Lombards, who sided with the emperor.
The imperial troops had gained a victory at Mantua, which revived the
drooping royal cause.

When Gilbert de Hers parted from his father and friends, he turned his
horse's head to Matilda's camp. The partisans of the heroic princess
took little notice of the nameless knight who came among them without
follower or page, and whose shield was simply blazoned with an azure
cross. He was silent and reserved, shrinking from observation and mirth,
and either engaged in meditation or prayer.

The gloomy aspect of the future was also capable of furnishing the youth
with sufficient food for reflection. The death of Rodolph spread
consternation over Saxony and Suabia: both circles were crippled by
internal dissensions, and unable to profit by their victory. Inspired by
this, and by his rival's death, and encouraged by the attitude and
successes of the Lombards, Henry meditated an invasion of Italy, and the
conquest of Rome itself. He reorganized a powerful army, and penetrated
Lombardy, leaving Frederick of Hohenstaufen to hold Suabia in check,
while Saxony was convulsed by the rival schemes of Otto and Herman.

Never before had the Holy See seemed in such imminent danger. England
and France looked coldly on, and the emperor of the East sympathized
with his brother of Austria.

Gregory alone awaited the storm calm and fearless, relying upon the
sacredness and justice of his cause, neither dismayed nor discouraged by
the fickle course of human events. He deplored the spirit which arrayed
itself against truth, but he found in the recollection of the trials of
the Apostles and their successors abundant consolation for himself and
his friends. Florence, Padua, Cremona, Milan had fallen before the
Austrian invader. Lucca swelled the triumphs of the tyrant. Fortress
after fortress was wrested from Matilda; Henry sat down before the gates
of Rome at last, in the plains of Nero and opposite the fortress of St.
Peter. Yet the sublime Pontiff displayed no symptom of uneasiness,
though half of Europe was against him.

Gilbert's first impulse was to fly to Rome, but the approaches to the
city were all in possession of the enemy. The noble Matilda could ill
spare a good lance, and the Romans then displayed so much resolution and
gallantry, that the German army was repulsed in every assault. To the
young knight's heart, wounded by the siege of Rome and misfortunes of
Matilda, the tidings of the reconci