"You cannot believe that, poor misguided people that ye are!"
As if in answer to these words of the Pope, the yells of the infuriated mob were heard before the fortress.
"Long live Barbarossa!--Election of the Pope!--Down with the government of the priests!--Hurrah for the Senate!"
These words, and others of a similar nature, showed the spirit which animated the populace.
"Listen to them, then, Holy Father! mark with what enthusiasm they acclaim the Emperor!" said the tailor, insolently. "Barbarossa is really a great man, an Emperor worthy of the name of Augustus. I recollect well the time when he came to St. Peter's with Pope Adrian. Oh, the happy days! Why cannot you, too, become the Emperor's friend? Every difficulty would then be removed."
"You do not understand me, my son; personally, I have no dislike to Frederic, but it is my duty to oppose his perverse designs."
"Do you not admit that Pope Adrian was a wise and saintly Pontiff?--The people have always so considered him."
"And they were right."
"Why then could he be the friend of Barbarossa, whilst you are not so?"
Among the rare qualities of Alexander III. must be counted the truly Christian patience with which he listened to the reproaches of wicked men, and the mildness which he employed in trying to convince them of their perversity. But the Holy Father was compelled to admit the hopeless impossibility of impressing upon this rabble the great importance of his contest with Frederic.