CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OH JERUSALEM.

311

beloved, all things rendered his election secure; andso he thought himself no doubt. His presence for-tified his cause, for without soliciting, the verybrightness of his look testified he had no objection.Not a dissentient whisper. But just prior to thevoting, up the grand conservator rose, and these hiswords:—“Illustrious gentlemen and brothers, totell you what I think of this election, it appears tome that you have already come to your decision ;but in my opinion wrongfully. You believe it forthe public good, I the contrary. Therefore al-though without hopes of what I say producing anyfruit (for are we not forbidden to change ouropinion lightly?), and also well aware I riskraising against myself a potent mortal enmity, asthe whole assembly cannot but perceive; never-theless it will be of use to me in the Divine eyesto have spoken the truth and cleared my conscience-;and the world too will honour me with the fairfame of being manifestly above corruption. Norindeed will 1 deny the Prior of Capua is a virtuousand most valiant knight and worthy a diadem.Nay I own him a most able statesman and ex-cellently qualified to sway the sceptre in any otherrealm, however mighty—far mightier than ours.Still not in ours. All the requisites I have enu-merated are not enough for me, reflecting on the