Pagina 440 di 1118

At this moment he perceived a patrole of soldiers approaching;

drawing on one side to let them pass, and eyeing them askance, he

continued, "There go the fool-punishers. And thou, great booby,

because thou saw'st a few people making a little noise, thou must

think the world was turned upside down; and on this fine

foundation thou hast ruined thyself and would have ruined me; I

have done all I could to save thee, now thou must get thyself out

of trouble. As if I wanted to know thy name from curiosity! What

was it to me whether it were Thaddeus or Bartholomew? I have

truly great satisfaction in taking a pen in my hand! I know well

enough that there are proclamations which are disregarded; just

as if we had need of a mountaineer to tell us that! And dost thou

not know, thou fool!