It would be a great sorrow if I should learn through you, Jungfrau Barbara, that here, too, it would have been advisable to arm myself against wanton deception.

True, the French chansons you sing sound unlike our sincere German songs.

And then you, the fairest of the fair, can choose at will among men; but the Emperor's service carries me from one country to another.

I am only a poor nobleman--" "I care not," she interrupted him here with icy coldness; "you might be just good enough for the daughter of another nobleman, who has little more to call his own than you, Sir Knight, but nevertheless far too little for me to grant you permission to load me with unjust reproaches.
Besides, you wholly lack the one advantage which the man to whom I am willing to betroth myself must possess." "And what is that ?" he asked eagerly.
"Neither gold nor lands, rank nor splendour," she answered proudly, "but changeless fidelity of the heart.

Remember your fluttering from lovely Elspet Zohrer to me, and from me to Elspet, Sir Pyramus, and ask yourself what reason you would give me to expect the fulfilment of such a demand.