“You fool!” laughed the Captain, “for your good I named the highest price. No one is apt to buy it at a low price, and you will irrevocably be the Devil’s, for you must sell it for less than you give.”
“Ah, that may be,” said Richard, “but I shall not soon wish to part with the wonderful thing again; can I have it for five ducats?”
“Agreed,” said the Captain, “you cut the labours of the little devil for men’s souls right short.”
On the payment of the money, he handed the young man a small thin glass flask, in which by the starlight Richard saw something black, wildly jumping up and down; as a trial of its power, he asked what he had in his right hand to be doubled and soon found his ten ducats again. He went joyfully back to the tavern, where his companions were still playing. They were much surprised to see both of those who had left them so sorrowful, now return with such happy faces. The Spaniard took an early leave and would not remain to the magnificent supper Richard had ordered and paid his mistrusting host for beforehand—for by the aid of the ‘gallows man,’ both his pockets rattled with the so much wished for money.
Those who themselves would wish for such a ‘gallows man,’ can best tell what a life the young man led from the day he sold himself unconditionally for money. Also the pious and reflecting can judge what was his wild and profligate career. His first act was to buy for his beautiful Lucretia, for so, in foolish sport, he called the mistress it had cost him such sums to win, a Castle and two Villas, where they lived together in great splendour.
One day he sat with his goddess Lucretia in the garden of one of his Villas, by the side of a deep and rapid stream—there was much foolish jesting and laughing between the young people, when suddenly Lucretia spied the ‘gallows man,’ whom Richard had fastened to a small gold chain under his vest. Before he could prevent it she had snatched the chain from his neck and held the little flask to the light; at first she was diverted by the capers of the little black creature within it, then suddenly she screamed with fright. “Fye then! it is a toad,” and she flung chain, flask and ‘gallows man’ into the brook amidst whose foaming whirlpools it was soon lost to sight. The poor young man endeavored to conceal his distress, that his mistress might not inquire further and he yet be condemned by the law for magic. He told her it was a toy, and sought to leave her as soon as possible, that he might in solitude think what was best to be done. He had still his castle, his country houses, and a heap of money in his pockets. It was a joyful surprise when in taking out the money he found the flask with the ‘gallows man’ in his hand. The chain indeed lay at the bottom of the brook, but the flask and the ‘gallows man’ had come back to their master. “Ah!” he cried delighted, “I then possess a treasure of which no power on earth can rob me;” and in his joy he had almost kissed the flask, but the frightful little black creature within it deterred him.
If he had hitherto pursued pleasure madly, it was now ten times worse, for he looked on all the Emperors and Kings in the world with pity and scorn, believing none of them possessed such a treasure as his. Scarcely could the rich commercial city of Venice supply delicacies for his sumptuous banquets. Sometimes when a kind, well meaning man would scold or admonish him, he would answer, “My name is Richard, my wealth so unbounded that it is unnecessary for me to trouble myself with its expenditure.” He would often laugh immoderately when he thought how silly the Spanish Captain had been to part with such a treasure, and yet worse to go, as he had heard, into a cloister.
All on this earth lasts but a time—this, must the young man learn, and the sooner, for the sinful and boundless dissipation he had indulged in. A deadly weakness seized his body, despite his vain and incessant calls for aid on the ‘gallows man’ during the first day of his illness. With the night came a wonderful dream, it seemed as if the phials of physic which stood by his bed united in a mimic dance and with an unheard-of clatter ran over his head and breast, “Ah! gallows man! gallows man! will you not help me this time and throw all the physic to the ground;” but the ‘gallows man’ sang back clearly from the flask—
Ah! Richard dear! Ah! Richard dear!
Give thy soul to tortures drear,
Nought but patience answers here.
The devil’s arts in sickness fail,
‘Gainst death no healing herbs avail,
Thou art my own, all hail, all hail!
With this he became so long and thin that Richard could not hold him in the flask, creeping between his thumb and the closely pressed cork, he became a huge black man, who danced frightfully, whirled around him with bat’s wings, and at last laid his hard breast on Richard’s breast, his grinning face on Richard’s face, so close, so very close, that he felt as if they were already becoming one; frightened, he screamed, “bring a mirror, bring a mirror!” He awoke in a cold deathlike sweat, and as he opened his eyes he thought he saw a black toad run swiftly over his breast and hide in the folds of his night clothes. Horrified, he endeavoured to seize it, but found only the flask with the little black in it, who lay as if wearied and sleeping, “Ah!” thought the sick man, “how long, how very long is the rest of this night.” He dared not again close his eyes, lest the little black monster should again come out, nor did he dare raise them, lest he should see the unholy one, lurking in some corner of his chamber, for if he but looked up he fancied he saw him and again starting up in new fright, called his people, but they slept as if they were dead, and the beautiful Lucretia had deserted him in his illness. He was alone in his anguish, which no words can express. “Ah! God! if this night is so long, what will the long reign of Hell be?” He determined if God would permit him to live until morning, he would endeavor to dispose of the ‘gallows man.’ At last the morning came, and somewhat invigorated by its young light, he thought if the gallows man had yet done enough for his comfort. The castle, the villas, and all his magnificent possessions were not enough, he hastily demanded a heap of ducats to be placed under his pillow, and as soon as he found the heavy purses there, he thought to whom he could best sell the little flask. He knew his physician was fond of all sorts of strange creatures, which he preserved in spirit, and for such a one he hoped to sell to him the ‘gallows man,’ for he knew the Doctor to be pious and on no other terms would have anything to do with this beast.” Truly, it would be playing him a scurvy trick—but better to do penance in Purgatory for a small sin than to dwell with Lucifer forever in Hell—truly, every one is dearest to themselves and my death-peril admits of no delay.” He was determined. He showed the Doctor the little ‘gallows man,’ who had again become lively, and who was playing all sorts of antics in the flask. The learned Doctor desired to obtain what he considered so strange a work of nature, that he might consider it at his leisure, if the price was not too high. Richard asked as much as he could, 4 ducats, 2 dollars, 20 pennies, German money. The Doctor would give but 3 ducats, and before he did that he considered some days. The poor young man was again in danger of death—he gave his servants the 3 ducats the ‘gallows man’ sold for to distribute to the poor, but the gold under his pillow he guarded as if on it depended his future weal and woe. He grew worse and became delirious, and if he had still borne on his breast the weight of the ‘gallows man’ he must have died. After a long time he recovered by little and little his reason, and with the first dawn of intelligence he remembered the ducats under his pillow and sought them in vain. He questioned every one eagerly—no one knew anything of them—he sent to the beautiful Lucretia, who had visited him in his hours of unconsciousness, but had returned to her former home and companions—she desired him to leave her in peace; and neither from her nor any one else could he hear of his lost ducats. He thought of selling his castle and villa, then came lawyers to him with writings, showing how in his days of extravagance and folly, he had given everything to the lovely but avaricious Lucretia, and now in his sickness and misery there was nothing left him. Then came his physician, with a very grave face. “Ah! master Doctor, add to your bill a dose of poison, t
hat I may at once free myself from every obligation, for I have no money to begin a new account with.”
“Not so?” said the Doctor, gravely, “I will give you your whole bill and also a most valuable medicine, which I have prepared and which you will need to strengthen you for 2 ducats. Shall it be so?”
“Yes, from my heart,” gladly cried the overjoyed merchant and paid the Doctor, who soon left the chamber.
When Richard took the parcel he found the gallows man again between his fingers. Around it, a billet was wrapped with the following contents—
Whilst I would thy body heal,
Thou my soul wouldst from me steal,
Yet my wit more keen than thine
Soon thy purpose did divine.
The counter art excuse I pray,
For in thy hands the whole I lay,
The gallows man’ I give to thee,
The gallows bird to the gallows tree.
Truly he was much frightened, he had again bought the gallows man and for so small a sum—yet there was pleasure too, as things were, it was as well and he had not many scruples in determining to make it the means of revenging himself on the treacherous Lucretia. He began in the following way; first he wished the heaps of ducats he had had under his pillow doubled; instantly their weight was so great it almost drew him to the earth. The whole of this immense sum he deposited with an attorney, and received for it his written receipt, reserving 120 gold pieces, with which he went to his dear Lucretia’s house. They drank, played and jested as formerly. Lucretia was very kind to him on account of his money. After a little while, he showed to his astonished mistress many pretty tricks with the gallows man, it was like the little thing she had formerly thrown into the water, but not the same, for he possessed several of them. Like all women she loved toys, and when her cunning companion offered to bet it with her, she gave him without thought two ducats for it. The bargain was closed and Richard soon left the house to draw upon the attorney for a part of his money. Instead of paying, the attorney affected surprise, denied all knowledge of him, and when Richard drew from his pocket the receipt, it was nothing but a blank unblemished paper. The attorney had written his receipt with ink that faded in a few hours and left no trace behind. The young man was again betrayed, and but for some thirty ducats he had left of the money he had been spending with Lucretia, would have been entirely destitute. Whoever has too short a bed must lie crooked, he who has no bed must sleep on the ground, whoever cannot pay for a carriage must ride on horseback, he who has no horse must walk. After idly lounging about for a few days, Richard saw plainly his money would soon go in this way, and he resolved at once from a merchant to become a pedlar, he bought a pack to carry his goods and a small box with a slit in the top to carry his money, for this he paid four German pennies. It was very sad to him, to buckle on the straps and ask for custom through the very streets he had so often passed in pomp and magnificence: yet as the day passed his spirits rose, for the customers ran to meet him and often bid more for his wares than he had ventured to ask. He thought “the town is very kind and if it goes on in this way, I shall soon be a well doing man again. Then I will return to Germany, and I already feel much happier than when I was in the claws of the cursed ‘gallows man,’ from whom I have so cleverly delivered myself.” Pleasing himself with such thoughts, he stopped with his pack, in the evening, at an Inn. A few curious guests stood around. One of them said, “Companion. what have you in that little flask which plays such strange, boyish tricks?” Frightened, Richard looked around and now first perceived, that amongst his other goods, he had unwittingly bought back the ‘gallows man.’ Instantly he offered it to the questioner for three pennies; he had given four, and then to all the guests around. Disgusted with the ugly black beast for which Richard could assign no possible use and wearied with his importunities, they determined to turn the impertinent pedlar, together with his pack and his black beast out of the door. In hopeless misery Richard went to the seller of the little box and offered it to him, for less than he had given, but the man was sleepy and would not bargain. At last he desired him, if he wished to restore the flask to its first owner, to go to Lucretia, who had sold him this with some other things and to let him sleep in peace. “Ah! dear God,” cried Richard, “I too could wish to sleep in peace;” as he ran across the large court to Lucretia’s house, it seemed to him as if some one ran behind him and every now and then patted him on the neck. Frightened, he rushed through a well known back door into Lucretia’s chamber, where the avaricious beauty sat at a handsome supper with two companions. At first they scolded at the unannounced pedlar, then bought his goods and amused themselves very much by paying for them in false bills, but no one would buy the ‘gallows man.’ When he opened him, Lucretia cried out “Fye! out with the hateful creature, I have already had him, and he kept me sick all day, I sold him for a few pennies to as silly a fool as the one who betted him with me for a ducat.”
“And then parted with your good fortune,” said the miserable young man. “Lucretia, you know not what you have thrown away: let me speak with you alone for five minutes, and I am certain you will buy the little flask.”
She went aside with him, and he told her the whole strange mystery of the ‘gallows man.’ Then she shouted and scolded—
“Beggar man! do you take me for a fool? If this were true, you had wished for yourself something better than this box and these straps. Get away, or I will give you up to be burned as a wizard for your silly story.”
Then they all fell upon him and pushed him out; and he in dread of being burnt, quickly left the Venetian states. Before midday he had passed the boundary, and now he began to curse the unholy One. The ‘gallows man’ peeped at him from his pocket, and seeing his mad gesticulations, cried out—
“How good! you will certainly have to call on me before long: you had better be quick about it.”
Then he again wished himself a much larger sum of money than before;—it was so heavy he could scarcely carry it to the nearest town. Here he bought a fine carriage, and liveried lackey, and went in much pomp and splendor to Rome, where, he thought, amongst so many people he could easily get rid of his ‘gallows man.’ As often as he spent a ducat, he made the ‘gallows man’ return it, that when his flask was sold, he might have his heap of money unbroken. This he thought would be a small recompense for all he had and still suffered-for every night in his first dream, the frightful black beast lay on his breast, and every day he saw it dancing merrily in its flask, as if he was certain of his booty, and rejoiced in the fast fleeting time. Scarcely had his wealth and his extravagance introduced him into the best society at Rome, before he began, urged by his anxiety, to open without discrimination to every one, for three German pennies, his little ‘gallows man;’ exciting thereby the laughter of every one. Money gives friends and attentions. He was well received every where; but as soon as he began to talk of his flask and the three German pennies, every one turned laughing away. He often said to himself—One might almost as well be the devil’s, as to suffer what I have already done. His despair at not being able to free himself from the ‘gallows man’ grew so great, that he determined no longer to remain at home, but to seek forgetfulness in war. He learned there was war between two of the small Italian States, and he immediately resolved to take part with one of them. With a highly ornamented gold harness, a magnificent plumed hat, two excellent light rifles, a splendid sword and two fine daggers; mounted on a Spanish war horse and attended by three well-armed servants on splendid chargers, he rode through the gates of Rome. As it was impossible any captain would refuse so well-armed a warrior, and one too who desired no pay, the brave Richard was soon placed in a gallant band. He lived in camp a whole month as happy as drink and play could make him, with the burden of the ‘gallows man’ in his mind by day, and the bad dreams which visited him nightly would permit. Grown wiser by his adventures in Rome, he did not open his flask as before, hut had only mentioned it, as if in jest, to some of his compa
nions. One beautiful morning, Richard and his companions, who were at play, heard from the neighbouring mountains the sound of guns: quickly the trumpet sounded to arms. Instantly they mounted and rode briskly forth to the plain below the mountains; there through the mist and smoke they perceived the infantry of both parties engaged, and the cavalry already stationed on the plain. Richard followed his captain delightedly: at the sound of the trumpet his Spanish charger neighed and sprung forward-his weapons clashed joyfully together; they gallantly bore back a troop of the enemy’s horse, who endeavored to withstand them, and Richard and his servants were amongst the foremost in pursuit of the flying. Then they heard a wonderful whistling in the air; it whistled a second time, and a knight, bleeding and mortally wounded by a cannon shot, fell from his horse. Now, thought Richard, it will be safer in the wood: to his astonishment the crowd had fallen back, and to reach it he must pass still nearer to the cannon. For a while the brave young man rode on through the cannon balls falling to his right and left, and pressed on every side by a numerous band of the enemy with drawn swords. Ah! thought he, how foolishly I have acted to come here, where I am in much more danger of death than in a sick bed; should one of these cursed whistling balls strike me, I am to eternity the prey of the little ‘gallows man’ and Lucifer. Scarcely had he thought of this, before he spurred his horse and rushed to a distant wood. Long and madly he urged his horse on through the tall trees, until at last it stood still from exhaustion. Then he dismounted, took off his armor, turned his horse loose, and stretched himself on the grass. Ah! thought he, how little fit for a soldier is any one who has the’ gallows man’ in his pocket. Wearied he fell into a deep sleep. After many hours of quiet slumber he was aroused by the voices of men and the sound of their steps in his ear. He was still too much overcome with sleep to be certain he heard them, when a voice thundered in his ear:
The Second Macabre Megapack Page 40