XX + 

In What Wise He Was Saved from Prison and Torture + 

Now when I was brought before the Governor he asked me whence I came. I said I knew not. Then said he again “Whither wilt thou?” and again I answered, “I know not.” “What the devil dost thou know, then?” says he, “What is thy business?” I answered as before, I knew not. He asked, “Where dost thou dwell?” and as I again answered I knew not, his countenance was changed, I know not whether from anger or astonishment. But inasmuch as every man is wont to suspect evil, and specially the enemy being in the neighbourhood, having just, as above narrated, captured Gelnhausen and therein put to shame a whole regiment of dragoons, he agreed with them that held me for a traitor or a spy, and ordered that I should be searched. But when he learned from the soldiers of the watch that this was already done, and nothing more found on me than the book there present which they delivered to him, he read a line or two therein and asked who had given me the book. I answered it was mine from the beginning: for I had made it and written it. Then he asked, “Why upon birch-bark?” I answered, because the bark of other trees was not fitted therefore. “Thou rascal,” says he, “I ask why thou didst not write on paper.” “Oh!” I answered him, “we had none in the wood.” The governor asked, “Where, in what wood?” And again I paid him in my old coin and said I did not know. Then the governor turned to some of his officers that waited on him and said, “Either this is an arch-rogue, or else a fool: and a fool he cannot be, that can write so well.” And as he spake, he turned over the leaves to show them my fine handwriting, and that so sharply that the hermit’s letter fell out: and this he had picked up, while I turned pale, for that I held for my chiefest treasure and holy relic. That the Governor noted and conceived yet greater suspicion of treason, specially when he had opened and read the letter, “for,” says he, “I surely know this hand and know that it is written by an officer well known to me: yet can I not remember by whom.” Also the contents seemed to him strange and not to be understood: for he said, “This is without doubt a concerted language, which none other can understand save him to whom it is imparted.” Then asking me my name, when I said Simplicissimus, “Yes, yes,” says he, “thou art one of the right kidney. Away, away: put him at once in irons, hand and foot.” + 

So the two before-mentioned soldiers marched off with me to my bespoken lodging, namely, the lockup, and handed me over to the gaoler, which, in accordance with his orders, adorned me with iron bands and chains on hands and feet, as if I had not had enough to carry with those that I had already bound round my body. Nor was this way of welcoming me enough for the world, but there must come hangmen and their satellites, with horrible instruments of torture, which made my wretched plight truly grievous, though I could comfort myself with my innocence. “O! God!” says I to myself, “how am I rightly served! To this end did Simplicissimus run from the service of God into the world, that such a misbirth of Christianity should receive the just reward which he hath deserved for his wantonness! O, thou unhappy Simplicissimus, whither hath thine ingratitude led thee! Lo, God hath hardly brought thee to the knowledge of Him and into His service when thou, contrariwise, must run off from His employ and turn thy back on Him. Couldest thou not go on eating of acorns and beans as before, and so serving thy Creator? Didst thou not know that thy faithful hermit and teacher had fled from the world and chosen the wilderness? O stupid stock, thou didst leave it in the hope to satisfy thy loose desire to see the world. And behold, while thou thinkest to feed thine eyes, thou must in this maze of dangers perish and be destroyed. Couldst thou not, unwise creature, understand before this, that thy ever-blessed teacher would never have left the world for that hard life which he led in the desert, if he had hoped to find in the world true peace, and real rest, and eternal salvation? O poor Simplicissimus, go thy way and receive the reward of the idle thoughts thou hast cherished and thy presumptuous folly. Thou hast no wrong to complain of, neither any innocence to comfort thee with, for thou hast hastened to meet thine own torment and the death to follow thereafter.” So I bewailed myself, and besought God for forgiveness and commended my soul to Him. In the meanwhile we drew near to the prison, and when my need was greatest then was God’s help nearest: for as I was surrounded by the hangman’s mates, and stood there before the gaol with a great multitude of folk to wait till it was opened and I could be thrust in, lo, my good pastor, whose village had so lately been plundered and burned, must also see what was toward (himself being also under arrest). So as he looked out of window and saw me, he cried loudly, “O Simplicissimus, is it thou?” + 

When this I heard and saw, I could not help myself, but must lift up both hands to him and cry, “O father, father, father.” So he asked what had I done. I answered, I knew not: they had brought me there of a certainty because I had deserted from the forest. But when he learned from the bystanders that they took me for a spy, he begged they would make a stay with me till he had explained my case to the Lord Governor, for that would be of use for my deliverance and for his, and so would hinder the Governor from dealing wrongfully with both of us, since he knew me better than could any man. + 