On a time came Owlglass unto Hamburg and there stood upon the Hop-market, and gazed hither and thither as he was wont to do. And unto him came up a barber, and spake unto him and said: “Lo! what seekest thou, and whence comest thou?” Then Owlglass said: “Of a truth, I come now straightway from the last place in the which I abode.” Upon this saith the barber: “What art thou for a workman?” And Owlglass said: “I am a barber, an it please ye.” Thereat the master hired him, and spake unto him saying: “Mark me, dost thou see yon house over against us with the casement down unto the ground.” “Yea,” quoth the man. “Then do thou straightway enter in there, and soon will I follow,” said the master. “Most truly,” said our worthy Owlglass. Then he gat him unto the house, and brake the casement all in pieces, and entered in thereby, and saluted the barber’s wife, who sate spinning within, and spake courteous words and said: “God bless this handiwork.” But the barber’s wife was afeared, and cried: “What labour and handiwork be this that thou dost, breaking me the casement after this wise? The foul fiend seize thee, loon!” “Nay,” quoth Owlglass, “impute not the marring of the casement unto me, except as diligent service, for your good man bade me enter in thereby, and I ever perform that which is enjoined me.” Then the woman said: “Truly, a faithful servant is he who marreth his master’s substance!” But Owlglass said: “Should not a servant perform his master’s bidding?” With that, during such conference betwixt the twain, cometh the master, and looked upon the broken casement. And he said unto Owlglass: “What is this? Couldst thou not enter by my house door, and leave me the casement whole? What be the cause that thou shouldst thus enter by a window.” “Nay,” answered Owlglass, “beloved master, ye bade me look upon the tall window and there enter in; and I did but according to thy words.” Thereat was the master content, for he considered within himself: “I can but from the money of his hiring take what will pay the charges of making my casement whole.”

Thereafter they went forward in comfort for some days. Then did the barber enjoin Owlglass that he should take a razor, and he instructed him, and said: “Now do thus evenly with the edge grind me the back, so that no notches be.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea, most willingly.” And after a season had gone past, the barber cometh privily behind Owlglass to see after what manner he was performing his labour, and Owlglass had ground the back as sharp as the edge, and marred the work altogether. So the master spake unto him saying: “What vile thing is this that thou dost?” And the other to him answered: “I do not any vile thing? But only according to thy words; didst not bid me to grind the back evenly with the edge? And so do I.” Then did the master wax very wroth, and said unto him: “Lo! get thee forth hence, and return in manner that thou didst come.” Owlglass answered him: “Yea,” and taking his bundle, springeth me forth through the casement again, and breaketh it, and so departeth. And though the barber was lithe and active, as be the fashion with barbers, yet could he never seize Owlglass, who, indeed, was a match for a good fleet runner.