weather, he waited fasting for three days and three nights. On the fourth day, half dead with cold, the wretched Emperor was brought into the presence of God's Vicegerent. He prostrated himself in the dust, crying for pardon. Then Hildebrand placed his foot upon the Emperor's neck and spoke: "Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem": Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under thy feet.

After this Gregory said Mass and permitted Henry to receive the Blessed Sacrament.

That scene will live for ever in the mind of man, for it is the most perfect expression of that Europe out of which we are come and to which we shall return. Canossa is its monument, a place worthier of pilgrimage by us who are European than ever was Becket's tomb at Canterbury, holy though that was and famous through the world. Canossa was a bigger victory than Canterbury, and Italy a bigger stage than England.

Look you, then, how the mountains shine hence, and all Lombardy is spread out before them, and Italy far away thrice guarded there to the south. It is well that our journey should draw to an end in such a famous place as this, where we may look back upon our many days of going, and possess them all in a single heart's beat, a single glance, as Hildebrand looked over the world.

There lies Cisalpine Gaul, jewelled with citiesModena, Parma, Verona, Mantua; girdled with her mighty river, the glistening belt of the Po; islanded by the Euganeans, and ringed and fortressed by the Alps. Here are the Apennines, yonder is Italy: and the story of Europe, that noble tale of great Rome turned Christian, and all our past, at our feet.