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always on the high road to it； because he did nothing except according
to his fancy； and lived nobly without labour。 Thirty crowns would not
have got him out of a bed when he was in it。 The morrow always dawned
for him as it did for others； while leading this happy life； which；
according to the statements of Plato； whose authority has more than
once been invoked in these narratives； certain ancient sages had led
before him。 At last； Vieux par…Chemins reached the age of eighty…two
years； having never been a single day without picking up money； and
possessed the healthiest colour and complexion imaginable。 He believed
that if he had persevered in the race for wealth he would have been
spoiled and buried years before。 It is possible he was right。
In his early youth Vieux par…Chemins had the illustrious virtue of
being very partial to the ladies； and his abundance of love was； it is
said； the result of his studies among the sparrows。 Thus it was that
he was always ready to give the ladies his assistance in counting the
joists； and this generosity finds its physical cause in the fact that；
having nothing to do； he was always ready to do something。 His secret
virtues brought about； it is said； that popularity which he enjoyed in
the provinces。 Certain people say that the lady of Chaumont had him in
her castle； to learn the truth about these qualities； and kept him
there for a week； to prevent him begging。 But the good man jumped over
the hedges and fled in great terror of being rich。 Advancing in age；
this great quintessencer found himself disdained； although his notable
faculties of loving were in no way impaired。 This unjust turning away
on the part of the female tribe caused the first trouble of Vieux par…
Chemins； and the celebrated trial of Rouen； to which it is time I
came。
In this eighty…second year of his age he was compelled to remain
continent for about seven months； during which time he met no woman
kindly disposed towards him； and he declared before the judge that
that had caused the greatest astonishment of his long and honourable
life。 In this most pitiable state he saw in the fields during the
merry month of May a girl； who by chance was a maiden； and minding
cows。 The heat was so excessive that this cowherdess had stretched
herself beneath the shadow of a beech tree； her face to the ground；
after the custom of people who labour in the fields； in order to get a
little nap while her animals were grazing。 She was awakened by the
deed of the old man； who had stolen from her that which a poor girl
could only lose once。 Finding herself ruined without receiving from
the process either knowledge or pleasure； she cried out so loudly that
the people working in the fields ran to her； and were called upon by
her as witnesses； at the time when that destruction was visible in her
which is appropriate only to a bridal night。 She cried and groaned；
saying that the old ape might just as well have played his tricks on
her mother； who would have said nothing。
He made answer to the peasants； who had already raised their hoes to
kill him； that he had been compelled to enjoy himself。 These people
objected that a man can enjoy himself very well without enjoying a
maidena case for the provost； which would bring him straight to the
gallows； and he was taken with great clamour to the jail of Rouen。
The girl； interrogated by the provost； declared that she was sleeping
in order to do something； and that she thought she was dreaming of her
lover； with whom she was then at loggerheads； because before marriage
he wished to take certain liberties： and jokingly； in this dream she
let him reconnoiter to a certain extent； in order to avoid any dispute
afterwards； and that in spite of her prohibitions he went further than
she had given him leave to go； and finding more pain than pleasure in
the affair； she had been awakened by Vieux par…Chemins； who had
attacked her as a gray…friar would a ham at the end of lent。
This trial caused so great a commotion in the town of Rouen that the
provost was sent for by the duke； who had an intense desire to know if
the thing were true。 Upon the affirmation of the provost； he ordered
Vieux par…Chemins to be brought to his palace； in order that he might
hear what defence he had to make。 The poor old fellow appeared before
the prince； and informed him naively of the misfortune which his
impulsive nature brought upon him； declaring that he was like a young
fellow impelled by imperious desires； that up to the present year he
had sweethearts of his own； but for the last eight months he had been
a total abstainer； that he was too poor to find favour with the girls
of the town； that honest women who once were charitable to him； had
taken a dislike to his hair； which had feloniously turned white in
spite of the green youth of his love； and that he felt compelled to
avail himself of the chance when he saw this maiden； who； stretched at
full length under the beech tree； left visible the lining of her dress
and two hemispheres； white as snow； which had deprived him of reason；
that the fault was the girl's and not his； because young maidens
should be forbidden to entice passers…by by showing them that which
caused Venus to be named Callipyge； finally the prince ought to be
aware what trouble a man had to control himself at the hour of noon；
because that was the time of day at which King David was smitten with
the wife of the Sieur Uriah； that where a Hebrew king； beloved of God；
had succumbed； a poor man； deprived of all joy； and reduced to begging
for his bread； could not expect to escape； that for that matter of
that； he was quite willing to sing psalms for the remainder of his
days； and play upon a lute by way of penance； in imitation of the said
king； who had had the misfortune to slay a husband； while he had only
done a trifling injury to a peasant girl。 The duke listened to the
arguments of Vieux par…Chemins； and said that he was a man of good
parts。 Then he made his memorable decree； that if； as this beggar
declared； he had need of such gratification at his age he gave
permission to prove it at the foot of the ladder which he would have
to mount to be hanged； according to the sentence already passed on him
by the provost； that if then； the rope being round his neck； between
the priest and the hangman； a like desire seized him he should have a
free pardon。
This decree becoming known； there was a tremendous crowd to see the
old fellow led to the gallows。 There was a line drawn up as if for a
ducal entry； and in it many more bonnets than hats。 Vieux par…Chemins
was saved by a lady curious to see how this precious violator would
finish his career。 She told the duke that religion demanded that he
should have a fair chance。 And she dressed herself as if for a ball；
she brought intentionally into evidence two hillocks of such snowy
whiteness that the whitest linen neckerchief would have paled before
them；