"
So the man went, and when he got there the whole palace was made
of polished marble with alabaster figures and golden ornaments, and
soldiers were marching before the door blowing trumpets, and beating
cymbals and drums; and in the house, barons, and counts, and dukes
were going about as servants. Then they opened the doors to him,
which were of pure gold. And when he entered, there sat his wife on a
throne, which was made of one piece of gold, and was quite two miles
high; and she wore a great golden crown that was three yards high, and
set with diamonds and carbuncles, and in one hand she had the sceptre,
and in the other the imperial orb; and on both sides of her stood
the yeomen of the guard in two rows, each being smaller than the one
before him, from the biggest giant, who was two miles high, to the
very smallest dwarf, just as big as my little finger. And before it
stood a number of princes and dukes.
Then the man went and stood among them, and said, "Wife, are you
Emperor now?" "Yes," said she, "now I am Emperor." Then he stood and
looked at her well; and when he had looked at her thus for some time,
be said, "Ah, wife, be content, now that you are Emperor." "Husband,"
said she, "why are you standing there? Now, I am Emperor, but I will
be Pope too; go to the Flounder."
"Alas, wife," said the man, "what will you not wish for? You cannot
be Pope; there is but one in Christendom; he cannot make you Pope.
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