OF SIX MEDIEVAL WOMEN 



creep. He does not recount the episode of the 

 hiding in the corn, but relates another equally 

 stirring adventure. He tells us that, in fleeing 

 from their persecutor to the safety of Canossa, 

 the fugitives become involved in a swamp. 

 After two days, they are rescued from their 

 perilous position by a fisherman who, passing 

 near by, and hearing sounds of distress, goes to 

 their aid. Their deliverer, finding them faint 

 with hunger and cold, lights a fire with the 

 flint he carries in his wallet, and cooks some 

 small fish, the only food he has to offer them. 

 Once more they start on their way, and eventually 

 reach Canossa. But hardly do they gain ad- 

 mittance, ere the castle is surrounded by the 

 soldiery of the outwitted and wrathful Beren- 

 garius. A knight, carrying a message from the 

 Emperor Otho of promised deliverance, essays 

 to enter the castle, but finding this impossible 

 owing to the hostile troops encamped around, 

 he fastens the letter to an arrow, and shoots it 

 over the wall. A strong force sent by Otho 

 is near at hand, and speedily puts the enemy to 

 flight. Adelheid is rescued, and is brought 

 with rejoicing to Pavia, her dower city, which 

 had already opened its gates to the Emperor, and 

 she and the Emperor enter the city together in 

 triumph. Much has been written of the illus- 

 trious Adelheid, but perhaps she would best like 

 to be remembered by the eulogy of hex confessor 

 the saintly Odilo that she never forgot a 

 kindness, or remembered an injury. 



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