GENTLENESS IS POWER. 14] 
when, at the very threshold of his castle, falling, exhausted with toil 
and wounds, he was dragged within the barrier, and the gate closed. 
As he was being carried to bed, he roused himself sufficiently to give 
orders that the queen should be released from her chamber. 
Caranza had been a spectatress of the conclusion of the struggle, 
and upon leaving her place of confinement the sounds reached her 
ears that the people were forcing the outer gates. The thought im- 
mediately occurred to her that she might be able to stay the fury of 
the assailants. Relying, therefore, upon the affection with which she 
was universally regarded by them, she entered a sort of balcony above 
the entrance of the castle, just as the whole tide was pouring into the 
court, roaring for revenge upon their oppressor. The scene of their 
passion now rapidly changed ; for upon beholding her pale and sweet 
face, who they undoubtedly thought had been quietly murdered, their 
shouts of triumph rose into a frenzy of delight. Still they made a 
movement to enter the building to search for the tyrant ; when she 
signalled them into attention, and then, in short sentences, deplored 
their sufferings and the cause of them; and as she knew that they 
could trust her word, she promised, if they would return peaceably to 
their homes, that no effort on her part should be omitted to indemnify 
‘them for the past, and guarantee the future. “J,” said she “ will now 
be your sovereign and protector, and if I fail to fulfil the pledge I 
have given, my life be in your hands.” Oh, how lovely, how divine 
a spectacle was it to behold this personation of Power in Gentleness | 
to see those small, beautiful, and soft features, presented to the 
frightful distortions and turbulent passions of an exasperated multi- 
tude, reeking with blood, dust, and sweat ; and to hear those peaceful 
tones coming against harsh discords of anger, “smoothing the rug- 
ged brow of ‘ that’ night !” 
Having so far succeeded to her wishes, she selected from among 
the principal citizens men of good repute, to carry into execution the 
first part of her promise (that of being their protectress as well as 
sovereign ), by relieving those families that had become destitute from 
the death of their chief supports, and providing assistance for the 
wounded. This unexpected act of attention to the comforts ot the 
people, coming so quickly upon the heels of their resentful feelings, 
confirmed the calm that had succeeded. 
The next duty Caranza had to perform was not so pleasant an one 
—it was that of visiting the wretched and misguided cause of all the 
sorrows that had befallen herself, himself, and his unoffending peo- 
