按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
criminate rage they pressed him and shoved him from side to side； and in the heat of the battle several powerful blows fell upon his breast； so the poor prior took refuge again at the door near Cocceji； who was laughing merrily at the wild disorder。
The cries of 〃Long live Theresa！〃
〃Long live Frederick！〃 were mingling lustily in the bloody strife。
The father guardian was enraged beyond bearing； and his flashing eye looked around for some sharp weapon with which to demolish Father Anselmo； who had just exclaimed； 〃Long live Frederick； the victor of Leuthen and Zorndorf！〃 He seized a large tin cup； which was near him upon the table； and with a fierce curse he dashed it in the face of Father Anselmo； and the blood burst from his nose。 This was the signal for a new order of attack。 Both parties rushed to the table to arm themselves； the cups whizzed through the air and wounded severely the heads against which they were well aimed。 Here and there might be heard whimperings and piteous complaints； mixed with curses and frantic battle…cries〃 Long live Theresa！〃
〃Long live Frederick！〃 Some of the warriors crept from the contest into the corners to wipe the blood from their wounds and return with renewed courage to the contest。 A few cowards had crept under the table to escape the cups and kicks which were falling in every direction。
Father Anselmo remarked them； and with loud； derisive laughter he pointed them out。
〃The Teresiani live under the table； no Prussiano has crept there。 All the Teresiani would gladly hide as they have often done before。〃
The Prussiani accompanied these words of their leader with joyous shouts。
The father guardian trembled with rage； he seized a large dish from the table and dashed it at Anselmo； who dodged in time； and then with a powerful arm returned the compliment。 It was a well…directed javelin。 The tin dish struck the father guardian exactly in the backhe lost his balance； and fell to the earth。 The Prussiani greeted this heroic deed of their chief with shouts of triumph。 〃So shall all the Teresiani perish！〃
The battle waxed hotter and fiercer； the air was thick with missiles。
〃They will murder each other！〃 cried the prior； turning to the Baron Cocceji。
〃Not so； your worship； there will only be a few blue swellings and bleeding nosesnothing more；〃 said Cocceji； laughing。
〃Ah； you laugh young man； you laugh at this sad spectacle！〃
〃Forgive me； your worship； but I swear to you； I have never seen warriors more eager in the fray； and I have never been more curious to witness the result of any battle。〃
〃But you shall not witness it；〃 said the prior； resolutely。 〃You shall no longer be a spectator of the unworthy and shameful conduct of my monks。 I pray you to withdraw instantly； in a few hours I will send you the letters； and if you believe that I have rendered you the least service； I ask in return that you will tell no one what you have seen。〃
〃I promise； your worship；〃 said Cocceji； with forced gravity。 〃If the people without shall ask me what all this tumult means； I will say that the pious fathers in the cloister are singing their 'floras。'〃 ＇Footnote： Baron Cocceji did not keep his word； as this whole scene is historic。＇
Baron Cocceji bowed to the prior； and returned with gay and hopeful thoughts to the hotel of the 〃White Lion。〃
A few hours later； a monk appeared and desired to speak with the stranger about the holy relics。
Cocceji recognized in him the worthy Father Anselmo； the victor over the father guardian。
〃Will you do me a great pleasure； worthy father？〃 said he。 〃Tell me which party remained in possession of the field after your great battle。〃
An expression of triumphant joy flashed in Father Anselmo's eyes。
〃The Prussiani were victorious； and I think the Teresiani will never dare to recommence the strife； four of their monks lie in their cells with broken noses； and it will be some weeks before the father guardian will be capable of performing his duties as spy； he is sore and stiff； and his mouth is poorer by a few teeth。 May all the enemies of the great Frederick share his fate！ May God bless the King of Prussia and be gracious to his friends！〃
He greeted the baron with the sign of the cross； and withdrew。
The baron remembered the warning of the prior； and hastened quietly from Venice。 Already the next morning he was on the highway to Turin。 ＇Footnote： This diplomatic mission failed； because of the faint heart of the King of Sardinia。 He rejected the bold propositions of Frederick entirely； and said； in justification of himself； that since the alliance between the powers of France and Austria； he had his head between a pair of tongs； which were ever threatening to close and crush him。 Baron Cocceji was not more fortunate in Naples； and after many vain efforts he was forced to return home； having accomplished nothing。Duten's 〃Memoirs of a Traveller。〃＇
CHAPTER IV。
THE RETURN FROM THE ARMY。
It was a sunny； summer day…one of those days which incline the heart to prayer； and bring tears of happiness to the eyes。 There are no such days in cities； if we would enjoy them we must go into the countrywe must seek them in peaceful valleys； in fragrant forests； where the silence is unbroken； except by the fluttering leaves and the singing of birds。 We must understand the eloquent silence of Nature in order to enjoy the holy Sabbath quiet of a summer day； and we must be able to hear the language which the flowers breathe forth； to understand the sighing of the wind； and the rustling of the trees。
Very few can do this； but few would care for it。 God has not opened the eyes of the hearts of many of us to this extent； these things are hidden by a thick veil from the many； they cannot see the heavenly beauty of Naturethey do not understand the fairy tale which she is ever telling。 This is gentle； idyllic； fairy lore； unsought by the learned。 It whispers of roses； of dancing elves； of weeping clouds； of dreaming violets。
Happy are those who listen to these fables； who are not called by the necessities of life to hear the roar of cannonto find all these sweet and holy songs overpowered by the noise of war； the horrors of bloodshed！
War； destructive war； still held a lighted torch over unhappy Germany； cities and villages were in ruinseven the peace of Nature was destroyed。 The valleys； usually so quiet； now often resounded with the roar of cannon。 The fields remained uncultivated； the meadows uncared for； there were no strong hands to work。 The men and youths were gone； only the old graybeards and the women were in the villages； and the work advanced but slowly under their trembling hands。 Unhappiness and want； care and sorrow were in the land。
Even in the once peaceful and happy village of Brunen on the Rhine； misery had made itself felt。 Grief and anguish dwelt with the bereaved mothers； with the forsaken brides； and the weak old men； with the useless cripples； who had returned from the war； and who spent their time in relating the dangers through which they had passed； in telling of the sons； the brothers； the husbands； and the fathers of those who listened to their talesthose dear ones who were； perhaps； now str