Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/458

422 Readings in European History you do is now hated like the hangman by man and woman. Law and order is now a joke." " Son," said his father, " let court etiquette go ; it is bitter and sour. I 'd much rather be a peasant than a poor courtier who must forever ride for his life and take care that his foes don't catch him and maim him and hang him." "Father," said the youngster, "I'm obliged to you, but it 's more than a week since I 've tasted wine since then I 've buckled my belt three holes tighter. I '11 have cattle to lift before the buckle goes back to its old place. A rich man has done me a grievous wrong ; I saw him once ride through the grain of my godfather the knight. He shall pay dear for it : his cattle, his sheep, and his hogs shall trot for his trampling that field of a godfather of mine. And I know another rich man who did me also great wrong : he ate bread with doughnuts by my life, I '11 be revenged for it. And I know still another rich man who has given me more pain than anybody else ; I would n't forgive it, not even if a bishop should pray for him, for once -as he sat at table he loosened his belt most ungracefully. When I get hold of what he calls his, it shall help me to a Christmas suit. And there's yet another stupid fool, who blew the foam off his glass of beer in the most awkward fashion. If I don't revenge that, I'll never wear a sword or win a wife. Helmbrecht will be heard of shortly." His father said: " Ei ! just name me once these fellows, your comrades, who have taught you to rob a rich man if he eats bread and doughnuts together ! " Then his son named his comrades : " Lammerschling and Schluckdenwidder, Hollensack and Riittelschrein, Kiihfrass, Knickekelch and Wolfsgaumen, Wolfsriissel and Wolfsdarm l these are my schoolmasters." His father asked, "And how do they call you ? " " I 'm called Schlingdengau [i.e. Gulp-down-the-land] I 'm not the joy of the peasants; their children have to eat water 1 I.e. Swallow-the-lamb, Gobble-the-buck, Hell-bag, Ransack-the- cupboard, etc.