Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/459

The People in Country and Town 423 soup; what the peasants have, that 's mine; for one, I gouge his eye out, another I slash in the back, this one I tie in an ant-hill, that one I string up by his legs on the willow." Then his father burst forth : " Son, those you name and brag of, be they never so fiery, still I hope, if there lives a just God, the day will come when the hangman shall seize them and push them off his ladder." " Father, often from my comrades I 've saved your geese and poultry, cattle and fodder; I '11 never do so again. You speak too sorely against the honor of good fellows. Your daughter Gotelind I would have given as a wife to my comrade Lammerschling ; with him she 'd have led the best of lives. That 's past now ; you 've spoken too boorishly against us." And he took his sister Gotelind secretly aside and told her confidentially : " When my comrade Lammerschling first asked me for you, I said to him : ' You '11 find her worth your while; if you take her, never fear that you'll hang long on the gallows tree she '11 cut you down with her own hand and drag you to the grave at the crossroads; with incense and myrrh she'll march about your bones swinging the censer a whole year. And if you have the luck to be only blinded, she'll lead you by the hand over highway and byway through all the world ; if your foot is struck off, she '11 bring you the crutches to the bed every morning; and if they take your hand too, then she'll cut your meat and bread to the end of your days.' Then said Lammerschling to me : 'I've three full bags heavier than lead with fine linen, with gowns and underwear and costly clothing, with scarlet and sable; I have it hid in a gorge near by that I'll give her for a morning-gift.' All that, Gotelind, you 've lost through your father's fault ; now take you a peasant and spend your days digging turnips for the churl. A pity about your father ! For my father he's not: I'm sure some courtier had to do with my mother from him I get my high spirit." And his foolish sister said : " Dear brother Schlingdengau, let your comrade marry me, and I '11 leave father, mother, and kinsfolk."