But where did he
live? "Perhaps you know," he said to the dog.
The dog understood, pricked up his ears, and ran through a labyrinth
of crooked streets till he stood at a little door, with a bell-cord
hanging by it. The pilgrim pulled it, the door opened, and an old
white-bearded man came out, reached the new-comer his hand, led him
like a friend into the house, and bade him sit down. "I have waited
long for you, Peter," he said. "Yes, I recognise you, for I have
seen you for a year in my dreams, but I know not who you are, and
whence you come. Tell me your history."
"My history! I am from Amiens in France. I am now called Peter; was
formerly a soldier, followed William the Conqueror to Hastings, and
took part in the invasion of England. I returned to my own country,
and became a school teacher. I could, however, obtain no peace in my
soul, but entered a convent. In the solitude of my cell, I reflected
on what I heard from my brother monks in the chapter. It was the
time when Henry IV began the conflict with Gregory VII. The Pope was
right, for Europe ought to be governed from Rome, and Gregory,
who wished to set up Christ's Kingdom in spirit and in truth, had
united all Christian States together; he imposed tribute from
Scandinavia to the Pillars of Hercules.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225