Rienzi [114]
and administer justice fairly; - "
"Is not that miracle enough for the space of some two or three short months?"
"Why, they say it would have been more than enough in a noble; but you, being raised from the people, and having such gifts and so forth, might do yet more. It is now three weeks since they have had any new thing to talk about; but Orsini's execution today will cheer them a bit."
"Well, Cecco, well," said the Tribune, rising, "they shall have more anon to feed their mouths with. So you think they love me not quite so well as they did some three weeks back?"
"I say not so," answered Cecco. "But we Romans are an impatient people."
"Alas, yes!"
"However, they will no doubt stick close enough to you; provided, Tribune, you don't put any new tax upon them."
"Ha! But if, in order to be free, it be necessary to fight - if to fight, it be necessary to have soldiers, why then the soldiers must be paid: - won't the people contribute something to their own liberties; - to just laws, and safe lives?"
"I don't know," returned the smith, scratching his head as if a little puzzled; "but I know that poor men won't be overtaxed. They say they are better off with you than with the Barons before, and therefore they love you. But men in business, Tribune, poor men with families, must look to their bellies. Only one man in ten goes to law - only one man in twenty is butchered by a Baron's brigand; but every man eats, and drinks, and feels a tax."
"This cannot be your reasoning, Cecco!" said Rienzi, gravely.
"Why, Tribune, I am an honest man, but I have a large family to rear."
"Enough; enough!" said the Tribune quickly; and then he added abstractedly as to himself, but aloud, - "Methinks we have been too lavish; these shows and spectacles should cease."
"What!" cried Cecco; "what, Tribune! - would you deny the poor fellows a holiday. They work hard enough, and their only pleasure is seeing your fine shows and processions; and then they go home and say, - 'See, our man beats all the Barons! what state he keeps!'"
"Ah! they blame not my splendour, then!"
"Blame it; no! Without it they would be ashamed of you, and think the Buono Stato but a shabby concern."
"You speak bluntly, Cecco, but perhaps wisely. The saints keep you! Fail not to remember what I told you!"
"No, no. It is a shame to have an Emperor thrust upon us; - so it is. Good evening, Tribune."
Left alone, the Tribune remained for some time plunged in gloomy and foreboding thoughts.
"I am in the midst of a magician's spell," said he; "if I desist, the fiends tear me to pieces. What I have begun, that must I conclude. But this rude man shews me too well with what tools I work. For me failure is nothing, I have already climbed to a greatness which might render giddy many a born prince's brain. But with my fall - Rome, Italy, Peace, Justice, Civilization - all fall back into the abyss of ages!"
He rose; and after once or twice pacing his apartment, in which from many a column gleamed upon him the marble effigies of the great of old, he opened the casement to inhale the air of the now declining day.
The Place of the Capitol was deserted save by the tread of the single sentinel. But still, dark and fearful, hung from the tall gibbet the clay of the robber noble; and the colossal shape of the Egyptian lion rose hard by, sharp and dark in the breathless atmosphere.
"Dread statue!" thought Rienzi, "how many unwhispered and solemn rites hast thou witnessed by thy native Nile, ere the Roman's hand transferred thee hither - the antique witness of Roman crimes! Strange! but when I look upon thee I feel as if thou hadst some mystic influence over my own fortunes. Beside thee was I hailed the republican Lord of Rome; beside thee are my palace, my tribunal, the place of my justice, my triumphs, and my pomp: - to thee my eyes turn from my bed of state: and if fated to die in power and peace, thou mayst be the last object my eyes will mark! Or if myself a victim - ." He paused - shrank from the thought presented
"Is not that miracle enough for the space of some two or three short months?"
"Why, they say it would have been more than enough in a noble; but you, being raised from the people, and having such gifts and so forth, might do yet more. It is now three weeks since they have had any new thing to talk about; but Orsini's execution today will cheer them a bit."
"Well, Cecco, well," said the Tribune, rising, "they shall have more anon to feed their mouths with. So you think they love me not quite so well as they did some three weeks back?"
"I say not so," answered Cecco. "But we Romans are an impatient people."
"Alas, yes!"
"However, they will no doubt stick close enough to you; provided, Tribune, you don't put any new tax upon them."
"Ha! But if, in order to be free, it be necessary to fight - if to fight, it be necessary to have soldiers, why then the soldiers must be paid: - won't the people contribute something to their own liberties; - to just laws, and safe lives?"
"I don't know," returned the smith, scratching his head as if a little puzzled; "but I know that poor men won't be overtaxed. They say they are better off with you than with the Barons before, and therefore they love you. But men in business, Tribune, poor men with families, must look to their bellies. Only one man in ten goes to law - only one man in twenty is butchered by a Baron's brigand; but every man eats, and drinks, and feels a tax."
"This cannot be your reasoning, Cecco!" said Rienzi, gravely.
"Why, Tribune, I am an honest man, but I have a large family to rear."
"Enough; enough!" said the Tribune quickly; and then he added abstractedly as to himself, but aloud, - "Methinks we have been too lavish; these shows and spectacles should cease."
"What!" cried Cecco; "what, Tribune! - would you deny the poor fellows a holiday. They work hard enough, and their only pleasure is seeing your fine shows and processions; and then they go home and say, - 'See, our man beats all the Barons! what state he keeps!'"
"Ah! they blame not my splendour, then!"
"Blame it; no! Without it they would be ashamed of you, and think the Buono Stato but a shabby concern."
"You speak bluntly, Cecco, but perhaps wisely. The saints keep you! Fail not to remember what I told you!"
"No, no. It is a shame to have an Emperor thrust upon us; - so it is. Good evening, Tribune."
Left alone, the Tribune remained for some time plunged in gloomy and foreboding thoughts.
"I am in the midst of a magician's spell," said he; "if I desist, the fiends tear me to pieces. What I have begun, that must I conclude. But this rude man shews me too well with what tools I work. For me failure is nothing, I have already climbed to a greatness which might render giddy many a born prince's brain. But with my fall - Rome, Italy, Peace, Justice, Civilization - all fall back into the abyss of ages!"
He rose; and after once or twice pacing his apartment, in which from many a column gleamed upon him the marble effigies of the great of old, he opened the casement to inhale the air of the now declining day.
The Place of the Capitol was deserted save by the tread of the single sentinel. But still, dark and fearful, hung from the tall gibbet the clay of the robber noble; and the colossal shape of the Egyptian lion rose hard by, sharp and dark in the breathless atmosphere.
"Dread statue!" thought Rienzi, "how many unwhispered and solemn rites hast thou witnessed by thy native Nile, ere the Roman's hand transferred thee hither - the antique witness of Roman crimes! Strange! but when I look upon thee I feel as if thou hadst some mystic influence over my own fortunes. Beside thee was I hailed the republican Lord of Rome; beside thee are my palace, my tribunal, the place of my justice, my triumphs, and my pomp: - to thee my eyes turn from my bed of state: and if fated to die in power and peace, thou mayst be the last object my eyes will mark! Or if myself a victim - ." He paused - shrank from the thought presented