Johann Karl August Musäus

“ As concerns the stomach, comrade, thy counsel is not bad; but both propositions are dangerous for our necks. Do you imagine that Charles would feel grateful to us if we returned without our good lord, and did not even bring back his costly armour which was confided to us? If we should kneel at his throne, and say, ‘Roland is fallen!’ and he should answer, ‘Very sad is this news; but where have you left his sword Duridana?’ what wouldst thou answer, Andiol? Or should he say, ‘Squires, where have you his mirror-polished steel shield?’ what wouldst thou reply, Amarin? ”

“ Meanwhile, each, according to the usual preference for one’s own things, began to boast the superior excellence of his gift, till the wise Sarron demonstrated that his thumbstall united in itself the fulness of all the other miraculous gifts: “To me,” said he, “both cellar and kitchen stand open in the house of epicures; I enjoy the privilege of the house-fly, to eat out of the same dish with the king, without his being able to prevent me; I may also empty the coffers of the rich, and it is even in my power to appropriate all the riches of Hindostan if the journey is not too irksome for me.” ”

“ The two men now played the most conspicuous part in the court of Astorga, and strutted about with unbounded pride. Although after their separation fate had again brought them so closely together, that they ate from the same dish—drank from the same goblet, and shared the favour of the lovely Urraca; they yet, according to their agreement, behaved to each other like perfect strangers, and allowed none of their previous acquaintanceship to be observed. Meanwhile neither of them could discover whither the wise Sarron had vanished. ”

“ Instantly the savoury mess appeared in the usual old vase; he took it, placed it prettily in a silver dish, and gave it to be tried by the chief-taster, who took a little on his tongue with suspicion, lest he should injure the delicate organization of his palate by a spoiled dish. But, to his astonishment, he found it excellent, and acknowledged it as worthy to be placed on the King’s table. The King showed, from his indisposition, little desire to eat, but scarcely did the odour of the noble dish reach him, when his brow smoothed, and its horizon indicated fair weather. ”

“ In the Pyrenean wastes the desires and passions of the three wanderers had been very limited and moderate; they were satisfied with the gift of the table-napkin, spread it out when they came to a shady tree, and held an open table. Six meals a day were their minimum, and there was not a single delicacy which they did not cause it to serve to them. However, when they entered the capital, tumultuous passions arose in their breasts; they conceived great projects for advancing themselves by their talents, and for rising from the rank of squires to lordly dignities. ”

“ Now, in the enjoyment of the sweet nectar, the three joyous fellows would not have exchanged their condition for King Charles’s throne; the wine immediately drove away all their past cares, and sparkled and foamed in the jack-cap which they used instead of a goblet. Even Andiol the spear-bearer now granted the power of the table-napkin, and, if its possessor had been willing to part with it, he would gladly have exchanged for it the rusty penny, with all its unknown properties. ”

“ After they had recovered from their first astonishment, they ran back at full speed, to repossess themselves of the despised gifts of the old lady. Amarin huzzaed aloud when already, in the distance, he saw the table-napkin wave on the summit of the thorn-tree, which had preserved the property intrusted to it more carefully (although the four winds of heaven seemed to struggle for its possession) than many chests in which are deposited the inheritance of minors, though under judicial lock and key. ”

“ He replied, “The sword-bearer, Andiol.” She drew forth a rusty, copper penny, and said, “Take this, and tell me whose that shall be which I hold in my hand?” The squire, discontented with the distribution, answered, saucily, “Whoever will may have it; what does it matter to me?” The old lady said, “Who will?” Then Amarin the shield-bearer named himself, and received for his share a table-napkin, neatly washed and folded. Sarron stood on the watch, expecting to receive the best; but he got nothing but a thumbstall from a leathern glove, and was much ridiculed by his companions. ”

“ After the loss of all the gifts of the generous Mother Druid, the plundered owners quietly departed from Astorga. Amarin, who, without his table-napkin, could not properly fill the office of head master of the kitchen, was the first to depart; Andiol followed him on foot. Since the great facility of acquiring his money had taught him the usual aversion to work of rich gluttons, he was too lazy to turn his penny in proportion to his expenses, but lived on credit, and was accustomed only to fill his coffers when the weather was bad, or when he had no party of pleasure. ”

“ As soon as he began to snore aloud, the most crafty of thieves possessed herself of the thumbstall of invisibility, and caused the monarch of air to be carried forth by her servants, and laid in the open street, in a corner of the town, where he snored out the narcotic draught on the pavement. No sleep came to the eyes of the false Princess, for joy; her thoughts and invention were now only directed to obtaining also the third magic treasure. ”

“ The feeling of sharp hunger does not indeed improve a merry humour; but, when the elasticity of the soul is once disclosed, it does not sleep again at each little change of weather. On the return of Amarin, Sarron pulled the napkin out of his hand, in a merry manner, spread it on the turf under the tree, and cried, “Hither, comrades, the table is spread, let the power of the napkin now bestow on us a well-boiled ham upon it, with abundance of white bread. ”

“ Andiol, in order to be beforehand with his rivals, immediately put his pocket coining-machine into operation, and shut himself up in a solitary chamber to twist his copper penny, in order to fill the purse with gold pieces. As soon as he had the necessary funds, he decked himself out as a stately knight, appeared at the court, obtained an appointment, and soon, by his splendour, drew the eyes of all Astorga on himself. ”

“ When, on the third day, the old woman dismissed the three friends, and, with kind words, told them she had no further occasion for their services, and exhorted them to go on their way, the speaker, Sarron, rose and said, “It is not the custom of the country to dismiss a guest empty-handed; moreover, we have merited from you more than thanks. Have we not stirred the fire under your kettle like kitchen-maids? Have we not caught again your house friend the black cat, which had strayed? ”

“ This flattery was so acceptable to the Princess, that she repaid the major domo with the most tender intelligent glance, which cut to the heart the invisible watchful Sarron. “Very good,” said he to himself, “you shall none of you taste that.” When the chief carver raised the dish, and uncovered it, the concealed dainty had disappeared, to the astonishment of all the surrounding attendants, and the dish was empty and void. Great whispering and murmurs arose among the servants ”

“ Let us make an attempt to force our way through these wild mountains; on the other side of them are, I believe, the Franks, who will certainly conduct us to the camp.”—“Thy proposition would be good, companion,” answered Amarin, the shield-bearer, “if thou wouldst give us the wings of eagles, to transport us over the wall of steep rocks; but with these wearied legs, from which hunger and the sun’s power have consumed the marrow, we shall certainly not climb the cliffs which separate us from the Franks. ”

“ The lovely Urraca, and yet more the rich train of her dress which was supported by six attendants, excited general astonishment. A crowd of unfortunate beggars, lame, blind, and halt, on crutches and stilts, surrounded the splendid Cathedral, impeded the way and supplicated alms, which Andiol distributed largely to the right and left. A blind old man distinguished himself by the activity with which he pushed himself forward, and by the anxious supplications with which he entreated benevolence before all the rest ”

“ The three fugitives stretched themselves on the turf under the oak, and thought by sleep to cheat the ravenous hunger which the severe fast of the long day had awakened; but the stomach is a relentless creditor, who is not willing to give credit even for four-and-twenty hours. Notwithstanding their weariness, hunger permitted them no sleep, although they had taken their shoulder-belts for girdles, and drawn them as tight as possible. ”

“ They no sooner perceived the same feelings in each other, than there arose in their hearts a gnawing jealousy, the bond of union was broken, and as, in general, three happy people can with difficulty reside under one roof, since union is the daughter of mutual necessity, so it fell out with the partnership, the three united inheritors for life separated, only promising to each other not to betray the secret. ”

“ The long exertions of her mind had one night at length sent the idealized Princess to sleep, when she was suddenly awakened by a martial voice, and an officer of the watch commanded her to follow him without delay. The terrified lady fell from the clouds, knew not what to say or think, but began to expostulate with the warrior, who, putting aside his present function, was indeed very good-looking, for which reason also, in bygone times, the honour of being visited by the fairies was attributed to him. ”

“ Had we been wise, we should have seized the enchanted rod, without which she would have had no power over us; we should have rushed into the store-closet, and should, according to the custom and plan of warriors, have obtained booty, without allowing ourselves to be mocked by an old woman. ”

“ The kitchen department was at Astorga justly considered among the most important, since it had the strongest influence on the prosperity or troubles of the state. For the good or bad humour of the ruler and his ministers depends, in a great measure, on the good or bad digestion of the stomach, and it is a well-known truth that this may be assisted or hindered by the chemical operations of cooking. Thus there was a very reasonable cause for going more carefully to work in choosing a head-cook than in choosing a minister. ”

“ The confiding tenderness of the lovers grew with every moment: the Princess only complained that her lover was invisible. “Know, lovely Princess,” said the king of the fairies, “that it is quite in my power to corporealize myself, and to present myself before your eyes in the figure of man ”

“ The most crafty of women now found herself, through her arts, in possession of all the magic gifts of the three esquires, who bemoaned and wept their loss inconsolably, and despairingly tore their hair and beards ”

“ And now its troublesome twin-brother announced itself; besides which the taster, Sarron, had remarked that the ham had just a little too much salt. The impetuous Andiol first showed his discontent at the half-meal, as he called it; “Who feeds me without giving me to drink,” said he, “receives at my hand little thanks;” and he began to abuse yet more the defective qualities of the miraculous napkin. Amarin, who did not like his property to be run down, was offended at these remarks, seized the towel by the four corners, to remove it together with the dish ”

“ He drew it on the thumb of his right hand without effect; hereupon he changed it to the left hand; and, during these experiments, he had loitered behind his companions. On a sudden Amarin stood still, and asked in astonishment, “Where is our friend Sarron?”—“Let him be; the covetous fellow seeks to recover what we have thrown away.” Sarron heard these words in silent astonishment; a cold shudder ran through him, and he scarcely knew how to contain himself, in his joy, since the secret of the thumbstall was now disclosed to him. His comrades halted to wait for him ”

“ The three comrades looked hesitatingly on each other as to what they were to do. “The witch!” murmured Andiol between his teeth, “has she not mocked us long enough, that she now scolds and threatens? Shall a woman befool three men? By the shade of Roland, that shall not be! Let us break down the door, and quarter ourselves here like good soldiers.” Amarin agreed; but the wise Sarron said, “Bethink you, brothers, of what you do; the attempt may have an evil issue ”