The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-04
cat least,' interrupted the ambassador, 'sif

eat least,' interrupted the ambassador, 81
you will not delay, do not anticipated
And Monsignore resumed his hasty walk be
tween the door and the window, listening 70
the fatal sound which the faithful tongue Of th
clock still refused to utter. Despite of the de
lay, however, the fatal hour approached. tel
minutes more, and Ranyccio's fate would bt
sealed.
Meanwhile the cardinal repaired to the pope
AS he entered, Sixtus d5ew out his watch, anc
bis eyes sparkled with revengefu Joy On the
Testimony Of that unerrng timepiece, ,Ranuccio
was alreadyoaxecuted.
.''What seek you?" asked his holiness
''The body of my nephew, that may con
vey it TO Parma. At least, les the unhappy
boy reposc in the tomb of his ancestors.'
''Did he die like a chrstion?''
Like saint,' cried the cardinal, trembling
at moments delay.
Sixtus v traced the following words: "We
order our governor of fort St. Angelo to de}ivel
up to his emnence the body of Ranuccio Far
nese,' hac'ing seaRd it with the pontifcal sig
:. net, he gave ipto the cardinal.
Arrived at theocaste, Farnese, agtated be-
tween hope and fear hastened to demand an
entrance: A profound silence reigned within,
broken only by the distant notes of ''de Pro
fundis." He rushed towards the court. Was
he too late? Had his stratagem succeeded? One
look would decide. He raised his eyes-his
nephew still lived. His neck bare, and his
hands tied, he knelt beside the block, between
a priest and the executioner family utteringt the
words of his last prayer. Suddenly the ehan-
ting ceased, the cardinal flew towards the gov
| Fro1 Iva \; 4 :,
countenance lied for him.
"A pardon! a pardon!" exclaimed Olivares.
| Tire soldiers shouted. The executioner begas
to uhloose his victim, when sign from Angel
made him 3use. The governor read and re-
read the missive. "The body of Ranuccio Far
nese3' he repeated, "the criminals name would
suffice. Why these words, the body of??''
"What stops you?' cried the cardinal, at that
moment looking paler than his nephew.
''Read!' replied Angel handing him the
pope's letter.
''Is that all?" said his emnence, forcing a
smile and pointing to the clock. Look at the
hour, it still wants two minutes of the time and
| received that paper from his holiness more
than quarter Of an hour since.''
The governor bowed the argument appeared
Irresistible. Ranucclo was given up to his deliv
crers.
A carriage, with fouq fleet horses, waited out
side the prison, and in few moments the car
dinal and the young prince were ga]lopng along
the road to Parma.
Just then, the clocks of Rome peaed forth in
unison, as if rejoicing that by their judicious ST.
lence they had gained their masters cause.
The FIRST CRUsADE-As soon as the spring
appeared nothing could restrain the impotence
of the crusaders, and they set forward on their
march to the places at which they were to as
semble. The greater number went on foot, some
horsemen appeared amongst the multitude,
great many travelled in cars, they were clothed
IN variety of manners, and armed in the same
way, with lances, swords, javelins, iron Clubs,
&c. &c. The crowd of crusaders presented a
whimsical and confused mixture of all ranks and
all conditions, women appeared in arms in the
midst of warriors prostitution not being for
gotten among the austerlties of penitence. Old
age was to be seen voith infancy, opulence next
to misery, the helmet was confounded with the
frock, the mitre with the sword Around Cities,
around fortresses, in the plains, upon the noun
talns, were raised tents and pavilions, every
where was displayed preparation folo war and
festvlty. Here was heard the sound of arms
or the braylng of trumpets, whilst at short
distance the air was filled with psalms apd spir-
itual songs From the Tiber to she ocean, and
drom the Rhine to the other side of the Pyreo2
nees, nothing was to be seen but troops of men
marked with the cross, who swore to exterrai-
nate the Saracens, and were chanting their
songs of conquest beforehand. On all parts re-
sounded the war-cry of the crusaders-'It is
the will of God! 1t is the will of God!''
Fathers themselves conducted their children,
and made them swear to conquer or die for
Jesus Christ Warriors tore themselves from
the arms of their wives and from their families, |
promising to return victorious. Women or old
men, whose weakness was left without support,
accompanied their sons or their husbands to the |
nearest city, and there, not being able to sepa-
rate themselves from the OBJ jects of their ahec-
tions, determined to follow them to Jerusalem
They who,remalned in Europe, envied the fate |
of the crusaders, and could not restain their
tears, they who went to seek deathcin Asia
were full of hope and joy. Families, whole vii
lagos set out for Palestine, and drew into their
ranks all they met with on their passage They
marched on without forethought and would
would leave pilgrims clothed with the holy cross
to perish with want. Their ignorance added to
their Illusion, and lent an air of enchantment
to everything they saw, they believed at every
they were approaching the end of their
pilgrimage. The children Of the villagers, when
they saw city or a castle, asked if that was
Jerusalem. Many of the greataords, VINO had
passed their lives in their rustic donions, knew
very little more on this head than their vassas,
they took with them their hunting and fishing
appointments and marched with their falcons
on their wrists, preceded by their hounds. They
expected to reach Jerusalem, enjoying them
selves on the road and to exhibit to Asia the
rude luxury Of their castles.
In the midst Of the general derium, no sage
caused the voice Of reason to be heard, nobody
was then astonished at that which now creates
50 much surprise. The scenes so strange, in
which every one was as an actor, could be a
spectacle for onl y posterity.
Strange to say, 1854 beholds the descend
ants of the crusaders aiding the Musselman in
nis battles against the christian cross.
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