Vittore Carpaccio
Arrival in Cologne

Mouse:

Where's it got to, that old moggy? Have you seen it? 

No? Well, maybe it's still looking for me in the last painting. Hee-hee!

But the story of the beautiful princess carries on here: Ursula, the prince and even the pope have boarded a ship and sailed to Cologne. It's anchored right here at the front, and the travellers are peering over the railing, looking down from the ship. There's a small boat in front of the ship with a young man who's telling them what's going on. The city of Cologne is under siege by an invading army. Hmm... what do you think? Should Ursula, the prince and the pope leave the ship or not?

Cat:

It has to be here somewhere! I can sense it – I'm hot on its heels!

Hey, you! Dog! Have you seen a mouse?

Hund:

Woof!

Cat:

Woof-yes or woof-no?

Hund:

Woof!

Cat:

Oh boy, I don't believe it! How hard can it be to tell me if a mouse has just run past here?

Hund:

Woof!

Cat:

Boy-oh-boy-oh-boy! You must know – you've been watching this scene for 500 years! You can see the two ships anchored here, the big city in the background, all the soldiers in front of the city...

Ah! I get it! You belong to one of them, don't you. One of the enemy soldiers. Because I know how this story ends. I know that the poor princess, her bridegroom and all her fellow travellers – none of them manage to get away from the soldiers.

And you? You'll just watch and not lift a paw. No wonder: typical pooch.

Hund: 

Woof!

Cat:

But where has that sassy little mouse gone? It's probably scuttled off into the next room. Best hurry after it! Ursula and her travelling companions will unfortunately have to manage without me.