Part 11 (1/2)

But the saint replied--

”I desire nothing for what I have done.”

”O thou Jack Fool!” thought Brother Merry to himself. Then, nudging his comrade's side, he said--

”Don't be so silly. If you won't have anything, yet I need somewhat.”

The saint, however, would take nothing, but as the king saw that his companion would gladly have a gift, he commanded the keeper of his treasures to fill his knapsack with gold, at which Brother Merry was right pleased.

Again they went upon their way till they came to a wood, when the saint said to his fellow-traveller--

”Now we will share the gold.”

”Yes,” replied the soldier, ”that we can.”

Then the saint took the gold and divided it into three portions.

”Well,” thought Brother Merry, ”what whim has he got in his head now, making three parcels, and only two of us?”

”Now,” said the saint, ”I have divided it fairly, one for me, and one for you, and one for him who ate the heart.”

”Oh, I ate that,” said the soldier, quickly taking up the gold. ”I did, I a.s.sure you.”

”How can that be true?” replied the saint. ”A lamb has no heart.”

”Ay! what, brother? What are you thinking of? A lamb has no heart?

Very good! When every beast has why should that one be without?”

”Now that is very good,” said the saint. ”Take all the gold yourself, for I shall remain no more with you, but will go my own way alone.”

”As you please, Brother Heart,” answered the soldier. ”A pleasant journey to you, my hearty.”

The saint took another road, and as he went off--

”Well,” thought the soldier, ”it's all right that he has marched off, for he is an odd fellow.”

Brother Merry had now plenty of money, but he did not know how to use it, so he spent it and gave it away, till in the course of a little time he found himself once more penniless. At last he came into a country where he heard that the king's daughter was dead.

”Ah!” thought he, ”that may turn out well. I'll bring her to life again.”

Then he went to the king and offered his services. Now the king had heard that there was an old soldier who went about restoring the dead to life, and he thought that Brother Merry must be just the man.

However, he had not much confidence in him, so he first consulted his council, and they agreed that as the princess was certainly dead, the old soldier might be allowed to see what he could do. Brother Merry commanded them to bring him a caldron of water, and when every one had left the room he separated the limbs, threw them into the caldron, and made a fire under it, exactly as he had seen the saint do. When the water boiled and the flesh fell from the bones, he took them and placed them upon the table, but as he did not know how to arrange them he piled them one upon another. Then he stood before them, and said--

”Thou dead, arise!” and he cried so three times, but all to no purpose.

”Stand up, you vixen! stand up, or it shall be the worse for you,” he cried.

Scarcely had he repeated these words ere the saint came in at the window, in the likeness of an old soldier, just as before, and said--

”You impious fellow! How can the dead stand up when you have thrown the bones thus one upon another?”