wedding with Sabina Lobesau, A.D. 1511."

"I don't understand much about dress," replied the brave knight of
Schweinsberg, catching the Duke's last words, "neither do I know much
about dancing, so you will excuse me; but if the bridegroom will break
a lance with me this evening in a tilt, I am his man!"

"So you want to break a couple of his ribs out of pure tenderness and
courtesy," said the Duke, laughing: "that's what I call a bridegroom's
companion of the right sort. But stop, Albert; I would advise you to
hold to your left-hand companion now, for the Ulmer will do you no
harm."

The folding doors were at this instant thrown open; when the persons
composing the Duke's court were seen stationed along the galleries.
Pages of honour led the procession, carrying long burning wax candles,
followed by a brilliant train of noble dames and maidens, who had been
invited to the ceremony. They were clad in rich stuffs, embroidered in
gold and silver, each carrying a large nosegay in one hand and a lemon
in the other. The bride was led between George von Hewen and Rheinhardt
von Gemmingen, followed by a numerous body of knights and nobles, with
Albert von Sturmfeder in the middle, having Maxx Stumpf on his right,
and the scribe to the Ulmer council, Dieterich von Kraft, on his left.
His whole bearing appeared to be animated by a spirit of elevated joy,
his eyes beamed with happiness, and his step was that of a conqueror.
His flowing hair, and the waving plumes of his cap, were conspicuously
prominent above the heads of those surrounding him. The crowd beheld
him as he passed with admiration, the men praising his tall, manly
figure and noble gait; and the young girls whispering to each other
their remarks upon his fine features and brilliant eyes.

The procession proceeded in this way from the gate of the castle to the
church, passing through a broad open space which separated them. The
close-packed heads of the worthy citizens of Stuttgardt were all on the
stretch to get a sight of the bride and bridegroom as they passed, who,
judging by the murmur of applause and admiration which followed them
into the church, were flattered by the reception they received.

Among the numerous spectators, a sprightly, plump countrywoman and her
daughter seemed particularly anxious to get a sight of the happy.
couple. The woman kept curtseying every moment, to the great amusement
of the surrounding citizens, who had only paid this attention