concerning this one and that, and, among the rest, concerning Master
Ulman Pernhart. The royal pair marked, in one his noble brow, in another
his long flowing hair, in a third his keen and shrewd eye, till presently
King Sigismund asked his Fool, Porro, which of all the heads in the ranks
opposite he might judge to be the wisest and weightiest. The jester's
twinkling eyes looked along the rows of folk, and whereas they suddenly
fell on little Dame Henneleinlein, the Honey-wife, who sat, as was her
wont, with her head propped on her hands, he took the King's word up and
answered in mock earnest: "Unless I am deceived it is that butter-cup
queen, Nuncle, seeing that her head is so heavy that she is fain to hold
it up with both hands."

And he pointed with his bauble to the old woman, who, as the bee-master's
widow, had boldly thrust herself into the front rank with those of
knight's degree; and there she sat, in a gown of bright yellow brocade
which Cousin Maud had once given her, stretching her long neck and
resting her head on her hands. The King and Queen, looking whither the
Fool pointed, when they beheld a little old woman instead of a stately
councillor, laughed aloud; but the jester bowed right humbly towards the
dame, and, she, so soon as she marked that the eyes of his Majesty and
his gracious lady were turned upon her, and that her paltry person was
the object of their regard, fancied that I had peradventure named her as
being Ann's cousin, or as the widow of the deceased bee-master who, long
years ago, had led the Emperor Charles to see the bee-gardens, so she
made reverence again and again, and meanwhile laid her head more and more
on one side, ever leaning more heavily on her hand, till the King and
Queen laughed louder than ever and many an one perceived what was doing.
The cup-bearer and chamberlain drew long faces, and Porro at last ended
the jest by greeting the old woman with such dumbshow as no one could
think an honor. The cunning little woman saw now that she was being made