ian princesses. And the majesties and highnesses
follow; the procession flows into the New Sacristy; here the
cardinal-archbishop, Primate of Liparia, with all his mitred clergy,
receives the bridegroom and the bride....

In the cathedral waits the crowd of invited guests. Despite the beams of
the summer sun, a mystic twilight of shadow hovers through the tall and
stately arches of the cathedral and the daylight blossoms only on the
motley windows of the side-chapels; in the vaultings it is even dark.
But the high altar is one blaze of innumerable candles....

The imperial chancellor, the ministers, the ambassadors, the whole
diplomatic body, the members of both houses of parliament, the judges of
the high court have entered; they fill the tiers that have been erected
to right and left. And the whole cathedral is filled: one great swarm of
heavy, rustling silks--the low-necked dresses of the ladies, whose
jewels twinkle and flash--and one blaze of gold on the glittering
military and diplomatic uniforms, which like great sparks light up the
twilight of the cathedral.

Then the trumpets sound, the organ peals its jubilant tones in the
solemn festival-march; the first procession enters through the sacristy:
the German Emperor with the Empress Elizabeth of Liparia, the
Archduchess Eudoxie and a long retinue.... Now the trumpets sound, the
organ peals unceasingly; and the invited majesties with their suites and
the representatives of the foreign powers enter in group after group.
The canopied spaces to right and left of the choir begin to fill up.

Soon the second procession follows: the dignitaries in front, with the
insignia of state; the Emperor Oscar, leading the Duke of Xara: both
wear over their golden uniforms the long draped blue robes of St.
Ladislas, with the large white cross gleaming on the left arm; four
crown-princes follow as the bridegroom's four witnesses: the Duke of
Wendeholm, the Czarevitch, the Duke of Sparta and the Prince of Naples;
the knights of St. Ladislas, the officers of the throne-guards,
equerries and pages follow after....

And suddenly a choir of high voices vibrates crystal-clear and proclaims
a blessing on the bride, who cometh in the name of the Lord.... The
third procession has entered the cathedral: the Emperor of Austria and
the Archduke Albrecht, leading the bride, with her maids of honour and
her bridesmaids; and she seems to be one white wealth of illustrious
maidenhood among he