_CHAPTER XIII_.
_CASTELLAMARE_.
Rechberg's visit to Castellamare opened to him a future replete withnew hopes and desires and fond aspirations. He resolved to studyattentively the character of his young hostess; and, if the examinationproved favorable, to demand her father's consent to their marriage. Buthe experienced a cruel uncertainty, when he reflected upon the possibleopposition of the Emperor.
On her part, the young girl made no secret of her gratitude to theCount. The memory of his kindness to her father rendered her cordialityperfectly natural.
Her attentions to Erwin were delicately prompted by a wish to make hisvisit as agreeable as possible. With a keen appreciation of thebeauties of nature, she knew how to select the fairest landscapes, andwould point out to her guest all the most brilliant effects of lightand shade among the lofty crags.
After a week had passed in amusements of this kind, on their returnfrom a neighboring excursion, Hermengarde and the Count found thecourt-yard filled with horses and men-at-arms fraternizing, cordially,with her father's retainers. Evidently some persons of importance hadarrived, but the appearance of their steeds denoted that the visit wasto be a brief one.
As they crossed the court, Hermengarde remarked a familiar face amongthe troopers; the man looked up, and, putting down the goblet fromwhich he was drinking, approached with a respectful bow. She at oncerecognized Cocco Griffi, whom she had known as a confidential servantof the Milanese consul Gherardo Nigri, in whose palace he was oftenintrusted with many important duties.
"Is that you, Griffi?" she asked. "Whence come you?"
"From Milan."
"And whose suite is this?"
"It belongs to our noble Consul Gherardo Nigri--your old friend,--if Imay still venture to call him so?" added Griffi, seeing Hermengarde'sexpression change.
A marriage between herself and Pietro had long been projected by theheads of the two families; but, in spite of her father's anxiety fortheir union, it was repugnant to her, and she hurriedly retired to herown apartments, with a heavy heart. Still, for the present, thebusinesslike appearance of the little troop seemed a guarantee againstthe realization of her fears.
Gherardo Nigri, the leading spirit of the Milanese Republic, had beenhastily recalled from Genoa, where he had been for some timenegotiating an alliance, offensive and defensive, between the twocities. The report of the immediate advance of the Emperor's powerfularmy greatly discouraged him; for, fully penetrating Barbarossa'sdesigns, he foresaw, in a not far distant future, the fall, and perhapsthe total destruction, of his proud city. Similar fears agitated allthose who had accompanied him to Castellamare. Among them was one, inecclesiastical costume, whose exterior indicated a personage ofimportance. This was Galdini Sala, Archdeacon of the Cathedral, anddestined, as Archbishop of Milan, afterwards to play an important partin the history of his country. By nature taciturn and reflective,--hiseyes usually downcast,--Sala became animated and bold whenever itbecame necessary to assert the rights of the Church, which alone couldresist human passion and the encroachments of Imperial despotism.Consequently, Galdini's opposition to Barbarossa was more than violent.
"The circumstances are most serious," said Bonello; "but we must notforget that God alone is the arbiter of human destiny. Barbarossa seeksto unite in his own person the spiritual and the temporal power; but wehave seen others, as bold and powerful as he, fail in the likeattempt."
"You are right," replied Gherardo; "no power can subdue the Church. Thepapacy is eternal,--as immovable as the rock on which it is built, andwhich, God has promised, shall endure forever. But, alas! dear Guido,what fearful disasters must result from the strife which is nowpreparing!"
"It would be easy to prove," said Galdini Sala, "that the Church hasnever had an enemy so dangerous to her peace as this same Barbarossa.From the times of Nero until the conversion of Constantine, the bloodytyrants strove only to tear away her members. Frederic does not tearaway; he stifles! his deadly work is the more dangerous, that it iswrought in silence. The Pagans would have overthrown Christianity, inorder to prevent their own conversion; but this despot seeks to destroythe order of things which has existed for centuries. The Roman Emperorssought to protect and save their own paganism. Frederic would subvertthe Christian world, in order to build up, upon its ruins, his ownImperial omnipotence."
"I am not well versed in history," said Count Biandrate, a secretpartisan of Barbarossa; "but I know of other emperors who weredecidedly hostile to the Papacy: Henry IV. for example."
"True," replied Sala; "but the Church has saved the world fromdestruction. The military operations of Henry IV. against her wereterrible; his hatred for the Papacy, beyond all bounds; but Barbarossais still more to be feared. In him you see none of that cruelty whichmarked Henry's conduct; on the contrary, he appears frank, andgenerous, and brave, and he well knows how to surround himself with allthat can flatter the eyes. So far, he has not attacked the Pope, swordin hand; but he holds his nets ready to throw over Spain and England,Germany and France, in order to ensnare all Christendom in his banefulschism. It is to this end that he never ceases to proclaim his regretfor the sorrows of the Holy Church, and his great desire for theacknowledgment of the legitimate Pope, and the downfall of heresy. Allhypocrisy, diabolical equivocation!" cried Sala, angrily; "it is hehimself who has caused the schism; it is he who has wounded the unityof the Church, in order the more easily to destroy her. He seeks tocontrol everything,--to become the master of the Universe,--and willbrook neither a superior nor an equal!"
"Your words, my lord Archdeacon, are harrowing, but they are notexaggerated," said Nigri. "And it is the more to be regretted that manyrefuse to see their peril. Genoa, through jealousy of Milan, iswilfully blind and will not reflect that the time may come, when shetoo will feel the yoke. Barbarossa is skilful in taking advantage ofthese dissensions between us Lombards. His policy is to destroy, one byone, our cities; so that Italy may count none but insignificantvillages, submissive to his Imperial supremacy."
"According to my belief," said Guido, "I repeat what I have alreadydeclared:--God alone holds the destinies of the world in his power.What Barbarossa tries now, many others have attempted, but the effortsof all have proved abortive; Frederic will not be more successful.Then, dear friends, trust in God, and do your duty; the rest will comein good time."
At these words he raised his goblet, the others imitated his example;but in spite of his efforts, the meeting was disheartened anddepressed, and shortly after the consul observed that it was time tothink of their journey.
"We have no time to lose," said he, "for there is much to be done inMilan; it will be hard enough to resist the attack."
They mounted to return to the city, and Bonello watched from thewindow, the little troop as it wound through the valley.
"Farewell, dear Gherardo," said he sadly; "perhaps this has been ourlast meeting! How gladly they hasten to shed their hearts' blood fortheir liberty, their Church, and their country! while I, unhappywretch! am doomed by my promise, to sloth and inaction!"
The cavalcade disappeared from his gaze, and he reentered the familyroom, when Count Rechberg communicated his intention of leaving thecastle on the following day.
"Why this haste, Count?" said Guido. "I trust that you have had nocause to regret your visit?"
"Oh! by no means, but I must go. The Emperor granted me only eightdays' leave of absence, and I must not exceed them."
"You have no cause for such haste," resumed the Lombard, sadly. "Milanis well supplied with everything, and her fortifications are strong.Months may elapse before Barbarossa can take the city."
"The Emperor's will is energetic," replied Erwin.
"Oh! I well know that iron will!" said Guido. "Frederic will destroythe works, and reduce the citadel by famine; but still before thishappens, many weary days will pass. Some months hence, you will stillbe in time for the fighting. Stay with us. We will go to Genoatogether
, and look upon the wonders of that proud city; we will visither churches, her magnificent palaces, her dock-yards, and her fleet;there is much there to repay you for the journey, and, if you wish it,we can cross over to Corsica."
But nothing could influence the youth's resolve, although it was withdeep regret that he left Bonello and his daughter; both of whomreiterated their warmest thanks.
"Permit me, dear Count, to offer you a trifling souvenir," said thelord of the castle, drawing a heavy gold chain from a casket. "Wearthis in remembrance of me, and may our friendship ever remain as pureand true as this noble metal! Have you nothing, Hermengarde, to give toour worthy friend?"
At these words, the young girl took from one of her waiting-women arichly chiselled cup of gold, on whose cover was sculptured St. Georgetrampling upon the Dragon.
"Deign to accept this slight mark of our friendship and gratitude!"said she.
"I trust, my dear Count, that we shall meet again ere long," addedGuido. "Milan is not far distant, and an excursion to our mountainswill break the monotony of your camp-life."
"I will gladly avail myself on every possible occasion of yourinvitation," answered Rechberg. "Farewell, dear Bonello; God keep you,noble lady!"
And as she extended him her hand, he knelt and kissed it.
Guido accompanied his guest to the court-yard, and in a few moments,the hoofs of the knight's charger were ringing upon the drawbridge ofthe castle.
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