Imperial City

From the outset I hated the city of my ancestors. I was fearful I’d be put in the dungeon below the cathedral. The best example of the Romanesque a guide was saying in German      in English      in French where are buried eight German kings      four queens twenty-three bishops      four Holy Roman Emperors all of whom used this bishopric on the river as the seat of the kingdom. On the old gate at one end a clock told an ancient form of time. I sulked along behind my parents as the guide gave facts about the war with the Saracens      about the place where the Jews bathed about the child like me whose father the Peaceful having already produced an heir by his first marriage could marry      for love.