The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-15
tWri.:on for she Morning S.ar.I
FRANCIS BORGIA.
A Tale of the Court of Charles v, of Spain.
BY JACQUELINE:.
CHAPTER II,


A year of comparative quiet had passed for
the empire, though the armies of Charles were
kept busy i'll maintaining the supremacy of
their lord among the dsatfected German princes,
ter of her unawed battalions along tho Austrian
lines. Tho Marquis of Lombay sat in his cab-
net, engaged in composing one Of chose beauti-
full church motifs, which every el " in Madrid
deemed al honor to possess and eonora was
Interpreting here and there, with Ter exquisite
voice, some doubtful harmony, when they were
interrupted by summons FROM the emperor
for his Immediate attendance.
He found Charles with two OF his most
trusted councillors in his cabinet, pacing the
floor with angry strides.
he said, as the marquis entered. " Francis has
thrown off the mask, is tired of his last syren,
the deFoix, and the lull of his sybarite life,
and longs again for the clash of arms, and the
osresses of Bellona. Now that he has his sons
once more safe at home, he breaks his troth,
and claims again the provinces coded in our
late treaty. Even now his armies are on the
frontier, and hot work is before u.s."
"Surely, your majesty has nothing to fear
oven against the yalor of the French troops !;
though admit if deBourbon has the command,
there will be a close contest" ~---'
Say you-sof ~ cheerfully replied the en-
peror, then our courage may rise; for de
Bourbon has disaffected, deserted his allegiance
to his country for some petty spite with his
love, for Marguerite dc Valois, and offers his
sword and men to me. Contemplate villain,
and dishonored knight though l hold him to
L
this is no time to weigh delicate points of
honor"
"Bourbon Is traitor ~ exclaimed Lombay :
and your majesty consents to receive his tar
nished sword y" but seeing frown gathering
on the brow of Charles, Excuse my warmth,
my iege, but cannot believe that either glory
or success will crown the courage of such CO.
horts, who call that vile traitor and arch -here-
tic leader, and, pardon my saying. it, unless
you restrict his powers, l fear that our HOLY
Father Clement will be made to feel the force
az will do what can" said Charles, in 4,
troubled tone; "but the general who leads an
army, who lives and suffers with his men,
should be the best Judge of the manners and
means to meet an EFFICIENCY, that one at dis
tance can neither comprehend nor manage. But
will do what can, what can, and Clement
must be warned to be on his guard"
Thus through the greed of power, and hatred
of France, the Eternal City was allowed to fall,
under the lead of deBourbon into the hands of
those Lutheran German troops, to whom he
had promised the privilege of sack and slaugh-
ter, and whose deeds of rapine and blood left
the record of the deeds of their yandal and
Gothic ancestors far in the shade.
Borgia left the emperor's cabinetwith heavy
heart, aud WEAKNESS of the worlds depravity
A revelation of the emptiness of those honors
for which such n guerdon was paid, made him
sigh for the rcpose which can only be found
where the tumult of voices can never come. He
knew it not, but the spirit of peace was even
then lowering near; the fiery tongues were de-
seending, and the Pentecost of this chosen
among men was at hand.
The court circle was tired of Madrid; ennuyed
with the round of familiar scenes and faces.
The health of the empress was not good, and a
change of air was prescribed by the court phy-
stefan. To Toledo, then to Toledo, the city of
hills, the grand old Moorish stronghold with
it's architectural splendors and poetic tradi-
lions; its marvels of Saracenic art, and the
footprints of Ferdinand and Isabella still ling
ering among it's towers and mosques; mosques
now transformed into Catholic temples, hal
lowed by Christian mysteries, and illumined by
the aureole of the divine presence which lay
enshrined in marvels of fretted gold, arabesqued
with glittering Jewels that once incrusted the
crescent, but iai1ed TO iend to it the heavenly