venty-five years of age, had a
proud spirit, and a dignity worthy of his rank. "Betrayed, like Jesus,"
said he, "shall I die; but I will die pope." He donned the cloak of St.
Peter, put the crown of Constantine upon his head, took in his hands the
keys and the cross, and, as his enemies drew nigh, he said to them, "Here
is my neck, and here is my head." There is a tradition, of considerable
trustworthiness, that Sciarra Colonna would have killed him, and did with
his mailed hand strike him in the face. Nogaret, however, prevented the
murder, and confined himself to saying, "Thou caitiff pope, confess, and
behold the goodness of my lord, the King of France, who, though so far
away from thee in his own kingdom, both watcheth over and defendeth thee
by my hand." "Thou art of heretic family," answered the pope: "at thy
hands I look for martyrdom."

[Illustration: Colonna striking the Pope----185]

The captivity of Boniface VIII., however, lasted only three days; for the
people of Anagni, having recovered themselves, and seeing the scanty
numbers of the foreigners, rose and delivered the pope. The old man was
conducted to the public square, crying like a child. "Good folks," said
he to the crowd around him, "ye have seen that mine enemies have robbed
me of all my goods and those of the Church. Behold me here as poor as
Job. Nought have I either to eat or drink. If there be any good woman
who would give me an alms of wine and bread, I would bestow upon her
God's blessing and mine." All the people began to shout, "Long live the
Holy Father!" He was reconducted into his palace: "and women thronged
together thither, bringing him bread, wine, and water. Finding no proper
vessels, they poured them into a chest. . . . Any one who liked went
in, and talked with the pope, as with any other beggar." So soon as the
agitation was somewhat abated, Boniface set out for Rome, with a great
crowd following him; but he was broken down in spirit and body. Scarcely
had he arrived when he fell into a burning fever, which traditions,
probably invented and spread by his enemies, have represented as a fit of
mad rage. He died on the 11th of October, 1303, without having recovered
his reason. It is reported that his predecessor, Celestine V., had said
of him, "Thou risest like a fox; thou wilt rule like a lion, and die like
a dog." The last expression was unjustified. Boniface VIII. was a
fanatic, ambitious, proud, violent, an