otherwise
overpower by his imperious language."(182)

At the next interview, Luther presented a clear, concise, and forcible
exposition of his views, fully supported by many quotations from
Scripture. This paper, after reading aloud, he handed to the cardinal,
who, however, cast it contemptuously aside, declaring it to be a mass of
idle words and irrelevant quotations. Luther, fully roused, now met the
haughty prelate on his own ground,--the traditions and teachings of the
church,--and utterly overthrew his assumptions.

When the prelate saw that Luther's reasoning was unanswerable, he lost all
self-control, and in a rage cried out: "Retract! or I will send you to
Rome, there to appear before the judges commissioned to take cognizance of
your cause. I will excommunicate you and all your partisans, and all who
shall at any time countenance you, and will cast them out of the church."
And he finally declared, in a haughty and angry tone, "Retract, or return
no more."(183)

The Reformer promptly withdrew with his friends, thus declaring plainly
that no retraction was to be expected from him. This was not what the
cardinal had purposed. He had flattered himself that by violence he could
awe Luther to submission. Now, left alone with his supporters, he looked
from one to another in utter chagrin at the unexpected failure of his
schemes.

Luther's efforts on this occasion were not without good results. The large
assembly present had opportunity to compare the two men, and to judge for
themselves of the spirit manifested by them, as well as of the strength
and truthfulness of their positions. How marked the contrast! The
Reformer, simple, humble, firm, stood up in the strength of God, having
truth on his side; the pope's representative, self-important, overbearing,
haughty, and unreasonable, was without a single argument from the
Scriptures, yet vehemently crying, "Retract, or be sent to Rome for
punishment."

Notwithstanding Luther had secured a safe-conduct, the Romanists were
plotting to seize and imprison him. His friends urged that as it was
useless for him to prolong his stay, he should return to Wittenberg
without delay, and that the utmost caution should be observed in order to
conceal his intentions. He accordingly left Augsburg before daybreak, on
horseback, accompanied only by a guide furnished him by the magistrate.
With many forebodings he secretly made his way through the dark and silent
streets of the city