" Touching the matter of Crescentius,
Who made revolt against the Emperor. "
Mano replied, " Rumour hath reached to us.
For twice he strove to shut the Roman door
Against the Germans: and twice strove in vain
Once, when he aimed the city to restore
Under the Greeks, in the first Otho's reign:
And for that turn he suffered banishment,
But afterwards essayed the same again:
Thinking, the Emperor then being resident
With but small force in Rome, to take him so:
And only chance frustrated his intent:
Whereon being driven to Saint Angelo
By the stout German power, there he sustained
Long time both siege and famine: till, brought low,
To one he yielded who no mercy deigned. "
— " Yea, " said the woman, " and to those who shared
His bold attempt dire punishments remained:
For him indeed 'twas bitter, when he dared
Under consent of the Emperor appear
Amid the Saxon tents, whither he fared. —
By stealth he left his tower, and ventured near,
Clad in blue mantle, and with covered head
And to the Emperor came with suppliant prayer.
But cruel taunts his faith dishonoured.
'Now is the Saxon tent the entertainer,;
(With visage sour the third young Otho said,)
'Of him that was of emperors constrainer,
Prince of the Romans, and the city's head,
Giver of laws, and of new popes ordainer' —
Hard was it thus to be to scaffold led:
But harder was the fate reserved for those
Who followed him: more sore were they bested
Thus, John Philagathus, whom pope he chose,
Sometime of Piacenza archbishop,
Was great in wealth before these troubles rose:
But being taken as usurping pope,
The cruel conqueror robbed him of tongue,
Cut off his nose, and both his ears did crop,
And him thus maimed into a dungeon flung,
Where he was found by Nilus his old friend,
Nilus the Eremite, whom fame hath sung:
To whom full many unto this season wend
To find the future from his augury. —
He, grieving much to see fulfilled the end
Which he had promised, left his covert shy,
And, viewing how the maimed wretch was laid,
Rebuked the emperor with authority,
And his great cruelty did so upbraid
With zeal from heaven, that insolence was quelled,
And for the future base revenge seemed stayed.
Alas! a moment more the effect dispelled
Of holy age upon remorseless youth:
And soon that barbarous minister prevailed
Who holds us all in fear, who knows not ruth,
He against whom I now invoke thy aid,
If thou art brave, and lovest gentle truth. "
Then Mano said, " This scarce should be essayed
By any man, and last of all by me.
For know that he who lately Pope is made
In place of him who bore this cruelty,
Gerbert, is my great master, whom I hold
Above all men in honour's highest gre.
He in the Papal number was enrolled
By him who slew John and Crescentius,
Otho the third, his pupil young and bold
Wherefore for me to stir is perilous,
Since Gerbert now is mingled verily
With the forceful Caesar fierce and tyrannous.
But yet his virtue wills not villany
Say therefore thou what way I may assist
To your desires, and what I can will I. "
Then said the damsel, " Even so as I wist
I find thy worth: know therefore what we find:
(Now sinking day the darkness doth enlist,
And bids to aid our part): it is our mind
To bid the banquet that unhonoured guest,
Whom cruelty made fell, false love made kind:
There shall he meet my lady richly dressed,
Whose face, no more in horror lifted up,
Shall smile on him, and bid him to the fest.
Then, when he hopes that he in joy shall sup,
(Such life such fate deserves) we have in plot
To work his death by sword or poisoned cup.
But women's arms are weak, their hands do not
According to the counsel of their heart,
Or changed hearts make their purposes forgot:
Therefore I thought to make thee of our part,
And trust to thee this execution drear,
Who hast a mind that terror cannot start.
And now, behold! the hour is drawing near:
The trap is set: the strong and hungry prey
Comes to the bait, which he shall never tear,
Ere the sprung spring shall dash him down. Away! "
Who made revolt against the Emperor. "
Mano replied, " Rumour hath reached to us.
For twice he strove to shut the Roman door
Against the Germans: and twice strove in vain
Once, when he aimed the city to restore
Under the Greeks, in the first Otho's reign:
And for that turn he suffered banishment,
But afterwards essayed the same again:
Thinking, the Emperor then being resident
With but small force in Rome, to take him so:
And only chance frustrated his intent:
Whereon being driven to Saint Angelo
By the stout German power, there he sustained
Long time both siege and famine: till, brought low,
To one he yielded who no mercy deigned. "
— " Yea, " said the woman, " and to those who shared
His bold attempt dire punishments remained:
For him indeed 'twas bitter, when he dared
Under consent of the Emperor appear
Amid the Saxon tents, whither he fared. —
By stealth he left his tower, and ventured near,
Clad in blue mantle, and with covered head
And to the Emperor came with suppliant prayer.
But cruel taunts his faith dishonoured.
'Now is the Saxon tent the entertainer,;
(With visage sour the third young Otho said,)
'Of him that was of emperors constrainer,
Prince of the Romans, and the city's head,
Giver of laws, and of new popes ordainer' —
Hard was it thus to be to scaffold led:
But harder was the fate reserved for those
Who followed him: more sore were they bested
Thus, John Philagathus, whom pope he chose,
Sometime of Piacenza archbishop,
Was great in wealth before these troubles rose:
But being taken as usurping pope,
The cruel conqueror robbed him of tongue,
Cut off his nose, and both his ears did crop,
And him thus maimed into a dungeon flung,
Where he was found by Nilus his old friend,
Nilus the Eremite, whom fame hath sung:
To whom full many unto this season wend
To find the future from his augury. —
He, grieving much to see fulfilled the end
Which he had promised, left his covert shy,
And, viewing how the maimed wretch was laid,
Rebuked the emperor with authority,
And his great cruelty did so upbraid
With zeal from heaven, that insolence was quelled,
And for the future base revenge seemed stayed.
Alas! a moment more the effect dispelled
Of holy age upon remorseless youth:
And soon that barbarous minister prevailed
Who holds us all in fear, who knows not ruth,
He against whom I now invoke thy aid,
If thou art brave, and lovest gentle truth. "
Then Mano said, " This scarce should be essayed
By any man, and last of all by me.
For know that he who lately Pope is made
In place of him who bore this cruelty,
Gerbert, is my great master, whom I hold
Above all men in honour's highest gre.
He in the Papal number was enrolled
By him who slew John and Crescentius,
Otho the third, his pupil young and bold
Wherefore for me to stir is perilous,
Since Gerbert now is mingled verily
With the forceful Caesar fierce and tyrannous.
But yet his virtue wills not villany
Say therefore thou what way I may assist
To your desires, and what I can will I. "
Then said the damsel, " Even so as I wist
I find thy worth: know therefore what we find:
(Now sinking day the darkness doth enlist,
And bids to aid our part): it is our mind
To bid the banquet that unhonoured guest,
Whom cruelty made fell, false love made kind:
There shall he meet my lady richly dressed,
Whose face, no more in horror lifted up,
Shall smile on him, and bid him to the fest.
Then, when he hopes that he in joy shall sup,
(Such life such fate deserves) we have in plot
To work his death by sword or poisoned cup.
But women's arms are weak, their hands do not
According to the counsel of their heart,
Or changed hearts make their purposes forgot:
Therefore I thought to make thee of our part,
And trust to thee this execution drear,
Who hast a mind that terror cannot start.
And now, behold! the hour is drawing near:
The trap is set: the strong and hungry prey
Comes to the bait, which he shall never tear,
Ere the sprung spring shall dash him down. Away! "