blood rose to my cheeks
likewise for maiden shyness; nevertheless I heard the King's deep,
outlandish tones, and his noble wife's pleasant voice, and they lauded
our posies and made enquiry as to our names, and straitly enjoined
Ann and me not to fail of appearing at every dance and banquet; and
I remember that we made answer with seemly modesty till the King's
grand-master came up and so ended our discourse.

And I fancy I can see the multitude coming on; the motley hues of velvet
and silk, the housings and trappings of the horses, the bright sheen of
polished metal, and the sparkle of cut gems dazzle my eyes, I ween,
to this day. But on a sudden it all fades into dimness; the cries and
voices, the bells, the neighing, the crash and clatter are silent--for
he is come. He waves his hand, more goodly, more truly mine and dearer
to my heart than ever. But not here do we truly meet again; that joy is
to come later in his own garden.

That garden could already tell a tale of two happy human creatures, and
of hours of the purest bliss ever vouchsafed to two young hearts; but
what thereafter befell I remember as bright, hot, summer days, full
of mirth and play-acting, of tourneys and courtly sports, of music and
song, dancing and pleasuring. The gracious favor of the King and Queen
and the presence of many princes ceased not to grace it, and went to our
brain like heady wine. Things that had hitherto seemed impossible now
came true. Out of sheer joy in those intoxicating pleasures, and for the
sake of the manifold demands that came upon us in these over-busy days,
we forgot those nearest and dearest to our hearts. Yet never was I given
to self-seeking, neither before nor since that time.

Ann's beguiling of the Junker, the homage paid to her by all, even the
highest, Herdegen's seething ire, his strivings to win back the favor
of the maid he had slighted, his strange and various and high-handed
demeanor, his shameless ways with Ursula, to whom he paid great court
when my grand-uncle was present, albeit at other times he would cast
dark glances at her as if she were a foe--all this glides past me as in
a mist, and concerning me but little. Then, in the midst of this turmoil
and magnificence, this love-making and royal grace, now and again
meseemed I was suddenly alone and forlorn; even at the tourney or dance;
nay, even when the King and Queen would vouchsafe to discourse with
me, I would be filled with longing for peace and