Légende d'Ulenspiegel. English

by Charles de Coster

Now among the Ladies of the Court there was a gentle dame from Dudzeelnear by Damme in Flanders. Fair-fleshed she was, like fine ripe fruit,and marvellously beautiful, for she had green eyes and reddish hairall wavy and gleaming gold. And of a gay humour was she, and of anardent complexion, nor did she make any effort to conceal her tastefor that fortunate lord to whom for the time being she was pleasedto grant the freedom of the fair estate of her love. Such a one therewas even now, handsome and proud, and she loved him well. Every day,at a certain hour, she went to find him--a thing which Philip wasnot long in finding out.

  So, one day, sitting himself down on a bench that stood against awindow, he lay in wait for her, and there she saw him as she passedby, with her bright eyes and her mouth half open, all meet for loveand fresh from her bath, with the gear of her dress of yellow brocadeswinging about her as she stepped along. Without rising from his seat,Philip accosted her.

  "Madame," says he, "could you not spare a moment?"

  Restive as some eager mare, stayed in her course towards the gallantstallion that is neighing for her in the field, the lady made answer:

  "All here must needs obey the royal will of your Highness."

  "Then sit you down by my side," said the Prince. And gazing at herlewdly, harshly, cunningly, he spake again:

  "I would have you recite to me the Pater Noster in Flemish. Theytaught it me once, but I no longer remember it."

  The poor lady did as she was bid; and then the Prince commanded herto say it all over again, but more slowly. And so on, and so on,until she had recited it ten times over. After that he began to speakflatteringly to her, praising her beautiful hair, her fresh complexion,and her bright eyes. But he dared not to say a word concerning herlovely shoulders or her rounded throat, or of aught else beside.

  When at last she was beginning to hope that she might be able toget away, and was already scanning anxiously the courtyard where herlord was awaiting her, the Prince demanded of her if she could rightlytell him what were the several virtues of woman? She answered nothing,fearing that she might say something to displease him. He then answeredfor her, setting the matter forth in this wise:

  "The virtues of woman are these: chastity, regard for her own honour,and a modest manner of life." And he counselled her, therefore,that she should dress decently and should always be careful to hidethose things which were meet to be hidden. The lady nodded assent,saying that for His Hyperborean Highness she would certainly takecare to cover herself with ten bear-skins rather than with a singlelength of muslin.

  Having put him to shame by this answer, she made off gladly.

  But in Philip's heart the fire of youth was alight--not the fiery glowthat dares the souls of the brave to lofty deeds, but a dark fire fromhell itself, the fire of Satan. And it flamed in his grey eyes likethe beam of a winter's moon shining down upon a charnel-house. Andit burned within him cruelly....

  XVII

  Now this beautiful, gay-hearted lady left Valladolid one day for herChateau of Dudzeel in Flanders.

  Passing through Damme, with her fat attendant behind her, she noticeda lad of about fifteen years of age sitting against the wall of acottage blowing a pair of bagpipes. In front of him was a dog withred hair howling dismally, because, as it seemed, he did not atall appreciate the music which his master was making. The sun shonebrightly, and at the lad's side there stood a pretty young girl infits of laughter at the pitiful howling of the dog.

  This then was the sight that met the eye of the beautiful lady andher fat attendant as they passed in front of the cottage: none elsebut Ulenspiegel blowing his pipes, and Nele in fits of laughter,and Titus Bibulus Schnouffius howling with all his might.

  "You naughty boy," said the dame to Ulenspiegel, "will you never stopmaking this poor red-hair howl like this?"

  But Ulenspiegel, staring back at her, blew his pipes more valiantlythan ever, and Bibulus Schnouffius howled the more dismally, and Nelelaughed all the louder.

  The lady's attendant grew angry, and pointed at Ulenspiegel, saying:

  "If I beat this wretched little imp of a man with the scabbard of mysword he would give over his insolent row."

  Ulenspiegel looked the attendant in the face and called him"Jan Papzak" because of his fat belly, and went on blowing hisbagpipes. The attendant came up to him, and threatened him with hisfist. But Bibulus Schnouffius went for him straightway and bit himin the leg, and the man fell down, crying for mercy:

  "Help, help!"

  The dame only smiled, and said to Ulenspiegel:

  "Tell me, my player of bagpipes, is the road still the same thatleads from Damme to Dudzeel?"

  But Ulenspiegel went on playing, and only nodded his head and stared.

  "Why do you look at me so fixedly?" she asked him.

  But he, still continuing to play, opened his eyes all the wider asthough transported by an ecstasy of admiration.

  "Are you not ashamed," she said, "young as you are, to stare atladies so?"

  Ulenspiegel blushed faintly, but went on blowing his pipes, andstaring more than ever.

  "I have already asked you once," the lady insisted, "whether the roadis still the same that leads from Damme to Dudzeel."

  "It is green no longer since you deprived it of the honour of carryingyou," Ulenspiegel answered.

  "Will you show me the way?" said the lady.

  But Ulenspiegel still remained sitting where he was, and still wenton staring at her. And she, seeing him so roguish, and knowing itall for the gamesomeness of youth, forgave him willingly.

  He got up at last, and began to walk back into the cottage.

  "Whither are you going?" she asked him.

  "To put on my best clothes," he replied.

  "Very well," she said.

  Then the lady sat herself down on the bench, close to the doorstep,and tried to talk to Nele. But Nele would not answer her, for shewas jealous.

  It was not long before Ulenspiegel returned, well washed and clothedin fustian. He looked fine in his Sunday clothes, the little man.

  "Are you really going off with this fine lady?" Nele asked him.

  "I shall soon be back," he told her.

  "Let me go instead of you," said Nele.

  "No," he said, "the roads are muddy."

  "Why, little girl," said the lady, who was annoyed and jealous nowin her turn, "why do you try to hinder him from coming with me?"

  Nele did not answer, but great tears gushed from her eyes, and shegazed at the fine lady in sadness and in anger.

  Then the four of them started off, the dame seated like a queenupon her ambling palfrey, the attendant with his belly that shookwith every step, Ulenspiegel holding the lady's horse by the bridle,and Bibulus Schnouffius walking at his side, tail proudly in air.

  Thus went they on horseback and on foot for some long while. ButUlenspiegel was not at his ease; dumb as a fish he sniffed the finescent of benjamin that floated from the lady, and saw out of thecorner of his eye all her beautiful gear, rare jewels and trinkets,and the sweet expression of her face, her bright eyes, and bare neck,and her hair that shone in the sunlight like a hood of gold.

  "Why are you so quiet, my little man?" she asked him.

  He answered nothing.

  "Do you keep your tongue so deep in your boots that you could nottake a message for me?"

  "What is it?" said Ulenspiegel.

  "I would have you leave me here," said the dame, "and go to Koolkercke,from whence this wind is blowing. There you will find a gentlemandressed in black and red motley. Tell him that he must not expectme to-day, but let him come to-morrow evening to my chateau, by thepostern gate, at ten o' the clock."

  "I will not go," said Ulenspiegel.

  "Why not?" asked the lady.

  "I will not go, not I," Ulenspiegel said again.

  "What can it be," the lady asked him, "what can it be that inspiresyou with this unyielding will, you angry little cock?"

  "I will not go," Ulenspiegel persisted.

  "But if I gav
e you a florin?"

  "No," said he.

  "A ducat?"

  "No."

  "A carolus!"

  "No," Ulenspiegel repeated, "although"--and this was added witha sigh--"I should rather see it in my mother's purse than amussel-shell!"

  The dame laughed, then suddenly cried out in a loud voice:

  "My bag! I have lost my little bag! Beautiful it was and rare, madeof silk, and sown with fine pearls! It was hanging from my belt whenwe were at Damme!"

  Ulenspiegel did not budge, but her attendant came up to his lady.

  "Madame," said he, "whatever else you do, be careful not to sendthis young robber to look for it, for so you will certainly neversee it again."

  "Who will go then?" asked the lady.

  "I will," he answered, "old as I am."

  And away he went.

  Midday had struck. It was very hot. The silence wasprofound. Ulenspiegel said not a word, but taking off his new doublethe laid it on the grass in the shade of a lime-tree, so that the damemight sit down thereon without fear of the damp. He stood close by,heaving a sigh.

  She looked up at him, and felt compassion on that shy little figure,and she inquired of him if he was not tired standing there uprighton his young legs. He did not answer, but slid gently down at herside. She was desirous of resting him, and she drew his head on to herbare neck, and there it lay so willingly that she would have thoughtit the sin of cruelty itself had she bade him find some other pillow.

  After a while the attendant came back, saying that he had not beenable to find the bag.

  "I have found it myself," replied the lady, "for when I dismountedfrom my horse, there it was hanging half open on the stirrup. Andnow"--this to Ulenspiegel--"show us the way to Dudzeel, please,and tell me your name."

  "My patron saint," he replied, "is Monsieur Saint Thylbert, a namewhich means fleet of foot towards that which is good; my second nameis Claes, and my surname Ulenspiegel. But now, if you would deign tolook at yourself in my mirror, you would see that in all the land ofFlanders there is not one flower so dazzling in its beauty as is thescented grace of you."

  The lady blushed with pleasure, and was not angry with Ulenspiegel.

  But Soetkin and Nele sat at home, weeping together, through all thislong absence.

  XVIII

  When Ulenspiegel returned from Dudzeel and came to the entrance ofthe town, he saw Nele standing there leaning with her back against thetoll-gate. She was picking the stones out of a bunch of black grapes,which she munched one by one, and found therefrom, doubtless, muchdelight and refreshment; nevertheless, she did not allow anythingof her enjoyment to appear on her countenance. On the contrary, sheseemed annoyed at something, tearing at the grapes angrily. She looked,indeed, so sad and sorrowful, so sweetly unhappy, that Ulenspiegelfelt overcome with that pity which is almost love, and coming up toher from behind, he printed a kiss on the nape of the girl's neck. Butall the return she gave him was a great box on the ear.

  "Now I shall not be able to see properly any more," he said.

  She burst into tears.

  "O Nele," says he, "are you going to set up fountains at the entranceof all the villages?"

  "Be off with you," says she.

  "But I can't go away and leave you crying like this, my little pet."

  "I am not your little pet," says Nele; "neither am I crying."

  "No, you are not crying, but there is certainly some water comingout of your eyes."

  "Will you go away?" She turned on him.

  "No," he answered.

  All the time she was holding her pinafore in her small trembling hand,tearing at the stuff in little spasms of rage, and wetting it withher tears.

  "Nele," said Ulenspiegel, "when is it going to be fine again?"

  And he smiled at her very lovingly.

  "Why do you ask me that?" she said.

  "Because when it is fine there is an end of weeping," answeredUlenspiegel.

  "Go back to your beautiful lady of the brocaded gown," she said. "Yourjokes are good enough for her...."

  Then Ulenspiegel sang:

  When I see my love crying My heart is torn. When she smiles 'tis honey, Pearls when she weeps. Either way I love her. And I'll draw a draught of wine, Good wine from Louvain, And I'll draw a draught of wine, When Nele smiles again.

  "You villainous man!" she cried, "making fun of me again!"

  "Nele," said Ulenspiegel, "it is true that I am a man. But I am nota villain. For our family is of noble origin, a family of aldermen,and it carries on its shield three pint pots argent on a groundbruinbier. But, Nele, tell me now, is it a fact that in Flanders whena man sows a kiss he always reaps a box on the ear?"

  "I refuse to speak to you," said Nele.

  "Then why open your mouth to tell me so?"

  "I am angry," she said.

  Ulenspiegel slapped her on the back very lightly with his hand, saying:

  "Kiss a naughty girl and she will cuff you; cuff her, she willcry. Come then, sweet, cry upon my shoulder since I have cuffed you!"

  Nele turned round. He opened his arms, and she threw herself into them.

  "You won't go away any more down there, will you Tyl?" she asked him.

  But he did not answer, busy as he was in pressing with his the handthat trembled so pitifully, and in drying with his lips the hot tearsthat fell from the eyes of Nele, like heavy drops of rain in a storm.

  XIX

  These were the days when the noble city of Ghent refused to pay thetax which her son, the Emperor Charles, was demanding of her. Thefact was it was impossible to pay, for already the city was drainedof money by the act of Charles himself. But it seemed that the citywas guilty of a great crime, and Charles resolved to go himself andexact punishment. For to be whipped by her own son is above all thingspainful to a mother.

  Now, although he was his enemy, Francis Long-Nose was pleased to offerthe Emperor a free passage through the land of France. Charles acceptedthe offer, and instead of being held as a prisoner, he was feted andfeasted in right royal fashion. For this is ever a sovereign bond ofunion between kings: each to aid the other against their own peoples.

  Charles stayed a long time at Valenciennes, and still gave no signof his wrath, so that Mother Ghent began to lay aside her fears,believing that the Emperor her son was going to forgive her, seeingthat she had acted within her rights.

  But at length Charles arrived under the walls of the city with 4000horse, together with the Duke of Alba and the Prince of Orange. Thepoorer townsfolk and the small business men wished to preventthis filial entry into their city, and would have called to arms80,000 men of the city and of the country round. But the merchants,the hoogh-poorters, opposed this suggestion, being afraid of thepredominance of the people. Thus Ghent could easily have cut her sonto pieces, him and his 4000 horse. But it seemed she loved him toodearly, and even the small tradesmen themselves were fast regainingtheir trust in him.

  Charles also loved the city, but only for the sake of his coffers thatwere stored with her money, and which he hoped to store up fuller yet.

  Having made himself master of the place, he established militaryposts everywhere, and ordered that they should patrol the city nightand day. Then, in great state, he pronounced his sentence.

  The chief merchants of the city with cords round their neckswere to appear before him as he sat on his throne, and to makea formal apology. Ghent itself was declared guilty of the mostcostly crimes--of disloyalty, disregard of treaties, disobedience,sedition, conspiracy, and high treason. The Emperor declared thatall and every privilege--rights, customs, freedoms, and usages--allwere to be abolished and annulled; and he stipulated for the futuretoo, as though he were God himself, that none of his successors oncoming to the throne should ever observe any one of these usagesagain, except only that which was called the Caroline Concession,as granted by him to the city.

  The Abbey of St. Bavon he razed to the ground, a
nd in place he erecteda fortress whence he could pierce with bullets and at his ease hismother's very heart. Like a good son that is in a hurry for hisinheritance, he confiscated all the riches of Ghent, its revenues,its houses, its artillery and munitions of war. Finding it stilltoo well guarded, he destroyed also the Red Tower, the Tower of theTrou de Crapaud, the Braampoort, the Steenpoort, the Waalpoort, theKetelpoort, and many another of its gates, all carved as they wereand sculptured like jewels in stone.

  And afterwards, when strangers came to Ghent, they would ask ofone another:

  "Can this indeed be Ghent whose marvels were on the lips of all--thiscity so desolated and brought low?"

  And the people of Ghent would make answer:

  "Charles the Emperor has been to the city. He has ravished hersacred zone."

  And so saying they would be filled with anger and with shame. Andfrom the ruins of the city gates did the Emperor take away the brickswherewith to build his castle.

  For it was his will that Ghent should be utterly impoverished, thatthereby he might make it impossible for her ever to oppose his prouddesigns, either by her labour or her industry or wealth; therefore hecondemned her to pay that share of the tax of 400,000 caroluses whichshe had previously refused him, and in addition 150,000 caroluses down,and 6000 more every year in perpetuity. Moreover, in earlier daysthe city had lent him money upon which he should have paid interestat the rate of 150 pounds gross annually. But he made himself remitby force the notes of credit, and by paying off his debt in this wayhe actually enriched himself.