Page:The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart.pdf/243



they take me and lead me on; and behold, the outer walls of this palace gleamed everywhere with divers beautiful paintings; and it had a gate at which guards stood; thus no one except those who had some power or office in the world could enter. To these only, as being servants of the queen and executors of her orders, liberty to go in and out was granted. Others, if they wished to behold the palace, had to gape at it from the outside only. (For it was said that it was not seemly that all should spy on the secrets by which the world is ruled.) And, indeed, of such who gaped at the castle from outside, more with their mouths than with their eyes, I saw a large number. None the less was I glad that they led me through the gates; for I had also always been desirous to know what secrets worldly Wisdom possessed.

2. But here also I was not without an accident; the guards, stopping me, begin to question me as to my purpose; indeed, they begin to drive and push me back, and to strike at me. But Impudence, who was well known here also, said I know not