Eulenspiegel wanted to eat and drink, so he had to look for food for himself. One day he came to Olzen to a fair, where there were a lot of people. Eulenspiegel walked everywhere, looking out to see where things were going on. And he noticed in passing that some peasant had bought himself a green scarf and was going home with it. Eulenspiegel immediately figured out how to fish this scarf out of him. He found out which village this peasant was from, and, taking one monk and some other loafer for company, he went with them out of the city onto the road along which the peasant was supposed to pass. There he taught them what to do and placed them along the road not far from one another.
A peasant comes from the city with a scarf, rejoicing that he will now bring it home. Then Eulenspiegel comes out to meet him and asks: “Where did you buy such a beautiful blue scarf?” - “Blue?” the peasant was surprised. “The handkerchief is green, not blue.” “How green is it when it’s blue,” Eilenspiegel answers. “I’m ready to bet 20 guilders for it and I claim that it’s blue. The first person we meet who knows how to distinguish green from blue will confirm this to us.”
Meanwhile, he signaled to one of his own, and he came out to meet them. "Friend," the peasant tells him, "we were arguing about the color of this scarf. Tell me honestly whether it is green or blue, and whatever you say, we will agree." He looked at the handkerchief and said: “An excellent blue handkerchief.” “No, you are both cheats!” the peasant then exclaimed. “You must have conspired with each other to deceive me.” “Okay,” said Eulenspiegel, “you see that I was right, but you want further confirmation. Well, there goes the pious priest, let’s turn to him. The word of the clergyman is indisputable for me.”
The peasant readily agreed. They waited until the priest approached them, and Eulenspiegel said to him: “Sir, please tell me, what color is this scarf?” “Friend, you see it yourself,” answered the priest. “Yes, sir, it’s true,” the peasant then entered, “but those two want to instill in me an obvious lie.” “What do I care about your rag, whether it’s black or white?” - says the priest. “Oh, dear sir,” said the peasant, “just judge us, I ask you.” “Well, if this is so important to you,” the priest answers, “what else can I say: of course, the handkerchief is blue.” “Now do you hear?” said Eulenspiegel. “The handkerchief is mine.”
The peasant just sighed: “Reverend sir, if you weren’t a clergyman, I would think that all three of you are rogues. But you are a priest, and I can’t help but believe you.” He gave Eulenspiegel the handkerchief, and he himself went away with nothing.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru