Légende d'Ulenspiegel. English

  Then, changing to a more sorrowful tone, he continued:

  "Behold now, with what cruel tortures do I strive to merit pardonfor my sins! Will you do nothing to assuage the smarting pain of thisscourge by which my back is lacerated till the blood flows?"

  "Who is this madman?" cried the soldiers.

  "My friends," answered Ulenspiegel, "I am no madman but one that isrepentant even to the point of starvation. For while my soul weeps forits sins, my stomach weeps for want of food. Good soldiers, and you,fair damosels, I see you well provided with ham and goose, with fatsausages and wine and beer and all manner of tartlets. Will you notgive so much as a morsel to the wandering pilgrim?"

  "Yes, yes, we will," cried the Flemish soldiers, "for the preacherhath a merry countenance."

  And now they all began to throw him chunks of bread as though theyhad been balls, and Ulenspiegel did not cease from talking and fromeating, astride as he was on the branch.

  "Hunger," he said, "makes a man hard of heart and little apt forprayer, yet a piece of ham removes that evil disposition in no time."

  "Look out for your head," shouted a sergeant as he threw him abottle half full of wine. Ulenspiegel caught the bottle in mid-air,and began to drink in little gulps, talking all the while.

  "If hunger, sharp and raging, is bane to the poor body of a pilgrim,there is something else that is equally harmful to his soul; nothingless than his fear that the generosity of his soldier friends may leadhim on to drunkenness. For as a general rule the pilgrim is a rightsober fellow, but when, as now, one soldier gives him a slice of ham,and another a bottle of beer, he is mightily afraid lest by drinkingthus upon an empty, or nearly empty, stomach he may lose his head."

  And even as he spoke, he caught hold of the leg of a goose that camewhizzing to him through the air.

  "This truly is a miracle," he cried, "that one should go fishing in theair for a bird of the field! And see! Hey, presto! it has disappeared,bone and all! Verily, what is it that is greedier than dry sand? Iwill tell you. A barren woman and a hungry man."

  Scarcely had he spoken than he clapped his hand to his face, fortwo tartlets had flattened themselves, one on his eye, the otheron his cheek. The gay girls who had thrown them laughed aloud, butUlenspiegel made answer:

  "Many thanks, my pretties, many thanks for thus embracing me withthis jammy accolade."

  Nevertheless the tartlets had fallen to the ground.

  And then suddenly the drums began to beat, the fifes screamed, andthe soldiers fell in again.

  Monsieur de Beauvoir ordered Ulenspiegel to come down from his tree andto march by the side of the soldiers. Ulenspiegel would willingly havebeen parted from them by a hundred leagues, for he had gathered fromthe remarks let fall by certain thin-faced foot-soldiers that he wasalready under suspicion, and that he ran danger of being arrested for aspy; and if this was so, he knew that they would most certainly searchhis pockets, and have him hanged when they found the letters which hecarried. So in a little while he purposely let himself stumble intothe ditch which ran by the wayside, and as he fell he cried out loudly:

  "Mercy, soldiers, mercy! My leg is broken, and now I cannot walk anymore. You must let me get up into the cart with the girls!"

  But to this he knew that the jealous sergeant would never consent.

  The girls, meanwhile, cried out from the carts:

  "Come, come, jolly pilgrim, and we will succour you, and caress andmake much of you, and cure you all in a day."

  "I know it," said Ulenspiegel, "for a woman's hand is balm celestialfor all and every wound."

  But the jealous sergeant consulted with Monsieur de Lamotte, saying:

  "Sir, I suspect that this pilgrim is playing some trick upon us withhis tale of a broken leg. All he wants is to have the chance of gettingup into the cart with the girls. Order him rather to be left behindon the road."

  "Very well," answered Monsieur de Lamotte.

  So Ulenspiegel was left where he was in the ditch.

  Some soldiers, who really believed that his leg was broken, were sorryfor him because of his gaiety, and they left with him a two days'ration of food and wine. And the girls would have got down and runto his assistance, but as this was forbidden they threw him all thatwas left of their castrelins.

  As soon as the soldiers had disappeared in the distance Ulenspiegel,still in his pilgrim's dress, recovered his liberty, purchased a horse,and rode like the wind by roads and by-paths to Bois-le-Duc.

  When he told them the news of the approach of Monsieur de Lamotte,the townspeople flew to arms to the number of eight hundred men, andthey chose out their leaders, and sent off Ulenspiegel, disguised asa charcoal-burner, to Antwerp to summon help from Hercule Brederode,surnamed the Toper.

  And the soldiers of de Lamotte and de Beauvoir were able to gainno entry into Bois-le-Duc, most vigilant of cities, most valiantin defence.

  XI

  One day Simon Simonsen said to Ulenspiegel:

  "Hearken, brother mine, and tell me, are you a brave man think you?"

  "Brave enough," answered Ulenspiegel, "to whip a Spaniard to death,to kill an assassin, or to murder a murderer."

  "Do you think you could hide yourself in a chimney and wait therepatiently so as to overhear what was being said in the room below?"

  "God has given me strong legs," answered Ulenspiegel, "and a suppleback, and in virtue of these gifts I could stand a long time inwhatever position I would, like a cat."

  "Have you patience and a good memory?" asked Simon.

  "The ashes of Claes beat upon my breast," answered Ulenspiegel.

  "Very well then," said Simon, "you will take this playing card,folded as you see it, and you will go to Dendermonde to a house,a drawing of which I will give you, and you will knock at the doortwice loudly and once softly. Some one will open to you and willask if you are the chimney-sweep; you will answer that you are heand that you have not lost the card. Then you will show the card tohim who opened the door. After that, Tyl, you must do as best youcan. For great are the evils that are a-planning against the land ofFlanders. And you will be conducted to a chimney that has been sweptand cleaned against your arrival, and in it you will find a seriesof strong cramp-irons made ready for you to climb by, and a littlewooden shelf securely fastened to the side of the chimney for a seat;and when he that has opened the door shall direct you, you will climbup into your hiding-place, and there remain. In the chamber below,and in front of the chimney where you will be hidden, a conference isto be held between certain noble Lords: William the Silent, Princeof Orange, and the Counts d'Egmont, de Hoorn, de Hoogstraeten, andLudwig of Nassau, the brother of William. And we Reformers desire tofind out whether these noble Lords are able and willing to undertakethe saving of our country."

  Well, on the first day of April, Ulenspiegel did as he had beenbidden and took up his place in the chimney. Luckily for him therewas no fire in the grate, and it seemed that the absence of smokewould not make it any the less easy for him to hear properly. Aftera little while the door of the room was opened, and Ulenspiegel waspierced through and through by a draught of cold wind blowing up thechimney. But he endured the wind with patience, telling himself thatit would serve to keep him alert and attentive.

  After a while he could hear my Lords of Orange, Egmont and the restmaking their entrance into the room. They began by speaking of thefears they felt, of the wrath of the King and of the maladministrationof the revenue and finances of the country. One of them spoke in asharp, clear, and haughty tone of voice, which Ulenspiegel recognizedas that of my Lord of Egmont; just as he recognized de Hoogstraetenby his husky tones, and de Hoorn by his loud voice, the Count Ludwigof Nassau by his firm and soldierly manner of speech, and Williamthe Silent by that slow, deliberate way of enunciating his words asif they had all been thought out beforehand and weighed in a balance.

  The Count d'Egmont asked why they had been summoned to this secondconference when they had had plenty of time at Hellegat to come toa decision on
what they meant to do. De Hoorn replied that the dayspassed quickly, that the King was growing angry, and that they mustbe careful to lose no time.

  Then spake William the Silent.

  "The country is in danger. It must be defended against the attack ofa foreign army."

  At this d'Egmont grew excited, and said that he was indeed astonishedto hear that the King his master had thought it necessary to sendan army when all was so peaceful by reason of the watchful care oftheir noble Lordships, and of himself especially.

  But William the Silent made answer:

  "King Philip already has an army in the Low Countries consisting ofnot less than fourteen regiments of artillery, and they are underthe control of him who commanded them at Gravelines, a general towhom all the soldiers are devoted."

  D'Egmont said that he could scarcely believe it.

  "I will say no more," said William, "but there are certain letterswhich shall be read to you and to the assembled Lords, and to beginwith, letters from the poor prisoner, Monsieur de Montigny."

  And in these letters it was told how that the King was extremely vexedwith what was happening in the Low Countries, and that when the hourwas come he had determined to punish the fomenters of disturbance.

  It was at this juncture that the Count d'Egmont complained of thecold, and desired to have the fire lit; the which was done whilethe two Lords continued their discussion of those letters. Now itwas a big fire of wood, but it did not burn well on account of thatbig obstruction which was hidden in the chimney, and the room becamequickly full of smoke.

  Then the Count de Hoogstraeten began to read (for all that he wascoughing continually because of the smoke) certain letters which hadbeen intercepted on their way from Alava, the Spanish ambassador,to the Governess of the Netherlands.

  "The ambassador," he said, "writes that all the evil that has happenedin the Low Countries was the work of three men: the Lords of Orange,Egmont, and Hoorn. But it were desirable, he adds, to appear welldisposed to these three, and to tell them that the King recognizesthat it is thanks to them that their lands have been kept loyal tohim. As for the two others, Montigny and de Berghes, let them alonewhere they are."

  "Ah!" said Ulenspiegel, "I had rather a smoky chimney in the land ofFlanders than a damp prison in the land of Spain; for garrotters growbetween damp walls."

  But the Count de Hoogstraeten continued:

  "The said ambassador adds that on one occasion the King, being in thecity of Madrid, spoke these words: 'By all accounts that come from theLow Countries it is evident that our royal reputation is diminished,and we are ready therefore to abandon all our other possessions ratherthan leave such a rebellion unpunished. We are decided to proceed tothe Netherlands in person, and to claim the assistance of the Pope andof the Emperor. For beneath the present evil is concealed a futuregood. We shall reclaim the Low Countries to absolute obedience, andaccording to our own will we shall modify the constitution of thatState, its religion and its government.'"

  "Ah, King Philip," said Ulenspiegel, "if only I could modify yours tomine! Verily you would suffer, under the blows of my trusty Flemishstick, a wondrous modification of your thighs and arms and legs! Iwould fix your head in the middle of your back with a couple ofnails, and as you viewed from this position the charnel-house youhave created, you should sing at your good ease a pretty song oftyrannous modification!"

  Now wine was brought, and de Hoogstraeten rose upon his feet and said:

  "I drink to our country!" and every one followed his example, andwhen he had finished the toast he threw his empty tankard down onthe table, and said: "Now sounds an evil hour for the nobility ofBelgium. Let us take counsel as to how we may best defend ourselves."

  He awaited some response, and looked at d'Egmont, but he uttered nota word, and it was left to William of Orange to break the silence.

  "We can offer resistance," he said, "provided that the Countd'Egmont--who at Saint-Quentin and at Gravelines has twice madeFrance to tremble and who holds complete sway over the Flemishsoldiery--provided that he, I repeat, is willing to come to ourassistance in our endeavour to prevent the Spaniard from enteringthe fatherland."

  To this my Lord of Egmont made answer:

  "I have too much respect for the King to think that it is right thatwe should take up arms against him like rebels. Let those who fearhis wrath retire before it. I shall remain where I am, for I have nomeans of living if I am deprived of his help."

  "Philip knows how to avenge himself most cruelly," said Williamthe Silent.

  "I trust him," answered d'Egmont.

  "You would trust him with your heads?" asked Ludwig of Nassau.

  "Head, body, and soul," replied d'Egmont.

  "Friend, faithful and true, I will do likewise," said de Hoorn.

  But William said:

  "It behoves us to be far-sighted, and not to wait for things tohappen."

  And then my Lord of Egmont spoke again, very excitedly.

  "I have arrested twenty-two Reformers at Grammont," he said, "and iftheir preachings come to an end, and if punishment is meted out tothe iconoclasts, the anger of the King will be appeased."

  But William said:

  "These are mere hopes."

  "Let us arm ourselves with trust," said d'Egmont.

  "Let us arm ourselves with trust," echoed de Hoorn.

  "It is cold steel rather than trust that should be our weapons,"replied de Hoogstraeten.

  Whereupon William the Silent made a sign to the effect that he wishedto depart.

  "Adieu, Prince without a country," said the Count d'Egmont.

  "Adieu, Prince without a head," answered William.

  "The sheep are for the butcher," said Ludwig of Nassau, "but glorywaits the soldier that saves the land of his fathers."

  "That I cannot," said d'Egmont, "neither do I desire to."

  "May the blood of the victims fall once again upon the head of theflatterer," said Ulenspiegel.

  And then those Lords retired.

  Whereupon did Ulenspiegel come down from his chimney, and gostraightway to carry the news to Praet. And the latter said: "D'Egmontis nothing better than a traitor. But God is with the Prince."

  The Duke! The Duke at Brussels! Where are the safes and coffers thathave wings?

  XII

  William the Silent went in the way by God appointed. As for the twoCounts, they had already given themselves up to the Duke of Alba, whooffered pardon to William as well if only he would appear before him.

  At this news Ulenspiegel said to Lamme:

  "My good friend, what do you think now? The Duke has sent out a summonsthrough Dubois, the Attorney-General, by which the Prince of Orange,Ludwig his brother, de Hoogstraeten, Van den Bergh, Culembourg,de Brederode, and other friends of the Prince are cited to appearbefore him within forty days; and if they do this they are assured ofjustice and mercy. But listen, Lamme, and I will tell you a story. Oneday there was a Jew of Amsterdam who summoned one of his enemies tocome down and join him in the street, for the Jew was standing on thepavement, but his enemy was looking out of a window just above. 'Comedown at once,' said the Jew, 'and I will give you such a blow on thehead as will squash it down into your chest, so that your two eyeswill look out from your sides like the eyes of a thief from betwixtprison-bars.' But the other answered: 'Even if you promised me ahundred times as much, still I would not come down.' Even so may thePrince of Orange and his friends make reply to him that summons them!"

  And so they did, refusing point-blank to appear before the Duke. Butthe Counts d'Egmont and de Hoorn were not of this mind. And theirfailure to do their duty brought them nearer to their doom.

  XIII

  One day in June, a fine warm day it was, a scaffold was set up in themarket square at Brussels, in front of the Town Hall. The scaffoldwas draped in black, and close to it were two tall posts tipped withsteel. On the scaffold were a couple of black cushions and a littletable with a silver cross thereon.

  And on this scaffold were b
eheaded the noble Counts d'Egmont and deHoorn. And the King entered into their inheritance. And it was ofthe Count d'Egmont that the ambassador of Francis spake, saying:

  "This day have I seen a man beheaded who twice made the Kingdom ofFrance to tremble."

  And the heads of the two Counts were placed upon the posts with theiron tips. And Ulenspiegel said to Lamme:

  "With a black cloth have they covered both their flesh and theirblood. Verily, blessed now are they who keep heart high and sworddrawn in the dark days that are coming!"

  XIV

  In those days William the Silent gathered together an army and invadedthe country of the Netherlands from three sides.

  And Ulenspiegel was at a meeting of his countrymen at Marenhout. Andthey were wild with anger and he addressed them in this wise:

  "Know you, my friends, that King Philip has taken counsel with the HolyInquisition, and by their advice he has declared all the inhabitantsof the Netherlands to be guilty of high treason. And the chargeagainst them is one of heresy, namely, that either they are hereticsthemselves, or else that they have put no obstacles in the way ofthe spread of heretical doctrine. And for this execrable crime theKing has condemned them all, without regard to age or sex, to sufferthe appropriate penalties--all except a few here and there that areexempted by name. And there is no hope of grace or pardon. And theKing will enter into their inheritance. For the scythes of Death arebusy through all the wide land that borders the North Sea: the Duchy ofEmden, the river-land of Amise, and the countries of Westphalia and ofCleves, of Juliers and Liege, together with the Bishoprics of Cologneand Treves and the lands of France and Lorraine. The scythes of Deathare busy over more than three hundred leagues of our soil, and in twohundred of our walled towns, in a hundred and fifty boroughs, in thecountrysides and villages and level lands of the whole country. Andthe King is taking all for his own. And I tell you," Ulenspiegelcontinued, "that eleven thousand executioners will not be too manyfor this business. But the Duke of Alba calls them soldiers. And allthe land of our fathers is become a charnel-house. Fugitive are allthe arts of peace, and all the crafts and industries abandon us nowto enrich those foreign lands which still permit a man to worship athome the God of conscience. But here the scythes of Death are busy,and the King takes all for his own.