Laurentius, at that point of dawn when a man
can recognise the face of one who passes, there issued from the
Lateran a silent company equipped for travel. In a covered carriage
drawn by two horses sat the Pope, beside him a churchman of his
household; a second carriage conveyed the deacon Leander and another
ecclesiastic; servants and a baggage vehicle brought up the rear.
With what speed it could over the ill-paved roads, this procession
made for the bank of the Tiber below the Aventine, where, hard by
the empty public granaries, a ship lay ready to drop down stream. It
was a flight rather than a departure. Having at length made up his
mind to obey the Emperor's summons, Vigilius endeavoured to steal
away whilst the Romans slept off their day of festival. But he was
not suffered to escape thus. Before he had reached the place of
embarkation, folk began to run shouting behind his carriage. Ere he
could set foot on board the vessel a crowd had gathered. The
farewell of the people to their supreme Pontiff was given in a
volley of stones and potsherds, whilst the air rang with
maledictions.
Pages:
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360