Dietel's sharp ears had enabled him to catch these words; but then he was obliged to move again, a table had to be set outside the house for the Nuremberg travellers and their companions, and jugs4 of wine must be filled for them.
Then he was called back to the taproom. While the landlord of The Pike was serving a fresh meal to Professor Kollin at the table vacated by the Nuremberg dignitaries, and Arnold von Tungern was emptying the full vials of his wrath5 upon the little doctor and the whole body of humanists, the Nuremberg travellers and their guests were now conversing6 freely, as if relieved from a nightmare, upon the topics which most deeply interested them.
Dietel would far rather have served the Cologne theologians, whom he regarded as the appointed defenders7 of the true faith, than the insignificant8 folk at the other tables who had just finished their meal.
How unmannerly their behaviour was! Better wine had been served before dessert, and they now shouted and sang so loudly and so out of tune9 that the air played by the strolling musicians could scarcely be distinguished. Many a table, too, groaned10 under blows from the clinched11 fist of some excited reveller12. Every one seemed animated13 by a single desire-to drink again and again.
Now the last pieces of bread and the cloths were removed from the tables. The carousers no longer needed Dietel. He could leave the task of filling the jugs to his young assistants.
What were the envoys outside doing? They were well off. In here the atmosphere was stifling14 from the fumes15 emanating16 from the throng17 of people, the wine, and the food. It seemed to draw all the flies from far and near. Whence did they come? They seemed to have increased by thousands since the early morning, when the room was empty. The outside air appeared delightful18 to breathe. He longed to fill his lungs again with the pure wind of heaven, and at the same time catch a few words of the conversation between the envoys to the Reichstag.
So Dietel hobbled to the open window, where the strollers were resting.
Cyriax was lying on the floor asleep, with the brandy bottle in his arms. Two of his companions, with their mouths wide open, were snoring at his side. Raban, who begged for blood-money, was counting the copper19 coins which he had received. Red-haired Gitta was sewing another patch of cloth upon her rough husband's already well-mended jerkin by the dim light of a small lamp, into which she had put some fat and a bit of rag for a wick. It was difficult to thread the needle. Had it not been for the yellow blaze of the pitchpans fastened to the wall with iron clamps, which had already been burning an hour, she could scarcely have succeeded.
"Make room there," the waiter called to the vagrants20, giving the sleeping Jungel a push with his club foot. The latter grasped his crutch21, as he had formerly22 seized the sword he carried as a foot soldier ere he lost his leg before Padua. Then, with a Spanish oath learned in the Netherlands, he turned over, still half asleep, on his side. So Dietel found room, and, after vainly looking for Kuni among the others, gazed out at the starlit sky.
Yonder, in front of the house, beside the tall oleanders which grew in wine casks cut in halves instead of in tubs, the learned and aristocratic gentlemen sat around the table with outstretched heads, examining by the light of the torches the pages which Dr. Eberbach drew forth23, one after another, from the inexhaustible folds of the front of his black robe.
Dietel, the schoolmaster's son, who had once sat on the bench with the pupils of the Latin class, pricked24 up his cars; he heard foreign words which interested him like echoes of memories of his childhood. He did not understand them, yet he liked to listen, for they made him think of his dead father. He had always meant kindly25, but he had been a morose26, deeply embittered27 man. How pitilessly he had flogged him and the other boys with hazel rods. And he would have been still harsher and sterner but for his mother's intercession.
A pleasant smile hovered28 around his lips as he remembered her. Instead of continuing to listen to the Greek sentences which Herr Wilibald Pirckheimer was reading aloud to the others, he could not help thinking of the pious29, gentle little woman who, with her cheerful kindness, so well understood how to comfort and to sustain courage. She never railed or scolded; at the utmost she only wiped her eyes with her apron31 when the farmers of his little native town in Hesse sent to the schoolmaster, for the school tax, grain too bad for bread, hay too sour for the three goats, and half-starved fowls32.
He thoughtfully patted the plump abdomen33 which, thanks to the fleshpots of The Blue Pike, had grown so rotund in his fifteen years of service.
"It pays better to provide for people's bodies than for their brains," he said to himself. "The Nuremberg and Augsburg gentlemen outside are rich folk's children. For them learning is only the raisins34, almonds, and citron in the cake; knowledge agrees with them better than it did with my father. He was the ninth child of respectable stocking weavers35, but, as the pastor36 perceived that he was gifted with special ability, his parents took a portion of their savings37 to make him a scholar. The tuition fee and the boy were both confided38 to a Beanus—that is, an older pupil, who asserted that he understood Latin—in order that he might look after the inexperienced little fellow and help him out of school as well as in. But, instead of using for his protigee the florins intrusted to him, the Beanus shamefully39 squandered40 the money saved for a beloved child by so many sacrifices. While he feasted on roast meat and wine, the little boy placed in his charge went hungry." Whenever, in after years, the old man described this time of suffering, his son listened with clinched fists, and when Dietel saw a Beanus at The Blue Pike snatch the best pieces from the child in his care, he interfered41 in his behalf sternly enough. Nay42, he probably brought to him from the kitchen, on his own account, a piece of roast meat or a sausage. Many of the names which fell from the moist lips of the gentlemen outside—Lucian and Virgil, Ovid and Seneca, Homer and Plato—were perfectly43 familiar to him. The words the little doctor was reading must belong to their writings. How attentively44 the others listened! Had not Dietel run away from the monks45' school at Fulda he, too, might have enjoyed the witticisms46 of these sages47, or even been permitted to sit at the same table with the great lights of the Church from Cologne.
Now it was all over with studying.
And yet—it could not be so very serious a matter, for Doctor Eberbach had just read something aloud at which the young Nuremberg ambassador, Lienhard Groland, could not help laughing heartily48. It seemed to amuse the others wonderfully, too, and even caused the astute49 Dr. Peutinger to strike his clinched fist upon the table with the exclamation50, "A devil of a fellow!" and Wilibald Pirckheimer to assent51 eagerly, praising Hutten's ardent52 love for his native land and courage in battling for its elevation53; but this Hutten whom he so lauded54 was the ill-advised scion55 of the knightly56 race that occupied Castle Steckelberg in his Hessian home, whom he knew well. The state of his purse was evident from the fact that the landlord of The Pike had once been obliged to detain him because he could not pay the bill—though it was by no means large—in any other coin than merry tales.
But even the best joke of the witty58 knight57 would have failed to produce its effect on the listening waiter just now; for the gentlemen outside were again discussing the Reuchlin controversy59, and in doing so uttered such odious60 words about the Cologne theologians, whom Dietel knew as godly gentlemen who consumed an ample supply of food, that he grew hot and cold by turns. He was a good man who would not hurt a fly. Yet, when he heard things and opinions which his mother had taught him to hold sacred assailed61, he could become as angry as a savage62 brute63. The little impious blasphemer Eberbach, especially, he would have been more than ready to lash64 with the best hazel rod which he had ever cut for his dead father. But honest anger affords a certain degree of enjoyment65, so it was anything rather than agreeable to him to be called away.
The feather curler and his table companions wanted Kitzing wine, but it was in the cellar, and a trip there would have detained him too long from his post of listener. So he turned angrily back into the room, and told the business men that princes, bishops66, and counts were satisfied with the table wine of The Blue Pike, which had been already served to them, and the sceptre and crozier were of more importance than their twisted feathers. "Those are not the wisest people," he added sagely67, "who despise what is good to try to get better. So stick to the excellent Blue Pike wine and say no more about it!"
Without waiting for an answer from the astonished guests, he limped back to his window to resume his listening. The conversation, however, had already taken a new turn, for Dr. Peutinger was describing the Roman monument which he had had put up in the courtyard of his Augsburg house, but, as this interested Dietel very little, he soon turned his attention to the high road, whence a belated guest might still come to The Blue Pike.
The landlady68's little kitchen garden lay between it and the river Main, and there—no, it was no deception—there, behind the low hawthorn69 hedge, a human figure was moving.
One of the vagabonds had certainly slipped into the garden to steal fruit or vegetables, or even honey from the bee hives. An unprecedented70 offence! Dietel's blood boiled, for the property of The Blue Pike was as dear to him as his own.
With prompt decision he went through the entry into the yard, where he meant to unchain the butcher's dog to help him chase the abominable71 robber. But some time was to elapse ere he could execute this praiseworthy intention; for before he could cross the threshold the landlord of The Pike appeared, berated72 him, and ordered him to be more civil in the performance of his duties. The words were intended less for the waiter than for the feather dealer73 and his friends.
The latter had complained of Dietel to the landlord of The Pike, and, after he had received a reproof74, they punished him for his rudeness by ordering him to fetch one jug3 of wine from the cellar after another. At last, when, with many a malediction75, he had brought up the fifth, his tormentors released him, but then the best time was lost. Nevertheless he continued the pursuit and entered the little garden with the dog, but the thief had fled.
After assuring himself of this fact he stood still, rubbing his narrow forehead with the tips of his fingers.
The rogue76 was most probably one of the vagrants, and like a flash it entered his mind that the ropedancer, Kuni, who in her prosperous days, instead of eating meat and vegetables, preferred to satisfy her appetite with fruits and sweet dainties, might be the culprit. Besides, when he had looked around among the guests just before, she was no longer with the other vagabonds.
Certain of having found the right trail, he instantly went to the window below which the strollers lay, thrust his head into the room from the outside, and waked the wife of the tongueless swearer. She had fallen asleep on the floor with the sewing in her hand. The terror with which she started up at his call bore no favourable77 testimony78 to her good conscience, but she had already recovered her bold unconcern when he imperiously demanded to know what had become of lame79 Kuni.
"Ask the other travellers—the soldiers, the musicians, the monks, for aught I care," was the scornful, irritating answer. But when Dietel angrily forbade such insolent80 mockery, she cried jeeringly81:
"Do you think men don't care for her because she has lost her foot and has that little cough? You ought to know better.
"Master Dieter has a sweetheart for every finger, though the lower part of his own body isn't quite as handsome as it might be."
"On account of my foot?" the waiter answered spitefully. "You'll soon find that it knows how to chase. Besides, the Nuremberg city soldiers will help me in the search. If you don't tell me at once where the girl went—by St. Eoban, my patron——"
Here red-haired Gitta interrupted him in a totally different tone; she and her companions had nothing good to expect from the city soldiers.
In a very humble82 manner she protested that Kuni was an extraordinarily83 charitable creature. In a cart standing84 in the meadow by the highroad lay the widow of a beggar, Nickel; whom the peasants had hung on account of many a swindling trick. A goose and some chickens had strayed off to his premises85. The woman had just given birth to twins when Nickel was hung, and she was now in a violent fever, with frequent attacks of convulsions, and yet had to nurse the infants. The landlady of The Pike had sent her some broth86 and a little milk for the children. As for Kuni, she had gone to carry some linen87 from her own scanty88 store to the two babies, who were as naked as little frogs. He would find her with the sick mother.
All this flowed from Gitta's lips with so much confidence that Dietel, whose heart was easily touched by such a deed of charity, though he by no means put full confidence in her, allowed himself to be induced to let the city soldiers alone for the present and test the truth of her strange statement himself.
So he prepared to go in search of the cart, but the landlord of The Pike met him at the door, and, angrily asking what ailed30 him that day, ordered him to fetch the Erbach, more of which was wanted inside. Dietel went down into the cellar again, but this time he was not to leave it so speedily, for the apprentice89 of a Nuremberg master shoemaker, whose employer was going to the Frankfort fair with his goods, and who made common cause with the feather dealer, stole after Dietel, and of his own volition90, for his own pleasure, locked him in. The good Kitzing wine had strengthened his courage. Besides, experience taught him that an offence would be more easily pardoned the more his master himself disliked the person against whom it was committed.
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1
envoys
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| 使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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jugs
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| （有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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8
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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11
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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reveller
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| n.摆设酒宴者，饮酒狂欢者 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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15
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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vagrants
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| 流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖 | |
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crutch
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| n.T字形拐杖；支持，依靠，精神支柱 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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25
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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26
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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embittered
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| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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29
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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32
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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abdomen
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| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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34
raisins
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| n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 ) | |
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weavers
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| 织工，编织者( weaver的名词复数 ) | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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38
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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39
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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40
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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42
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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43
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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44
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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45
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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46
witticisms
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| n.妙语，俏皮话( witticism的名词复数 ) | |
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47
sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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48
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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49
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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50
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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51
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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52
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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53
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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54
lauded
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| v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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56
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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58
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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59
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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60
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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61
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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62
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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64
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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65
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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66
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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67
sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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68
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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69
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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70
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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71
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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72
berated
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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74
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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75
malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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77
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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79
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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80
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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81
jeeringly
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| adv.嘲弄地 | |
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82
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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83
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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84
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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85
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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86
broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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87
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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88
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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89
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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90
volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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