# How He Found the Devil in the Trough, and How Jump-I’-Th’-Field Got Fine Horses explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

> Chapter companion for The Adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen.

## What happens

Simplicissimus, now in possession of Jupiter the fool, reflects on the uncertainty of fortune. He joins Count von der Wahl's cavalry expedition against Hessian troopers, and during a night assault, he and Jump-i'-th'-field seize a house. Simplicissimus finds a naked black man in a trough, whom he mistakes for the devil. They capture horses and booty, including a portmanteau with rings and a portrait. Simplicissimus gains a negro servant, two horses, and valuables. Later, he visits the pastor from whom he once stole bacon, giving him a watch as a peace offering.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fortune and Fate

Simplicissimus reflects on the uncertainty of fortune, contrasting his past misery with present prosperity.

### Deception and Appearance

The black man in the trough is mistaken for the devil, highlighting how appearances deceive.

### Greed and Money

The division of booty, including horses, rings, and a portrait, underscores the material gains of war.

## Character check-ins

### Simplicissimus

Narrates his good fortune, leads a storming party, mistakes a black man for the devil, and later reconciles with the pastor.

### Jump-i'-th'-field

Accompanies Simplicissimus in the assault, captures horses and a servant, and shares the booty.

### Jupiter

Mentioned as the fool Simplicissimus now owns, having been given by the commandant.

### Count von der Wahl

Leads the cavalry expedition and later lodges his staff in the house Simplicissimus and Jump-i'-th'-field had seized.

## Key lines

> So wondrous is fortune and so changeable the times! Even now had the lice troubled me, and now had I the very god of fleas in my power; half a year before was I serving a miserable dragoon as page, and now I had command of two servants that called me master; and so I reflected at times that nothing is so certain in this world as its uncertainty.

Fortune is fickle: once I was plagued by lice, now I command a fool; half a year ago I was a page, now I have two servants. I realize that nothing in life is certain.

_Simplicissimus muses on the instability of fortune._

> I knocked open in hopes to find somewhat valuable, but as I raised the cover a coal-black thing rose up against me which I took for Lucifer himself.

I broke open the trough expecting treasure, but a black figure rose up, and I thought it was the devil.

_Simplicissimus mistakes the black man for the devil._

> For my share I received the negro and the two best horses, of which one was a Spanish one, on which any soldier might meet his enemy, and with this thereafter I made no small show; but out of the portmanteau I got divers costly rings, and in a golden case set with rubies the Prince of Orange’s portrait.

My share of the booty included the black man, two fine horses (one Spanish), and from the portmanteau I took several valuable rings and a ruby-set gold case with the Prince of Orange's portrait.

_Simplicissimus lists his gains from the plunder._

## Links

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