Page:The Percy Anecdotes - Volume 11.djvu/120

110 The leader of a gang of banditti in Corsica, who had long been famous for his exploits, was at length taken, and committed to the care of a soldier, from whom he contrived to escape. The solider was condemned to death. At the place of execution, a man coming up to the commanding officer, said, “Sir, I am a stranger to you, but you shall soon know who I am. I have heard that one of your soldiers is to die for having suffered a prisoner to escape. He was not at all to blame; besides, the prisoner shall be restored to you. Behold him here! I am the man. I cannot bear that an innocent man should be punished for me, and have come to die myself; lead me to execution.” “No!” exclaimed the French officer, who felt the sublimity of the action as he ought; “thou shalt not die; and the solider shall be set at liberty. Endeavour to reap the fruits of thy generosity. Thou deserves to be henceforth an honest man.”

In the year 1756, when the city and diocese of Milan were visited by the plague, which swept away incredible numbers, the conduct of Cardinal Borromeus was truly christian and heroic. He not only continued on the spot, but he went about giving directions for accommodating the sick, and burying the dead, with a zeal and attention that were at once