_CHAPTER II_.
_THE AMBUSCADE_.
After a winter spent in harassing the enemy and in petty skirmisheswith the Emperor's adherents, the Milanese inaugurated the year 1161,in a more serious manner, by the capture of several fortresses, some byassault, others through treachery. Frederic was still unable to makeany serious resistance to his enemy's advance; for the Germanreinforcements had not yet arrived, and his own little army, in orderto hasten the fall of Milan, was besieging the towns of Como andNeulodi, so that his operations were limited almost to a strictlydefensive policy, whilst, in person, he rode at the head of a smallescort, through the province, reassuring his declared allies andconciliating those whose sentiments were as yet doubtful.
It was a beautiful morning. A small troop of armed men, whoseappearance was that of banditti, were keeping guard at the foot of ahill, about two days' journey from Milan. The soldiers, wearied by along march, were stretched upon the ground, and about a dozen horses,with heaving flanks, stood close by, showing clearly that they hadshared the fatigue of their riders.
The chief of the band stood a little to their rear, and with his armscrossed on his breast, appeared to be reflecting profoundly. His costlyarmor and proud bearing was not that of a robber, for his shield wasmagnificently embossed in silver, the border of his surcoat richlyembroidered, and his sword-belt inlaid with precious jewels. By hisside stood a man of short stature, apparently quite at his ease. Hewore a pointed hat, and on his bronzed face beamed an expression ofknavery and deceit, which, with his sparkling eye and a continued sneeraround the mouth, gave to his whole physiognomy a most malevolentcharacter. He carried a cross-bow and a quiver full of bolts on hisback, and by his side hung a long rapier.
"Nothing!" said the knight, angrily. "Ah! Griffi, if you have deceivedme, you shall be flogged."
"Flogged! my lord Pietro! I, Cocco Griffi, the son of the high andmighty Consul Nigri of Milan! I flogged!" said the little man, withmarked astonishment.
"Yes, without fail!"
"How, my lord Pietro! your native city boasts of giving liberty to theItalians. Would it not be barbarous to flog a loyal citizen?"
"You have most richly deserved it! At this very moment, the Milaneseare destroying one of the strongholds of German tyranny; and I, whowould so gladly have shared in the glorious work, have been decoyedhere by your specious tale, to await, uselessly, the coming of thataccursed Barbarossa, while my countrymen are celebrating theirtriumph."
"I crave your pardon, my lord! The destruction of a castle, alreadyhalf in ruins is scarcely a deed worthy of your heroism," repliedGriffi, in a half serious, half jocular tone. "Ah! it would be anotherthing had it been necessary to storm the Castle of Cinola. But asBarbarossa's worthy governor, Bonello, has in a fit of patriotismopened the gates, I could see but little opportunity there for adisplay of your valor. For the prowess of the brave Milanese will notgo further than the draining of some wine-casks and the destruction ofsome old furniture; they may perhaps burn the castle, but, this done,they will return within their city walls."
Pietro made no reply, but with a glance of contempt upon the speaker,again turned to gaze into the distance.
"On the other hand," continued Griffi, proudly, "you will have, thanksto me, a chance of doing here something truly heroic. I learned thatthe Emperor, with a feeble escort, was about to proceed towards theNorth; I managed to insinuate myself among the soldiers, and discoveredthe road by which he was to travel; and then galloping night and day,came here, to show you how to rid the country of its oppressor, by hisdeath or capture! And yet, as a reward for all this, you threaten toflog me!"
"But if we succeed!" said Pietro, his face flushing with enthusiasm,"if we succeed, I will fill your hat with gold pieces. I will have yourname engraved upon tablets of bronze, and your statue erected in everypublic square in Lombardy."
Cocco scarcely heeded the last words, so intently did he gaze towardsthe distant horizon. Suddenly he seized the arm of the knight:
"Look there!" he cried, "there, near the forest; see that armor shiningin the sun. It is Barbarossa himself, followed by eighteen knights andseventy varlets!"
"Oh! the wretch!" exclaimed the Milanese, with an expression of mingledhatred and anger.
"I beg you, my lord," said Pietro hurriedly, "take off your helmet, andturn your shield, or their reflection will betray our presence," and,as his advice was followed, he at once resumed,--
"Now let us make every arrangement in order that the tyrant may notescape. Remain here with your men, in observation, whilst I ride overto Cinola to get reinforcements."
"Aye! and meanwhile, Barbarossa will get away. Oh! fool that I am! whyam I here, without my own brave troopers? One bold stroke, and the yokeof my beloved country would be broken!"
"Fear nothing," said Cocco, "those iron-clad soldiers would need wings,to escape now. Mark yonder little valley with its sloping meadows andits narrow stream! The Germans are making toward it, for the roadpasses close by, and good pastures are too rare now in Lombardy forthem to neglect so favorable a chance for resting their horses. So,while his Imperial Majesty is taking his ease, our troops will come up,and it will be an easy task to seize this red-headed tyrant by thebeard."
Griffi whistled and clapped his hands, and, at the sound, an activelittle horse ran toward him.
"Cocco," said the knight to his companion, "my good friend, Cocco, loseno time--but, stay, let two of my troopers go with you; an accidentmight happen, and remember that you hold in your hands the liberty ofItaly."
"Bah! my lord Pietro," replied the other, "I will give you leave toflog me, if my horse, Molo, does not easily distance your stifftroopers!" and as he spoke he sprang upon the back of the nimbleanimal, and soon left far behind him the soldiers whom the knight haddetailed as his escort.
Pietro concealed himself behind a bush, whence he could observe theenemy's movements. The Germans continued to advance. In front, rode theknights in complete armor,--he could even distinguish Barbarossa'sbanner with its richly embroidered lion, and it seemed as though hecould recognize the lofty stature of the Emperor himself.
As Cocco had foreseen, they entered the valley, in which, midway, stoodthe ruins of an ancient cloister.
The emotion of the Milanese increased as he watched the little troop.He forbade his men to rise from the ground, lest their bright helmetsmight reveal their presence, and, gazing earnestly towards the city,his whole person betrayed the feverish restlessness of one who felt asmuch anxiety for the deliverance of his country as hatred for thetyrant whose iron arm weighed so heavily upon Italy.
Barbarossa; An Historical Novel of the XII Century. Page 4
