Advancing cautiously, Solomon observed two rough heaps of wood, fagots and broken furniture. In the midst of each a stake, and fastened to the stakes two persons he could not distinguish. A frantic multitude gesticulated. The fires blazed up. In front of the crowd stood Brother Primus and Brother Secundus. Advancing nearer, Solomon perceived,—oh, horror! the forms of Pietro and Eudocia. With a roar the flames ascended. “Oh, water,” cried Eudocia, “water, water!”
Quickly advancing, a poor limping creature rushed between the very flames, held the cup to Eudocia’s lips, and at that moment fell suffocated in the fire that speedily consumed both. Pietro sang at first aloud, and then more feebly:
“Glory to the Lord on high,
His mercy is assured;
In life and death his love is nigh,
The cross hath Christ endured.
“Father forgive us; let our sin
Measure thy mercy—free.
Receive us with—thy—saints—within;—
Thy death—our— — —tory!”
The last words, choked in utterance, told that Pietro Felice in religion, Lord of Besalu, of the line of Berengario, last duke of Provence, of the stock of the Counts of Barcelona, had passed from earth by the sudden fury of a frenzied multitude, under the direct guidance and preparation of Brothers Primus and Secundus, who saw their unexpected opportunity to enforce the sanguinary law now renewed. The dreadful suddenness of the event prevented any measures
