The emperor was incensed beyond mercy, other than to grant them their lives.  He ordered that a part of the wall should be thrown down, and rode through the breach into the city.  Then, after deliberation, he granted the inhabitants their lives, but ordered their removal to four villages, several miles away, where they were placed under the care of imperial functionaries.  As for Milan, he decided that it should be levelled with the ground, and gave the right to do this, at their request, to the people of Lodi, Cremona, Pavia, and other cities which had formerly been oppressed by proud Milan.

[Illustration:  THE AMPHITHEATRE AT MILAN.]

The city was first pillaged, and then given over to the hands of the Lombards, who—­such was the diligence of hatred—­are said to have done more in six days than hired workmen would have done in as many months.  The walls and forts were torn down, the ditches filled up, and the once splendid city reduced to a frightful scene of ruin and desolation.  Then, at a splendid banquet at Pavia, in the Easter festival, the triumphant emperor replaced the crown upon his head.

His triumph was not to continue, nor the humiliation of Milan to remain permanent.  Time brings its revenges, as the proud Frederick was to learn.  For five years Milan lay in ruins, a home for owls and bats, a scene of desolation to make all observers weep; and then arrived its season of retribution.  Frederick’s downfall came from the hand of God, not of man.  A frightful plague broke out in the ranks of the German army, then in Rome, carrying off nobles and men alike in such numbers that it looked as if the whole host might be laid in the grave.  Thousands died, and the emperor was obliged to retire to Pavia with but a feeble remnant of his numerous army, nearly the whole of it having been swept away.  In the following spring he was forced to leave Italy like a fugitive, secretly and in disguise, and came so nearly falling into the hands of his foes, that he only escaped by one of his companions placing himself in his bed, to be seized in his stead, while he fled under cover of the night.

Immediately the humbled cities raised their heads.  An alliance was formed between them, and they even ventured to conduct the Milanese back to their ruined homes.  At once the work of rebuilding was begun.  The ditches, walls, and towers were speedily restored, and then each man went to work on his own habitation.  So great was the city that the work of destruction had been but partial.  Most of the houses, all the churches, and portions of the walls remained, and by aid of the other cities Milan soon regained its old condition.