The Legend of Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...the back of Jef through the lands and the marshes of the Duke of Lunebourg. The Flemings call this duke WaterSignorke because it is always damp in his country. Jef obeyed Ulenspiegel like a dog, drank bruinbier, danced better than a Hungarian master of arts in posturing, pretended to be dead and lay down on his back at the least signal. Ulenspiegel knew that the Duke of Lunebourg, annoyed and angry at Ulenspiegel's making a mock of him at Darmstadt before the landgrave of Hesse, had forbidden him to set foot on his territories on pain of the halter. Suddenly he saw His Ducal Highness in person, and as he knew it was a hasty and violent Highness, he was seized with fright. Speaking to his ass: "Jef," said he, "here is Monseigneur of Lunebourg coming. I feel a sore itch of rope on my neck; but may it not be the hangman that will scratch me for it. Jef, I would gladly be scratched, but not hanged. Think that we are brothers in distress and long ears; think, too, what a good friend you would lose if you lost me." And Ulenspiegel wiped his eyes, and Jef began to bray. Continuing his discourse: "We live together in mirth," said Ulenspiegel to him, "or in moan, according to circumstances; do you remember, Jef?..." The ass continued to bray, for he was hungry. "And you will never be able to forget me," said his master, "for what friendship is strong but that which laughs with the same joy and weeps with the same distress Jef, you must get down on your back." The gentle ass obeyed, and was seen by the duke with all four hoofs in the air. Ulenspiegel quickly took seat on his belly. The duke came to him. "What dost thou here?" said he, "knowestthou not that in my last edict I forbade thee under pain of the rope to set thy dusty foot on my territory?..".