Alanbam and his retainers.

As soon as the prince, after saluting the king, beheld the princess, he
turned pale, for he had never seen any one so ugly; and however much he
might have desired to keep up an appearance of courtesy to the princess
before her father's subjects, he could not kiss her as she expected him
to do, nor could he be persuaded to occupy the chair reserved for him
beside the princess.

"Your mercy," said he, addressing the king, "must excuse my insuperable
bashfulness; but the fact is that the Princess Altamira is so
transcendently beautiful, and so dazzling to behold, that I can never
expect to look upon her face again and live."

The king and the princess were highly flattered; but as Prince Alanbam
continued obdurate in his professions of bashfulness, they commenced to
feel somewhat vexed, and at last the king said in a loud voice--

"Prince Alanbam, we fully appreciate the motive that prompts your
conduct, but the fact is the Princess Altamira is present to be wedded
to you; and, as a Christian king, the first of my line, I desire to lead
to the altar my only daughter, Princess Altamira, and her affianced
husband, Prince Alanbam."

"It cannot be," said the prince. "I would rather marry some one less
beautiful. Sir king, forgive me if I annoy you, but I will not be wedded
to so much beauty."

The king was now incensed beyond measure, and the princess his
daughter, thinking to spite Prince Alanbam, said--

"With your permission, royal father, since I am too beautiful for a
prince, I will be married to the most learned man in your
kingdom--Bernardo, the royal barber."

"And that you shall," said the king; but, on turning round to speak to
the barber, he found that this the most learned man in his kingdom was
all of a tremble, as if dancing to the music of St. Vitus.

"What has possessed thee, caitiff?" asked the king. "Hearest not thou
the honour that is to be conferred on thee?"

"My royal master," muttered the poor frightened man of learning and
lather, "I can no more avail myself of the honour which you would confer
on me than the Archbishop of Villafranca could. His grace is bound to
celibacy, and I am already married."

Now, the barber had on many occasions rendered himself obnoxious to
Sanchez, the royal cobbler, who, seeing the king's perplexity, and a
chance of avenging past insults, exclaimed--

"Royal master, it would be most acceptable to your subjects that so
much beauty s