He has called to proffer more assistance, if need be; and to advise me on the affairs of Northern Italy.

Continue, I pray thee, Sir Knight; I have no disguises from my kinsman." "Thou seest," said Montreal, fixing his penetrating eyes on Adrian, "thou seest, doubtless, my Lord, that Italy at this moment presents to us a remarkable spectacle.

It is a contest between two opposing powers, which shall destroy the other.

The one power is that of the unruly and turbulent people--a power which they call 'Liberty;' the other power is that of the chiefs and princes--a power which they more appropriately call 'Order.' Between these parties the cities of Italy are divided.
In Florence, in Genoa, in Pisa, for instance, is established a Free State--a Republic, God wot! and a more riotous, unhappy state of government, cannot well be imagined." "That is perfectly true," quoth Stephen; "they banished my own first cousin from Genoa." "A perpetual strife, in short," continued Montreal, "between the great families; an alternation of prosecutions, and confiscations, and banishments: today, the Guelfs proscribe the Ghibellines--tomorrow, the Ghibellines drive out the Guelfs.

This may be liberty, but it is the liberty of the strong against the weak.