e hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair of
ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon. Bracelets
of gold were upon his arms, and many rings upon his hands, and a golden
torquis about his neck; and his hair was bound with a golden diadem. He
was of powerful aspect. A chessboard of gold was before him, and a rod
of gold, and a steel file in his hand. And he was carving out chessmen.

And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold. Not
more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look upon
her by reason of her beauty. A vest of white silk was upon the maiden,
with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue was
upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems
were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial stones. And a
girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the fairest sight that man
ever beheld.

The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms about
the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the chair of
gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than for the maiden
alone. And as he had his arms about the maiden's neck, and his cheek by
her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their leashing, and
the clashing of the shields as they struck against each other, and the
beating together of the shafts of the spears, and the neighing of the
horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke.

And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of the
maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden pervaded
his whole frame. {120} Then his household spake unto him. "Lord," said
they "is it not past the time for thee to take thy food?" Thereupon the
emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man that mortal ever saw, and
went forth towards Rome.

And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of the household
went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went not with any
of them. When they went to listen to songs and tales, he went not with
them there; neither could he be persuaded to do anything but sleep. And
as often as he slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he loved best;
but except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he knew not where in
the world she was.

One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was page
of the chamber, he was king of the Romans. "Lord," said he