Pagina 263 de 626

Then the peasants were vexed that the small peasant should have

thus outwitted them, wanted to take vengeance on him, and accused

him of this treachery before the mayor. The innocent little

peasant was unanimously sentenced to death, and was to be rolled

into the water, in a barrel pierced full of holes. He was led

forth, and a priest was brought who was to say a mass for his

soul. The others were all obliged to retire to a distance, and

when the peasant looked at the priest, he recognized the man who

had been with the miller's wife. He said to him: 'I set you free

from the closet, set me free from the barrel.' At this same

moment up came, with a flock of sheep, the very shepherd whom the

peasant knew had long been wishing to be mayor, so he cried with

all his might: 'No, I will not do it; if the whole world insists

on it, I will not do it!' The shepherd hearing that, came up to

him, and asked: 'What are you about?