After these came the
court of Lewis XIV. of France, as I perceived by his arms--the three
fleur-de-lys on a silver banner reared high. Whilst admiring the
loftiness and magnificence of these palaces, I observed that there was
much traversing from one court to another, and asked the reason. "Oh,
there is many a dark reason," said the Angel, "existing between these
three potent and crafty monarchs, but though they deem themselves fitting
peers to the three princesses up yonder, their power and guile is nought
compared with theirs. Yea more, great Belial deems the whole city,
notwithstanding the number of its kings, unsuitable for his daughters.
Although he offers them in marriage to everybody, he has never actually
given them to anyone. Keen rivalry has existed between these three for
their hands; the Turk, who calls himself the god of earth, would have the
eldest, Pride, to wife. "Nay," said the king of France, "she is mine,
for I keep all my subjects in her street, and bring her many from England
and many other realms." Spain would have the Princess of Lucre, spite of
Holland and all the Jews, and England, the Princess of Pleasure in spite
of the Pagans.
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