with him over that which was his own, and
likewise in greater matters. Each one was his equal in manly virtue, and
the worthy peer of his Imperial self. Then he pointed out to the
Queen certain noble and goodly heads, and it was my part to make known
whatsoever I could tell of their possessions and their manner of trade.
The Hallers were well known to him, and not alone my best beloved,
inasmuch as they did great trading with his kingdom of Hungary; and he
was well pleased to see my Hans with his father as one of the council.

His gracious wife was pleased to compare the good order, and cleanness,
and comfort of Nuremberg with the cities in their native country.
Whereas she had already been into some of our best houses, and indeed
into our own, she spoke well of the wealth, and art, and skill in all
crafts of the Nuremberg folk, saying they had not their like in all the
world so far as she knew. And then again she spoke her pleasure at the
honorable seemliness of the councillors, and asked me many questions
concerning this one and that, and, among the rest, concerning Master
Ulman Pernhart. The royal pair marked, in one his noble brow, in
another his long flowing hair, in a third his keen and shrewd eye, till
presently King Sigismund asked his Fool, Porro, which of all the heads
in the ranks opposite he might judge to be the wisest and weightiest.
The jester's twinkling eyes looked along the rows of folk, and whereas
they suddenly fell on little Dame Henneleinlein, the Honey-wife, who
sat, as was her wont, with her head propped on her hands, he took the
King's word up and answered in mock earnest: "Unless I am deceived it is
that butter-cup queen, Nuncle, seeing that her head is so heavy that she
is fain to hold it up with both hands."

And he pointed with his bauble to the old woman, who, as the
bee-master's widow, had boldly thrust herself into the front rank with
those of knight's degree; and there she sat, in a gown of bright yellow
brocade which Cousin Maud had once given her, stretching her long neck
and resting her head on her hands. The King and Queen, looking whither
the Fool pointed, when they beheld a little old woman instead of a
stately councillor, laughed aloud; but the jester bowed right humbly
towards the dame, and, she, so soon as she marked that the eyes of his
Majesty and his gracious lady were turned upon her, and that her paltry
person was the object of their regard, fancied that I had peradventure