XIV
How Oliver Explained Herzbruder’s Prophecy to His Own Profit, and So Came to Love His Worst Enemy
Our food was white bread and a cold leg of veal. And moreover we had a good sup of wine and a warm room. “Aha! Simplicissimus,” said Oliver, “ ’tis better here than in the trenches before Breisach.” “True,” said I, “if one could enjoy such a life with safety and a good conscience.” At that he laughed loud, and says he, “Yea, are the poor devils in the trenches safer than we, that must every moment expect a sally of the garrison? My good Simplicissimus, I do plainly see that, though thou hast cast aside thy fool’s cap, thou hast kept thy fool’s head, that cannot understand what is good and what is bad. And if thou wert any but that same Simplicissimus that after Herzbruder’s prophecy must avenge my death, I would make thee to confess that I do lead a nobler life than any baron.” With that I did think, “How will it go now? Thou must devise another manner of speech, or this barbarous creature with the help of his peasant may well make an end of thee.” So says I, “Who did ever hear at any time that the scholar should know more than the master? And so, brother, if thou hast so happy a life as thou dost pretend, give me a share in thy good luck, for of good luck I have great need.”
To which Oliver answered, “Brother, be thou assured that I love thee as mine own self, and that the affront I put upon thee today doth pain me more than the bullet wherewith thou didst wound my forehead, when thou didst so defend thyself as should any proper man of courage. Therefore why should I deny thee anything? If it please thee, stay thou here with me: I will provide for thee as for myself. Or if thou hast no desire to stay with me, then will I give thee a good purse of money and go with thee whithersoever thou wilt. And that thou mayest believe that these words do come from my heart, I will tell thee the reason wherefore I do hold thee in such esteem: thou dost know how rightly old Herzbruder did hit it off with his prophecies: and look you, that same did so prophesy to me when we lay before Magdeburg, saying, ‘Oliver, look upon our fool as thou wilt, yet will he astonish thee by his courage, and play thee the worst tricks thou hast ever known, for which thou shalt give him good cause at a time when ye know not one another. Yet will he not only spare thy life when it is in his hands, but after a long time he will come to the place where thou art to be slain: and there will he avenge thy death.’ And for the sake of this prophecy, my dear Simplicissimus, am I ready to share with thee the very heart in my breast. For already is a part of that prophecy fulfilled, seeing that I gave thee good reason to shoot me in the head like a valiant soldier and to take my sword from me (which no other hath ever done) and to grant me my life, when I lay under thee and was choking in blood: and so I doubt not that the rest of the prophecy which concerns my life shall be fulfilled. And from this matter of the revenge I must conclude, brother, that thou art my true friend, for an thou wert not, thou wouldest not take upon thee to avenge me. And now thou hast the innermost thoughts of my heart: so now do thou tell me what thou art minded to do.” Upon that I thought, “The devil trust thee, for I do not: if I take money from thee for the journey I may well be the first whom thou slayest: and if I stay with thee I must expect some time to be hanged with thee.” So I determined I would befool him, tarrying with him till I could find opportunity to be quit of him: and so I said if he would suffer me I would stay with him a day or a week to see if I could accustom myself to his manner of life: and if it pleased me he should find in me a true friend and a good soldier: and if it pleased me not, we could at any time part in peace. And on that he drank to my health, yet I trusted him not, and feigned to be drunken before I was so, to see if he would be at me when I could not defend myself.
Meanwhile the fleas did mightily plague me, whereof I had brought good store from Breisach; for when it grew warm they were no longer content to remain in my rags but walked abroad to take their pleasure. Of that Oliver was aware, and asked me had I lice? To which I answered, “Yea, indeed, and more than I can hope to have ducats in my life.” “Say not so,” said Oliver, “for if thou wilt abide with me thou canst earn more ducats than thou hast lice now.” I answered, “ ’Tis as impossible as that I can be quit of my lice.” “Yea,” says he, “but both are possible”: and with that he commanded the peasant to fetch me a suit that lay in a hollow tree near the house; which was a grey hat, a cape of elk-skin, a pair of scarlet breeches, and a grey coat: and shoes and stockings would he give me next day. So as I saw him so generous I trusted him somewhat better than before, and went to bed content.