_Milan.--Court of the Emperor Henry.--Arrigo
Guinigi.--Sack of Cremona.--Benedetto
Pepi._
After several days travelling, he arrived at Milan; and his first care
was to hasten to the palace of Matteo Visconti. This chief was gone to
the meeting of the senate, deliberating with the nobles of Milan on the
sum of money which should be voted for the use of the emperor.
Castruccio was therefore introduced to his son, Galeazzo, who was then
in the hall of the palace, surrounded by all the young Ghibeline
nobility of Milan. It was a scene of gaiety and splendour. The young
nobles were preparing to attend on the emperor in a royal hunt. They
were attired with the utmost magnificence, with full dresses of
embroidered silk, cloth, or velvet, and cloaks of precious furs; some
were accoutred in short gowns with trowsers tied in the same manner as
that of Pepi, but made of fine linen and embossed silks; their collars
were ornamented with strings of pearl. Their hair, parted equally on the
forehead, was curled and fell down as far as the shoulders; they wore
different kinds of caps, some flat and adorned with plumes of feathers,
others high and pointed, and the lower part twisted round with pearls
fastened with a rich broach; most of them held a falcon on his fist, or
caressed a favourite hound, or vaunted the prowess of a noble steed.
There were many ladies in company who seemed to vie with their male
companions in luxury of dress. Their gowns were made of the same costly
stuffs, and ornamented with greater profusion of precious stones; their
wide sleeves which fell almost to the ground were edged with pearls,
while underneath, a small sleeve of the finest silk fitted tight to the
arm; the borders of their dresses were richly embroidered with pearls or
golden beads; they wore their veils adorned with the same richness, and
small capuchins of oriental fur bordered with fringes of gold and
pearls; and their girdles were studded with the most splendid stones.
Castruccio paused, half dazzled by the scene. In the ruder courts of
London or Paris he had never seen so much splendour and luxury: he cast
an involuntary glance on his own habiliments, which although rich were
soiled by travelling, and in their best days could not have vied with
the meanest dress worn by these nobles. He quickly however recovered his
self-possession; and his name, whose sound had passed the Alps, and been
repeated with enthusiasm by many of the followers of the emperor who had
served with him in the Low Countries, caused this brilliant assembly to
receive him with flattering distinction. They crowded round him, and
courteously invited him to partake of their amusements; while his
handsome person won the smiles of the ladies who were present. Galeazzo
Visconti received him with that kindness and cordiality which was then
in fashion among the Italians; and he, as the most courteous cavalier of
the country, was well versed in all the politeness of the age.
Castruccio was provided with a beautiful horse, and a mantle of rich fur
befitting the cold season, and made one of the gay and splendid band as
they rode towards the palace of the emperor; here they were joined by
the sovereign himself, the empress, and the noble Germans of his
retinue. Riding through the streets of Milan, they quitted the city at
the eastern gate, and dividing into various parties; spread themselves
abroad in search of game. The Germans followed the dogs through the open
country, chasing down foxes and hares; while the Italians, who were
dressed for gala, and would not risk their fine silks among the brambles
and impediments of the fields, were content with unmuffling their
falcons when they saw game aloft, and making bets on the superior speed
of their several birds.
During the first part of the ride Galeazzo observed Castruccio, who
appeared to be too much wrapped up in his own thoughts to attend to the
discourse of the gay throng around him. He loitered behind, that he
might indulge in his reveries; and Galeazzo, who had separated himself
from the rest, now rode up to him; and they entered into a conversation
together, which at length turned into a discussion of the plans and
wishes of Castruccio. They were both men of caution and prudence; yet,
being young, they were susceptible of impressions to which men lose
their sensibility as they advance in years. They were mutually pleased
with each other; and a single glance, a single word, sufficed to make
each understand the other, and to unite them in the bonds of friendship.
Castruccio asked what it was believed that the designs of the emperor
were; and Galeazzo replied: "You would hardly guess what anxious hearts,
throbbing with distrust and fear, are concealed under the apparent
gaiety of these hunters. We Milanese are full of dissentions and
ambition; and I, as a chief among them, have my head well loaded with
care and doubt, while I follow this joyous train with my falcon on my
fist. In a few days the game will be up; and we shall see what power the
Visconti or the Della Torre will have over Lombardy. At present wait.
The emperor is expecting supplies of money, and we are voting them for
him with apparent zeal: you, as a politician, must well know that money
is the great mover of all change in a state. I prophesy change; but you
as a stranger, must stand aloof, and be guided by circumstances. In the
mean time make friends; attach yourself to the emperor and to the lords
of Lombardy, many of whom are extremely powerful; and rest assured, that
whether he be successful or not, he will not quit Italy without
endeavouring to change the politics of the Tuscan republics. Now let us
join our friends; to-morrow I will talk further with you; and, if we have
recourse to arms, I need not say how proud I should be in having my
party distinguished by the acquisition of Castruccio dei Antelminelli."
They then mingled with the rest of the company; and Galeazzo introduced
his new friend to the Ghibeline lords of Lombardy. He here saw for the
first time the magnificent Cane della Scala, lord of Verona, and the
generous Guido della Polenta, lord of Ravenna, and father of the unhappy
Francesca of Rimini. These nobles had assembled at Milan, to be present
at the coronation of the emperor, which had taken place a few weeks
before; all wore the appearance of gaiety and good humour; the empress
headed the band, accompanied by a beautiful youth who bore a bow in his
hand; and Cane della Scala was beside her, descanting on the merits of
his falcon. Castruccio was struck by the countenance of the youth who
rode near the empress. He was dressed with a profusion of magnificence;
at his back he wore a gilt quiver studded with gems, and a scarf
embroidered with pearls was thrown over one shoulder, and tied under the
other arm; in every way he was accoutred as might become the favourite
page of an empress. Yet Castruccio thought that he remembered those
light blue eyes; and his sweet yet serious smile filled his own with
tears of tender recollection. He eagerly asked Galeazzo who and what he
was: his friend replied; "He is the squire of Can' Grande, and he is
called; Arrigo I do not know what other name he bears; the empress
wishes to attach him to her suite; but the youth would prefer bearing
arms under his munificent patron, to the situation of the effeminate
page of a queen's anti-chamber."
"That cannot surprize me," said Castruccio; "for his infancy was spent
in the labour of the fields, and in listening to the lessons of his
godlike father; he must therefore be ill prepared to enter into the
intrigues and follies of a court. If he have not forgotten his childish
affection for me, I shall win him from them both; and, if indeed his
father be dead, it shall be my pride and boast to be the protector of
his Arrigo."
As they re-entered the gates of the town, the trains of the emperor and
empress joined; and, Arrigo falling back among the nobles, Castruccio
rode up to him. For some time he gazed on him, and heard the gentle
tones of his youthful voice; he dared not speak; his heart was full; and
to his eyes dimmed by emotion, he fancied that the revered form of
Guinigi stood beside his son, smiled on Castruccio, and pointed to the
boy. At length, recovering himself, he came abreast with the horse of
Arrigo, and whispered, "Does the son of Guinigi forget me? does he
forget the farm among the Euganean hills?"
Arrigo started; his countenance became radiant with joy; and he
exclaimed, "My own Castruccio!"
They rode away from the company, and entered the town by more lonely
streets. Castruccio saw by the looks of his young friend, that his worst
fears were true, and that Guinigi was dead; and Arrigo easily read in
Castruccio's face that he was thinking of his father. At length he said:
"My brother, if so you will permit me to call you, a year has now passed
since I was left an orphan; ten months ago I quitted my happy life among
the hills, to dwell with a patron, who is indeed munificent and kind to
me; but who is not as my father. It appears to me a vision that such a
being ever existed; he was so great, so angelically wise and good; and I
now float down the stream with the rest, an esquire, an attendant; I
pass my life without enjoyment, and look forward to the future without
pleasure; but if, my brother, you would grant me one request, a brighter
sun would shine upon me."
"Dearest Arrigo, my dear, dear brother, I read in your earnest looks all
that you would say; be assured we shall never part again! We will sally
forth soldiers of fortune; and the same star shall ascend and descend
for both."
"Enough, leave the rest to me; be it my task to contrive my departure
from Can' della Scala; inform me of your motions, and fear not but that
I shall be at your side."
That same evening a magnificent feast was given at the palace of the
emperor; and Castruccio was introduced to this prince by Galeazzo. The
lords of Lombardy regarded him with a favourable eye; for they knew that
he could not hurt their interests north of the Apennines, and they hoped
that by his means the Ghibeline faction might revive and triumph in
Tuscany.
Castruccio spent almost the whole evening in conversation with Arrigo.
For the youth would not absent himself from him, but recalled with
earnest affection all the circumstances of their former intercourse; and
related with tears the death of Guinigi; a death, calm as his most
innocent life. One afternoon, during the heats of summer, he sat under
a cypress with his son, and entered into an anxious detail of what would
be the prospects and probable fate of the young Arrigo, when he, his
father and protector, should be no more. The boy, struck with a
melancholy foreboding, intreated him not to dwell on a period, which was
far distant, and which, when it approached, would bring to him nothing
but despair. Guinigi however told him that he would not be overruled in
this, and with earnest affection talked for hours on the subject with a
wisdom and goodness that appeared more than human. "Alas," said Arrigo,
"even as he spoke, I thought I saw his eyes beam with a heavenly light,
and the torrent of impressive words that he poured forth, were uttered
with a voice deep and tender, filling the air as it were with a harmony
sweeter than any earthly music. I listened, till I became almost as a
statue with attention; and as he either exhorted to virtue, or described
the evils of my country, or marked forth the glorious or peaceful path
that I might pursue, I felt my countenance change, as I have seen a
cloud vary as it passes before the moon, now, as it advances, beaming in
a silver light, and then again fading into darkness. At length he
dismissed me, saying that he wished to sleep, and I saw him stretch
himself under the cypress, gazing on the sky, whose dazzling light was
softened by the dark foliage through which it passed; and he slept never
to wake again.
"Oh! what I then suffered, when our friends crowded round, and the
mourning women came, and the mummery of the funeral went on! But all
that is passed; and now I should again feel the elasticity of youth, but
that I was, until you returned, friendless in the world."
They talked thus, while the company around them were amusing themselves,
with dances and song; the feast broke up late; and it broke up only to
be renewed with greater zeal the following and the following day. Yet,
while all appeared so calm, the storm which the politicians
prognosticated, broke out, and the quiet of these festive meetings was
disturbed by the revolt of Milan against the Germans. And now Castruccio
was witness for the first time to the popular commotions of his country:
armed knights galloped through the streets crying, "_Libertà!_ Death to
the Germans!" And a multitude of the people, who were enraged at the new
taxes imposed upon them, joined in the cry. But the revolt thus quickly
excited, was as quickly appeased. The Visconti after some hesitation
ranged themselves under the emperor; and Della Torre and his partizans
were obliged to fly; their houses were razed, their goods confiscated,
and themselves declared traitors.
But the effects of the Milanese revolt were not so easily removed. The
various Guelph towns of Lombardy, Crema, Cremona, Brescia, Lodi, and
Como, set up the standard of revolt against the emperor; and, spring
having now advanced, Henry began his campaign with the attempt to reduce
these towns. Castruccio had received from him permission to raise a
troop of volunteers, to serve under his command in the Imperial army,
and his fame collected a brave band, whose discipline and valour were
the admiration of the other generals.
Crema and Lodi submitted to the emperor on his advance, and reaped from
their unseasonable resistance an increase of those vexations which had
caused their revolt. Henry marched against Cremona, which at first made
shew of resistance; but, when the Guelphs, hopeless of success, escaped
from the town, the Ghibelines surrendered to the emperor; who,
unmollified by their submission, punished his own innocent partizans,
sending them to cruel prisons, razing the walls and fortifications of
the town, and delivering over the property and persons of the
unprotected citizens into the hands of the brutal Germans who composed
the greater part of his army.
Castruccio entered Cremona at the head of his little troop, and beheld
with dismay the cruel effects of the conquest of the emperor over this
city. Most of the German soldiers were busy in destroying the
fortifications; or in compelling the peasants and citizens to raze the
walls of their town. Other parties were ranging about the streets,
entering the palaces, whose rich furniture they destroyed, by feasting,
and tearing down from the walls all that had the appearance of gold or
silver. The cellars were broken open; and, after inebriating themselves
with the choice wines of Italy, the unruly, but armed bands were in a
better mood for oppressing the defenceless people. Some of these poor
wretches fled to the open country; others locked themselves up in their
houses, and, throwing what they possessed from the windows, strove to
save their persons from the brutality of their conquerors. Many of the
noble females took refuge in the meanest cottages, and disguised
themselves in poor clothing, till, frightened by the eager glances, or
brutal address of the soldiers, they escaped to the country, and
remained exposed to hunger and cold among the woods that surrounded the
town. Others, with their hair dishevelled, their dresses in disorder,
careless of the eyes which gazed on them, followed their husbands and
fathers to their frightful prisons, some in mute despair, many wringing
their hands, and crying aloud for mercy. As night came on, the soldiery,
tired of rapine, went to rest in the beds from which the proprietors
were remorselessly banished: silence prevailed; a dreadful silence,
broken sometimes by the shriek of an injured female, or the brutal
shouts of some of the men, who passed the night in going from palace to
palace, calling up the inhabitants, demanding food and wine, and on the
slightest shew of resistance hurrying their victims to prison, or
binding them in their own houses with every aggravation of insult.
Castruccio divided his little band, and sent his men to the protection
of several of the palaces, while he and Arrigo rode all night about the
town; and, having the watchword of the emperor, they succeeded in
rescuing some poor wretches from the brutality of the insolent soldiers.
Several days followed, bringing with them a repetition of the same
scenes; and the hardest heart might have been struck with compassion, to
see the misery painted on the faces of many, whose former lives had been
a continual dream of pleasure; young mothers weeping over their
unfortunate offspring, whose fathers lay rotting or starving in prison;
children crying for bread, sitting on the steps of their paternal
palaces, within which the military rioted in plenty; childless parents,
mourning their murdered babes; orphans, helpless, dying, whose parents
could no longer soothe or relieve them. Castruccio, though a soldier,
wept; but Arrigo, who had never before witnessed the miseries of war,
became almost frenzied with the excess of his compassion and
indignation; he poured forth curses loud and bitter, while his eyes
streamed tears, and his voice, broken and sharp, was insufficient to
convey his passionate abhorrence. Castruccio was at length obliged to
use violence to draw him from this scene of misery; and, after soothing
him by every argument he could use, and by the most powerful of all,
that Henry would be soon obliged to withdraw his soldiers from Cremona
to serve him at the siege of Brescia, he dispatched the youth with a
letter to Galeazzo Visconti.
Returning to the town, Castruccio saw a figure pass along at the end of
the street, which reminded him of one whom he had almost
forgotten--Benedetto Pepi. "Alas! poor fellow," said Castruccio to
himself, "you will find the pillage of the Germans a tremendous evil.
Well; as I restored your life once, I will now try, if I am not too
late, to save the remnant of your property."
He enquired of a passenger for the house of Benedetto Pepi. "If you mean
Benedetto the Rich, if any can now be called rich in this miserable
city," replied the man, "I will conduct you to his house."
"My Pepi ought rather, I think, to be called the poor; lead me however
to Benedetto the Rich; and if he be a tall, gaunt figure with a
wrinkled, leathern face, he is the man for whom I enquire."
Castruccio was conducted to a palace in the highest and most commanding
part of the town, built of large blocks of stone, and apparently firm
and solid enough to bear a siege. The windows were few, small, grated
and sunk deep in the wall; it had a high tower, whose port-holes shewed
that it was of uncommon strength and thickness; a parapet built with
turrets surrounded it at the top, and in every respect the mansion
resembled more a castle, than a palace. The entrance was dark; and, by
the number of grooves, it appeared as if there had been many doors; but
they were all removed, and the entrance free. Castruccio advanced: there
were two large halls on the ground-floor, on each side of the
entrance-court; both were filled with German soldiers; they were high,
dark, bare rooms, more like the apartments of a prison than a palace. In
one of them a number of beds were laid on the paved floor; in the other
there was a large fire in the middle, at which various persons were
employed in the offices of cookery, and near this, a table was spread
out with immense quantities of food, haunches of boiled beef, and black
bread; two boys stood at either end of the table, each holding a large
flaring torch; and the soldiers with riotous exclamations were choosing
their seats on the benches that were placed around. Castruccio paused,
unable to discern whether Pepi were among this strange company. At
length he observed him standing in one corner filling large jugs from a
barrel of wine: he accosted him with a voice of condolence; and Pepi
looked up with his little bright eyes, and a face rather expressive of
joy than sorrow. After he had recognized his guest, he left his wine
barrel, and invited him into another room, for they could hardly
distinguish each other's voices amidst the shouts and tumult of the rude
feasters. They ascended the steep narrow stairs; and, Castruccio
complaining of want of light, Pepi said: "Let us go to the top of my
tower; the sun has been set about ten minutes, and, although dark every
where else, it will be light there. If you will wait a short time I will
get the key."
Pepi descended the stairs; and from a small port-hole Castruccio saw him
cross the court, and then in a few minutes return with cautious and
observant steps. When he came near Castruccio, he said: "Those German
ruffians are now eating and drinking, and will not mark us; yet let us
tread lightly, for I have admitted none of them to my tower, nor is it
my intention to do so. It is a place of strength; and the little I have
in the world is preserved here, which little in spite of the emperor and
his devils I will preserve."
Although the tower had appeared large without, yet its walls were so
thick that there was only room left within for a small circular
staircase; at the top of this Pepi undrew the bolts, pushed up a
trap-door, and they ascended to the platform on the outside. The sky was
darkening; but the west was tinged with a deep orange colour, and the
wide and dusky plain of Lombardy lay far extended all around:
immediately below was the town of Cremona, which to them appeared as
silent and peaceful as if the inhabitants were in the enjoyment of
perfect security. They continued some minutes gazing silently,
Castruccio on the wide extent of scenery before him, Pepi on the thick
walls of his tower. At length the former said; "An evil star pursues
you, Messer Benedetto, and I am afraid that you were born in the descent
of some evil constellation."
"Doubtless," replied Pepi: yet there was an indescribable expression in
his countenance and manner, that startled his companion; his eyes
sparkled, and the lines of his face, as plainly as such things could
speak, spoke joy and exultation. His voice however was drawn out into
accents of grief, and he ended his reply by a groan.
"Your palace is wasted by these ruffians."
"Nay, there is nothing to waste; the walls are too thick to be hurt, and
I removed every thing else before they came."
"They consume your food."
"I have none to consume. I am a poor, lone man, and had no food in the
house for them. They bring their rapine here; I send my squire for wood,
wherever he can collect it; I make a fire, and they dress their food;
and that is all that they get by me."
"Have you lost no friend or relation in the war?"
"There is no one whom I love; I have met with undutifulness and
ingratitude, but no kindness or friendship; so I should not have
mourned, if my relations had fallen; but they are all safe."
"Then it would appear, that you have lost nothing by the havock of these
Germans, and that you are still Benedetto the Rich."
Pepi had answered the previous questions of Castruccio with vivacity,
and an expression of triumph and vanity, which he in vain strove to
conceal; his brows were elevated, a smile lurked in the corners of his
strait lips, and he even rubbed his hands. But, when Castruccio spoke
these last words, his face fell, his mouth was drawn down, his arms sunk
close to his sides, and, glancing at his mean clothing, he replied: "I
am always poor, always unfortunate; and, Messer Castruccio, you do me
great injustice and injury by supposing that I have any wealth. I have a
well built palace, and a strong tower; but I can neither eat the stones,
nor clothe myself with the plaster; and, God knows, my possessions are
now reduced to fifty small acres; how therefore can I be rich?"
"At least, if you are poor," replied Castruccio, "your unfortunate
townsmen share your misfortunes. Their habitations are pillaged; those
that escape the ravage of the emperor, are driven out, starving and
miserable, from the only dwellings, be they palaces or cottages, which
they possess."
The countenance of Pepi again lighted up, his eyes sparkled, and, he
said; "Aye, aye, many are fallen; but not so low--not so low: they have
still lands, they are not quite destitute, and the dead have heirs----"
"Yes, indeed, heirs to famine and indignity; unhappy orphans! far more
miserable than if they had died with those who gave them birth."
"Nay, I pity them from my soul; but I also have suffered losses. The
first party of Germans that broke into the town, seized upon my horse,
and my squire's gelding: I must buy others when our enemies are gone, to
keep up the honour of my knighthood. But, enough of this. You, Messer
Castruccio, have a troop of Italians, horsemen, I believe, under your
command: what do you intend to do with them? Do you stay in Lombardy, or
follow the emperor south?"
"Events are now my masters; soon I hope to rule them, but at present I
shall be guided by accident, and cannot therefore answer your question."
Pepi paused a few moments, and at length said, half to himself; "No;
this is not the time; events are as yet unripe; this siege has done
much, but I must still delay;----well, Messer Castruccio, at present I
will not reveal some circumstances, which, when we began this
conversation, I had thought to confide to your discretion. Sometime,
perhaps when you least expect it, we shall meet again; and if Benedetto
of Cremona be not exactly what he seems, keep the secret until then, and
I shall rest your obliged servant. Now, farewel. You came to offer your
services to save my palace; I am a prudent man, and ordered my affairs
so, that it ran no risk; yet I am indebted to you for this, and for your
other generous act in my behalf; a time may come when we shall know one
another better. Again farewel."
This speech was delivered with a grave and mysterious mien, and a face
that signified careful thought and important expectations. When he had
ended, Pepi opened the trap-door, and he and Castruccio descended slowly
down the now benighted staircase into the court of the palace: here they
again interchanged salutations, and parted. Pepi joined his boisterous
guests, and Castruccio rode towards the camp of the emperor. He mused as
he went upon what the words of his strange acquaintance might portend;
his curiosity was for a time excited by them; but change of place and
the bustle of action made him soon forget the existence of Benedetto the
Rich, of Cremona.