We met at Venice, and I was walking with him in the Place of St. Mark, when I was attacked by several armed men. At that moment, the marquis seized my arm to prevent me from defending myself; and if I had not shaken him off by a violent effort, I should infallibly have been murdered, as, indeed, was one of my soldiers at my side. I therefore take this opportunity of challenging the marquis to single combat." The marquis would have replied to his charge, but the emperor commanded them both to be silent, and they were obliged to confine the demonstrations of their wrath to angry looks and gestures. The next day Otho desired them to take a ride with him on horseback. Placing himself between them, he commanded them to salute each other. "Sir Eccelino," said he, "salute the marquis." On this, Sir Eccelino, uncovering his head respectfully, cried out, "Sir marquis, God save you!" The marquis sullenly repeated the prescribed words, but without uncovering his head; which when the emperor perceived, he cried with some warmth, "Sir marquis, salute Eccelino !"—on which Azzo of Este obeyed, crying, "God save you, Sir Eccelino !" They did not seem, however, to be very heartily reconciled: but presently the road becoming narrower, the emperor took the lead; and shortly after looking back to see what had become of his two companions, he perceived them

riding side by side in earnest discourse. Fancying that such sudden intimacy could bode no good, he began to fear lest they should be plotting against himself; and on returning home, he took Eccelino aside, and asked what had been the subject of his conversation with Azzo of Este. "We were discoursing," replied the knight, "of the days of our youth, and have returned to our early friendship." This peace, however, was not of long duration, for the two noblemen espoused different sides in the Guelf and Ghibelin factions, and their enmity only terminated with their lives.

THE rural nobility, who had derived such dignity and consequence from their feudal possessions in the early times of the Lombards, had gradually been depressed and overpowered by the republics. They were refused admission to the rights of citizenship unless they resided a certain number of months every year within the town walls. As most of them chose to yield submission on this point, they found their mode of life considerably changed. Instead of being shut up in their turreted castles, surrounded by dependants, and with little except

the pursuits of the chase to amuse them, they beheld themselves surrounded by equals in birth and fortune, and by a lively and stirring scene. Their minds became interested in the affairs around them; their ambition took a new direction, and they grew anxious to strive with others for magistracies and public offices*.

Most of the Lombard cities were under the direction of two magistrates, known by the name of consuls, that title once so dear to Rome!-and on extraordinary emergencies, the whole body of the people was assembled to sanction the public proceedings; but in general affairs, they were represented by a senate or great council. After the peace of Constance, the consuls were superseded by a supreme magistrate termed a podestà. Such was the jealousy of the citizens towards each other, that it was their universal custom to choose their podestà from some distant city, that he might not be supposed to be influenced by personal enmities or friendships in his public measures.

Among the rural nobility who had submitted to the republics, and took part in their government, no names were more distinguished in Lombardy than those of Romano and Este. The Trevisan March, a mountainous district of great extent, was

* Hallam. Perceval.

divided between them nearly in equal shares; and the house of Romano gradually rose in power till its chieftain, Eccelino (a descendant of the rival of Azzo), possessed absolute sovereignty over Verona, Padua, and all the adjacent cities.

Nothing could exceed the wickedness of this prince: he found his chief pleasure in the exercise of cruelty, and was insensible to pity, generosity, or any amiable affection. By day and night the cities under his sway echoed with the cries of the miserable victims whom he tortured. The innocent were sacrificed with the guilty; the young, the noble, the beautiful, were equally the objects of his hatred.

At length the pope, roused by the general cry of Italy, published a crusade against the tyrant. So bitter was the hatred of the two factions which divided Italy, that because the crusade had been set on foot by the Guelf party, the Ghibelins refused to join it, and even took part with the tyrant;to such injustice can party spirit lead!

Eccelino, boldly trusting in the strength and number of his supporters, took little heed of the hostile advance of the Guelfs, and continued ravaging the territory of Mantua with fire and sword, while he left his city of Padua open to the invaders. The Guelfs profited by this carelessness, and entered the city in triumph. The first use they made of their power was to fling open all the

prisons, containing Eccelino's captives. The scene which then presented itself touched every one with pity and horror. Prisoners, young and old, many of noble birth, came forth, maimed and disfigured by the variety of cruel tortures which had been exercised upon them; and among the rest a band of helpless children, whom the tyrant had deprived of sight! So wanton an act of cruelty created an universal shudder, and the crusaders believed they were performing an act of piety in seeking to destroy the deviser of such inhuman barbarity.

But Eccelino had not yet filled the measure of his crimes. Eleven thousand of the best and ablest Paduans were in his service when their city was taken; and as he feared they might go over to the Guelfs, he threw the whole number into prison, and only two hundred of them escaped famine or the axe of the executioner.

For two years Eccelino da Romano held out against the Guelfs. By that time the Ghibelins had become so disgusted at his conduct that they would keep terms with him no longer; and uniting with the Guelfs against their common enemy, they solemnly pledged themselves not to rest till they had destroyed him.

No single power could stand against their united forces. Eccelino fell into their hands, covered with wounds, and furious at his defeat. He maintained