singular beauty, but often, when
the hymn was concluded, the countess's cheeks would be bathed in tears,
and she would fold the Lady Margaret in her arms, and gaze up earnestly
into her face.

Gilbert! Gilbert! come read this face of more than earthly beauty! See
if the words that haunt you are chiselled there!

CHAPTER IX

Glory is like a circle in the water,
which never ceaseth to enlarge itself
Till, by wide spreading, it disperse to nought.

SHAKESPEARE.

The battle of Fladenheim was fought just as Gregory VII was opening his
seventh synod at Rome. Hardly had the ancient canons been renewed and
Guibert of Ravenna excommunicated, before the envoys of Rodolph
appeared, and, after reciting Henry's fresh iniquities, supplicated
their master's coronation and his rival's deposition.

The Pope had not failed to invite his impious antagonist to abide by his
decision, but his recent defeat seemed only to have confirmed his
obstinacy. It was evident that Henry would keep the field while a hope
of success remained, and that peace could not be recovered but by the
complete triumph of one of the hostile parties. The Pontiff no longer
hesitated. Since all hope of an amicable adjustment had fled, the
interests of the Church and of mankind required the ascendency of
Rodolph; and Gregory saw that to withhold his sanction now, was to peril
his cause, or at least to prolong the contest. The victory of Fladenheim
had calmed the impetuosity of the Italian nobles who burned to declare
for Henry; and they were disposed to preserve a safe neutrality. The
cruelties and vices of the Franconian were past endurance; the moment
for which the Suabian so patiently and yet so ardently looked, had at
length arrived. Rising before the crowded council, the noble Pontiff,
giving voice to a holy enthusiasm he could not restrain, invoked the aid
of St. Peter, the Prince of Apostles, and of St. Paul, the Teacher of
the Nations. He called upon them to witness, that in spite of his grief,
his groans, and his tears, he had been chosen their most unworthy
successor; and that princes, ecclesiastics, and courtesans were leagued
to accomplish his death or exile. "By _your_ authority," he exclaims,
"relying upon the mercy of God and the pity of His Virgin Mother, I
excommunicate Henry and all his partisans, and absolve his subjects from
their allegiance. And even as Henry is justly deprived of his royalty by
his pride, his disobedience, an