Barbarossa; An Historical Novel of the XII Century.
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_CHAPTER XXXVIII_.
_THE QUEEN OF FRANCE_.
The Count of Champagne had secured the cooperation of a more powerfulally than the Bishop of Orleans. His sister Adele, as we have alreadystated, was Queen of France. The indecent haste with which thismarriage had been consummated--within a fortnight after the death ofQueen Constance--joined to the general absence of affection that he hadshown for his deceased wife, had excited the indignation of the peopleagainst the King, while the new alliance had created for him many newenemies, not the least formidable of whom was the King of England.
Adele exercised an immense influence over her husband. She was arelative of the Antipope Victor, whose cause she warmly espoused, and,consequently, did all in her power to further an alliance between Louisand Barbarossa. Pope Alexander, on the contrary, was odious to her, onaccount of his opposition to her marriage, and his threats ofexcommunication. After a long interview with her brother, she repairedto the King's apartments. Louis was seated in a high-backed chair, hishead resting upon his hands, his eyes cast down, and his whole facebearing an expression of anger and uneasiness.
"Adele," said the monarch, perceiving his young wife, "since Alexanderis in France, I have not had an hour of repose."
This remark (a propos to the very subject which interested the Queenmost) gave Adele the opportunity of exerting her influence for herrelatives, and to gratify her revenge towards Alexander; and shesaid,--
"You have the power, Sire, to send the cause of your uneasiness out ofFrance."
"The wish certainly, but not the power."
"Are you then no longer master in your own kingdom?"
"Circumstances are stronger than my will. I cannot show myself hostileto Alexander, without alienating from me the majority of the prelates.Besides, he is our guest, and the supreme chief of Christendom."
"You cannot be forced to observe the laws of hospitality towards onewho has brought trouble under your roof."
"Oh, my dear!" said the King; "we are scarcely at that point yet."
"I know it; but matters are still in a very unfortunate position," saidAdele, with an expression of discouragement. "If the support which yougive to Alexander satisfies the prelates, it displeases the greatvassals of the crown."--This observation was just.
"The Emperor at the head of a powerful army, is already on ourfrontiers; Henry of England is mustering his troops in the North. Who,except your vassals, can extricate France from her peril? Can Alexanderhelp you in any way against the dangers which you incur on hisaccount?"
"Honor and duty enjoin on our vassals to answer our summons; do youthink they would hesitate to obey?" said Louis.
"The situation is perhaps more critical than you imagine, Sire. If youdestroy the contract made with the Emperor, if you protect Alexander,Barbarossa will cross the frontier at once. All will desert your cause,even my brother."
She hid her face in her hands, and wept bitterly.
"What is that you say, Adele?" exclaimed the King. "Is it, as we hope,merely anxiety which makes you speak thus, or have you really anyknowledge of such treachery?"
"My dear husband, be prepared for the worst! Yes, the Count Henry ofChampagne and Troyes, the most powerful of your vassals, has promisedto go over to the Emperor, if you violate a single article of thetreaty which he signed."
"What do you say, madam?" cried Louis, angrily.
"He confessed it to me secretly. In spite of my prayers and my tears,he has sworn to keep his oath."
"Ah! the villain, the caitiff!" he cried, pacing the room. "By SaintDenis! we will arrest and imprison the traitor."
"It is too late, dear husband. The Count has left the Court."
"What! has the wretch retired to his castle?"
The last question was dictated less by anger than by anxiety.
"No; he has gone to the Court of the Emperor."
"Doubtless to receive there the price of his perfidy! Oh, the villain!"
"He has even intimated," continued Adele, who was endeavoring to alarmthe King,--"that other vassals of the crown were inclined to follow hisexample. 'We prefer,' said he to me, 'to bear allegiance to a free andindependent Emperor, than to obey a vassal of the Pope."
"Where do I stand?" cried Louis, sadly, and giving way to all theindecision of his character; "rebellion against the throne, rebellionagainst the Church, surrounded by traitors in my own palace!"
"The danger is near and threatening. But you have the power to ward offthe blow," said Adele.
"I have the power: I? Has not your brother already left the Court? willnot the other traitors follow him? Will they not, perhaps to-morrow,rise in rebellion against their sovereign? Oh! I perceive theirtreasonable plan; it is skilfully organized."
"You exaggerate, Sire," hastily added the wily princess. "It ispossible that my brother may return to-morrow. In that case, you willdo well to dissemble your anger.--He must not suppose that you suspecthis hostile designs."
"My dearest friends, my own family rebel against me!" said Louis, withemotion. "I see in it the finger of God. For years past, I havetrampled underfoot the commandments of the holy Church,--the wrath ofHeaven is let loose against me!"
"Do not despair," resumed Adele; "seek rather to avoid the storm; butlose no time, for events are urgent. Only observe the treaty which hehas signed in your name, and my brother will be faithful to you,against all the world."
"But I have agreed to the interview, and yet the traitor has gone!"
"You refused to influence Alexander to appear before the council."
"Am I the Pope's sovereign? Is it my place to give orders to the Headof the Church?"
"You can invite him, you can act on him by friendly representations; ina word, you can fulfil the letter of the treaty without in any wayviolating your conscientious scruples."
Adele easily reassured her husband. The Archbishop Peter of Tarantasia,a well-known prelate, whose reputation for sanctity extended beyond thefrontiers of France, was at that moment present at the Court, and itwas determined to select him as the most suitable person to influencethe Pope.
He was at once summoned to the royal presence, and soon afterwards madehis appearance. The calmness of the noble old man was in strikingcontrast with Louis' emotion, and his whole person the most severerebuke to the prelates of the Court. The Archbishop wore a cassock ofcoarse cloth, without embroidery, fastened at the waist with a belt.His bald head had merely a crown of curly white hair, and his longbeard falling upon his breast gave him a venerable mien. Extreme ageand the practice of austerity, had bent his body, but his eyes stillglowed with a divine light, and his face was a happy mingling ofsweetness and Christian charity.
"Welcome, holy prelate!" cried Louis, advancing hastily to meet him.
He explained his situation, and continued,--
"And now tell me, father, am I not as wretched as King David when hewas pursued by Absalom? The Count of Champagne is my own wife'sbrother."
"I have long known the crafty arts of the Imperial Court, and the skillwith which it has led away others in its train," replied Peter. "TheCount Henry has been tricked. He swore to execute a treaty whoseresults he could not foresee. We must seek a way by which his oath toBarbarossa may not be violated."
"Can you conceive of any other means of escape from this difficultythan that of inviting the Pope to attend the council?"
"I perceive none other at present; I must reflect."
"But there is not a moment to be lost; who can tell whether my refusalis not really what Frederic desired; if he will not gladly profit bythis opportunity of allying himself with Henry of England againstFrance? He is on our very frontiers, ready for the struggle."
"Unfortunately we must dread everything from one who persecutes theChurch."
"It is on this account, worthy prelate, that I implore you to go, as myambassador, to His Holiness; assure him of my respect, of my fidelity;tell him that circumstances over which I have no contro
l, and not myown free will, have obliged me to invite him to the council."
"There is nothing in this invitation which can be blamed if it besuitably presented," said the Archbishop, after a moment's reflection."There is no doubt of your Majesty's sentiments towards the HolyFather, and I will gladly undertake to deliver your message.
"God be praised!" answered Louis, joyfully; "you have relieved my heartof the heavy weight which oppressed it."
"Well," said the aged prelate, "inform the Emperor immediately, that,in execution of the treaty, you have invited His Holiness to be presentat the council. I feel almost positive that Alexander cannotconsistently go there; but you have saved appearances; the Count ofChampagne will see that his promise has been complied with, and yourenemies will have no further pretext to seek your ruin."
"God speaks by your mouth, father, and I will follow your advice."
"I go to prepare for my journey; may God preserve your Majesty."
"Do not leave me thus; give me your blessing, father," said the King,kneeling as he spoke.
The Archbishop, without manifesting the least emotion, raised his eyesand hands to Heaven, prayed for a few moments in a low tone, thenstretching out his right hand, he said with a loud voice, "_BenedictioDei omnipotentis descendat super te et maneat semper_."
"_Amen_!" responded the King, who rose and accompanied the prelate tothe door of the apartment.