Show MARZIA ZIA DORDEL AFFIA historical SKETCH I 1 BY Y ALEXANDER OTT ort many a lay has been chanted by the wandering minstrels mins els teis of the middle ages in honor of 31 marzia arzia a lady of the family of the celebrated for I 1 its virtue and noble gestes the bif vif cof francisco franci cod d Orde laffi lord of forli the only prince in romagna italy who maintain ed edisis his independence against t the tyranny of oe the papal power it was wag in the commencement of the year 1357 when marzia according to the desire of her hu husband osband i I 1 eft left her ancestral home to defend Cesen awhile francisco occupied the more important position of forli with he fie gay cur vetting pace of gallant cavaliers cavaliere cava liers progressing progress to the scene of action the valiant Al marzia arzia in her casque and cuirass mounted on a noble stee dand followed by kni knights t ats in full armor entered the city of cesena amidst the flourishes of trumpets and clar ions iong and the exulting cries of the people the knights knight sf and squires had alighted from their hear coursers couriers cour sers to partake of the proffered hos ties of the city and while the dours were burning tapers for the success of their right valiant ady lady the heralds trumpet clan cian clang summoned all at once the tr troops oops from the banqueting halls to the stern duties of war the army of the tle enemy ten times as large as that of the noble marzia had appeared to beleaguer the city the engines of war were now brought against the catl fated ed place the beautiful hobs houses es and palaces were destroyed by the enormous stones which were thrown into the city and 0 sol soi appalling a nature were the assaults the enemy that some of manias manlas boldest boide bolde st knights became amazed at last a few of the terrified burgesses opened a gate to the enemy in order to save themselves and aad the city from destruction caused by the torrents of meed Week pire fire but marzia with the courage of a man and the heart of a lion rode clad in steel from rank to rank from post to post exhorting her troops and the people to remember the oath of alle aile allegiance lance they had rendered to herself and her flee ilee lle lie liege c e lord and in the midst of the din of battle she was heard to exclaim sirs be not too sore terrified of the enemy but trust in god we shall prosper but before I 1 surrender to the pope without seeing honorable terms I 1 will die in the noble 11 the words of the heroic marzia roused the the combatants some of those who had already fainthearted faint hearted alighted from their coursers couriers cour sers vaulted again upon them to achieve feats of glory silken banners and streamers were displayed from the battlements while the emblazoned blazoned em and ornamental shields were ranged like a bulwark behind which the knights formed a phalanx to penetrate if possible the ranks of the assailants while thus the noble marzia was relying upon her own wisdom and courage being governor ov and captain wearing her cuirass both oth and day and braving all the dangers and elrd ships OF of a fierce and cruel war she disco discovered beld Veld the treachery of hasage counselor S aiho intended a secret surrender of the city gity to the enemy indignant at this dastard and intriguing spirit the valiant lady had rolled from the battlements amon among the besieging 0 enemy but alt ait although ou h marzia herself with a sharp sword inner hand and fought fiercely and the arrows atil and cross bows other knights and squires made a sad havoc among the assailants little or no advantage was gained the siege was now advanced by the papal army with such co courage and their engines so dreadfully injured th the walls that the valiant lady was at last compelled m elied to retire to the castle wi b h four hundred ed soldiers and arid citizens who had solemn ly vowed to remain faithful to death the legate commanding the assailing forces was cunning enough to see that in but a very short time ile the heroic marzia would have to surrender unless she preferred being buried with her companions in the ruin of the citadel as the miners who worked slowly but surely at last so far tar succeeded in their fatal operations that the castle almost hung in the air berea ray of hope pierced the dark scenes ola ofa of a dreadful siege a and shone with a bright 0 ad am benign influence it was the father of marzia burlia who with the tender and devotional feel feeling flig of a parent had ventured forth amidst the 04 inser inner gait t of war to see whether his heroic audber aug her ber would listen to his entreaties and give ive uve UR up a further useless contest having peen deen a assisted bisted in his passage through the cam camp p otobe he enemy by the legate himself he suc 4 irr in entering the fated castle and met his va nl vant nt marzia at the gate surrounded by a umber of knights and citizens who were anxious now ige the issue of the interview met yet eC maali tall tail th the entreaties of her parent to surrender Is bravery had accomplished its utmost and still th the besiegers were gradually prevailing she replied simply and firmly that her husband had given her a duty to per mm foun and that she the must roust obey without considering ea the nature of his command or its con s e c e tui nui bathe I 1 h e sp people eople weary of further trials and C considering 0 rest list sj wl ng further regi resi resistance stence fi olly folly sided with the fa father cr and acqua actually compelled the valiant lady to surrender yet so great greab was the influence which she had evlern even at this critical moment it upon the legate that I 1 she succeeded I 1 in ii gaining th the e most honorable terms one of which I 1 gaining uil ill i was pardon and liberty to all her faithful companions to return home with their arms and on opening the gate of the citadel she bhe dis dalbed from asking any favor for herself and the legate unmoved by the chivalric prowess of the noble lady cast her and her children in prison rison where she spent the remainder of her days days like the countess jane of montfort of the century and the maid of orleans of a later period the fortitude with which marzia sustained even the most overwhelming reverses of fortune imparted an intrepidity and elevation to her character approaching to sublimity the so called greek fire I 1 Is described by the historians of 0 the middle middie ages as having the appearance of a large tun its tall as being of the length oti of a long spear and its noise as resembling thunder it was used first by the greeks about 1000 years rears after christ |