He stopped there, however, for some time, and enjoyed such tranquillity that he could revise and polish his compositions.

But, in the following year, 1345, his friend Azzo, having failed to keep his promise to Luchino Visconti, as to restoring to him the lordship of Parma--Azzo had obtained it by the assistance of the Visconti, who avenged himself by making war on the Correggios--he invested Parma, and afflicted it with a tedious siege.

Petrarch, foreseeing little prospect of pursuing his studies quietly in a beleaguered city, left the place with a small number of his companions; but, about midnight, near Rheggio, a troop of robbers rushed from an ambuscade, with cries of "Kill! kill!" and our handful of travellers, being no match for a host of brigands, fled and sought to save themselves under favour of night.

Petrarch, during this flight, was thrown from his horse.

The shock was so violent that he swooned; but he recovered, and was remounted by his companions.