esire that they should die? You desire that the Appeal
should be denied them?" said Romola, feeling anew repelled by a
vindication which seemed to her to have the nature of a subterfuge.

"I have said that I do not desire their death."

"Then," said Romola, her indignation rising again, "you can be
indifferent that Florentines should inflict death which you do not
desire, when you might have protested against it--when you might have
helped to hinder it, by urging the observance of a law which you held it
good to get passed. Father, you used not to stand aloof: you used not
to shrink from protesting. Do not say you cannot protest where the
lives of men are concerned; say rather, you desire their death. Say
rather, you hold it good for Florence that there shall be more blood and
more hatred. Will the death of five Mediceans put an end to parties in
Florence? Will the death of a noble old man like Bernardo del Nero save
a city that holds such men as Dolfo Spini?"

"My daughter, it is enough. The cause of freedom, which is the cause of
God's kingdom upon earth, is often most injured by the enemies who carry
within them the power of certain human virtues. The wickedest man is
often not the most insurmountable obstacle to the triumph of good."

"Then why do you say again, that you do not desire my godfather's
death?" said Romola, in mingled anger and despair. "Rather, you hold it
the more needful he should die because he is the better man. I cannot
unravel your thoughts, father; I cannot hear the real voice of your
judgment and conscience."

There was a moment's pause. Then Savonarola said, with keener emotion
than he had yet shown--

"Be thankful, my daughter, if your own soul has been spared perplexity;
and judge not those to whom a harder lot has been given. _You_ see one
ground of action in this matter. I see many. I have to choose that
which will farther the work intrusted to me. The end I seek is one to
which minor respects must be sacrificed. The death of five men--were
they less guilty than these--is a light matter weighed against the
withstanding of the vicious tyrannies which stifle the life of Italy,
and foster the corruption of the Church; a light matter weighed against
the furthering of God's kingdom upon earth, the end for which I live and
am willing myself to die."

Under any other circumstances, Romola would have been sensitive to the
appeal at the beginning of Savonarola's speech; but a