswick, lived upon the Cabbage-market. Unto him on a time went Owlglass, that he might have his boots greased. And when that he came into the house, he opened his mouth, and said: “Master, an if ye will smear me these boots well and throughly, I will pay your demand, so that I have them by Monday.” And the master answered, and said: “Yea, truly shall ye have them.” Then departed Owlglass from the house, and thought no longer thereupon; for when wise men say things shall be done, it is the fool’s fault if they be not. And after that he had gone his way, the bootmaker’s man said: “Behold, master, have a care; for that is Owlglass, and to all men doth he work knavery. Do, therefore, that he said, or he will work ye a vile turn.” Then answered the master, and said: “What would he have?” And the man said: “He said, smear me these boots and throughly. Therefore do ye according to his words, and smear ye them within and without.” Then answered the master unto him, and said: “That will I do.” So did he, in truth.

And on the Monday cometh Owlglass, and he saith unto them: “Have ye my boots ready?” And the master had hung them upon a hook in his shop, and answered unto him, and said, as he pointed unto them: “Behold, there have ye your boots as they hang.” And Owlglass looked, and saw that they were so smeared within and without; and he laughed, and said: “How good and pious a master bootmaker have I found, that he doth smear me my boots throughly. And what may ye desire to have for your pains?” Then spake the master: “An old penny will I have.” Then did Owlglass give him an old penny he had by him, and departed from the house; and then laughed the master and his man, and said one to the other: “How may he take that? Surely now hath he been made a fool!” That heard our good Master Owlglass; and he put his head within the window so that it brake, and head and shoulders followed after, to the great wonderment of all thereby. And Owlglass said unto the bootmaker: “Master, what lard used ye? Tell me if it be lard from a sow or a boar?” Thereat was the master amazed with his man, and at last perceived that Owlglass lay in the window, and he had broken it. Then the bootmaker grew angry, and said: “The genius of evil take thee! What meanest thou? With this lapstone will I break thy head!” Then said Owlglass: “Honourable sir, be not angry. It is but a simple answer I would have. Which is it from which ye have taken the lard, from a sow or a boar?” And the master wished his window whole. But he answered never a word; and thereat said Owlglass: “If that ye will not tell me, I must depart to foreign lands to have it certified, and of another must I learn whether it be of a sow or a boar.” Therewith departed Owlglass.

Then waxed the master wroth with his man, and said unto him: “That counsel gavest thou me; now give me other counsel how that my window may be whole.” But the servant was dumb. So said the master: “Which hath been the greatest fool among these, and who shall pay the damage?” But the comrade held his tongue; and the master continued: “Who is it that hath mocked the other? How shall my window be made whole? I have always heard it said: He that is heavy laden with a fool may soon rejoice to lose his pack from his shoulders; and if I had done that might I have kept my window, nor would I have cared an if it had been in that wise.” Therefore departed the apprentice, and bootmaker Christopher paid for his broken window himself.

The Fifty and Second Adventure

Telleth how that Owlglass at Einbeck became a brewer’s man, and did seethe a dog which was called Hops

Owlglass tarried not at any time in doing his evil knavery. And he came unto Einbeck after a time, and in that town did he hire him unto a brewer to be his man. Then came it to pass, that the brewer his master desired to go unto a wedding; and he spake unto Owlglass, and said unto him: “Do thou brew with the maid while I am away from hence, and to-morrow will I return to help thee in thy labour. Yet, above all, do ye not forget to put hops into the beer, so that it shall savour strongly thereof, and be a most desirable thing to buy.” And Owlglass answered and said unto his master, that would he diligently perform unto his content. Then did the brewer with his wife depart out of the door to the wedding. Then began Owlglass to brew the beer; and the serving-woman taught him what he should do, forasmuch as she understood it better than he did. And when it came to be time that the hops should be put therein, the maid said unto him: “Lo! my dear fellow-servant, thou canst boil the hops alone as well as while I am with thee. Therefore do thou boil them, and I will go for an hour unto the dance.” And Owlglass said: “Yea;” and thought within himself: “When that she hath departed out of the way, then canst thou better do thy knavery. What shall it be that thou wilt do unto this brewer?”

Now the brewer had in his house a great dog, whose name was Hops; and when the water was hot, took Owlglass the poor beast, and threw him into the vat, and boiled him therein, so that the flesh was boiled from off the bones, and the skin and hair was sodden altogether. Thereafter thought the maid, that it was time she should return home unto Owlglass, for the hops must have been seethed enough. She entered in unto him, and spake unto him: “Lo! my brother, now have the hops seethed enough; draw off.” Then took she a sieve and strained the beer, but found nought therein; then said she unto Owlglass: “Hast thou also put therein the hops, as I said unto ye? I find nought therein.” But Owlglass said: “Thou wilt find all at the bottom.” And the woman took a shovel, and found the bones of the dog at the bottom. Then cried she aloud: “What is this thing thou hast put therein? The evil one defend me from this beer!” And Owlglass answered: “What our master commanded me that did I. I seethed therein Hops our dog.”

It fortuned that the brewer then entered in unto them, and he had drunken himself drunk at the wedding; and he said unto them: “Ha! ha! what is it that ye do, my children?” Then answered the maid, and said unto him: “Lo! I did but go for half an hour unto the dance, and bade this our new man to seethe the hops in the beer; and he hath taken our dog, and hath seethed him. Behold, ye may see his bones.” Then spake Owlglass, and said: “Truly did I nothing more than ye enjoined me to do. Ye said that Hops should I seethe, and that have I done. But ye are ungrateful when that I am obedient. Had ye servants which ever did that which ye commanded as I have done, would ye surely have great content.” Then departed he, and was wroth that they thanked him not.

HOW OWLGLASS BOILETH HOPS.

The Fifty and Third Adventure

How that Owlglass hired him unto a tailor, and sewed so secretly that it was not seen of any one

And when that Owlglass approached unto Berlin, he there hired him unto a tailor of that town. Then said his master unto him, as he sate in the workshop: “If that thou sewest for me, sew for me after that wise that it shall be seen of no one.” To him answered Owlglass: “Yea;” and with that took his work, and crept him under the counter, and put his work across his knee, and began there to sew. The tailor stood thereby, and looked upon him, and said unto him: “What doest thou? Of a truth that is a marvellous way to sew thy coat.” And Owlglass answered: “Master, said ye not that I should sew in such wise as that it should be seen of no one, and can any one behold me where I sew?” Then said the tailor: “Nay; but, my dear serving-man, sew ye no longer after that wise, but begin to sew that all may see.”

So fared they on for a matter of three days; and it fortuned one night, that a peasant’s great over-coat, such as in that country is called a wolf, lay unfinished in the shop. This took the tailor, and gave it unto Owlglass, and said unto him: “Here, take the wolf and make it ready, and thereafter mayest thou get thee to bed.” Then answered Owlglass: “Yea; and if ye go will I right quickly do it as ye enjoin.” Then departed the master; and Owlglass took the coat, and he cut it up, and made first a wolf’s head, and then legs and body, and with sticks set it upright on the bench, so that it looked like unto a wolf, and then gat he him unto bed. And when that it was day, the master gat him up, and awakened Owlglass also, and found the wolf standing in the shop. And he marvelled with great wonderment at this doing of Owlglass; and he said unto him when that he came: “I’ the prince of mischief’s name, what is this thing thou hast done?” And Owlglass answered, and said: “A wolf have I made, as ye enjoined me.” Then said the tailor: “Such a wolf would I not have; but a peasant’s great coat. That called I a wolf.” Thereat answered Owlglass, and spake unto the tailor, saying: “Dear master, that knew not I. An ye had said unto me, that ye would have a peasant’s coat, then would I have made it; but ye said I should make a wolf, and, lo! have I not done it? And with greater content would I have made a coat than a wolf.” And the tailor forgave him; for as it was ended, what should he do?

And after four days had passed, was the tailor fain again to sleep, and yet he judged that it was too soon for his man to get him to bed. And there lay a coat in the shop, the which had been finished, all save the arms, which should be sewed on. This took he, and gave it unto Owlglass, saying: “Whip me these arms to the coat, and then mayest thou sleep.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and therewith departed the tailor. Then did Owlglass light two candles, and he hung the coat on a hook, and made him a whip with whipcord, and ’gan to whip the sleeves, so that he might get them unto the coat. Yet stirred they not. And when that his candles were burned down, gat he two more, and lighted them, and burned candles through the whole night. At last arose the master, and came unto Owlglass into the shop, and said unto him: “What mystery play ye here?” And Owlglass answered gravely, and said: “No mystery is this, but hard labour; for the whole night through have I stood here, and whipped me these sleeves with whipcord, yet move they not unto the coat. Better had it been if that ye had bid me sleep; for ye surely knew that I must lose my labour.” Then answered the tailor, and said: “Lay ye that to my charge? Am I ever to be finding ye brains to understand that which I say? Didst not see that I meant that ye should sew the sleeves on to the coat?” Answered straightway unto him Owlglass: “Nay; but, in the evil one’s name, how can ye think that it be my fault, that when ye say one thing I should understand ye to mean another thing? If that I had known what ye would have done, would I not have sewn the sleeves on, and then slept an hour or twain? Now may ye sit ye down, for I will get me unto my bed.” Thereat said the tailor: “Not so; I will not receive into my house folk that lazy be and sleep.” Then did they strive together in anger; and the tailor would have payment of Owlglass for the candles he had burned, but this would not Owlglass give him; therefore took he that which belonged unto him, and departed.

The Fifty and Fourth Adventure

How that Owlglass caused three tailors to fall from their board, and then would have persuaded the people that the wind had blown them down

On the market at Brandenburg, Owlglass abode in an inn for a matter of fourteen days. And hard by there dwelt a tailor, and on his board had he three of his men sitting at work. And when that Owlglass passed by over against them, they did nothing but mock him, and throw rags after him. And all this time kept Owlglass silence; and one day when that it was a full market-day, did he secretly the night before saw through the posts which held up the board, and so left them standing. In the morning did the men put the board on the posts, and sate them down as usual, and sewed. At the time when that the swineherd blew his horn that every one might drive forth his swine, came the tailor’s swine forth likewise, and ran under the window, and against the posts began to rub themselves; then came down the three tailors, and fell upon the ground, and sorely hurt themselves. And when Owlglass marked that they fell, he cried with a loud voice: “Behold, ye people, of what light account are tailors, when that by the wind three are blown down from the board!” These words of Owlglass heard the whole market, and the people therein. Then ran all the market-place in great haste, and laughed, and mocked the tailors with great scorn; and then did the tailors abuse each one the other with much evil language, for they wist not how it had come to pass that they had fallen. At last did they behold that the posts were sawed through, and knew well that it was Owlglass. Then did they set new posts in the ground, but mocked him no longer.

The Fifty and Fifth Adventure

How that Owlglass assembled all the tailors throughout the whole land of Saxony, by proclaiming that he would teach them a mighty useful thing, that would get bread both for them and their children