are the French panting for vengeance, and in a few days they will burst upon us.  If they find our ports open for their disembarkation; if our inertness or our faults favor their progress they will soon spread throughout the whole of Sicily; they will subdue the irresolute people by force of arms, deceive them with reports of our unhappy divisions, seduce them with promises, and drag them back to the shameful yoke of bondage or drive them to raise their parricidal weapons against ourselves.  You have sworn to die or to be free, and you will become slaves and will not all die—­for the butchers will at length be weary—­and will reserve the herd of survivors to exercise upon them their despotic will.  Sicilians! remember the days of Conradin.  To halt now will be destruction; to pursue our course, glory, and deliverance.  Our forces are sufficient to raise the whole country as far as Messina, and Messina must not belong to the foe; we share the same origin, the same language, the same past glory and present shame, the same experience that slavery and misery are the result of division.

“All Sicily is stained with the blood of the strangers.  She is strong in the courage of her sons, in the ruggedness of her mountains, in the protection of the seas, which are her bulwarks.  Who then shall set foot upon her soil, except to find in it a yawning grave?  Christ, who preached liberty to mankind, who inspired you to effect this blessed deliverance, now extends to you his almighty hand—­if you will but act like men in your own defence.  Citizens, captains of the people, it is my counsel that messengers be sent to all the other towns inviting them to unite with us for the maintenance of the commonwealth, that by force of arms, by daring, and by rapidity of action we should aid the weak, determine the doubtful, and combat the froward.  For this purpose, let us divide into three bands which may simultaneously traverse the whole island, then let a general parliament mature our counsels, unite our views, and regulate the form of government; for I call God to witness that Palermo aspires, not to dominion, but seeks only liberty for all, and for herself the glory of being foremost in peril.”

“And the people of Corleone,” replied Boniface, “will follow the fortunes of this noble city—­the fortress and ornament of Sicily.  Corleone sends hither three thousand of her warriors to conquer or to die with you.  But if our fate be to perish, let all those perish with us who would take part with the stranger in the day of the deliverance of Sicily.  Thou, Roger, valiant in fight and sage in counsel, thou hast spoken words of safety.  Henceforward he who lingers is a traitor to his country; let us arm ourselves and go forth.”

“Forward, forward!” thundered the voice of the people in answer to his words, and with marvellous celerity the messengers were despatched; the forces assembled and sent forth in three divisions—­one to the left toward Cefalu, one to the right upon Calatafimi, and the third toward the centre of the island, through Castro Giovanni.  They displayed the banner of the commonwealth with the keys of St. Peter depicted around them, and their fame went before them, awakening hope and desire in all hearts.  Hence every city and town unhesitatingly renounced its allegiance to Charles with a degree of unity which was admirable—­except in regard to the slaughter of the French.