Now the sound of bells, and the van of the long train which gently made its way over the many-colored bridge, announced that all was done.  The attention was greater than ever, and the procession more distinct than before, particularly for us, since it now came directly up to us.  We saw both, and the whole of the square, which was thronged with people, almost as if on a ground-plan.  Only at the end the magnificence was too much crowded:  for the envoys; the hereditary officers; the emperor and king, under the canopy (Baldachin); the three spiritual electors, who immediately followed; the schoeffen and senators, dressed in black; the gold-embroidered canopy (Himmel),—­all seemed only one mass, which, moved by a single will, splendidly harmonious, and thus stepping from the temple amid the sound of the bells, beamed towards us as something holy.

A politico-religious ceremony possesses an infinite charm.  We behold earthly majesty before our eyes, surrounded by all the symbols of its power; but, while it bends before that of heaven, it brings to our minds the communion of both.  For even the individual can only prove his relationship with the Deity by subjecting himself and adoring.

The rejoicings which resounded from the market-place now spread likewise over the great square; and a boisterous vivat burst forth from thousands upon thousands of throats, and doubtless from as many hearts.  For this grand festival was to be the pledge of a lasting peace, which indeed for many a long year actually blessed Germany.

Several days before, it had been made known by public proclamation, that neither the bridge nor the eagle over the fountain was to be exposed to the people, and they were therefore not, as at other times, to be touched.  This was done to prevent the mischief inevitable with such a rush of persons.  But, in order to sacrifice in some degree to the genius of the mob, persons expressly appointed went behind the procession, loosened the cloth from the bridge, wound it up like a flag, and threw it into the air.  This gave rise to no disaster, but to a laughable mishap; for the cloth unrolled itself in the air, and, as it fell, covered a larger or smaller number of persons.  Those now who took hold of the ends and drew them towards them, pulled all those in the middle to the ground, enveloped them and teased them till they tore or cut themselves through; and everybody, in his own way, had borne off a corner of the stuff made sacred by the footsteps of majesty.

I did not long contemplate this rough sport, but hastened from my high position through all sorts of little steps and passages, down to the great Roemer-stairs, where the distinguished and majestic mass, which had been stared at from the distance, was to ascend in its undulating course.  The crowd was not great, because the entrances to the city-hall were well garrisoned; and I fortunately reached at once the iron balustrades above.  Now the chief personages ascended past me, while their followers remained behind in the lower arched passages; and I could observe them on the thrice-broken stairs from all sides, and at last quite close.