There he commenced shouting a sermon across the stream to Sanseverino; but the Duke of Urbino, attracted by the hubbub, sent him away, covered with ridicule, saying, "Why, Father, the Venetians are not possessed! Tell the Duchess it is money, artillery, and troops that we want to expel them." Although Federigo's obstinate policy averted from the doomed capital the visitation of a siege, its miseries were scarcely the less from such exemption. Many dead bodies, thrown by both armies into the river, aggravated the pestilence, which, spreading to the city, so deterred the peasantry, that its supplies were interrupted, until famine augmented the mortality. In this crisis, Sanzi represents the commander of the League as addressing to the Pontiff the following remonstrance:-- "Most holy Father! turn thy face away From this so needless and destructive war, Which direst ills on Italy entails: Thy pastor's hand put forth that rose to pluck, Ere others reap its glory: be invoked With sov'reign and paternal care to free, From discipline so ruinous and harsh, Rome, and the dwellers in Ausonia's lands, Whose bootless passions, pitiably wrecked, In suicidal outrage spend themselves, With benefit to none. While time remains, Oh, Sire! this fatal error shun, nor choose A course which all your merit tarnishes!" [Footnote 197: See ch. xxviii. and Appendix to vol. II.] The game in which Sixtus had engaged was one of selfish ambition and nepotism, and he played it boldly, unmoved by this appeal, or by the straits to which he was reduced by his lawless barons. In the words of the same old chronicler,-- "Hapless was then the holy Father's case, Each house in Rome a garrison, each street Alive with armed escorts; e'en by day Rapine was rife as in the lonely wood, And unredressed, while cardinals Were seized in full consistory; for now Colonna's and Savelli's bands were up; The Pontiff's power at discount."