sea was quite black and thick,
and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying about, and
the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled
with fear. He stood and said:

'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'

'What does she want now?' asked the flounder.

'Alas! flounder,' he said, 'my wife wants to be emperor.'

'Go home,' said the flounder; 'she is that already.'

So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the whole
castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues
and gold. Before the gate soldiers were marching, blowing trumpets and
beating drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts, and dukes,
acting as servants; they opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And
when he entered, he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a
single block of gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a
great golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants
and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the other the
imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows of halberdiers,
each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot giant to the tiniest
little dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes
were standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said:

'Wife, are you emperor now?'

'Yes,' she said, 'I am emperor.'

He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her for
some time, said:

'Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.'

'Husband,' said she, 'why are you standing there? I am emperor now, and
I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.'

'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'what more do you want? You cannot be
pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he cannot make you
that.'

'Husband,' she said, 'I _will_ be pope. Go down quickly; I must be pope
to-day.'

'No, wife,' said the fisherman; 'I can't ask him that. It is not right;
it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.'

'Husband, what nonsense!' said his wife. 'If he can make emperor, he can
make pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you are my
husband. Will you be off at once?'

So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and trembled
and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind
was blowing fier