Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/450

466 truce, and to burst in upon Lombardy, with an army of eighty thousand men. It was in March, 1849. But Radetzky, " “the admirable old man,” l'amirable vecchio, as Cesare Balbo and some of his enemies in Italy called him, was not long in making his appearance, and by a bold and hasty movement, opposed himself to Carlo Alberto, and drove him back to Novara. With death in his heart, Carlo Alberto prepared here for the fight, the unfortunate result of which he foresaw.

In three days, the new campaign was here ended between Radetzky and Carlo Alberto. The latter sought for death, through ten long hours on the battle field—but in vain. Not a ball hit him. In vain he and his two brave young sons performed miracles of personal bravery—the battle was lost. Radetzky won the victory wholly, perfectly. When twilight came, and put an end to the slaughter, Carlo Alberto collected around him his faithful followers, surrendered the crown of Piedmont to his eldest son, Victor Emanuel, commanded him faithfully to defend and carry out the constitution, Il Statuto, which he, Carlo Alberto, had given to Piedmont; and after this last testament, delivered on the field of battle, the king departed, under the shadow of night, accompanied by merely two persons, to voluntary exile, in order, far from the scene of his ruined honor, and of his humiliation, to hide his weary head, pray, and die.

A memory from the days of his youth attracted him to the laurel-groves of Oporto. The government and people of Portugal, met him with honor and festivity. But the star of his life was set; he knew it,