most eminent among them for knightly bearing was
the young Duke of Milan. He was handsome, proud, and imperious, but
withal brave and courteous as became his gentle birth; and he was a
magnificent patron of minstrels and men of letters, aiming to make his
court the centre of literature and the fine arts. His personal qualities
and accomplishments were such as to win for him the admiration of the
fair Princess, who had never before been wooed by a suitor so much to
her taste. His rank and possessions were so great that all would have
acknowledged the match a suitable one even for Clotilda's pretensions.
But a wider career of ambition was now opening before the vision of the
aspiring lady. Who would stoop to be a duchess, when the diadem of an
empress was placed at her disposal? Certainly not the Princess Clotilda,
be her preferences what they might: she would have considered it
childish folly to hesitate in her choice. And three emperors now graced
the court, each provided with a numerous and splendid retinue. These
daily vied with each other in gorgeous fetes and costly presents to the
proud beauty whom they hoped to win. In flowing robe of richest fabric,
stiff with sparkling gems, behold the Emperor of China, the Sacred Son
of Heaven, the Supreme Ruler of the earth! His shaven head is surmounted
by a conical cap, at the crown of which one pearl of uncommon size
points out his rank: beneath it hangs down a jet-black queue below his
waist. His small, oblique eyes, his yellow complexion, and thin beard
show him unmistakably to belong to the Central Flowery Land. He is a
heathen: but perhaps for her sake he might be baptized. At any rate,
there would be little difficulty in procuring a dispensation from Holy
Mother Church, which is ever hopeful that such alliances may bring
converts into her bosom. Will she, can she accept him? She will at least
accept his gifts and his attentions, and will decide hereafter.
Millions, unnumbered millions of slaves call him their lord; vast is his
power and wealth; provinces would be her dowry. But would she not,
herself, merely add another to his list of slaves? Secluded within his
palace, with many rivals to counteract her, would she not gather thorns,
as well as blossoms, in the Flowery Land? It is a matter to be
considered.

But who are these two other Asiatics, as they appear by their dress,
fashioned in Oriental magnificence? One is from the frozen North, the
other from the sunny So