Free Simplicissimus by Johann Grimmelshausen Page A

now not ashamed to pick up off the streets the frozen turnip peelings thrown out from the houses of the rich. The pastor was so successful that he even managed to sit beside the governor at the head of the table, while I waited on them with a plate in my hand, under the instruction of the steward. I was as proficient at this as a donkey at playing chess, but the pastor’s ready tongue made up for all my clumsiness. He said I had been brought up in the wilderness and had never lived among people so that I should be excused because I had no way of knowing how to behave. The loyalty I had shown towards the hermit and the harsh life I had endured with him were, in his opinion, to be admired and not only excused my clumsiness but made me preferable to the most polished young nobleman. He went on to tell them how I was the hermit’s chief joy because, as the latter frequently used to say, my features were so much like those of his beloved. The hermit, he added, had often marvelled both at my steadfastness and unchanging determination to stay with him, and at many other virtues which he had praised in me. To sum up, he could not emphasize enough the fervent earnestness with which the hermit had recommended me to him shortly before his death, confessing that he loved me as much as if I had been his own son.
    This tickled my ears and the pleasure more than made up for all the hard times I had been through with the hermit. The governor asked whether his brother-in-law had not known that he was commandant of Hanau. ‘Certainly’, answered the pastor, ‘for I told him myself. And although he had a cheerful expression and a half smile on his face, yet he received the news as coolly as if he had never heard the name of Ramsay. The more I think about it, the more I have to marvel at this man’s steadfastness of purpose in the way he could bring himself not only to renounce the world but also to put his best friend so completely out of his mind, even though he knew he was nearby.’
    The governor was no soft-hearted woman but a brave soldier, yet there were tears in his eyes as he said, ‘If I had known he was still alive and where I could find him, I would have had him brought to me, even against his will, so that I could repay all the kindnesses he had done me. Since, however, that is denied me, I will take care of his Simplicius in his place. Ah!’ he went on, ‘I think the honest gentleman had good reason to mourn the fate of his pregnant wife. In the pursuit she was captured by an imperial mounted patrol. That was in the Spessart, too. When I heard that, and thinking my brother-in-law had died in the battle for Höchst, I immediately sent a trumpeter to the enemy to ask after my sister and ransom her. However, all I achieved was to learn that the patrol had been scattered by some peasants and my sister lost in the skirmish. To this day I do not know what has become of her.’
    This was what was said at table between the pastor and the governor about the hermit and his beloved. The couple were all the more pitied because they had only had one year together. But I became the governor’s page, and such a fine fellow that the people, especially peasants, whom I had to announce to my master were already calling me Young Master.

Chapter 24
     

Simplicius reproaches people and sees many false idols in the world
     
    At that time my only worthwhile qualities were my clear conscience and devout mind, accompanied by the purest innocence and simplicity. All I knew of vices was that I had heard their names or read about them. If I saw someone actually indulging in one I found it strange and horrifying because I had been brought up always to bear the presence of God in mind and to try as hard as I could to live according to His holy will. And since I knew God’s will, I used to measure people’s actions and character against it, and when I did that it seemed to me I could see nothing but iniquity all around me. God! how astonished I was