over public affairs; and then he would philosophise, like his pretty tutors, the blackbirds, jays, and sparrows, and thought a great deal while mumping; for, because his apparel was poor, was that a reason his understanding should not be rich?  His philosophy amused his clients, to whom he would repeat, by way of thanks, the finest aphorisms of his science.  According to him, suppers produced gout in the rich:  he boasted that he had nimble feet, because his shoemaker gave him boots that do not pinch his corns.  There were aching heads beneath diadems, but his never ached, because it was touched neither by luxury nor any other chaplet.  And again, that jewelled rings hinder the circulation of the blood.  Although he covered himself with sores, after the manner of cadgers, you may be sure he was as sound as a child at the baptismal font.

The good man disported himself with other rogues, playing with his three dice, which he kept to remind him to spend his coppers, in order that he might always be poor.  In spite of his vow, he was, like all the order of mendicants, so wealthy that one day at the Paschal feast, another beggar wishing to rent his profit from him, Vieux par-Chemins refused ten crowns for it; in fact, the same evening he spent fourteen crowns in drinking the health of the alms-givers, because it is the statutes of beggary that one should show one’s gratitude to donors.  Although he carefully got rid of that of which had been a source of anxiety to others, who, having too much wealth went in search of poverty, he was happier with nothing in the world than when he had his father’s money.  And seeing what are the conditions of nobility, he was 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,