The revels of Orsera : a mediaeval romance / by Ronald Ross.

  • Ross, Ronald, Sir, 1857-1932.
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The revels of Orsera : a mediaeval romance / by Ronald Ross. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    locked in the frozen grip of the dead man, who had thought, by linking himself with such superb innocence in that dreadful hour, to have escaped some of the dangers of death. Though unable to free himself from the terrible grasp, Raffaello showed neither fear nor emotion. During those breathless days, too, when Innocent VIII lay in a lethargy and two hundred and twenty Roman citizens were assassinated in the streets, the Cardinal of Parma became again conspicuous. A Jewish doctor had endeavoured to revive the dying Pope by a transfusion of human blood. Three beautiful boys were chosen for the experiment. Led trembling to the side of the unconscious old man, one by one, after having their veins opened, they had grown pale and died suddenly; as if Heaven, in horror of the deed, had doomed its failure. Raffaello, seeing this, held out his arm nevertheless, and demanded the right of giving his blood for the head of the Church ; but the physician, already terrified at his want of success, had fled secretly. This was in 1492. Raffaello’s character had been changing somewhat. It appeared he was ripening for some effort. Much of his quiescence was thrown off and his face began to show a great sternness. He was no longer blind to the evils and the corruption around him, and he even upbraided Alexander himself for the crimes of Caesar, his son ; for which indeed, though Caesar was incensed against him, Alexander only promoted him to higher honour. At the same time he began to show some signs of mysticism—studied astrology, plunged into obscure details of forbidden arts, shut himself up closely for months at a time. Still later he seemed to become infected with the idea that his life was in danger ; for he took to wearing armour under his robes, and once even appeared in the Pope’s presence clad in complete steel, much to the astonishment of all. At last, at the beginning of 1495, having heard some curious rumours from Switzerland, he begged and obtained leave to go thither on an extraordinary mission, the nature of which we have seen. He had buried himself for weeks previously in solitude; had sought the wilderness and the summits of hills. When pressed to go on the important embassy to the Venetians respecting the King of France, who had invaded Italy, he had refused and set off on this affair, after exacting certain powers from Alexander. This wras the man whose visit to Switzerland has been so closely described in the quaint narrative of Murinus, and which has been dealt with in the preceding pages.