Padua, when he returned, welcomed him with an atmosphere of big excitement.
It was by now a well known fact that Frederick, after having defeated the papal armies, would have moved against Lombardy to subdue it to his power. He had always aspired to surround the pope from every side. While waiting for Frederick armies, the old imperial vassals, supported by the ghibellini, started to take position against the guelfi.
Anthony, even if he was exhausted by the trip and by the fast, immediately after the arrival in the city re-started his teachings. As in the past, in the morning he celebrated the mass, and then he was going out on the church square and delivered his sermon. Perceiving in people their increasing hate and desire of struggle, he was inviting people to forgive the insults and to love one another fraternally. His words, as always, had their influence. The people that he saw sharpening their weapons as dawn appeared were gathering in the plaza to occupy the best place to listen to him. The merchants were shutting their shops. The crowd that surrounded Anthony were artisans, merchants, farmers and ladies of noble descent and knights.
Shouts and cheers greeted the appearance of the preacher. When he was indicating that he was starting to speak, silence fell in the plaza, silence that was disturbed only by the throb of the wings of doves in flight. Anthony spoke for hours and hours, yet people wouldn`t get tired of listening to him. His eloquence in speaking fascinated people who listened attentively and applauded warmly.
Being well aware of the tension, he continued to talk about fraternal love, trust in the neighbour, the necessity of judging oneself at the same manner as judging others that were considered enemies.
"What small particulars can one see in the neighbour" he was saying "Small as a spech in the eye. And it seems that, that man is wicked, because that speck prevents him to see things in the correct way. But, have you a clear eye? The Lord Jesus says: remove first the beam from your eye, and only after, when you are able to see how is really your neighbour, you can judge who of you is in the right…"
After the talking, as usual, he was taking place in the confessional and was confessing till night time.
At twilight the friar minor would come to take him home, to protect him from the crowd. A crowd that encircled him, attempting to touch him or even tear a piece of his habit. At that stage he was benumbed and could hardly walk.
The days were so passing, one after the other.
They seemed very insignificant however Anthony extreme efforts brought their fruit.
In Padua there was no struggle between the two supporters of the parties, as it was happening in the other cities of Romagna.
Anthony was so absorbed by this king of work that was not able to go to Arcella. However one evening, although very exhausted, he went to visit the furriers house. He was greeted with great joy. All the family surrounded Anthony. Between the children there wasn’t Julia.
"Now she is always at the side of lady Helen" said Girolamo "I do not know if you know, brother, of the changing that happened there. Helen`s father has died, and she has sold the palace, she has distributed the money to the poor, while she went to live in the house of the gardener. There she founded an authentic convent. She has with her, some girls. They live by what people give them, they pray, they do penance… Even Julia is with them. She said that she would not come back home. We cried when she told us..."
Because he was so very tired, he staggered on the bench, yet when he heard what Girolamo was telling, his heart started to beat very fast, as if it wanted to get out from his chest.
"You would never guess, friar Anthony, who has ended up there, between those girls" Girolamo paused to obtain a bigger effect.
"Marguerite, the girl of the golden hair, the daughter of Graziani. She has ran away from the father`s house to become one of the Poor Dames. Graziani has became crazy for the anger. He will be still more furious. He has promised revenge…"
His heart was beating more and more stronger. He tightened even his hands on his chest. He felt his strength lacking, and at the same time he felt an explosive joy. How strange, he thought, how admirable are the ways of the divine action! How strong was Francis` seed!
"Doesn’t Paul say: 'I have planted, Apollo has irrigated, but it is God who allowed the growing?' Only God."
"You must be very careful." he heard by Girolamo "Graziani could try to revenge himself over you. Now he is absent from Padua. Along with the son, they are accompanying the count that ahead of the armies, went to Verona…"
"Ahead of the armies. Why?"
"It is the expedition against the brother in law of Ezzelino, the count of Sanbonifacio. Sanbonifacio is ahead of the guelfi veronesi, that have taken possession of the city..."
"So that, there could be a fight?"
"I am certain of that. Blood will be shed without any doubt."
He sighed.
It was always like this: the good news arrived always simultaneously with the bad news. Evidently it had to be that way. The world was not changed. He continued to proceed on the way of hate and of struggle. It was a river always in flood, always endowed of destructive power. But on the surface foamy and muddy of the water there formed as small islet. They seemed weak; one could expect that at any moment the current would drag them away and flooded. They, nevertheless opposed resistance. It was not the river that would drag them away; it seemes that it was them who held the frantic course of the river. They protected the destruction.
The following day he was called while he was in the confessional.
In the house of the friars were waiting certain people that had the appearance of rich merchant and knights. At his entry they bowed deeply.
"Welcome, friar Anthony, and forgive us if we have interrupted your pious job." It was a nobleman of small stature, cross-eyed, that gesticulated with his ringed fingers.
"We have come from Verona to ask for your help. May be you already know, that the vicar of the emperor, Ezzelino, has attacked our city. He has entered with betrayal in the walls, and when he found himself inside the walls, has given orders to his soldiers of capturing the venerable Rizzardo of Sanbonifacio and the Marchese of Este, along many nobles of our city. They all are imprisoned. Ezzelino holds in the undergrounds of his castle; he doesn’t allow them to meet with their family. Lately he made a proclamation that the prisoners are guilty of high betrayal since they opposed to the order established by the emperor, and because of this they would be killed. He allowed the capturing also of the Tiso from Camposampiero`s nephew, a child. He becomes crueler in a brutal way. The count of Sanbonifacio`s wife went to see Ezzelino to implore him to free her husband. Ezzelino has made her sent away from the castle as an bothersome mendicant. He has always been harsh. Now that Gualberto, the son of Graziani, has become his assistant, doesn`t do anything else but commit cruelties..."
"How can I be of help, gentlemen?" he asked.
"We hope that if you go to Ezzelino, and would take the defence of the prisoners, the vicar wouldn’t have the courage to oppose a refusal. You are a man celebrated and honoured in all Italy. Only you can save our brothers from the claws of that leviathan."
"And don’t you think, gentlemen, that the venerable bishop could do that in a more effective way?"
"With the bishop, Ezzelino doesn’t even want to talk. What could the bishop do in comparison with you, friar Anthony? The same pontiff knows you. It is said that one of your brothers, Elia Bombarone, is the counsellor of the emperor… If you go to Ezzelino, he will grant your demand…"
Other guests spoke as well:
"Go to him, friar, and demand that he would free the prisoners. Amongst them, there is also my brother…"
"Even my wife`s brother…"
"I am the count of Sanbonifacio`s wife`s brother. My sister is expecting a child. She is often ill. Ezzelino has treated her in an unworthy way. Since that day she has been ill…"
"The marquis d`Este is old…"
"That small nephew of Tiso da Camposampiero is only six years old. They could kill him…"
He hid his face between his hands and for a while he remained silent. It seemed to him that nothing would frighten him more than the perspective of travelling till Verona. But he was able to win the weakness.
"I will come" he said, uncovering his face. "I don’t know what I will get, but with the help of God I will try. I will leave tomorrow at dawn, after I celebrate the mass. Be present, gentleman, so that we can pray together. "
Chapter 36
Padua, when he returned, welcomed him with an atmosphere of big excitement.
Chapter 36
It was by now a well known fact that Frederick, after having defeated the papal armies, would have moved against Lombardy to subdue it to his power. He had always aspired to surround the pope from every side. While waiting for Frederick armies, the old imperial vassals, supported by the ghibellini, started to take position against the guelfi.
Anthony, even if he was exhausted by the trip and by the fast, immediately after the arrival in the city re-started his teachings. As in the past, in the morning he celebrated the mass, and then he was going out on the church square and delivered his sermon. Perceiving in people their increasing hate and desire of struggle, he was inviting people to forgive the insults and to love one another fraternally. His words, as always, had their influence. The people that he saw sharpening their weapons as dawn appeared were gathering in the plaza to occupy the best place to listen to him. The merchants were shutting their shops. The crowd that surrounded Anthony were artisans, merchants, farmers and ladies of noble descent and knights.
Shouts and cheers greeted the appearance of the preacher. When he was indicating that he was starting to speak, silence fell in the plaza, silence that was disturbed only by the throb of the wings of doves in flight. Anthony spoke for hours and hours, yet people wouldn`t get tired of listening to him. His eloquence in speaking fascinated people who listened attentively and applauded warmly.
Being well aware of the tension, he continued to talk about fraternal love, trust in the neighbour, the necessity of judging oneself at the same manner as judging others that were considered enemies.
"What small particulars can one see in the neighbour" he was saying "Small as a spech in the eye. And it seems that, that man is wicked, because that speck prevents him to see things in the correct way. But, have you a clear eye? The Lord Jesus says: remove first the beam from your eye, and only after, when you are able to see how is really your neighbour, you can judge who of you is in the right…"
After the talking, as usual, he was taking place in the confessional and was confessing till night time.
At twilight the friar minor would come to take him home, to protect him from the crowd. A crowd that encircled him, attempting to touch him or even tear a piece of his habit. At that stage he was benumbed and could hardly walk.
The days were so passing, one after the other.
They seemed very insignificant however Anthony extreme efforts brought their fruit.
In Padua there was no struggle between the two supporters of the parties, as it was happening in the other cities of Romagna.
Anthony was so absorbed by this king of work that was not able to go to Arcella. However one evening, although very exhausted, he went to visit the furriers house. He was greeted with great joy. All the family surrounded Anthony. Between the children there wasn’t Julia.
"Now she is always at the side of lady Helen" said Girolamo "I do not know if you know, brother, of the changing that happened there. Helen`s father has died, and she has sold the palace, she has distributed the money to the poor, while she went to live in the house of the gardener. There she founded an authentic convent. She has with her, some girls. They live by what people give them, they pray, they do penance… Even Julia is with them. She said that she would not come back home. We cried when she told us..."
Because he was so very tired, he staggered on the bench, yet when he heard what Girolamo was telling, his heart started to beat very fast, as if it wanted to get out from his chest.
"You would never guess, friar Anthony, who has ended up there, between those girls" Girolamo paused to obtain a bigger effect.
"Marguerite, the girl of the golden hair, the daughter of Graziani. She has ran away from the father`s house to become one of the Poor Dames. Graziani has became crazy for the anger. He will be still more furious. He has promised revenge…"
His heart was beating more and more stronger. He tightened even his hands on his chest. He felt his strength lacking, and at the same time he felt an explosive joy. How strange, he thought, how admirable are the ways of the divine action! How strong was Francis` seed!
"Doesn’t Paul say: 'I have planted, Apollo has irrigated, but it is God who allowed the growing?' Only God."
"You must be very careful." he heard by Girolamo "Graziani could try to revenge himself over you. Now he is absent from Padua. Along with the son, they are accompanying the count that ahead of the armies, went to Verona…"
"Ahead of the armies. Why?"
"It is the expedition against the brother in law of Ezzelino, the count of Sanbonifacio. Sanbonifacio is ahead of the guelfi veronesi, that have taken possession of the city..."
"So that, there could be a fight?"
"I am certain of that. Blood will be shed without any doubt."
He sighed.
It was always like this: the good news arrived always simultaneously with the bad news. Evidently it had to be that way. The world was not changed. He continued to proceed on the way of hate and of struggle. It was a river always in flood, always endowed of destructive power. But on the surface foamy and muddy of the water there formed as small islet. They seemed weak; one could expect that at any moment the current would drag them away and flooded. They, nevertheless opposed resistance. It was not the river that would drag them away; it seemes that it was them who held the frantic course of the river. They protected the destruction.
The following day he was called while he was in the confessional.
In the house of the friars were waiting certain people that had the appearance of rich merchant and knights. At his entry they bowed deeply.
"Welcome, friar Anthony, and forgive us if we have interrupted your pious job." It was a nobleman of small stature, cross-eyed, that gesticulated with his ringed fingers.
"We have come from Verona to ask for your help. May be you already know, that the vicar of the emperor, Ezzelino, has attacked our city. He has entered with betrayal in the walls, and when he found himself inside the walls, has given orders to his soldiers of capturing the venerable Rizzardo of Sanbonifacio and the Marchese of Este, along many nobles of our city. They all are imprisoned. Ezzelino holds in the undergrounds of his castle; he doesn’t allow them to meet with their family. Lately he made a proclamation that the prisoners are guilty of high betrayal since they opposed to the order established by the emperor, and because of this they would be killed. He allowed the capturing also of the Tiso from Camposampiero`s nephew, a child. He becomes crueler in a brutal way. The count of Sanbonifacio`s wife went to see Ezzelino to implore him to free her husband. Ezzelino has made her sent away from the castle as an bothersome mendicant. He has always been harsh. Now that Gualberto, the son of Graziani, has become his assistant, doesn`t do anything else but commit cruelties..."
"How can I be of help, gentlemen?" he asked.
"We hope that if you go to Ezzelino, and would take the defence of the prisoners, the vicar wouldn’t have the courage to oppose a refusal. You are a man celebrated and honoured in all Italy. Only you can save our brothers from the claws of that leviathan."
"And don’t you think, gentlemen, that the venerable bishop could do that in a more effective way?"
"With the bishop, Ezzelino doesn’t even want to talk. What could the bishop do in comparison with you, friar Anthony? The same pontiff knows you. It is said that one of your brothers, Elia Bombarone, is the counsellor of the emperor… If you go to Ezzelino, he will grant your demand…"
Other guests spoke as well:
"Go to him, friar, and demand that he would free the prisoners. Amongst them, there is also my brother…"
"Even my wife`s brother…"
"I am the count of Sanbonifacio`s wife`s brother. My sister is expecting a child. She is often ill. Ezzelino has treated her in an unworthy way. Since that day she has been ill…"
"The marquis d`Este is old…"
"That small nephew of Tiso da Camposampiero is only six years old. They could kill him…"
He hid his face between his hands and for a while he remained silent. It seemed to him that nothing would frighten him more than the perspective of travelling till Verona. But he was able to win the weakness.
"I will come" he said, uncovering his face. "I don’t know what I will get, but with the help of God I will try. I will leave tomorrow at dawn, after I celebrate the mass. Be present, gentleman, so that we can pray together. "