CHAPTER III.
COUNT ANTONIO AND THE PRINCE OF MANTIVOGLIA.
I know of naught by which a man may better be judged than by his bearingin matters of love. What know I of love, say you--I, whose head is grey,and shaven to boot? True, it is grey, and it is shaven. But once it wasbrown, and the tonsure came not there till I had lived thirty years andborne arms for twelve. Then came death to one I loved, and the tonsureto me. Therefore, O ye proud young men and laughing girls, old Ambroseknows of love, though his knowledge be only like the memory that a manhas of a glorious red-gold sunset which his eyes saw a year ago: coldare the tints, gone the richness, sober and faint the picture. Yet it issomething; he sees no more, but he has seen; and sometimes still I seemto see a face that last I saw smiling in death. They tell me suchthoughts are not fitting in me, but I doubt their doing a man much harm;for they make him take joy when others reap the happiness that he,forestalled by fate's sickle, could not garner. But enough! It is ofCount Antonio I would write, and not of my poor self. And the story maybe worth the reading--or would be, had I more skill to pen it.
Now in the summer of the second year of Count Antonio's banishment, whenthe fierce anger of Duke Valentine was yet hot for the presumption shownby the Count in the matter of Duke Paul's death, a messenger cameprivily to where the band lay hidden in the hills, bringing greeting toAntonio from the Prince of Mantivoglia, between whom and the Duke therewas great enmity. For in days gone by Firmola had paid tribute toMantivoglia, and this burden had been broken off only some thirty years;and the Prince, learning that Antonio was at variance with DukeValentine, perceived an opportunity, and sent to Antonio, praying himvery courteously to visit Mantivoglia and be his guest. Antonio, whoknew the Prince well, sent him thanks, and, having made dispositions forthe safety of his company and set Tommasino in charge of it, himselfrode with the man they called Bena, and, having crossed the frontier,came on the second day to Mantivoglia. Here he was received with greatstate, and all in the city were eager to see him, having heard how hehad dealt with Duke Paul and how he now renounced the authority ofValentine. And the Prince lodged him in his palace, and prepared abanquet for him, and set him on the right hand of the Princess, who wasa very fair lady, learned, and of excellent wit; indeed, I have by mecertain stories which she composed, and would read on summer evenings inthe garden; and it may be that, if I live, I will make known certain ofthem. Others there are that only the discreet should read; for what toone age is but mirth turns in the mind of the next to unseemliness andribaldry. This Princess, then, was very gracious to the Count, andspared no effort to give him pleasure; and she asked him very manythings concerning the Lady Lucia, saying at last, "Is she fairer thanI, my lord?" But Antonio answered, with a laugh, "The moon is not fairerthan the sun, nor the sun than the moon: yet they are different." Andthe Princess laughed also, saying merrily, "Well parried, my lord!" Andshe rose and went with the Prince and Antonio into the garden. Then thePrince opened to Antonio what was in his mind, saying, "Take whatcommand you will in my service, and come with me against Firmola; andwhen we have brought Valentine to his knees, I will take what was myfather's, and should be mine: and you shall wring from him your pardonand the hand of your lady." And the Princess also entreated him. ButAntonio answered, "I cannot do it. If Your Highness rides to Firmola, itis likely enough that I also may ride thither; but I shall ride to putmy sword at the service of the Duke. For, although he is not my friend,yet his enemies are mine." And from this they could not turn him. Thenthe Prince praised him, saying, "I love you more for denying me,Antonio; and when I send word of my coming to Valentine, I will tellhim also of what you have done. And if we meet by the walls of Firmola,we will fight like men; and, after that, you shall come again toMantivoglia;" and he drank wine with Antonio, and so bade him God-speed.And the Princess, when her husband was gone, looked at the Count andsaid, "Valentine will not give her to you. Why will not you take her?"
But Antonio answered: "The price is too high."
"I would not have a man who thought any price too high," cried thePrincess.
"Then your Highness would mate with a rogue?" asked Count Antonio,smiling.
"If he were one for my sake only," said she, fixing her eyes on his faceand sighing lightly, as ladies sigh when they would tell something, andyet not too much nor in words that can be repeated. But Antonio kissedher hand, and took leave of her; and with another sigh she watched himgo.
But when the middle of the next month came, the Prince of Mantivogliagathered an army of three thousand men, of whom seventeen hundred weremounted, and crossed the frontier, directing his march towards Firmolaby way of the base of Mount Agnino and the road to the village ofRilano. The Duke, hearing of his approach, mustered his Guards to thenumber of eight hundred and fifty men, and armed besides hard upon twothousand of the townsmen and apprentices, taking an oath of them thatthey would serve him loyally; for he feared and distrusted them; and ofthe whole force, eleven hundred had horses. But Count Antonio lay stillin the mountains, and did not offer to come to the Duke's aid.
"Will you not pray his leave to come and fight for him?" askedTommasino.
"He will love to beat the Prince without my aid, if he can," saidAntonio. "Heaven forbid that I should seem to snatch at glory, and makea chance for myself from his necessity."
So he abode two days where he was; and then there came a shepherd, whosaid, "My lord, the Duke has marched out of the city and lay last nightat Rilano, and is to-day stretched across the road that leads from thespurs of Agnino to Rilano, his right wing resting on the river. Therehe waits the approach of the Prince; and they say that at daybreakto-morrow the Prince will attack."
Then Antonio rose, saying, "What of the night?"
Now the night was very dark, and the fog hung like a grey cloak over theplain. And Antonio collected all his men to the number of threescore andfive, all well-armed and well-horsed; and he bade them march verysilently and with great caution, and led them down into the plain. Andall the night they rode softly, husbanding their strength and sparingtheir horses; and an hour before the break of day they passed throughthe outskirts of Rilano and halted a mile beyond the village, seeing thefires of the Duke's bivouacs stretched across the road in front of them;and beyond there were other fires where the Prince of Mantivoglia layencamped. And Bena said, "The Prince will be too strong for the Duke, mylord."
"If he be, we also shall fight to-morrow, Bena," answered Antonio.
"I trust, then, that they prove at least well matched," said Bena; forhe loved to fight, and yet was ashamed to wish that the Duke should bedefeated.
Then Count Antonio took counsel with Tommasino; and they led the bandvery secretly across the rear of the Duke's camp till they came to theriver. There was a mill on the river, and by the mill a great coveredbarn where the sacks of grain stood; and Antonio, having roused themiller, told him that he came to aid the Duke, and not to fight againsthim, and posted his men in this great barn; so that they were behind theright wing of the Duke's army, and were hidden from sight. Day wasdawning now: the campfires paled in the growing light, and the sounds ofpreparation were heard from the camp. And from the Prince's quartersalso came the noise of trumpets calling the men to arms.
At four in the morning the battle was joined, Antonio standing withTommasino and watching from the mill. Now Duke Valentine had placed hisown guards on either wing, and the townsmen in the centre; but thePrince had posted the flower of his troops in the centre; and he rodethere himself, surrounded by many lords and gentlemen; and with greatvalour and impetuosity he flung himself against the townsmen, reckinglittle of how he fared on either wing. This careless haste did not passunnoticed by the Duke, who was a cool man and wore a good head; and hesaid to Lorenzo, one of his lords who was with him, "If we win on rightand left, it will not hurt us to lose in the middle;" and he would notstrengthen the townsmen against the Prince, but rather drew off more ofthem, and chiefly the stoutest and best equipped, whom he dividedbetween the right wing
where he himself commanded, and the left whichLorenzo led. Nay, men declare that he was not ill pleased to see thebrunt of the strife and the heaviest loss fall on the apprentices andtownsmen. For a while indeed these stood bravely; but the Prince'schivalry came at them in fierce pride and gallant scorn, and bore themdown with the weight of armour and horses, the Prince himself leading ona white charger and with his own hand slaying Glinka, who was head ofthe city-bands and a great champion among them. But Duke Valentine andLorenzo upheld the battle on the wings, and pressed back the enemythere; and the Duke would not send aid to the townsmen in the centre,saying "I shall be ready for the Prince as soon as the Prince is readyfor me, and I can spare some of those turbulent apprentices." And hesmiled his crafty smile, adding, "From enemies also a wise man may suckgood;" and he pressed forward on the right fighting more fiercely thanwas his custom. But when Antonio beheld the townsmen hard pressed andbeing ridden down by the Prince of Mantivoglia's knights and saw thatthe Duke would not aid them, he grew very hot and angry, and said toTommasino, "These men have loved my house, Tommasino. It may be that Ispoil His Highness's plan, but are we to stand here while they perish?"
"A fig for His Highness's plan!" said Tommasino; and Bena gave a cry ofjoy and sprang, unbidden, on his horse.
"Since you are up, Bena," said the Count, "stay up, and let the othersmount. The Duke's plan, if I read it aright, is craftier than I love,and I do not choose to understand it."
Then, when the townsmen's line was giving way before the Prince, and theapprentices, conceiving themselves to be shamefully deserted, were moreof a mind to run away than to fight any more, suddenly Antonio rodeforth from the mill. He and his company came at full gallop; but hehimself was ten yards ahead of Bena and Tommasino, for all that theyraced after him. And he cried aloud, "To me, men of Firmola, to me,Antonio of Monte Velluto!" and they beheld him with utter astonishmentand great joy. For his helmet was fallen from his head, and his fairhair gleamed in the sun, and the light of battle played on his face. Andthe band followed him, and, though they had for the most part no armour,yet such was the fury of their rush, and such the mettle and strength oftheir horses, that they made light of meeting the Prince's knights infull tilt. And the townsmen cried, "It is the Count! To death after theCount!" And Antonio raised the great sword that he carried, and rode atthe Marshal of the Prince's palace, who was in the van of the fight,and he split helmet and head with a blow. Then he came to where thePrince himself was, and the great sword was raised again, and the Princerode to meet him, saying, "If I do not die now, I shall not die to-day."But when Antonio saw the Prince, he brought his sword to his side andbowed and turned aside, and engaged the most skilful of the Mantivoglianknights. And he fought that day like a man mad; but he would not strikethe Prince of Mantivoglia. And after a while the Prince ceased to seekhim; and a flatterer said to the Prince, "He is bold against us, but hefears you, my lord." But the Prince said, "Peace, fool. Go and fight."For he knew that not fear, but friendship, forbade Antonio to assailhim.
Yet by now the rout of the townsmen was stayed and they were holdingtheir own again in good heart and courage, while both on the right andon the left the Duke pressed on and held the advantage. Then the Princeof Mantivoglia perceived that he was in a dangerous plight, for he wasin peril of being worsted along his whole line; for his knights did nomore than hold a doubtful balance against the townsmen and Antonio'scompany, while the Duke and Lorenzo were victorious on either wing; andhe knew that if the Duke got in rear of him and lay between him andMount Agnino, he would be sore put to it to find a means of retreat.Therefore he left the centre and rode to the left of his line andhimself faced Duke Valentine. Yet slowly was he driven back, and he gaveway sullenly, obstinately, and in good order, himself performing manygallant deeds, and seeking to come to a conflict with the Duke. But theDuke, seeing that the day was likely to be his, would not meet him andchose to expose his person to no more danger: "For," he said, "a soldierwho is killed is a good soldier; but a chief who is killed save for somegreat object is a bad chief." And he bided his time and slowly pressedthe Prince back, seeking rather to win the battle than the praise ofbravery. But when Count Antonio saw that all went well, and that theenemy were in retreat, he halted his band; and at this they murmured,Bena daring to say, "My lord, we have had dinner, and may we not havesupper also?" Antonio smiled at Bena, but would not listen.
"No," said he. "His Highness has won the victory by his skill andcunning. I did but move to save my friends. It is enough. Shall I seekto rob him of his glory? For the ignorant folk, counting the arm morehonourable than the head, will give me more glory than him if I continuein the fight." And thus, not being willing to force his aid on a man whohated to receive it, he drew off his band. Awhile he waited; but when hesaw that the Prince was surely beaten, and that the Duke held victory inhis hand, he gave the word that they should return by the way they hadcome.
"Indeed," said Tommasino, laughing, "it may be wisdom as well as goodmanners, cousin. For I would not trust myself to Valentine if he bevictorious, for all the service which we have done him in saving theapprentices he loves so well."
So Antonio's band turned and rode off from the field, and they passedthrough Rilano. But they found the village desolate; for report hadcome from the field that the Duke's line was broken, and that in a shortspace the Prince of Mantivoglia would advance in triumph, and havingsacked Rilano, would go against Firmola, where there were but a few oldmen and boys left to guard the walls against him. And one peasant, whomthey found hiding in the wood by the road, said there was panic in thecity, and that many were escaping from it before the enemy shouldappear.
"It is months since I saw Firmola," said Antonio with a smile. "Let usride there and reassure these timid folk. For my lord the Duke hassurely by now won the victory, and he will pursue the Prince till heyields peace and abandons the tribute."
Now a great excitement rose in the band at these words; for althoughthey had lost ten men in the battle and five more were disabled, yetthey were fifty stout and ready; and it was not likely that there wasany force in Firmola that could oppose them. And Martolo, who rode withTommasino, whispered to him, "My lord, my lord, shall we carry off theLady Lucia before His Highness can return?"
Tommasino glanced at Antonio. "Nay, I know not what my cousin purposes,"said he.
Then Antonio bade Bena and Martolo ride on ahead, taking the besthorses, and tell the people at Firmola that victory was with the Duke,and that His Highness's servant, Antonio of Monte Velluto, was at handto protect the city till His Highness should return in triumph. And thetwo, going ahead while the rest of the band took their mid-day meal, metmany ladies and certain rich merchants and old men escaping from thecity, and turned them back, saying that all was well; and the ladieswould fain have gone on and met Antonio; but the merchants, hearing thathe was there, made haste to get within the walls again, fearing that hewould levy a toll on them for the poor, as his custom was. At this Benalaughed mightily, and drew rein, saying, "These rabbits will run quickerback to their burrow than we could ride, Martolo. Let us rest awhileunder a tree; I have a flask of wine in my saddle-bag." So they rested;and while they rested, they saw what amazed them; for a lady rode alonetowards them on a palfrey, and though the merchants met her and spokewith her, yet she rode on. And when she came to the tree where Bena andMartolo were, they sprang up and bared their heads; for she was the LadyLucia; and her face was full of fear and eagerness as she said, "Noguard is kept to-day, even on helpless ladies. Is it true that my lordis near?"
"Yes, he is near," said Bena, kissing her hand. "See, there is the dustof his company on the road."
"Go, one of you, and say that I wait for him," she commanded; so Martolorode on to carry the news farther, and Bena went to Antonio and said,"Heaven, my lord, sends fortune. The Lady Lucia has escaped from thecity, and awaits you under yonder tree."
And when Tommasino heard this, he put out his hand suddenly and caughtAntonio's hand and pressed it, saying, "Go al
one, and bring her here: wewill wait: the Duke will not be here for many hours yet."
Then Antonio rode alone to the tree where Lucia was; and because he hadnot seen her for many months, he leapt down from his horse and camerunning to her, and, kneeling, kissed her hand; but she, who stood nowby her palfrey's side, flung her arms about his neck and fell with tearsand laughter into his arms, saying, "Antonio, Antonio! Heaven is withus, Antonio."
"Yes," said he. "For His Highness has won the day."
"Have not we won the day also?" said she, reaching up and laying herhands on his shoulders.
"Heart of my heart," said he softly, as he looked in her eyes.
"The cage is opened, and, Antonio, the bird is free," she whispered, andher eyes danced and her cheek went red. "Lift me to my saddle, Antonio."
The Count obeyed her, and himself mounted; and she said, "We can reachthe frontier in three hours, and there--there, Antonio, none fears theDuke's wrath." And Antonio knew what she would say, save that she wouldnot speak it bluntly--that there they could find a priest to marrythem. And his face was pale as he smiled at her. Then he laid his handon her bridle and turned her palfrey's head towards Firmola. Her eyesdarted a swift question at him, and she cried low, "Thither, Antonio?"
Then he answered her, bending still his look on her, "Alas, I am nolearned man, nor a doctor skilled in matters of casuistry and nicedistinctions. I can but do what the blood that is in me tells me agentleman should do. To-day, sweetheart--ah, will you not hide your facefrom me, sweetheart, that my words may not die in my mouth?--to-day ourlord the Duke fights against the enemies of our city, holding for us inhard battle the liberty that we have won, and bearing the banner ofFirmola high to heaven in victory."
She listened with strained frightened face; and the horses moved at awalk towards Firmola. And she laid her hand on his arm, saying again,"Antonio!"
"And I have fought with my lord to-day, and I would be at his side now,except that I do his pleasure better by leaving him to triumph alone.But my hand has been with him to-day, and my heart is with him to-day.Tell me, sweetheart, if I rode forth to war and left you alone, wouldyou do aught against me till I returned?"
She did not answer him.
"A Prince's city," said he, "should be as his faithful wife; and when hegoes to meet the enemy, none at home should raise a hand against him;above all may not one who has fought by his side. For to stand side byside in battle is a promise and a compact between man and man, even asthough man swore to man on a holy relic."
Then she understood what he would say, and she looked away from himacross the plain; and a tear rolled down her cheek as she said, "Indeed,my lord, the error lies in my thoughts; for I fancied that your love wasmine."
Antonio leant from his saddle and lightly touched her hair. "Was thatindeed your fancy?" said he. "And I prove it untrue?"
"You carry me back to my prison," she said. "And you will ride away."
"And so I love you not?" he asked.
"No, you love me not," said she; and her voice caught in a sob.
"See," said he; "we draw near to Firmola, and the city gates are open;and, look, they raise a flag on the Duke's palace; and there is joy forthe victory that Martolo has told them of. And in all the Duchy thereare but two black hearts that burn with treacherous thoughts against HisHighness, setting their own infinite joy above the honour and faith theyowe him."
"Nay, but are there two?" she asked, turning her face from him.
"In truth I would love to think there was but one," said he. "And thatone beats in me, sweetheart, and so mightily, that I think it will burstthe walls of my body, and I shall die."
"Yet we ride to Firmola," said she.
"Yet, by Christ's grace," said Count Antonio, "we ride to Firmola."
Then the Lady Lucia suddenly dropped her bridle on the neck of herpalfrey and caught Antonio's right hand in her two hands and said tohim, "When I pray to-night, I will pray for the cleansing of the blackheart, Antonio. And I will make a wreath and carry it to the Duke andkiss his hand for his victory. And I will set lights in my window andflags on my house; and I will give my people a feast; and I will singand laugh for the triumph of the city and for the freedom this day haswon for us: and when I have done all this, what may I do then, Antonio?"
"I am so cruel," said he, "that then I would have you weep a little: yetspoil not the loveliest eyes in all the world; for if you dim them, itmay be that they will not shine like stars across the plain and eveninto the hut where I live among the hills."
"Do they shine bright, Antonio?"
"As the gems on the Gates of Heaven," he answered; and he reined in hishorse and gave her bridle into her hands. And then for many minutesneither spoke; and Count Antonio kissed her lips, and she his; and theypromised with the eyes what they needed not to promise with the tongue.And the Lady Lucia went alone on her way to Firmola. But the Count satstill like a statue of marble on his horse, and watched her as she rode.And there he stayed till the gates of the city received her and thewalls hid her from his sight; and the old men on the walls saw him andknew him, and asked, "Does he come against us? But it was against thePrince of Mantivoglia that we swore to fight." And they watched him tillhe turned and rode at a foot's pace away from the city. And now as herode his brow was smooth and calm and there was a smile on his lips.
But when Antonio had ridden two or three miles and came where he hadleft the band, he could see none of them. And a peasant came running tohim in great fright and said, "My lord, your men are gone again to aidthe Duke; for the Prince has done great deeds, and turned the fight, andit is again very doubtful: and my lord Tommasino bade me say that heknew your mind, and was gone to fight for Firmola."
Then Antonio, wondering greatly at the news, set his horse to a gallopand passed through Rilano at furious speed, and rode on towards Agnino;and it was now afternoon. Presently he saw the armies, but they seemedto lie idle, over against one another. And, riding on, he met Bena, whowas come to seek him. And Bena said, "The Prince and his knights havefought like devils, my lord, and the townsmen grew fearful again whenyou were gone; and we, coming back, have fought again. But now a trucehas sounded, and the Prince and the Duke are meeting in conferencebetween the armies. Yet they say that no peace will be made; for thePrince, taking heart from his sudden success, though he is willing toabandon the tribute, asks something in return which the Duke will notgrant. Yet perhaps he has granted it by now, for his men are weary."
"He should grant nothing," cried Antonio, and galloped on again. ButBena said to himself with an oath, "He has sent back the lady! Thesaints save us!" and followed Antonio with a laugh on his face.
But Antonio, thinking nothing of his own safety, rode full into theranks of the Duke's Guard, saying, "Where does my lord talk with thePrince?" And they showed him where the place was; for the Prince andthe Duke sat alone under a tree between the two arrays. And the Dukelooked harsh and resolute, while the Prince was very courteouslyentreating him.
"Indeed," said he, "so doubtful has the day been, my lord, that I mightwell refuse to abandon the tribute, and try again to-morrow the issue ofthe fight. But, since so many brave men have fallen on both sides, I amwilling to abandon it, asking of you only such favour as would beconceded to a simple gentleman asking of his friend. And yet you willnot grant it me, and thus bring peace between us and our peoples."
Duke Valentine frowned and bit his lip; and the Prince rose from wherehe had been seated, and lifted his hand to the sky, and said, "So be it,my lord; on your head lies the blame. For to-morrow I will attack again;and, as God lives, I will not rest till the neck of the city of Firmolais under my foot, or my head rolls from my shoulders by your sword."
Then Duke Valentine paced up and down, pondering deeply. For he was aman that hated to yield aught, and beyond all else hated what thePrince of Mantivoglia asked of him. Yet he feared greatly to refuse; forthe townsmen had no stomach for another fight and had threatened tomarch home if he would not make peace with the
Prince. Therefore heturned to the Prince, and, frowning heavily, was about to say, "Since itmust be so, so let it be," when suddenly the Count Antonio rode up andleapt from his horse, crying, "Yield nothing, my lord, yield nothing!For if you will tell me what to do, and suffer me to be your hand, wewill drive the enemy over our borders with great loss."
Then the Prince of Mantivoglia fell to laughing, and he came to Antonioand put his arm about his neck, saying, "Peace, peace, thou foolishman!"
Antonio saluted him with all deference, but he answered, "I must givegood counsel to my lord the Duke." And he turned to the Duke again,saying, "Yield nothing to the Prince, my lord."
Duke Valentine's lips curved in his slow smile as he looked at Antonio."Is that indeed your counsel? And will you swear, Antonio, to give meyour aid against the Prince so long as the war lasts, if I follow it?"
"Truly, I swear it," cried Antonio. "Yet what need is there of an oath?Am I not Your Highness's servant, bound to obey without an oath?"
"Nay, but you do not tell him----" began the Prince angrily.
Duke Valentine smiled again; he was ever desirous to make a show offairness where he risked nothing by it; and he gazed a moment onAntonio's face; then he answered to the Prince of Mantivoglia, "I knowthe man, my lord. I know him in his strength and in his folly. Do not weknow one another, Antonio?"
"Indeed, I know not all your Highness's mind," answered Antonio.
"Well, I will tell him," said Duke Valentine. "This Prince, Antonio, hasconsented to a peace, and to abandon all claim to tribute from our city,on one condition; which is, that I, the Duke, shall do at his demandwhat of my own free and sovereign will I would not do."
"His demand is not fitting nor warranted by his power," said Antonio;but in spite of his words the Prince of Mantivoglia passed his armthrough his, and laughed ruefully, whispering, "Peace, man, peace."
"And thus I, the Duke, having bowed my will to his, shall return toFirmola, not beaten indeed, yet half-beaten and cowed by the power ofMantivoglia."
"It shall not be, my lord," cried Count Antonio.
"Yet, my lord Duke, you do not tell him what the condition is," said thePrince.
"Why, it is nothing else than that I should pardon you, and suffer youto wed the Lady Lucia," said Duke Valentine.
Then Count Antonio loosed himself from the arm of the Prince and bentand kissed the Prince's hand; but he said, "Is this thing to come twiceon a man in one day? For it is but an hour or less that I parted fromthe lady of whom you speak; and if her eyes could not move me, what elseshall move me?" And he told them briefly of his meeting with the LadyLucia. But Duke Valentine was wroth with the shame that a generous actrouses in a heart that knows no generosity; and the Prince was yet morewroth, and he said to Duke Valentine, "Were there any honour in you, mylord, you would not need my prayers to pardon him."
At this the Duke's face grew very dark; and he cried angrily, "Get backto your own line, my lord, or the truce shall not save you." And heturned to Antonio and said, "Three hours do I give you to get hence,before I pursue."
Antonio bowed low to him and to the Prince; and they three parted, thetwo princes in bitter wrath, and set again on fighting to the end, theone because he was ashamed and yet obstinate, the other for scorn of arancour that found no place in himself. But Count Antonio went back tohis company and drew it some little way off from both armies; and hesaid to Tommasino, "The truce is ended, and they will fight again sosoon as the men have had some rest;" and he told Tommasino what hadpassed. Then he sat silent again; but presently he laid hold of hiscousin's arm, saying, "Look you, Tommasino, princes are sometimes fools;and hence come trouble and death to honest humble folk. It is a sorebusiness that they fight again to-morrow, and not now for any greatmatter, but because they are bitter against one another on my account.Cannot I stop them, Tommasino?"
"Aye, if you have five thousand men and not thirty-five--for that is thesum of us now, counting Martolo, who is back from Firmola."
Antonio looked thoughtfully through the dusk of evening which now fell."They will not fight to-night," he said. "I am weary of thisblood-letting." And Tommasino saw that there was something in his mind.
Now the night fell dark again and foggy, even as the night before; andnone in either army dared to move, and even the sentries could see nomore than a few yards before them. But Antonio's men being accustomed toride in the dark, and to find their way through mists both in plain andhill, could see more clearly; and Antonio divided them into two parties,himself leading one, and giving the other into Tommasino's charge.Having very securely tethered their horses, they set forth, crawling ontheir bellies through the grass. Antonio with his party made for thecamp of the Prince, while Tommasino and his party directed their waytowards the Duke's bivouacs. And they saw the fires very dimly throughthe mist, and both parties passed the sentries unobserved, and madetheir way to the centre of the camps. Then, on the stroke of midnight, astrange stir arose in both the camps. Nothing could be seen by reason ofthe darkness and the mist; but suddenly cries arose, and men ran to andfro; and a cry went up from the Duke's camp, "They are behind us! Theyare behind us! We are surrounded!" And in the Prince's camp also wasgreat fear; for from behind them, towards where the spurs of MountAgnino began, there came shouts of "At them, at them! Charge!" And thePrince's officers, perceiving the cries to be from men of Firmola (andthis they knew by reason of certain differences in the phrasing ofwords), conceived that the Duke had got behind them, and was lyingacross their way of retreat.
Then the Duke, hearing the shouts in his own camp, ran out from histent; and he was met by hundreds of the townsmen, who cried, "My lord,we are surrounded!" For Antonio's men had gone to the townsmen and shewnthem how they might escape more fighting; and the townsmen were nothingloth; and they insisted with the Duke that a body of men on horsebackhad passed behind them. So the Duke sent out scouts, who could seenothing of the horsemen. But then the townsmen cried, some being in thesecret, others not, "Then they have ridden past us, and are making forFirmola. And they will do Heaven knows what there. Lead us after them,my lord!" And the Duke was very angry; but he was also greatly afraid,for he perceived that there was a stir in the Prince's camp also, andheard shouts from there, but could not distinguish what was said. Andwhile he considered what to do, the townsmen formed their ranks and senthim word that they were for Firmola; and when he threatened them withhis Guard, they rejoined that one death was as good as another; and theDuke gnawed his nails and went pale with rage. But Count Antonio's men,seeing how well the plan had sped, crept again out from the camp, andreturned to where they had tethered their horses, and mounted, eachtaking a spare horse. And before they had been there long, they heardtrumpets sound in the Duke's camp, and the camp was struck, and the Dukeand all his force began to retreat on Rilano, throwing out many scouts,and moving very cautiously in the darkness and mist. Yet when they cameon nobody, they marched more quickly, even the Duke himself nowbelieving that the Prince of Mantivoglia had of a purpose allowed thestir in his camp to be seen and heard, in order that he might detach acolumn to Firmola unobserved, and attack the city before the Duke cameup. Therefore he now pressed on, saying, "I doubt not that the Princehimself is with the troop that has gone to Firmola." And all night longthey marched across the plain, covering a space of eighteen miles; andjust before the break of day they came to the city.
Thus did it fall out with the army of Duke Valentine. But the Prince ofMantivoglia had been no less bewildered; for when he sent out men to seewhat the cries behind the camp meant, he found no man; but he stillheard scattered cries among the rising ground, where the hills began.And he in his turn saw a stir in the camp opposite to him. And, being animpetuous Prince, as he had shown both in evil and in good that day, hesnatched up his sword, swearing that he would find the truth of thematter, and bidding his officers wait his return and not be drawn fromtheir position before he came again to them; and taking some of hisyounger knights and a few more, he passed out of his camp, and p
ausedfor a moment, bidding those with him spread themselves out in a thinline, in order the better to reconnoitre, and that, if some fell into anambuscade, others might survive to carry the news back to the camp. Andhe, having given his order, himself stood resting on his sword. But inan instant, before he could so much as lift the point of his sword fromthe ground, silent blurred shapes came from the mist, and were in frontand behind and round him; and they looked so strange that he raised hishand to cross himself; but then a scarf was thrown over his mouth, andhe was seized by eight strong hands and held so that he could notstruggle; and neither could he cry out by reason of the scarf across hismouth. And they that held him began to run rapidly; and he was carriedout of the camp without the knowledge of any of those who were with him,and they, missing their leader, fell presently into a greatconsternation, and ran to and from in the gloom crying, "The Prince?Have you seen the Prince? Is His Highness with you? In God's name, hasthe Prince been this way?" But they did not find him, and they grew moreconfounded, stumbling against one another and being much afraid. Andwhen the Prince was nowhere to be found, they lost heart, and began tofall back towards their own borders, skirting the base of Agnino. Andtheir retreat grew quicker; and at last, when morning came, they werenear the border; but the fog still wrapped all the plain in obscurity,and, robbed of their leader, they dared attempt nothing.
Now the Prince of Mantivoglia, whom his army sought thus in fear andbewilderment, was carried very quickly up to the high ground, where therocks grew steep and close and the way led to the peak of Agnino. And ashe was borne along, some one bound his hands and his feet; and still hewas carried up, till at last he found himself laid down gently on theground. And though he knew no fear--for they of Mantivoglia have everbeen most valiant Princes and strangers to all fear--yet he thought thathis last hour was come, and, fearing God though he feared nothing else,he said a prayer and commended his soul to the Almighty, grieving thathe should not receive the last services of the Church. And having donethis, he lay still until the dawning day smote on his eyes and he couldsee; for the fog that lay dense on the plain was not in the hills, buthung between them and the plain. And he looked round, but saw no man. Sohe abode another hour, and then he heard a step behind him, and a mancame, but whence he could not see; and the man stooped and loosed thescarf from his mouth and cut his bonds, and he sat up, uttering a cry ofwonder. For Count Antonio stood before him, his sword sheathed by hisside. And he said to the Prince of Mantivoglia, "Do to me what you will,my lord. If you will strike me as I stand, strike. Or if you will do methe honour to cross swords, my sword is ready. Or, my lord, if you willdepart in peace and in my great love and reverence, I will give thanksto Heaven and to a noble Prince."
"Antonio, what does this mean?" cried the Prince, divided between angerand wonder.
Then Antonio told him all that he had done: how the Duke was gone backwith his army to Firmola, and how the Prince's army had retreatedtowards the borders of Mantivoglia; for of all this his men had informedhim; and he ended, saying, "For since it seemed that I was to be themost unworthy cause of more fighting between two great Princes, it cameinto my head that such a thing should not be. And I rejoice that now itwill not; for the townsmen will not march out again this year at least,and Your Highness will scarce sit down before Firmola with the seasonnow far gone."
"So I am baulked?" cried the Prince, and he rose to his feet. "And thistrick is played me by a friend!"
"I am of Firmola," said Antonio, flushing red. "And while there was war,I might in all honour have played another trick, and carried you nothither, but to Firmola."
"I care not," cried the Prince angrily. "It was a trick, and no fairfighting."
"Be it as you will, my lord," said Antonio. "A man's own conscience ishis only judge. Will you draw your sword, my lord?"
But the Prince was very angry, and he answered roughly, "I will notfight with you, and I will not speak more with you. I will go."
"I will lead Your Highness to your horse," said Antonio.
Then he led him some hundreds of paces down the hill, and they camewhere a fine horse stood ready saddled.
"It is not my horse," said the Prince.
"Be not afraid, my lord. It is not mine either," said Antonio smiling."A rogue who serves me, and is called Bena, forgot his manners so far asto steal it from the quarters of the Duke. I pray you use someopportunity of sending it back to him, or I shall be dubbedhorse-stealer with the rest."
"I am glad it is not yours," said the Prince, and he prepared to mount,Antonio holding the stirrup for him. And when he was mounted, Antoniotold him how to ride, so that he should come safely to his own men, andavoid certain scouting parties of the Duke that he had thrown out behindhim as he marched back to Firmola. And having done this, Antonio stoodback and bared his head and bowed.
"And where is your horse?" asked the Prince suddenly.
"I have no horse, my lord," said Antonio. "My men with all my horseshave ridden back to our hiding-place in the hills. I am alone here, forI thought that Your Highness would kill me, and I should need no horse."
"How, then, will you escape the scouting parties?"
"I fear I shall not escape them, my lord," said Antonio, smiling again.
"And if they take you?"
"Of a surety I shall be hanged," said Count Antonio.
The Prince of Mantivoglia gathered his brow into a heavy frown, but thecorners of his lips twitched, and he did not look at Antonio. And thusthey rested a few moments, till suddenly the Prince, unable to holdhimself longer, burst into a great and merry peal of laughter; and heraised his fist and shook it at Antonio, crying, "A scurvy trick,Antonio! By my faith, a scurvier trick by far than that other of yours!Art thou not ashamed, man? Ah, you cast down your eyes! You dare notlook at me, Antonio."
"Indeed I have naught to say for this last trick, my lord," saidAntonio, laughing also.
"Indeed I must carry this knave with me!" cried the Prince. "Faugh, thetraitor! Get up behind me, traitor! Clasp me by the waist, knave!Closer, knave! Ah, Antonio, I know not in what mood Heaven was when youwere made! I would I had the heart to leave you to your hanging! Forwhat a story will my Princess make of this! I shall be the best-deridedman in all Mantivoglia."
"I think not, my dear lord," said Count Antonio, "unless a love that aman may reckon on as his lady-love's and a chivalry that does not fail,and a valour that has set two armies all agape in wonder, be yourmatters for mirth in Mantivoglia. And indeed, my lord, I would that Iwere riding to the lady I love best in the world, as Your Highnessrides; for she might laugh till her sweet eyes ran tears so I were nearto dry them."
The Prince put back his hand towards Antonio and clasped Antonio's hand,and said, "What said she when you left her, Antonio? For with women loveis often more than honour, and their tears rust the bright edge of aman's conscience."
"Her heart is even as Our Lady's, and with tears and smiles she leftme," said Antonio, and he grasped the Prince's hand. "Come, my lord, wemust ride, or it is a prison for you and a halter for me."
So they rode together in the morning on the horse that Bena had stolenfrom among the choicest of Duke Valentine's, and, keeping cunninglyamong the spurs of the hills, they were sighted once only from afar offby the Duke's scouts, and escaped at a canter, and came safe to thePrince's army, where they were received with great wonder and joy. Butthe Prince would not turn again to besiege Firmola, for he had had afill of fighting, and the season grew late for the siege of a walledtown. So he returned with all his force to Mantivoglia, having won byhis expedition much praise of valour, and nothing else in the wide worldbesides; which thing indeed is so common in the wars of princes thateven wise men have well-nigh ceased to wonder at it.
But the Princess of Mantivoglia heard all that had passed with greatmirth, and made many jests upon her husband; and again, lest the Princeshould take her jesting in evil part, more upon Duke Valentine. Butconcerning Count Antonio and the Lady Lucia she did not jest. Yet oneday, chancing
to be alone with Count Antonio--for he stayed many daysat the Court of Mantivoglia, and was treated with great honour--she saidto him, with a smile and half-raised eyelids, "Had I been a man, my lordAntonio, I would not have returned alone from the gates of Firmola. Intruth, your lady needs patience for her virtue, Count Antonio!"
"I trust, then, that Heaven sends it to her, madame," said Antonio.
"And to you also," she retorted with a laugh. "And to her trust in youalso, I pray. For an absent lover is often an absent heart, Antonio, andI hear that many ladies would fain soften your exile. And what I hear,the Lady Lucia may hear also."
"She would hear it as the idle babbling of water over stones," saidAntonio. "But, madame, I am glad that I have some honesty in me. For ifthere were not honest men and true maids in this world, I think morethan a half of the wits would starve for lack of food."
"Mercy, mercy!" she cried. "Indeed your wit has a keen edge, my lord."
"Yet it is not whetted on truth and honesty," said he.
She answered nothing for a moment; then she drew near to him and stoodbefore him, regarding his face; and she sighed "Heigh-ho!" and again"Heigh-ho!" and dropped her eyes, and raised them again to his face; andat last she said, "To some faithfulness is easy. I give no great praiseto the Lady Lucia." And when she had said this she turned and left him,and was but little more in his company so long as he stayed atMantivoglia. And she spoke no more of the Lady Lucia. But when he wasmounting, after bidding her farewell, she gave him a white rose from herbosom, saying carelessly, "Your colour, my lord, and the best. Yet Godmade the other roses also."
"All that He made He loves, and in all there is good," said Antonio, andhe bowed very low, and, having kissed her hand, took the rose; and helooked into her eyes and smiled, saying, "Heaven give peace where it hasgiven wit and beauty;" and so he rode away to join his company in thehills. And the Princess of Mantivoglia, having watched till he was outof sight, went into dinner, and was merrier than ever she had shownherself before; so that they said, "She feared Antonio and is glad thathe is gone." Yet that night, while her husband slept, she wept.