# III: How the Two Friends Spent the Winter explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus > Chapter companion for The Adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. ## What happens Simplicissimus and Herzbruder spend the winter in a Swiss bath town, living comfortably on the ill-gotten money from Oliver. Simplicissimus reveals his wealth to Herzbruder and insists they share it equally. Herzbruder, moved by his friend's trust, becomes steward of their funds. They exchange life stories, and Herzbruder learns Simplicissimus has a wife in Lippstadt, urging him to write to her. Herzbruder contacts General Count Götz, hoping to restore his fortunes. They study fortification engineering and resist alchemists' schemes. Simplicissimus receives no reply from his wife, so he decides to accompany Herzbruder to Vienna instead of returning to Lippstadt. They equip themselves as cavaliers and travel via Constance and Ulm to Vienna. ## Themes in this chapter ### Greed and Money Simplicissimus uses Oliver's ill-gotten money to live lavishly, but Herzbruder counsels frugality. The money is seen as unholy and not to be used for buying lands, yet it enables their winter comfort and travel. ### Folly and Wisdom Herzbruder's wise counsel on frugality contrasts with Simplicissimus's princely spending. They also resist the folly of alchemists who promise to make gold, showing prudence. ### Deception and Appearance The alchemists try to deceive Simplicissimus into funding their schemes, but Herzbruder sees through their pretenses. The friends also equip themselves as cavaliers, adopting a noble appearance. ## Character check-ins ### Simplicissimus Reveals his wealth to Herzbruder and insists on sharing Oliver's money. Writes to his wife in Lippstadt but receives no reply, then decides to go to Vienna with Herzbruder. ### Ulrich Herzbruder Counsels frugality, becomes steward of the shared money, tells his life story, and contacts General Count Götz to restore his fortunes. ### Count Götz Herzbruder learns from public prints that Count Götz is doing well and may be vindicated and given command again; Herzbruder writes to him at Vienna. ### Oliver His money, taken by Simplicissimus, is used to fund the friends' winter stay and travel. ## Key lines > There did I hire a cheerful parlour and a chamber for us, such as the visitors to the baths do commonly use to have, especially in summer: which be mostly rich Switzers that do resort here more to pass the time and make a show than to take baths for any disease. I rented a pleasant room and a chamber for us, like those typically used by summer visitors to the baths—mostly wealthy Swiss who come more for leisure and display than for medical treatment. _Describes the setting of their winter stay in a Swiss bath town._ > At such loyal counsel I could no longer conceal from Herzbruder how rich my treasury was, and how I was minded to spend it for the good of both of us, since its extraction and growth were so unholy that I could not think to buy lands with it; Because of his faithful advice, I could no longer hide from Herzbruder how wealthy I was, and I intended to spend the money for both our benefit, since it had been gained so unrighteously that I could not use it to buy property. _Simplicissimus reveals his wealth and its immoral origin to Herzbruder._ > In a word, brother, thy noble soul doth make me thy slave, and the favour thou showest me is more easy to admire than to repay. In short, brother, your generous spirit makes me your devoted servant, and the kindness you show me is easier to admire than to repay. _Herzbruder expresses his deep gratitude and admiration for Simplicissimus's trust and friendship._ > But when he heard I had a young wife in Lippstadt, he did reprove me that I had not repaired to her rather than with him to Switzerland, for that had been more fitting, and was my duty moreover: When he learned that I had a young wife in Lippstadt, he scolded me for not going to her instead of coming with him to Switzerland, saying that would have been more proper and my duty. _Herzbruder criticizes Simplicissimus for neglecting his wife._ > So too I made acquaintance with certain alchymists that, because they saw I had money at my back, would teach me to make gold, an I would but bear the expense of it: yea, and I do believe they had persuaded me thereto had not Herzbruder given them their congé, saying that he that possessed such an art would not need to go about like a beggar, nor to ask others for money. I also met some alchemists who, seeing I had money, offered to teach me how to make gold if I would cover the costs. I believe they would have convinced me, but Herzbruder dismissed them, saying that anyone who truly knew such an art would not go around like a beggar asking others for money. _Herzbruder's wisdom prevents Simplicissimus from being duped by alchemists._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/iii-how-the-two-friends-spent-the-winter - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters