shop, such occasion was
averted. Spoleto may yet remember, and not without emotion, how earnestly
he studied to appease wild passions, with what delicacy and perseverance
he labored to reconcile the terrible feuds that prevailed, to calm the
dire spirit of revenge, to bury the sense of wrong in the oblivion of
forgiveness. At length, in 1831 and 1832, a hopeless rebellion unfurled
its blood-red banner. It was speedily and pitilessly repressed. Such an
occasion only was wanting in order to show what one man can do when
sustained by the power of virtue and the esteem of mankind. The foreign
and Teutonic arm which conquered the insurrection had been always hateful
to the Italian people; nor did its display and exercise of military force,
in restoring tranquillity to the troubled State, conciliate their
friendship.

Only when vanquished did the rebels appear before the walls of Spoleto. In
their extremity, they came to beg for shelter and for bread. In the
estimation of the benevolent Archbishop, they were as lost sheep whom it
was his duty, if possible, to save. He hastened, accordingly, to meet the
wolf. The Austrian General, although a stern warrior, was, at the same
time, the servant of a Christian Power. He listened to the Archbishop's
remonstrances, and resolved to refrain from further military proceedings,
the Prelate undertaking to disarm the rebels, and thus satisfy the sad
requirements of war without any recourse to useless and hateful cruelties.
Returning to the city, he addressed the insurgents, and, to his
unspeakable satisfaction, they at once came to lay at his feet those arms
which the Austrian soldiers could only have torn from their lifeless
bodies. Thus did the good pastor, by disarming, save the rebellious flock.

Mastai was now transferred to Imola. This city is less considerable than
Spoleto. The diocese, however, is richer and more populous. Its Episcopal
chair leads directly to the Cardinalate. It has also thrice given to the
Catholic Church its Chief Pastor. The people of Spoleto sent a deputation,
but in vain, to beseech the Holy Father to leave the good pastor to his
affectionate flock.

He was destined also to reign in the hearts of the good people of Imola.
The numerous institutions there, which owe their existence to his
Episcopal zeal and Christian charity, are monuments of his pastoral care.
The virtue of which Archbishop Mastai was so bright a pattern had no
sourness in it, no outward show