von Gailingen was a brigand chief who brought much damage
and vexation on the town. Drameysel, in popular form Dramaus, was
his stronghold near Muggendorf in Swiss Franconia.]

"Now, if the boy can drink three times the mystic seven, he will do what
I could do at his age."

And presently Herdegen did indeed drink his one and twenty cups, and when
at last he paced the whole length of the great dining hall on one seam of
the flooring the old man was greatly pleased, and rewarded him with the
gift of a noble tankard which he himself had won of yore at a drinking
bout. All this made good sport for us, save only for Jost Tetzel, who was
himself a right moderate man; indeed, in aftertimes, when at Venice I saw
how that wealthy and noble gentlemen drank but sparingly of the juice of
the grape, I marvelled wherefor we Germans are ever proud of a man who is
able to drink deep, and apt to look askance at such as fear to see the
bottom of the cup. And if I had an answer ready, that likewise I owed to
my uncle Christian; inasmuch as that very eve, when I would fain have
warned Herdegen against the good liquor, my uncle put in his word and
said it was every man's duty to follow in the ways of Saint George the
dragon-killer, and to quell and kill every fiend; be it what it might.
"Now in the wine cup, quoth he, there lurks a dragon named drunkenness,
and it beseemeth German valor and strength not merely to vanquish it, but
even to make it do good service: The fiend of the grape, like the serpent
killed by the saint, has two wide pinions, and the true German drinker
must make use of them to soar up to the seventh heaven."

And as concerns my Herdegen, I must confess that when he had well drunk
his spirits were higher, his mind clearer, and his song more glad; and
this is not so save in those dragon-slayers who have been blessed with a
fine temper and a strong brain inherited from their parents.

Every evening had there been the like mirthful doings over their wine;
but Sir Franz had been ever absent. He was even now forced to remain in
his chamber, albeit Master Ulsenius had declared that his life was out of
danger. The damage done to his lungs he must to be sure carry to his
grave, nor could he be able to follow us for some weeks yet. He was not
to think of making the journey to his own home in Bohemia during this
winter season, and at this farewell drinking bout we held council as to
whose roof he might find lodging under.