The Legend of Ulenspiegel, Volume 2 (of 2)

by Charles de Coster

  "Word of a soldier, word of gold," said Ulenspiegel.

  The next day a message came from Messire de Lumey, with orders totransfer from Gorcum to Briele, where the admiral was, the nineteenmonks that were prisoners.

  "They will be hanged," said Captain Marin to Ulenspiegel.

  "Not while I am alive," replied he.

  "My son," said Lamme, "speak not thus to Messire de Lumey. He isfierce, and will hang thee with them without mercy."

  "I shall speak according to the truth," replied Ulenspiegel; "wordof a soldier, word of gold."

  "If thou canst save them," said Marin, "take their boat to Briele. Takewith thee Rochus the pilot and thy friend Lamme if thou wilt."

  "I do wish it," answered Ulenspiegel.

  The boat was moored at the Green quay; the nineteen monks enteredinto it; Rochus the timid was set at the helm; Ulenspiegel and Lamme,well armed, took their place at the prow of the ship. Certain rascaltroopers that had come among the Beggars for pillage were beside themonks, who were hungry. Ulenspiegel gave them drink and food. "Thatone is going to turn traitor!" said the rascal troopers. The nineteenmonks, seated amidships, were all gaping and shivering, though itwas July, and the sun was bright and hot, and a gentle breeze filledout the sails of the ship as she glided massive and bulging over thegreen waves.

  Father Nicolas then spake and said to the pilot:

  "Rochus, are we being brought to the Gallows Field?"

  Then turning towards Gorcum: "O town of Gorcum!" said he, standingand stretching out his hand, "town of Gorcum! how many woes hast thouto suffer: thou shalt be accursed among cities, for thou hast grownwithin thy walls the grain of heresy! O town of Gorcum! And the angelof the Lord shall watch no longer at thy gates. He will have no morecare of thy virgins' modesty, the courage of thy men, the fortune ofthy merchants! O town of Gorcum! thou art accursed, unfortunate!"

  "Accursed, accursed," answered Ulenspiegel, "accursed as the comb thathath passed through and taken away the Spanish lice, accursed as thedog breaking his chain, as the proud horse shaking a cruel rider fromoff his back! Accursed thyself, booby preacher, who findest ill thatthe rod should be broken, were it an iron rod upon the tyrants' back!"

  The monk held his tongue, and lowering his eyes, appeared steeped inholy hate.

  The rascal soldiers that had come among the Beggars for the sake ofpillage were close by the monks, who soon were hungry. Ulenspiegelasked biscuit and herrings for them; the ship master answered:

  "Let them be thrown into the Meuse, they can have fresh herring toeat then."

  Ulenspiegel then gave the monks all the bread and sausage he had forhimself and for Lamme. The ship-master and the rascal Beggars saidone to another:

  "This one is a traitor, he is feeding the monks; we must denounce him."

  At Dordrecht the ship stopped in the Harbour at the Bloemen-Key,the Flower quay; men, women, lads, and lasses ran up in crowds to seethe monks, and said to one another pointing at them with a finger orthreatening them with their fist:

  "Look at those clowns, manufacturers of Bons Dieux that bring men'sbodies to the stake and their souls to the fire everlasting; look atthe fat tigers and big-bellied jackals."

  The monks hung their heads and dared not speak. Ulenspiegel saw themtrembling once more.

  "We are hungry again," said they, "compassionate soldier."

  But the ship master:

  "What is always drinking? Dry sand. Who eats without ceasing? Themonk."

  Ulenspiegel went up the town to find bread for them, ham, and a greatjug of beer.

  "Eat and drink," said he; "ye are our prisoners, but I shall saveyou if I can. Word of a soldier, word of gold."

  "Why dost thou give them that? They will never pay you," said therascal Beggars; and talking among themselves they whispered thesewords in each other's ears: "He has promised to save them; let uskeep good watch upon him."

  At dawn they came to Briele. The gates having been opened to them,a voet-looper, a courier, went to inform Messire de Lumey of theircoming.

  As soon as he had the news, he came on horseback, having just puton his clothes, and accompanied by some horsemen and foot-soldiers,with their weapons.

  And Ulenspiegel could see once more the fierce admiral clad like aproud lord living in opulence.

  "Hail and greeting," said he, "Messires the monks. Lift up yourhands. Where is the blood of Messieurs d'Egmont and de Hoorn? Ye showme clean white paws; 'tis well for you."

  A monk called Leonard answered:

  "Do with us as thou wilt. We are monks; no one will claim us."

  "He hath well said," said Ulenspiegel; "for the monk having broken withthe world, which is father and mother, brother and sister, spouse andlover, finds at the hour of God no soul that claims him. And yet,Your Excellency, I will do so. Captain Marin, when he signed thecapitulation of Gorcum, agreed that these monks should be free as allthose that were taken in the citadel, and who came out from it. Andyet they were held prisoner without cause; I hear it said they shall behanged. Monseigneur, I address myself humbly to you, speaking to you ontheir behalf, for I know that the word of a soldier is word of gold."

  "Who art thou?" asked Messire de Lumey.

  "Monseigneur," answered Ulenspiegel, "Fleming am I from the goodlyland of Flanders, clown, nobleman, all at once, and through theworld in this wise I go wandering, praising things good and lovely,and mocking folly without stint. And I will praise you if you keepto the promise made by the captain: word of a soldier, word of gold."

  But the rascally Beggars that were upon the ship:

  "Monseigneur," said they, "that fellow is a traitor: he hath promisedto save them; he hath given them bread, ham, sausages, and beer,and to us nothing."

  Messire de Lumey said then to Ulenspiegel:

  "Fleming gadabout and monk feeder, thou shalt be hanged with them."

  "I have no fear," answered Ulenspiegel, "word of a soldier, wordof gold."

  "Thou carriest thy comb high," said de Lumey.

  "The ashes beat upon my heart," said Ulenspiegel.

  The monks were brought into a barn, and Ulenspiegel with them: therethey would fain have converted him by theological disputations;but he fell asleep listening to them.

  Messire de Lumey being at table, full of wine and meat, a messengerarrived from Gorcum, from Captain Marin, with a copy of letters fromthe Silent, Prince of Orange, "commanding all governors of citiesand other places to hold the ecclesiastics in like safeguard, safety,and privilege as the rest of the people."

  The messenger asked to be brought before de Lumey to give the copyof the letters into his own hands.

  "Where is the original?" de Lumey asked him.

  "With my master," said the messenger.

  "And the clown sends me the copy!" said de Lumey. "Where is thypassport?"

  "Here it is, Monseigneur," said the messenger.

  Messire de Lumey read it in a loud voice:

  "Monseigneur and master Marin Brandt enjoins upon the ministers,governors, and officers of the republic that they suffer to passsafely," etc.

  De Lumey, striking his fist on the table and tearing up the passport:

  "God's blood!" said he, "what is he meddling with, this Marin, thistrash, who had not, before the taking of Briele, the backbone of ared herring to put between his teeth? He dubs himself monseigneurand master, and sends me his order. He enjoins and ordains! Tell thymaster that since he is so much captain and monseigneur, and so muchbidding and forbidding, the monks shall be hanged high and short atonce, and thou with them if thou dost not take thyself off."

  And fetching him a kick, he sent him out of the chamber.

  "Give me to drink," he cried. "Have you seen the insolence of thisMarin? I could spit out my breakfast with rage. Let them hang themonks immediately in their barn, and bring me their Flemish conductor,after he has seen their execution. We shall see if he will dareto tell me I have done wrong. God's blood! what are these jugs andglasses wanted here for still?"


  And he broke with a great crashing the cups and dishes, and no mandared speak to him. The servants would have picked up the pieces;he did not allow them, and drinking out of the flasks immoderately,he became more and more angry, striding about and crushing the bitsand trampling on them furiously.

  Ulenspiegel was brought before him.

  "Well!" said he, "dost thou bring tidings of thy friends the monks?"

  "They are hanged," said Ulenspiegel; "and a cowardly executioner,killing them for hire, opened the belly and sides of one of them afterdeath, like a disembowelled pig, to sell the fat to an apothecary. Wordof a soldier is no longer word of gold."

  De Lumey, trampling among the broken crockery:

  "Thou bravest me," said he, "four-foot rascal, but thou, too, shaltbe hanged, not in a barn, but ignominiously on the open square,in the eyes of everybody."

  "Shame upon you," said Ulenspiegel, "shame upon us: word of a soldierno longer word of gold."

  "Wilt thou hold thy tongue, mule!" said Messire de Lumey.

  "Shame upon thee," said Ulenspiegel; "word of a soldier is no moreword of gold. Punish rather the rascally vendors of human fat."

  Then Messire de Lumey, rushing on him, raised his hand to strike him.

  "Strike," said Ulenspiegel; "I am thy prisoner, but I have no fearof thee; word of a soldier is no more word of gold."

  Messire de Lumey then drew his sword and would certainly haveslain Ulenspiegel if Messire de Tres-Long, holding back his arm,had not said:

  "Have pity! he is brave and valiant; he hath committed no crime!"

  De Lumey, then controlling himself:

  "Let him ask pardon," said he.

  But Ulenspiegel, remaining upright:

  "I will not," said he.

  "Let him say at least that I was not wrong," cried de Lumey, becomingfurious.

  Ulenspiegel made answer:

  "I do not lick the boots of lords: word of a soldier is no more wordof gold."

  "Let them erect the gallows," said de Lumey, "and let them bring himto it; that will be a hempen word for him."

  "Aye," said Ulenspiegel, "and I shall cry out in the presence of allthe people: 'Word of a soldier is no more word of gold!'"

  The gallows was set up on the great marketplace. The news ran swiftlyabout the town that they were about to hang Ulenspiegel, the valiantBeggar. And the people were moved with pity and compassion. And theyran together in a crowd to the great market; Messire de Lumey camethither also on horseback, wishing himself to give the signal forthe execution.

  He looked with no mildness upon Ulenspiegel on the ladder, arrayedfor death, in his shirt, his arms tied to his body, his hands folded,the rope about his neck, and the executioner ready to do his work.

  Tres-Long said to him:

  "Monseigneur, pardon him; he is no traitor, and no one ever saw aman hanged because he was sincere and merciful."

  And the men and women of the people, hearing Tres-Long speak, cried:"Pity, Monseigneur, grace and pity for Ulenspiegel."

  "That mule-headed fellow braved me," said de Lumey: "let him repentand say I did right."

  "Wilt thou repent and say that he did right?" said Tres-Long toUlenspiegel.

  "Word of a soldier is no more word of gold," replied Ulenspiegel.

  "Put on the rope," said de Lumey.

  The executioner was about to obey; a young girl, all clad in whiteand garlanded with flowers, ran up the stairs of the scaffold, leapedon Ulenspiegel's neck, and said:

  "This man is mine; I take him for my husband."

  And the people applauded and the women cried out:

  "Long live, long live the girl who is Ulenspiegel's saviour!"

  "What is this?" asked Messire de Lumey.

  Tres-Long answered:

  "After the use and custom of the town, it is by right and law thata young maiden and unmarried woman can save a man from the rope bytaking him for husband at the foot of the gallows."

  "God is with him," said de Lumey; "untie him."

  Then riding up to the scaffold, he saw the girl prevented from cuttingUlenspiegel's ropes and the executioner seeking to oppose her effortsand saying:

  "If you cut them, who will pay for them?"

  But the girl paid no heed to him.

  Seeing her so light, so loving, and so subtle, he was touched.

  "Who art thou?" said he.

  "I am Nele, his betrothed," said she, "and I come from Flanders toseek him."

  "Thou didst well," said de Lumey in a naughty voice.

  And he went away.

  Tres-Long then coming up:

  "Little Fleming," said he, "once thou art married wilt thou be asoldier still in our ships?"

  "Aye, Messire," answered Ulenspiegel.

  "And thou, girl, what wilt thou do without thy man?" Nele answered:

  "If you are willing, Messire, I will be fifer in his ship."

  "I am willing," said Tres-Long.

  And he gave her two florins for the wedding feast.

  And Lamme, weeping and laughing with pleasure, said:

  "Here are three florins more: we shall eat it all; I am paying. Letus go to the Golden Comb. He is not dead, my friend. Long live theBeggar!"

  And the people applauded, and they went off to the Golden Comb, wherea great feast was ordered: and Lamme threw deniers to the people outof the windows.

  And Ulenspiegel said to Nele:

  "Darling beloved, there thou art then beside me! Hurrah! She is here,flesh, heart, and soul, my sweet friend. Oh! the sweet eyes and lovelyred lips whence there came never aught but kind words! She savedmy life, the dear beloved! Thou shalt play the fife of deliveranceon our ships. Dost thou remember ... but no.... Ours is the presenthour full of gladness, and mine thy face sweet as June flowers. I amin paradise. But," said he, "thou art weeping...."

  "They have killed her," said she.

  And she told him the tale of mourning.

  And, looking on one another, they wept with love and grief.

  And at the feast they drank and ate, and Lamme looked on them woefully,saying:

  "Alas! my wife, where art thou?"

  And the priest came and married Nele and Ulenspiegel.

  And the morning sun found them one beside the other in their bridalbed.

  And Nele lay with her head on Ulenspiegel's shoulder. And when sheawoke in the sunshine, he said:

  "Fresh face and sweet heart, we shall be the avengers of Flanders."

  She, kissing him on the mouth:

  "Wild head and stout arms," said she, "God will bless the fife andthe sword."

  "I will make thee a soldier's garb."

  "At once?" said she.

  "At once," replied Ulenspiegel; "but who said that strawberries aregood in the morning? Thy mouth is far better."

  IX

  Ulenspiegel, Lamme, and Nele had, like their friends and comrades,taken from the convents the wealth gotten from the people by the helpof processions, feigned miracles, and other Roman mummeries. Thiswas against the orders of the Silent, the prince of liberty, but themoney helped with the charges of the war. Lamme Goedzak, not contentwith providing himself with money, looted from out the convents hams,sausages, flasks of beer and wine, and came back from them joyouslycarrying across his breast a baldric of fowls, geese, turkeys, capons,hens and pullets, and leading behind him on a rope certain monasticalcalves and pigs. And this by right of war, said he.

  Rejoicing in each prize, he fetched it to the ship that there mightbe revel and feast, but lamented all the same that the master cookwas so ignorant in the science of sauces and fricassees.

  Now on that day the Beggars, having looked victoriously upon the cup,said to Ulenspiegel:

  "Thou hast thy nose always in the wind to smell out news of terrafirma; thou knowest all the adventures of the war: sing them tous. And Lamme shall beat the drum the while and the pretty littlefifer shall squeal to the measure of thy song."

  And Ulenspiegel said:

  "One bright cool day in May, Lu
dwig of Nassau, thinking to enter intoMons, finds not his footmen nor his horse. A few trusty men held agate open and a drawbridge down, that he might have the town. But thecitizens seized the gate and the drawbridge. Where are the soldiersof Count Louis? The citizens are about to hoist up the bridge. CountLouis winds his horn."

  And Ulenspiegel sang:

  "Where are thy footmen and thy horse? They are in the woods, treading all down: Dry twigs, and lily of the valley in bloom. Master Sun makes all shine, Their ruddy warrior faces, The polished rumps of their horses; Count Ludwig winds his horn: They hear it. Softly beat the drum.

  "Full trot, bridle loose! Speed of the lightning, speed of the cloud: Water spout of clinking iron; They fly, the heavy horsemen! Haste! haste! to the rescue! The bridge rises.... Send the spur Into the chargers' bloody flanks. The bridge rises: The town is lost!

  "They are before it. Is it too late? Ride like the wind! Bridle loose! Guitoy de Chaumont on his Spanish steed Leaps on the bridge that falls again. The town is won! Do ye hear Along the paven streets of Mons Speed of the lightning, speed of the cloud, Waterspout of clinking iron!

  "Hurrah for Chaumont and his Spanish steed! Sound the clarion of joy, beat upon the drum: 'Tis the hay month, fragrant are the meadows; The lark mounts up, singing in the sky: Long live the bird of freedom! Beat upon the drum of glory. Hurrah for Chaumont and the Spanish steed. Hey there. Drink up there. The town is won!... Long live the Beggar!"