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MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 123
proper weight, after which the Virgin again sprung up into
her high throne, and one of the pages commanded each to
place himself according to his order, and successively step PeMesantur
fVTtill CCS.
into the scale. One of the Emperors, making no scruple, i.
first bowed himself a little towards the Virgin, and in all
his stately attire went up, whereupon each captain laid in
his weight, which (to the wonder of all) he stood out.
But the last was too heavy for him, so that forth he must,
and that with such anguish that the Virgin herself seemed
to pitty him, yet was the good Emperor bound and
delivered to the sixth band. Next him came forth another
Emperor, who stept hautily into the scale, and, having a 2. csar.
thick book under his gown, he imagined not to fail ; but,
being scarce able to abide the third weight,
he was un-
mercifully ttslung down, and his book in that affrightment
slipping from him, all the soldiers began to laugh, and he
was delivered up bound to the third band. Thus it went
also with some others of the Emperors, who were all shame- 3 . Alii
fully laughed at and made captive. After these comes
forth a little short man, with a curled brown beard, an
and 4.
Emperor too, who, after the usual reverence, got up
held out so stedfastly that methought had there been more
weights he would have outstood them. To him the Virgin
immediately arose and bowed before him, causing him to
put on a gown of red velvet, then reaching him a branch of
laurel, whereof she had good store upon her throne, on the
steps of which she willed him to sit down. How after him
it fared with the rest of the Emperors, Kings, and Lords,
would be too long to recount ; few of those great person-
ages held out, though sundry
eminent vertues were found
in many. Everyone who failed was miserably laughed at
by the bands. After the inquisition had passed over the