The Fifty and Ninth Adventure — How That Owlglass, Being Servant Unto a Great Lord, Did Fetch for Him Wine and Beer Together in a Most Delectable Manner
Once again did Owlglass take service with a noble lord, and became unto him body servant. And it fortuned, that this master of his loved good cheer,—the which is a thing not rare among all manner of men,—and especially loved he a cup of generous wine, or a deep draught of good beer.
It came to pass, that on a time Owlglass and his master journeyed together, and lay at an inn. And the day was hot, and they twain were faint, for they had ridden hard. Then spake the lord unto his serving-man Owlglass, and said: “Go thou and find mine host the landlord of this inn, and fetch him unto me.” That did Owlglass on that instant; for well knew he, that when the master drank the man was seldom dry. And his lord spake unto the host, and said unto him: “Lo! we have come far, and the sun hath burned us so that we be dry, and would have some drink.” And the host answered him: “Verily, in all the wide world, and the Duchy of Mecklenburg to boot, is there no such liquor as in my cellar. Therefore have ye come unto the best place to slake your thirst.” Then commanded the master, that Owlglass should depart with the host; and he said unto him: “I know not the which is best, therefore do thou bring me good store of both wine and beer, and bring ye them together.” And Owlglass said: “Yea;” and departed with the host. Then the host meted unto him both of wine and of beer; and Owlglass said unto himself: “If that I faint then loseth my master his good servant; therefore, that I may truly serve him, will I first drink, for peradventure I shall not have strength to bring the liquor unto my lord.” Therefore drank he merrily the half of the wine and the half of the beer, and remembered his lord’s words, that they should be together; therefore mingled he the wine and the beer in one measure, and gave unto his lord to drink. And when that the lord found how delectable was the mixture, he waxed very wroth, and said unto Owlglass: “What is this that thou hast done, and what vile liquor is this?” “Truly, my lord,” quoth honest Owlglass, “it is wine and beer mingled together, as ye enjoined me to bring unto ye.” But his master perceived it was a knavery, and bade Owlglass to depart from his sight; for, of a truth, was his beguiling most evilly done. But sorrowfully departed Owlglass, for he thought that he wrought no harm in doing the thing which was commanded unto him. Indeed, my masters, often times falleth the evil temper of the one upon the other; and for the too exact enactment of the commands of the master is the man chidden.
The Sixtieth Adventure.
How that Owlglass for a tanner prepared leather with stools and benches, at the good city of Brunswick on the Dam.
Now it fortuned that as Owlglass journeyed from Leipzig, he came unto Brunswick to a tanner there, who made ready the leather for the shoemaker. And it was winter time, and he said unto himself: “Now shalt thou stay the winter through with this tanner.” Then agreed they together, and he hired himself unto him. And after that eight days had gone by, it came to pass that the tanner desired to depart unto a feast, and he commanded Owlglass the while that he should make ready some leather. For he said unto him: “The cauldron of leather prepare ye.” And Owlglass asked him: “What shall I do it with? and where shall I find wood for the fire?” And the tanner answered and said unto him: “Wherefore ask ye such an idle question? If that I had no wood upon the wood-heap, have I yet store of stools and benches enough in the house, with the which thou mayest prepare the leather.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and then departed the tanner. Then did Owlglass take a cauldron, and hung it over the fire, and put one skin of leather after another therein, and boiled the leather until it was so soft that ye might, with two fingers, rend it in twain. And when that Owlglass found this he took a hatchet, and therewith hewed in pieces every stool and bench the which were in the house, and he put them in the fire under the cauldron, and boiled the leather yet more until that he looked therein again, and lo! these stools and benches were all burned up. Then took he the leather out of the cauldron, and put it in a heap, and departed out of the house and the city, and continued his journeying.
But the tanner thought not a jot upon the matter, but ate and drank, and gat him to bed, and slept. Next morning ’gan he to think it was time he should see what labour had been fulfilled of his man; therefore he arose, and went unto the workshop, and found the heap of leather so marred, and neither stool or bench in the place. Then grew he right angry, and went unto his wife, and said unto her: “Behold, I fear our man that we hired was Owlglass, that great knave, cheat, and beguiler; for it is his custom to do everything that is told according to the words spoken unto him. And now hath he departed, and marred me all the leather, and burned me up every stool and bench the which stood in our house.” Then wept his wife, and spake unto him, saying: “Get ye after him with all speed, and bring him back hither.” But the tanner said: “Nay, that will I not do. I have had of him enough.” And perchance was this saying true.