The Legend of Ulenspiegel Volume Ii Part 29

"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 shining 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!"

The catchpolls, the girls, the butchers, Gilline, and the Stevenyne applauded this speech with feet and hands. Then they all ranged themselves as well as they could, Ulenspiegel, Lamme, and the seven butchers at the princ.i.p.al table, the great table of honour, the catchpolls and the girls at two small tables. And they drank and ate with a great noise of jaws, even the two catchpolls that were outside, and whom their comrades made come in to share the feast. And ropes and chains could be seen sticking out from their satchels.

The Stevenyne then putting out her tongue and grinning said:

"No one can go without paying me."

And she went and shut all the doors, the keys of which she put in the pockets.

Gilline, lifting her gla.s.s, said:

"The bird is in the cage, let us drink."

Thereupon two girls called Gena and Margot said to her:

"Is this another one that you are going to have put to death, wicked woman?"

"I do not know," said Gilline, "let us drink."

But the three girls would not drink with her.

And Gilline took her viol and sang, in French:

"To viol's tone I sing 'Neath night or noonday skies, A gay, mad, wanton thing Who sell Love's merchandise.

"Astarte traced aright My hips in lines of flame: Were shoulders ne'er so white And G.o.d's my lovely frame.

"Oh tear each purse's sheath And let its money glow: Set tawny gold beneath My milk-white feet aflow.

"Of Eve the child I seem, Of Satan too a part; As fine as is your dream, Come seek it in my heart.

"My mood is cold or burning, Or fond with careless ease, Mad, mild, or melting turning, My man, your whim to please.

"See every charm that cheers, Soul, eyes of blue, for hire; Delights and smiles and tears, And Death, if you desire.

"To viol's tone I sing 'Neath night or noonday skies, A gay, mad, wanton thing Who sell Love's merchandise."

As she sang her song, Gilline was so beautiful, so sweet, and so pretty that all the men, catchpolls, butchers, Lamme, and Ulenspiegel were there, speechless, moved, smiling, captivated by the spell.

All at once, bursting into laughter, Gilline said, looking at Ulenspiegel:

"That is the way birds are put in the cage."

And the spell was broken.

Ulenspiegel, Lamme, and the butchers looked at one another.

"Now, then, will you pay me?" said the Stevenyne, "will you pay me, Messire Ulenspiegel, you that grow so fat on the flesh of preachers?"