Pagina 151 de 788

"Let whoever will praise the civilisation of the Germans, or the

strict discipline of the Muscovites; let the men of Great

Poland46 learn from the Suabians to go to law over a fox, and

summon constables to arrest a hound that has ventured into

another man's grove; in Lithuania, thank the Lord, we keep up the

old ways: we have enough game for ourselves and for our

neighbours, and shall never complain to the police about it; and

we have enough grain, so that the dogs will not famish us by

running through the spring wheat or the rye; on the peasants'

fields alone do I forbid hunting."

"It is no wonder, sir," called the Steward from the room at the

left, "since you pay dear for such game. The peasants are glad of

the chance; when a dog runs into their wheat, if he shakes out

ten ears, then you repay three score and are not content even

with that; often the boors get a thaler into the bargain. Believe

me, sir, that the peasants will grow very insolent, if--"