Pagina 487 di 1118

"Wait a bit. An honest man in the neighbourhood had an

inspiration from Heaven. He ran into the house, ascended the

stairs, took a crucifix, and hung it in front of a window; took

from the head of the bed two wax candles which had been blessed,

lit them, and placed them right and left of the crucifix. The

crowd looked up; there is a little fear of God yet, in Milan, it

must be confessed; the crowd retired-a few would have been

sacrilegious enough to set fire to paradise itself; but seeing

the rest not of their opinion, they were obliged to be quiet.

Guess what happened then! All the lords of the cathedral in

procession, with the cross elevated, and in pontifical robes; and

my lord the arch-priest began to preach on one side, and my lord

the penitenziere on the other, and then others here and there:

'_But, honest people, what would you do? Is this the example you

set to your children?