Finally both their majesties came up.  Father and son were altogether dressed like Menaechmi.  The emperor’s domestic robes, of purple-colored silk, richly adorned with pearls and stones, as well as his crown, sceptre, and imperial orb, struck the eye with good effect.  For all in them was new, and the imitation of the antique was tasteful.  He moved, too, quite easily in his attire; and his true-hearted, dignified face, indicated at once the emperor and the father.  The young king, on the contrary, in his monstrous articles of dress, with the crown-jewels of Charlemagne, dragged himself along as if he had been in a disguise; so that he himself, looking at his father from time to time, could not refrain from laughing.  The crown, which it had been necessary to line a great deal, stood out from his head like an overhanging roof.  The dalmatica, the stole, well as they had been fitted and taken in by sewing, presented by no means an advantageous appearance.  The sceptre and imperial orb excited some admiration; but one would, for the sake of a more princely effect, rather have seen a strong form, suited to the dress, invested and adorned with it.

Scarcely were the gates of the great hall closed behind these figures, than I hurried to my former place, which, being already occupied by others, I only regained with some trouble.

It was precisely at the right time that I again took possession of my window, for the most remarkable part of all that was to be seen in public was just about to take place.  All the people had turned towards the Roemer; and a reiterated shout of vivat gave us to understand that the emperor and king, in their vestments, were showing themselves to the populace from the balcony of the great hall.  But they were not alone to serve as a spectacle, since another strange spectacle occurred before their eyes.  First of all, the handsome, slender hereditary marshal flung himself upon his steed:  he had laid aside his sword; in his right hand he held a silver-handled vessel, and a tin spatula in his left.  He rode within the barriers to the great heap of oats, sprang in, filled the vessel to overflow, smoothed it off, and carried it back again with great dignity.  The imperial stable was now provided for.  The hereditary chamberlain then rode likewise to the spot, and brought back a basin with ewer and towel.  But more entertaining for the spectators was the hereditary carver, who came to fetch a piece of the roasted ox.  He also rode, with a silver dish, through the barriers, to the large wooden kitchen, and came forth again with his portion covered, that he might go back to the Roemer.  Now it was the turn of the hereditary cup-bearer, who rode to the fountain and fetched wine.  Thus now was the imperial table furnished; and every eye waited upon the hereditary treasurer, who was to throw about the money.  He, too, mounted a fine steed, to the sides of whose saddle, instead of holsters, a couple of splendid bags, embroidered