an anything else. I have often heard him gladly
acknowledge this, and as for you, friend Lienhard."

"I know," replied the young Honourable modestly, checking him, "that he
was right in deeming the immature youth, which I was at the time of my
first wooing, unworthy of his daughter."

"Though you had been the peer in strength and beauty of the valiant
Achilles, and in wisdom of the subtle Ulysses, son of Laertes, I would
not contradict you," interrupted Pirckheimer; "for, gentlemen, this
gallant husband's wife is a jewel of a peculiar kind. Nuremberg is proud
of calling Frau Katharina her daughter. Far as the German language is
spoken, her equal would be sought in vain."

"You are an enviable man," said little Dr. Eberbach, turning to
Lienhard. "But probably you will permit me one question. Even when a
boy,--as we heard, you loved the child Katharina. As a youth, you took
this love across the Alps to Padua and Bologna. But when, like the
noble Virgil, I perceive that 'Nowhere is there aught to
trust-nowhere,'--[Virg. AEn. iv, 373.]--and find that the esteemed
Catullus's words, 'No man passes through life without error,'--[Catull.
Dist. I, 5.]--are verified, I would fain learn whether in Italy also
you held fast, in small things as well as great ones, to the--among us
men--rare bird of the fidelity sworn to the woman whom we love. I, who
compared to you, am like a faun with pointed ears beside the handsome
Ares, nevertheless know by experience how easily the glowing eyes of
that country kindle conflagrations. Was the armour of a former love
really strong enough to guard your heart from every flame, even before
any vow bound you to the child whom you chose so early for the companion
of your life"?

"It was the same before the priest's consecration as afterward," replied
the young Councillor, gravely and firmly.

Then, changing his manner, he held out his brimming glass toward the
Thuringian and gaily continued:

"It ought not to seem so amazing to a man of your learning, my
incredulous Herr Doctor. Surely your far-famed Propertius says, 'Love is
benefited by many things, a faithful nature and resolute persistence.'
Believe me, doctor, even without the counsel of your experienced Roman,
I should have kept faith with the lovely child at home. From my boyhood,
Katharina was to me the woman, the one above all others, the worthy
Tryphon, my teacher of Greek in Bologna, would have said. My heart's
darling has always been