ough there had never been a
breach between the twain--Ann refused, as not caring but yet firm in her
mind. Then the Duke, who was even yet a fine singer and bore in mind how
Ursula had demeaned herself towards Ann at the great dance, desired to
have the lute and sang the song as follows:

"Behold a lady sweet and fair
In simple dress,
But right well clothed upon is she
With seemliness.
By her do flowers seem less bright,
And she is such a glorious sight
As, on May morns, the golden sun which lights up hill and lea--
But froward maids delight us not, with all their bravery."

And he sang the little verse to Ann as though it were in her praise,
till at the last line, which fell from his lips as it were in scorn, he
cast a reproving glance at Ursula, and many an one might see and feel
how well the song befitted one and the other of the hostile damsels.

Yet was it hard to guess what Ursula was thinking of all this; she
thanked the Duke right freely for his fine song which held up the mirror
to all froward ladies. At the same time she looked steadfastly at Ann,
and led both Herdegen and the Knight of Eberstein to talk with herself;
yet how often all the time did my brother cast his eyes at his heart's
beloved, whom he had betrayed.

As for myself, I can call to mind little enough of all that was said,
for the most part concerning the flowers and trees in the garden. Only
Ann and my brother dwell in my memory, each feigning neither to see nor
to hear the other, while covertly each had not eyes nor ears for any
other. Yes, and I mind me how my brother's unrest and distress so filled
me now with joy and now with pity, that I longed to cry out to the
Junker that this was a base trick they were playing on him, inasmuch as
Ann poured oil and more oil on the flame of his love.

And there stood old Tetzel and his daughter, and it was plain to see
that they deemed that they had Herdegen safe in their toils; nay,
it seemed likely enough that he had done his uncle's bidding and was
already betrothed to her. Howbeit this strange lover had up to that
moment cast not one loving look on his lady love.

What should come of it all? How could I ever find peace and comfort in
so perverse a world, and amid this feigning which had turned upside down
all that heretofore had seemed upright? Whichever way I turned there
were things which I did not crave to see, and the saint