And after four days had passed, was the tailor fain again to sleep, and yet he judged that it was too soon for his man to get him to bed. And there lay a coat in the shop, the which had been finished, all save the arms, which should be sewed on. This took he, and gave it unto Owlglass, saying: “Whip me these arms to the coat, and then mayest thou sleep.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and therewith departed the tailor. Then did Owlglass light two candles, and he hung the coat on a hook, and made him a whip with whipcord, and ’gan to whip the sleeves, so that he might get them unto the coat. Yet stirred they not. And when that his candles were burned down, gat he two more, and lighted them, and burned candles through the whole night. At last arose the master, and came unto Owlglass into the shop, and said unto him: “What mystery play ye here?” And Owlglass answered gravely, and said: “No mystery is this, but hard labour; for the whole night through have I stood here, and whipped me these sleeves with whipcord, yet move they not unto the coat. Better had it been if that ye had bid me sleep; for ye surely knew that I must lose my labour.” Then answered the tailor, and said: “Lay ye that to my charge? Am I ever to be finding ye brains to understand that which I say? Didst not see that I meant that ye should sew the sleeves on to the coat?” Answered straightway unto him Owlglass: “Nay; but, in the evil one’s name, how can ye think that it be my fault, that when ye say one thing I should understand ye to mean another thing? If that I had known what ye would have done, would I not have sewn the sleeves on, and then slept an hour or twain? Now may ye sit ye down, for I will get me unto my bed.” Thereat said the tailor: “Not so; I will not receive into my house folk that lazy be and sleep.” Then did they strive together in anger; and the tailor would have payment of Owlglass for the candles he had burned, but this would not Owlglass give him; therefore took he that which belonged unto him, and departed.
_How that Owlglass caused three tailors to fall from their board, and then would have persuaded the people that the wind had blown them down._
On the market at Brandenburg, Owlglass abode in an inn for a matter of fourteen days. And hard by there dwelt a tailor, and on his board had he three of his men sitting at work. And when that Owlglass passed by over against them, they did nothing but mock him, and throw rags after him. And all this time kept Owlglass silence; and one day when that it was a full market-day, did he secretly the night before saw through the posts which held up the board, and so left them standing. In the morning did the men put the board on the posts, and sate them down as usual, and sewed. At the time when that the swineherd blew his horn that every one might drive forth his swine, came the tailor’s swine forth likewise, and ran under the window, and against the posts began to rub themselves; then came down the three tailors, and fell upon the ground, and sorely hurt themselves. And when Owlglass marked that they fell, he cried with a loud voice: “Behold, ye people, of what light account are tailors, when that by the wind three are blown down from the board!” These words of Owlglass heard the whole market, and the people therein. Then ran all the market-place in great haste, and laughed, and mocked the tailors with great scorn; and then did the tailors abuse each one the other with much evil language, for they wist not how it had come to pass that they had fallen. At last did they behold that the posts were sawed through, and knew well that it was Owlglass. Then did they set new posts in the ground, but mocked him no longer.