-it may be so, but we do not know, nor
shall it concern us. This only is known: That a human kindred, probably
of some talent for coercing anarchy and guiding mankind, had, centuries
ago, built its BURG there, and done that function in a small but
creditable way ever since;--kindred possibly enough derivable from
"Thassilo," Charlemagne, King Dagobert, and other Kings, but certainly
from Adam and the Almighty Maker, who had given it those qualities;--and
that Conrad, a junior member of the same, now goes forth from it in the
way we see. "Why should a young fellow that has capabilities," thought
Conrad, "stay at home in hungry idleness, with no estate but his javelin
and buff jerkin, and no employment but his hawks, when there is a wide
opulent world waiting only to be conquered?" This was Conrad's thought;
and it proved to be a very just one.

It was now the flower-time of the Romish Kaisership of Germany; about
the middle or noon of Barbarossa himself, second of the Hohenstauffens,
and greatest of all the Kaisers of that or any other house. Kaiser
fallen unintelligible to most modern readers, and wholly unknown, which
is a pity. No King so furnished out with apparatus and arena, with
personal faculty to rule and scene to do it in, has appeared elsewhere.
A magnificent magnanimous man; holding the reins of the world, not quite
in the imaginary sense; scourging anarchy down, and urging noble effort
up, really on a grand Scale. A terror to evil-doers and a praise to
well-doers in this world, probably beyond what was ever seen since. Whom
also we salute across the centuries, as a choice Beneficence of Heaven.
Encamped on the Plain of Roncaglia [when he entered Italy, as he too
often had occasion to do], his shield was hung out on a high mast over
his tent; and it meant in those old days, "Ho, every one that has
suffered wrong; here is a Kaiser come to judge you, as he shall answer
it to HIS Master." And men gathered round him; and actually found some
justice,--if they could discern it when found. Which they could not
always do; neither was the justice capable of being perfect always.
A fearfully difficult function, that of Friedrich Redbeard. But an
inexorably indispensable one in this world;--though sometimes dispensed
with (to the huge joy of Anarchy, which sings Hallelujah through all its
Newspapers) for a season!

Kaiser Friedrich had immense difficulties with his Popes, with his
Milanese, and the like;--besieged Mila