Читать книгу The Marvellous Adventures and Rare Conceits of Master Tyll Owlglass - Robert Henderson Mackenzie Kenneth - Страница 15

How Owlglass did eat the roasted chicken from off the spit

In the land of Brunswick there lieth a village, within the government of Magdeburg, and the name of it is called Budenstadt; thither came Owlglass and did present himself unto the priest there, and the priest, thinking our wise and pious master Owlglass a good and proper fellow, did then hire him for a servant in his house, but little did he know him. And the priest spake unto him, saying that he should have a good time of it and a good service. Also should he have meat and drink as good as his maid-servant, and all that he did should be done with half labour. Then did Master Owlglass agree with him, and said that he would do according to his word. Then he saw that the cook had but one eye. On that day took she two young chickens and she put them on the spit to roast over the fire. And she bade Owlglass turn, and so he did; and when the chickens were roasted, he brake one away off from the spit, and did eat it without any bread, for he remembered well what the priest had told him as to faring as well as himself and the maid-servant, and he thought it might be that he would lose his part of the dinner. And when that it was dinner-time, there came into the kitchen the one-eyed cook-maid to baste the chickens. Then beheld she but one chicken on the spit. Then spake she to Owlglass: “Behold, there were two chickens on the spit, and now there is but one, and tell me now where is the fellow that was beside it.” Then answered Owlglass: “Woman, do but open your other eye, and you will behold the other chicken on the spit.” Now when he thus spake of the want of her eye, she waxed wroth, and ran unto the priest, and said unto him that he might look how his new serving-man was doing. That she had put two chickens on the spit, and lo! there was but one at this time. And she said: “Then he mocked me, and said that I had but one eye.” Thereat went the priest into the kitchen, and spake unto Owlglass, saying: “Hearest thou, Owlglass! wherefore didst thou mock my serving-maid? I see well that only one chicken is now upon the spit, and yet know I truly that there were two. Where then is now the other?” Then said Owlglass: “It is yet thereon; open both your eyes, and you will well see that there be the twain upon the spit. So said I also to thy maid, and thereat grew she quite angry and wroth.” Then the priest laughed, and said: “The serving-maid cannot open both her eyes, for in good truth she hath but one.” Owlglass made answer to the priest, saying: “That sayest thou, not I.” But then said the priest: “Yet it is so; but the one chicken is in any wise gone.” Owlglass spake then and said: “That chicken have I eaten myself, according unto thy words. For ye said unto me that I should fare as well as your maid-servant; and much grief would it have caused me had ye eaten the chickens without me, and made your words vain and a lie. Therefore for your honour’s sake have I eaten the chicken, that ye might not fall into evil reputation for speaking that which is untruth.” Then the priest was content and said: “Dear serving-man, I care not for the roasted chicken; but after this time do ye always according to the will of my cook.” And Owlglass said: “Yea, holy father and worshipful master, be it so done as you will.” Then whatsoever the cook-maid commanded Owlglass that he should do, that did he but in the half. An if she did bid him to bring a pail of water from the well, he brought but the half thereof, and if he should fetch two faggots from the wood pile then brought he but one. And so did he, and she saw well that it was all performed in that she might be spited thereat. Then spake the priest once again unto him, and said: “Lo, my well beloved serving-man Owlglass, let me tell ye that my maid doth complain right grievously of thee.” Thereat said Owlglass: “Yea, master, yet have I never done except according unto thy words. For thou didst say, that all I did should be done with but half labour. Well would your serving maid desire to see with both eyes and yet hath she but one—which is but half-seeing, and therefore did I but half-labour.” And thereat was the priest right merry, and laughed much; but his servant was full of wrath, and said: “Master, an if ye keep yon knavish rogue any longer then will I depart from ye.” Thus came it that the priest was fain to send Owlglass away, yet forgat he him not; and it fortuned that the parish clerk died, so he made Owlglass clerk in his room. Thus, by foolishness and little knaveries, do men come in this world to dignities and honours.