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Anselm Badagius, Bishop of Lucca, a city which was included in the marquisate of the Princess. Anselm had baptised the infant Matilda and had proved himself to be a tried and trusty friend of the Countess, when the sorrow of her husband's death fell upon her.

There was another Anselm, who, ere he retired to the monastery at Bec, sometimes came on a visit to Canossa. This was Anselm of Aosta, whose "tenderness, humility and earnestness in dealing with the frailties of his brethren" has endeared his name to Englishmen as one of the saintliest of the Archbishops of Canterbury. He was at this time a young man of about twenty-four years of age, and whose profile is described as being "worthy of a sculptor, sweet yet dignified, with that expression of austerity tempered by gentleness so frequently seen in portraits of medieval ecclesiastics."

Hugo of Cluny stayed for a while with Beatrice whenever the business of his monastery brought him to Rome. Here he found a little repose from his cares, and the bright and winning manners of Matilda chased away many a line which anxiety had imprinted upon the handsome face of the gentle monk.

Another visitor around whose head already shone the halo of sanctity was Peter Damian, "who loved to bear witness to the piety of Hugo," for whom he bore the affection of a kindred soul. Peter was ever welcome at the Castle, for well Beatrice knew that his sackcloth habit, which afforded so strange a contrast to the richly-dressed knights who thronged her audience halls, covered one of the tenderest hearts that ever beat. She invariably treated him with the respect which "his virtues and zeal" demanded, for to her mind his abrupt manners and curt sayings savoured more of pious sincerity than the polished utterances of the more courtly prelates.

Austere as he appeared to others, Peter Damian was ever loving and gentle to children, and his rugged features relaxed into smiles as Matilda, who was gifted with a retentive

Early Influences

memory, repeated to him some of the Latin hymns which he himself had composed. During their captivity in Germany, the Countess had taught some of these to her little daughter, and found comfort in hearing her recite the beautiful verses of which the following was her favourite:

"There no waxing moon nor waning

Sun nor stars in courses bright,

For the Lamb to that glad city

Is the everlasting Light,
There the daylight shines for ever,
And unknown are time and night."

Ever distrustful of her own powers Beatrice submitted her various plans for the training of Matilda to the counsels of the saintly sons of the Church who frequented her court, and especially she valued the opinion of Hildebrand. Whenever his missions allowed him a little leisure to visit the scenes of his childhood he never failed to make a stay with the hospitable Countess. Her ready sympathies in his harassing work afforded the weary monk much consolation, and her purse-strings were ever loosened to further his schemes of benevolence.

Beatrice was at the same time a gainer by these interviews, and availed herself gladly of his prudent advice in many matters both spiritual and temporal, especially those which mostly concerned her child.

With such holy influences surrounding her, what wonder that the object of so much solicitude became earnest and thoughtful beyond her years. What wonder that she became "animated with a desire to devote herself to the service of God and that a noble yearning filled her soul and a great zeal sprang up within her." Amidst all her pleasures, and they were manifold, her greatest was to be in the society of Hildebrand, and she hailed with unbounded delight the precious but rare hours spent with the gentle monk. Red letter days they were indeed to her when his slender figure was descried wending its way up the steep ascent where a hearty welcome awaited him. Sitting at his feet and look

ing with reverence at the expressive beauty of his features, she became "penetrated with that ardent zeal for the Holy See, which was the glory of her life."

The mother's eyes would sometimes fill with tears as she gazed upon the eager, upturned face of her sensitive, highsouled child, who made so fervent a response to the voice of affection. Often she would tremble with apprehension as she thought of the future, when there would come a break in the calm and tranquil life, and when, perhaps, there would be no mother at hand to shield and defend her in the hour of temptation and danger.

Education of Matilda

CHAPTER III

"The law of force is dead!
The law of love prevails!

Thor, the thunderer,

Shall rule the earth no more,

No more with threats

Challenge the meek Christ."-LONGFELLOW.

AMONG the many cares and distractions which the government of her Marquisate necessitated, Beatrice never lost sight of the importance of providing her child with a solid education. She fulfilled her maternal trust with a vigilance that never relaxed and "every precaution that a fond mother's anxious heart could suggest she anticipated and provided for." Assisted by Donizo she devoted the greater part of each day to the culture of Matilda's expanding mind which, with a perception unusual to one of her tender years, acquired a taste for literary pursuits. The little scholar proved an indefatigable worker and found delight in tasks which would have repulsed children of more mature age. Her incessant mental activity was only equalled by her remarkable tenacity of memory.

Donizo, of whom mention has several times been made, was the family chaplain at Canossa. Though his name is spelt by historians in various ways, it is easily recognisable, and derives interest from the fact that its owner was a poet of no mean ability. His books of hexameter verses, divided into chapters, are still preserved as specimens of early Italian literature, and it is to his pen we are indebted for many particulars of the family events concerning the Margraves of Tuscany, which would otherwise have been lost in obscurity. Apart from their own intrinsic interest these contemporary pictures and incidents of medieval life throw a light upon the

manners and customs of the time which render them a real aid to the study of Italian history. He had, as he himself tells us, intended to dedicate these versified chronicles of her family to the Princess, the last of her race, but her death, ere he had finished their compilation, frustrated his purpose.

The indulgent poet seems to take special delight in lingering tenderly over those details of Matilda's history, which more especially treat of the courage which formed her chief characteristic. The Princess appears to have justified even in childhood the verses composed in her praise, which describe her graces of mind and manner. The descendant of a line of warriors she displayed from an early age that generosity of spirit and temerity for which her forefathers had been distinguished, and which she inherited in a remarkable degree.

She was at home and a frequent guest in the dwellings of the poorest and meanest of the peasants, where her bright smile and sweetness of disposition made her ever welcome. With no thought of fear she ventured with all the confidence that innocence inspires into quarters, which in those wild times when robbery and murder were of common occurrence, were considered unsafe except for armed pedestrians. No harm ever came to the child, and the sunshine of her manner, with its air of infantine truthfulness, won for her the love and admiration of all those with whom she came in contact. Even the most lawless and depraved of her subjects, and in those days the best were but rough in manner and speech, held her in reverence and would have given their lives to defend their darling little Countess from insult or injury.

Beatrice not only permitted but even encouraged Matilda to visit the sick and poor and to find pleasure in alleviating the poverty which, in that age of discord and strife, was but too prevalent. It was a wise policy on the part of the Countess thus to allow the child to mingle freely with the people over whom she would one day rule, for it brought her into close communication with their habits and needs. No motives of self-interest induced Beatrice to follow this broad method of leading her little daughter in the paths of philan

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