e Eternal to live who knows how many hundred years
to wear out all these shoes." "What does that matter to you? It is
enough if I pay you. Make me the shoes and hold your tongue." He made
them for him at once. Lionbruno paid him, put on one pair, and stuck
three in one side of his travelling sack and three in the other, and set
out. After walking a long time, he arrived late at night in a forest.
All at once three robbers came there. "Good man," said they to
Lionbruno, "how did you happen here?" "I am a poor pilgrim," he replied;
"it grew dark and I stopped here to rest. And who are you, gentlemen?"
"We are travellers." And they all stopped there to rest. The next day
Lionbruno arose, took leave of the three robbers, and departed. But he
had scarcely gone a few steps when he heard them quarrelling. Now you
must know that those robbers had stolen three objects of great value,
and were now disputing as to how they should divide them. One of them
said: "Fools that we are! We had here that pilgrim, who could have acted
as judge and made the division, and we have let him go. Let us call him
back." "Yes, yes! let us call him," said the others. They called him,
and he came back. "How can I serve you, gentlemen?" said he. "Listen,
good man; we have three objects of great value to divide. You must be
the judge, and give to each one what belongs to him." "Very well; but
what objects are you talking of?" "Here is a pair of boots, a purse, and
a cloak. The boots have this virtue, that he who has them on runs
faster than the wind. If you say to the purse, 'open and shut,' it at
once gives you a hundred ducats. Finally he who puts on the cloak and
buttons it up, can see and yet not be seen." "Very good. But to act the
judge well, I must first examine these three objects carefully."
"Certainly, that is right." Lionbruno put on the boots, tried to run,
and went marvellously. "What do you think of these boots?" asked the
thieves. "Excellent, indeed," replied Lionbruno, and kept them on. Then
he said: "Now let us see the purse." He took it and said: "Purse, open
and shut," and at once there came forth a hundred silver ducats. "Now
let us see what this cloak is," he said, at last. He put it on and began
to button it up. While he was doing so he asked the robbers: "Do you see
me now?" They answered: "Yes." He kept on buttoning it and asked again:
"Now do you see me?" "Yes." Finally he reached the last button. "Now do
you see me?" "No." "If y