now?" "Yes," said she, "now I am Emperor." Then he stood and
looked at her well; and when he had looked at her thus for some time,
be said, "Ah, wife, be content, now that you are Emperor." "Husband,"
said she, "why are you standing there? Now, I am Emperor, but I will
be Pope too; go to the Flounder."

"Alas, wife," said the man, "what will you not wish for? You cannot
be Pope; there is but one in Christendom; he cannot make you Pope."
"Husband," said she, "I will be Pope; go immediately, I must be Pope
this very day." "No, wife," said the man, "I do not like to say that
to him; that would not do; it is too much; the Flounder can't make you
Pope." "Husband," said she, "what nonsense! If he can make an emperor
he can make a pope. Go to him directly. I am Emperor and you are
nothing but my husband; will you go at once?"

Then he was afraid, and went; but he was quite faint, and shivered and
shook, and his knees and legs trembled. And a high wind blew over the
land, and the clouds flew, and toward evening all grew dark, and the
leaves fell from the trees, and the water rose and roared as if it
were boiling, and splashed upon the shore; and in the distance he saw
ships which were firing guns in their sore need, pitching and tossing
on the waves. And yet in the midst of the sky there was still a small
bit of blue, though on every side it was as red as in a heavy storm.
So, full of despair, he went and stood in much fear and said--

"Flounder, Flounder, in the sea,
Come, I pray thee, here to me;
For my wife, good Ilsabil,
Wills not as I'd have her will."

"Well, what does she want, then?" asked the Flounder. "Alas," said the
man, "she wants to be Pope." "Go to her then," said the Flounder; "she
is Pope already."

So he went, and when he got there, he saw what seemed to be a large
church surrounded by palaces. Inside, however, everything was lighted
up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his wife was clad in
gold, and she was sitting on a much higher throne, and had three great
golden crowns on, and around about her there was much ecclesiastical
splendor; and on both sides of her was a row of candles the largest of
which was as tall as the very tallest tower, down to the very smallest
kitchen candle, and all the emperors and kings were on their knees
before her, kissing her shoe. He pushed his way through the crowd.
"Wife," said the man, and looked attentively at her, "are you now
Pope?" "Yes," said s