Pleasure had become a stranger.
Only once they saw her laughing,
When the Suabian younker came there;
But it was a bitter laughter,
Harsh, discordant as a string sounds
On a mandolin when snapping;
And the younker then returned thence
Single, as from home he started.
Silently the maiden sorrowed
As the months and years sped onward;
Till at last the Princess Abbess,
Filled with pity, told the Baron:
"On our soil your child no longer
Thrives as heretofore, but slowly
Her poor heart from grief is withering.
Change of air oft worketh wonders.
Let me take then Margaretta
With me to the Holy City,
Where in spite of age I'm going;
For, in Chur the wicked bishop
Threatens to deprive our convent
Of our fairest Swiss possessions,
And I shall complain of him there,
Saying to the Holy Father:
'Show me mercy, justly punish
The harsh bishop of the Grisons.'"
Said the Baron: "Take her with you;
And may Heaven grant its blessing,
That you may bring back my daughter
Rosy-cheeked and happy-hearted."
Thus to Italy they travelled
With old Anton as their coachman.

Now the carriage-door he opened,
And alighting, the old Abbess,
Followed by fair Margaretta,
Walked up to the church and entered.
Margaretta gazed in wonder
At the vastness of the building,
Where man seems reduced to nothing;
At the giant marble columns,
And the dome with gold overladen.
In the niche of the great nave stands
The bronze statue of St. Peter,
Which this day in papal vestments
Was arrayed, the gold brocade robe
Hanging stiffly on the statue;
On the head the Bishop's mitre.
And they saw how many people
Kissed the foot of this bronze statue.
Then a papal chamberlain led
Both the German ladies forward
To a seat close by the altar,
Place of honour kept for strangers.
Now was heard the sound of music;
And the Holy Father coming
Through the side-door from the Vatican
Made his entrance to St. Peter's.
Stout Swiss halberdiers were marching
At the head of the procession,
Followed by the celebrated
Singers of the papal choir.
Heavy music-books were carried
By the choristers, some