There　were　no　murderous　strangers　there　playing　wild　havoc　amongst　his　monks：　but　the　worthy　fathers　themselves　were　making　the　fierce　tumult　which　filled　the　prior　with　alarm。　The　saloon　no　longer　resembled　the　ascetic；　peaceful　refectory　of　cloister　brothers。　It　was　changed　into　a　battle…field；　upon　which　the　two　hosts　thirsting　for　blood　stood　opposed。
  The　table　upon　which　the　glasses；　plates；　and　dishes　seemed　to　have　been　thrown　together　in　wild　disorder；　was　shoved　to　one　side；　and　in　the　open　space　the　monks　stood　with　flashing　eyes；　uttering　curses　and　imprecations；　not　one　of　them　remarked　that　the　prior　and　Cocceji　stood　at　the　door；　astonished　spectators　of　this　unheard…of　combat。
  〃Silence！〃　said　the　father　guardian；　making　frantic　gesticulations　toward　the　monks　who　stood　opposed　to　him　and　his　adherents　〃silence！　no　one　shall　dare　within　these　sacred　walls　to　speak　of　the　Prussian　heretical　king　in　any　other　way　than　with　imprecations。　Whoever　wishes　success　to　his　arms　is　an　apostate；　a　traitor；　and　heretic。　God　has　raised　the　sword　of　His　wrath　against　him；　and　He　will　crush　him　utterly；　He　has　blessed　the　weapons　of　his　adversaries　as　Clement　has　also　done。　Long　live　Maria　Theresa；　her　apostolic　majesty！〃
  The　monks　by　his　side　roared　out；　〃Long　live　Maria　Theresa；　her　apostolic　majesty！〃
  〃She　will　not　be　victorious　over　Frederick　of　Prussia；〃　cried　Father　Anselmo；　the　leader　of　the　opposite　party。　〃The　Pope　has　blessed　the　arms　of　Daun；　but　God　himself　has　blessed　the　weapons　of　Frederick。　Long　live　the　King　of　Prussia！　Long　live　the　great　Frederick！〃
  〃Long　live　the　great　Frederick！〃　cried　the　monks　by　the　side　of　Father　Anselmo。
  The　party　of　the　father　guardian　rushed　upon　them　with　doubled　fists；　the　adversaries　followed　their　example。　〃Long　live　Theresa！〃　cried　the　one。　〃Long　live　Frederick！〃　cried　the　otherand　the　blows　and　kicks　fell　thickly　right　and　left；　with　the　most　lavish　prodigality。
  It　was　in　vain　that　the　prior　advanced　among　them　and　commanded　peaceno　one　regarded　him。　In　their　wild　and　indiscriminate　rage　they　pressed　him　and　shoved　him　from　side　to　side；　and　in　the　heat　of　the　battle　several　powerful　blows　fell　upon　his　breast；　so　the　poor　prior　took　refuge　again　at　the　door　near　Cocceji；　who　was　laughing　merrily　at　the　wild　disorder。
  The　cries　of　〃Long　live　Theresa！〃
  〃Long　live　Frederick！〃　were　mingling　lustily　in　the　bloody　strife。
  The　father　guardian　was　enraged　beyond　bearing；　and　his　flashing　eye　looked　around　for　some　sharp　weapon　with　which　to　demolish　Father　Anselmo；　who　had　just　exclaimed；　〃Long　live　Frederick；　the　victor　of　Leuthen　and　Zorndorf！〃　He　seized　a　large　tin　cup；　which　was　near　him　upon　the　table；　and　with　a　fierce　curse　he　dashed　it　in　the　face　of　Father　Anselmo；　and　the　blood　burst　from　his　nose。　This　was　the　signal　for　a　new　order　of　attack。　Both　parties　rushed　to　the　table　to　arm　themselves；　the　cups　whizzed　through　the　air　and　wounded　severely　the　heads　against　which　they　were　well　aimed。　Here　and　there　might　be　heard　whimperings　and　piteous　complaints；　mixed　with　curses　and　frantic　battle…cries〃　Long　live　Theresa！〃
  〃Long　live　Frederick！〃　Some　of　the　warriors　crept　from　the　contest　into　the　corners　to　wipe　the　blood　from　their　wounds　and　return　with　renewed　courage　to　the　contest。　A　few　cowards　had　crept　under　the　table　to　escape　the　cups　and　kicks　which　were　falling　in　every　direction。
  Father　Anselmo　remarked　them；　and　with　loud；　derisive　laughter　he　pointed　them　out。
  〃The　Teresiani　live　under　the　table；　no　Prussiano　has　crept　there。　All　the　Teresiani　would　gladly　hide　as　they　have　often　done　before。〃
  The　Prussiani　accompanied　these　words　of　their　leader　with　joyous　shouts。
  The　father　guardian　trembled　with　rage；　he　seized　a　large　dish　from　the　table　and　dashed　it　at　Anselmo；　who　dodged　in　time；　and　then　with　a　powerful　arm　returned　the　compliment。　It　was　a　well…directed　javelin。　The　tin　dish　struck　the　father　guardian　exactly　in　the　backhe　lost　his　balance；　and　fell　to　the　earth。　The　Prussiani　greeted　this　heroic　deed　of　their　chief　with　shouts　of　triumph。　〃So　shall　all　the　Teresiani　perish！〃
  The　battle　waxed　hotter　and　fiercer；　the　air　was　thick　with　missiles。
  〃They　will　murder　each　other！〃　cried　the　prior；　turning　to　the　Baron　Cocceji。
  〃Not　so；　your　worship；　there　will　only　be　a　few　blue　swellings　and　bleeding　nosesnothing　more；〃　said　Cocceji；　laughing。
  〃Ah；　you　laugh　young　man；　you　laugh　at　this　sad　spectacle！〃
  〃Forgive　me；　your　worship；　but　I　swear　to　you；　I　have　never　seen　warriors　more　eager　in　the　fray；　and　I　have　never　been　more　curious　to　witness　the　result　of　any　battle。〃
  〃But　you　shall　not　witness　it；〃　said　the　prior；　resolutely。　〃You　shall　no　longer　be　a　spectator　of　the　unworthy　and　shameful　conduct　of　my　monks。　I　pray　you　to　withdraw　instantly；　in　a　few　hours　I　will　send　you　the　letters；　and　if　you　believe　that　I　have　rendered　you　the　least　service；　I　ask　in　return　that　you　will　tell　no　one　what　you　have　seen。〃
  〃I　promise；　your　worship；〃　said　Cocceji；　with　forced　gravity。　〃If　the　people　without　shall　ask　me　what　all　this　tumult　means；　I　will　say　that　the　pious　fathers　in　the　cloister　are　singing　their　'floras。'〃　＇Footnote：　Baron　Cocceji　did　not　keep　his　word；　as　this　whole　scene　is　historic。＇
  Baron　Cocceji　bowed　to　the　prior；　and　returned　with　gay　and　hopeful　thoughts　to　the　hotel　of　the　〃White　Lion。〃
  A　few　hours　later；　a　monk　appeared　and　desired　to　speak　with　the　stranger　about　the　holy　relics。
  Cocceji　recognized　in　him　the　worthy　Father　Anselmo；　the　victor　over　the　father　guardian。
  〃Will　you　do　me　a　great　pleasure；　worthy　father？〃　said　he。　〃Tell　me　which　party　remained　in　possession　of　the　field　after　your　great　battle。〃
  An　expression　of　triumphant　joy　flashed　in　Father　Anselmo's　eyes。
  〃The　Prussiani　were　victorious；　and　I　think　the　Teresiani　will　never　dare　to　recommence　the　strife；　four　of　their　monks　lie　in　their　cells　with　broken　noses；　and　it　will　be　some　weeks　before　the　father　guardian　will　be　capable　of　performing　his　duties　as　spy；　he　is　sore　and　stiff；　and　his　mouth　is　poorer　by　a　few　teeth。　May　all　the　enemies　of　the　great　Frederick　share　his　fate！　May　God　bless　the　King　of　Prussia　and　be　gracious　to　his　friends！〃
  He　greeted　the　baron　with　the　sign　of　the　cross；　and　withdrew。
  The　baron　remembered　the　warning　of　the　prior；　and　hastened　quietly　from　Venice。　Already　the　next　morning　he　was　on　the　highway　to　Turin。　＇Footnote：　This　diplomatic　mission　failed；　because　of　the　faint　heart　of　the　King　of　Sardinia。　He　rejected　the　bold　propositions　of　Frederick　entirely；　and　said；　in　justification　of　himself；　that　since　the　alliance　between　the　powers　of　France　and　Austria；　he　had　his　head　between　a　pair　of　tongs；　which　were　ever　threatening　to　close　and　crush　him。　Baron　Cocceji　was　not　more　fortunate　in　Naples；　and　after　many　vain　efforts　he　was　forced　to　return　home；　having　accomplished　nothing。Duten's　〃Memoirs　of　a　Traveller。〃＇
  CHAPTER　IV。
  THE　RETURN　FROM　THE　ARMY。
  It　was　a　sunny；　summer　day…one　of　those　days　which　incline　the　heart　to　prayer；　and　bring　tears　of　happiness　to　the　eyes。　There　are　no　such　days　in　cities；　if　we　would　enjoy　them　we　must　go　into　the　countrywe　must　seek　them　in　peaceful　valleys；　in　fragrant　forests；　where　the　silence　is　unbroken；　except　by　the　fluttering　leaves　and　the　singing　of　birds。　We　must　understand　the　eloquent　silence　of　Nature　in　order　to　enjoy　the　holy　Sabbath　quiet　of　a　summer　day；　and　we　must　be　able　to　hear　the　language　which　the　flowers　breathe　forth；　to　understand　the　sighing　of　the　wind；　and　the　rustling　of　the　trees。
  Very　few　can　do　this；　but　few　would　care　for　it。　God　has　not　opened　the　eyes　of　the　hearts　of　many　of　us　to　this　extent；　these　things　are　hidden　by　a　thick　veil　from　the　many；　they　cannot　see　the　heavenly　beauty　of　Naturethey　do　not　understand　the　fairy　tale　which　she　is　ever　telling。　This　is　gentle；　idyllic；　fairy　lore；　unsought　by　the　learned。　It　whispers　of　roses；　of　dancing　elves；　of　weeping　clouds；　of　dreaming　violets。
  Happy　are　those　who　listen　to　these　fables；　who　are　not　called　by　the　necessities　of　life　to　hear　the　roar　of　cannonto　find　all　these　sweet　and　holy　songs　overpowered　by　the　noise　of　war；　the　horrors　of　bloodshed！
  War；　destructive　war；　still　held　a　lighted　torch　over　unhappy　Germany；　cities　and　villages　were　in　ruinseven　the　peace　of　Nature　was　destroyed。　The　valleys；　usually　so　quiet；　now　often　resounded　with　the　roar　of　cannon。　The　fields　remained　uncultivated；　the　meadows　uncared　for；　there　were　no　strong　hands　to　work。　The　men　and　youths　were　gone；　only　the　old　graybeards　and　the　women　were　in　the　villages；　and　the　work　advanced　but　slowly　under　their　trembling　hands。　Unhappiness　and　want；　care　and　sorrow　were　in　the　land。
  Even　in　the　once　peaceful　and　happy　village　of　Brunen　on　the　Rhine；　misery　had　made　itself　felt。　Grief　and　anguish　dwelt　with　the　bereaved　mothers；　with　the　forsaken　brides；　and　the　weak　old　men；　with　the　useless　cripples；　who　had　returned　from　the　war；　and　who　spent　their　time　in　relating　the　dangers　through　which　they　had　passed；　in　telling　of　the　sons；　the　brothers；　the　husbands；　and　the　fathers　of　those　who　listened　to　their　talesthose　dea