Page:The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart.pdf/212



we drew near to the gate, I see a multitude of men in the market-place to the left, and Impudence says: "Lo! these also we must not omit." "What have they there?" quoth I. He answered: "Come and see." And we walk among them, and, behold, they stood there, two or three together; and one pointed with his finger at the other, averted his head, clapped his hands, scratched himself behind his ears. Finally some skip for joy; others cry. "What, then," quoth I, "are these men doing here? Are they acting a play of some fashion?" "Thou must by no means take such things for a play," said the interpreter; "they have real things before them, which, according to the manner in which they are fashioned, produce within them wonder, laughter, ire." "Yet would I gladly know what these things are at which they wonder, at which they laugh, and which cause their ire." Then gazing attentively, I behold that they were busying themselves with strange whistles, and that one man, bending towards the other, whistled somewhat into his ear; and when this piping was pleasing they rejoiced, and when it was doleful they were sad.