It is said that one day, as the Emperor was at table with many Roman-catholic princes, he was informed that some comedians begged permission (according to custom) to amuse their lordships. First appeared an old man wearing a mask, and dressed in a doctor's robe, who advanced with difficulty carrying a bundle of sticks in his arms, some straight and some crooked. He approached the wide fireplace of the Gothic hall, threw down his load in disorder, and immediately withdrew.[708] Charles and the courtiers read on his back the inscription--JOHN REUCHLIN. Then appeared another mask with an intelligent look, who made every exertion to pair the straight and the crooked pieces;[709] but finding his labours useless, he shook his head, turned to the door, and disappeared. They read--ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM. Almost immediately after advanced a monk with bright eye and decided gait, carrying a brasier of lighted coals.[710] He put the wood in order, set fire to it, blew and stirred it up, so that the flame rose bright and sparkling into the air. He then retired, and on his back were the words--MARTIN LUTHER. [708] Persona larva contecta, habitu doctorali portabat struem lignorum. (T. L. Fabricius, opp. omnia, ii. p. 131.) [709] Hic conabatur curva rectis exæquare lignis. (T. L. Fabricius, opp. omnia, p. ii. 231.) [710] In azula ferens ignem et prunas. (Ibid.) Next approached a magnificent personage, covered with all the imperial insignia, who, seeing the fire so bright, drew his sword, and endeavoured by violent thrusts to extinguish it; but the more he struck, the fiercer burnt the flames, so that at last he quitted the place in indignation. His name, as it would seem, was not made known to the spectators, but all divined it. The general attention was soon attracted by a new character. A man, wearing a surplice and a mantle of red velvet, with an alb of white wool that reached to his heels, and having a stole around his neck, whose ends were ornamented with pearls, advanced majestically. Beholding the flames that already filled the hearth, he clapped his hands in terror, and looking around him sought to find something to extinguish them. He sees two vessels at the very extremity of the hall, one filled with water, and the other with oil. He rushes to them, seizes unwittingly on that containing the oil, and throws it on the fire.[711] The flames then spread with such violence that the mask fled in alarm, raising his hands to heaven; on his back was read the name of LEO X. [711] Currens in amphoram oleo plenam. (T. L. Fabricius, opp. omnia, ii. p. 232.) The mystery was finished; but instead of claiming their remuneration, the pretended actors had disappeared. No one asked the moral of this drama. [Sidenote: OMENS.]