An Anthology
E-Book, Englisch, 128 Seiten
ISBN: 978-3-7574-0117-7
Verlag: Schwabe Verlag GmbH
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark
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5: ‘The students’ adventure’
They say that good friendship is as strong as the bond between brothers. So it was with two upstanding men. Each of them then had a son; they were exactly the same age. The two friends were both rich and diligent in the pursuit of honour. Consequently, they amassed a fortune in property and personal possessions. Their children too came to regard each other with affection. When the boys were old enough, they were both sent to school. Their schoolmaster was promised both silver and gold to take good care of them, which greatly endeared the children to him. They were taught to sing and read as well as anyone else. They stayed at school for as long as it took for them to learn their Psalms* and until they had outstripped their master and they were the best pupils there. They were told of a school of great mastery somewhere else, a seat of clerical learning and intellect. It went by the name of Paris*. Straight away one of them said: ‘Ah, my dear friend! If you agreed to undertake the journey with me, I would love to spend a year there. We would benefit from this immensely for the rest of our lives.’ The other one said: ‘You’re joking, aren’t you? I swear to our Lord God that as soon as you give me your word on this, we can set off right away.’ They both left school. Their fathers gave them a warm welcome; they were sitting at the side of the road and waiting for them with something to eat. They said: ‘Why are you so late today? What were you discussing between yourselves, will you tell us that?’ One of them said: ‘As you wish. We want to go to university, and we don’t mean to put it off any longer. Everything you have done for us will have been wasted effort unless we get to spend a year where the most learned clerics are.’ Saddened by their children’s decision, the fathers said: ‘Dear sons, stay here! We have increased for you what was left to us by our fathers. You are as learned as any layman should be. Indeed, this year we are going to arrange marriages for you that will be very much to your liking. You should have nothing more to do with those priests!’ On hearing these words, they both said at once: ‘If we are to be forced into such a life of misery, we won’t even wait until tomorrow. We would rather set off on foot than remain here any longer!’ Their fathers said: ‘And then the French would hold you in small regard and you would not be a welcome guest. Anyone who travels there without silver and does not dine in fine style, God knows, they treat with contempt, and they always have done. So please wait a while longer and leave here on horseback. You are handsome lads, so do yourselves a favour! You will benefit from it immensely. Our happiness depends on the two of you.’ They were fitted out in no time; horses and fine clothes were purchased for them. Two squires were sent along with them. They were tasked with taking care of them on the road and wherever they found lodgings for the night so that they lost none of their money. The servants also had to find honest hosts for them so that they should dine in style but also within their means. They rode into a town. There they were greeted courteously by a lady who was leaving the bathhouse. She took her daughter by the hand; she was a fair maiden, dressed expensively in fine red wool. The mother was attractive too, but nothing could compare with the beauty of her daughter. On catching sight of her, one of the two friends said to the other: ‘Did you get a good look at that girl? If so, then you must agree with me that you have never seen a more beautiful woman. I shall die here in utter despair, if I don’t win her favour. Now don’t go too quickly. If we ride after her at a leisurely pace, we will see where she lives and then we can take lodgings there ourselves or close by so that we can observe her.’ ‘As you wish,’ said his friend. When the maiden had entered her house, one of them asked the man standing outside if he was the head of the household and whether he would put them up for the night. The host said: ‘I’m a man with no head for business. But if you wish to stay in this house, both my bread and my wine and whatever else I have to offer you by way of comfort, all of it shall be yours.’ ‘Excuse me, sir, that’s far too kind! I shall always be indebted to you! Just give us lodging for the night. Both bread and wine, and whatever else we need, we shall purchase for ourselves.’ The student continued: ‘We are both merchants.’ ‘As you wish,’ said the host. Then the student said: ‘My dear companion, now prove your worth and acquire food and drink for us tonight, and I shall always be grateful to you! Get wine and mead* for us and for the host and all his children. Get the finest that money can buy in this town. Consider nothing too expensive. I alone shall cover the cost, if you like.’ The other acquired plenty of bread, wine and mead. Meanwhile the maiden was brought a psalter*, and she immediately started to read from it. I don’t know what was written there, but she struggled to say the words properly. The student took the psalter in his hand and read from it like an educated man. The maiden said: ‘Since I cannot read as well as you, dear sir, you can test me! My mother beats me when I get the words wrong.’ At that her mother burst out laughing. She said: ‘If he could teach you to read like he can, his arrival here would be most fortunate for you indeed and save you from a beating. Sir, go with her and find a quiet corner on the porch outside!’ The student was quite content to go outside with her. He was meant to be instructing her in the psalter, but he spoke in anguish about his heartache instead. He said: ‘Mercy, my dear lady, I wish to be your servant forever! In the name of your honour as a woman, free me from the pain in my heart and from my sorrow!’ She said: ‘But you are a stranger. I have only just met you today. How could something of this nature have come about? If I lost my honour, if my father and my dear mother too turned their back on me, what would happen to me? Apart from that, I shall always be fond of you, no matter what, but I cannot risk my honour in this way.’ However, he soon said so many things to her that love took her prisoner. Their hearts were set on fire. Neither of them could take their eyes off the other. They both stared at each other until their senses were overpowered by love. They lost colour and went pale, all as a result of being shackled by love. At that point his friend came back and was furious with him: ‘Do you want to lose all your honour and your life, and all for the sake of a girl? To look as pale as this! These are the signs of love: a wise man will spot them at once.’ Nudging his friend aside, he then said: ‘Lady, now cheer up. We are still going to stay here together with everything we have bought. You shall have what you both desire, without putting your life and reputation in too much danger!’ The colour returned to her, and she sat down next to the student until they received word that dinner was ready. The host showed that he was a cultivated man with courtly manners by not sending the maiden away. In his courtesy he told her to dine with the student whom she had been keeping company. The dish that pleased her most was to be able to look at him, the dear table-companion at her side, time and again. No one was neglected in this establishment; everyone was provided for. They were served the best wine to be found anywhere in the town. The student was only too happy to treat them to this. While they were enjoying themselves, having forgotten all their troubles, the host asked them to tell him where they were going. They said at once: ‘We shall tell you where we are heading. We are making our way to university. And we are doing our best to guard against hosts who might strip us of what we need to support ourselves for one year.’ Their host said: ‘How right you are. I trust I can take good care of you tonight. I shall give you beds in my own chamber. You and your possessions will be safe there.’ This made them very happy. Soon it was time to retire. The maiden was urged to be mindful and not remain at the table any longer. The host’s bed was at one end of the chamber next to the wall, the bed of the girl – the one I’ve been telling you about – was at the other. The students got into their bed straight away. The host’s servant returned and said: ‘My lord and lady, you should not stay up any longer. You might wake your guests otherwise and disturb their slumber.’ The host went to bed at once and so did the pretty maiden. A young child was brought back from the wet-nurse and the lady took care of it, placing it in a cradle at the foot of their bed. She lay down next to her husband and soon fell asleep. The student went to the maiden. To his delight she welcomed him with loving arms. His companion, who was lying there all alone, could not get to sleep. He thought: ‘What a wretch I am for not finding a way to gain similar treatment, even though I paid for the banquet with my money!’ While he was lying there with these thoughts, the lady of the house woke up – I’ve no idea why – and left the chamber. The student grabbed hold of the cradle and placed it in front of his bed. When the lady returned, she locked the chamber-door behind her. The student gave the infant a hard pinch to make it cry. The lady went to the child and told...
