Rienzi [210]
fear me, in the new title he will forget the old."
"Fie, Cecco del Vecchio, you were always a grumbler!" said a merchant of cloth, whose commodity the ceremonial had put in great request. "Fie! - for my part, I think Senator a less new-fangled title than Tribune. I hope there will be feasting enow, at last. Rome has been long dull. A bad time for trade, I warrant me!"
The artisan grinned scornfully. He was one of those who distinguished between the middle class and the working, and he loathed a merchant as much as he did a noble. "The day wears," said the little man; "he must be here anon. The Senator's lady, and all his train, have gone forth to meet him these two hours."
Scarce were these words uttered, when the crowd to the right swayed restlessly; and presently a horseman rode rapidly through the street. "Way there! Keep back! Way - make way for the Most Illustrious the Senator of Rome!"
The crowd became hushed - then murmuring - then hushed again. From balcony and casement stretched the neck of every gazer. The tramp of steeds was heard at a distance - the sound of clarion and trumpet; - then, gleaming through the distant curve of the streets, was seen the wave of the gonfalons - then, the glitter of spears - and then from the whole multitude, as from one voice, arose the shout, - "He comes! he comes!"
Adrian shrunk yet more backward amongst the throng; and, leaning against the wall of one of the houses, contemplated the approaching pageant.
First came, six abreast, the procession of Roman horsemen who had gone forth to meet the Senator, bearing boughs of olive in their hands; each hundred preceded by banners, inscribed with the words, "Liberty and Peace restored." As these passed the group by Adrian, each more popular citizen of the cavalcade was recognised, and received with loud shouts. By the garb and equipment of the horsemen, Adrian saw that they belonged chiefly to the traders of Rome; a race who, he well knew, unless strangely altered, valued liberty only as a commercial speculation. "A vain support these," thought the Colonna; - "what next?" on, then, came in glittering armour the German mercenaries, hired by the gold of the Brothers of Provence, in number two hundred and fifty, and previously in the pay of Malatesta of Rimini; - tall, stern, sedate, disciplined, - eyeing the crowd with a look, half of barbarian wonder, half of insolent disdain. No shout of gratulation welcomed these sturdy strangers; it was evident that their aspect cast a chill over the assembly.
"Shame!" growled Cecco del Vecchio, audibly. "Has the people's friend need of the swords which guard an Orsini or a Malatesta? - shame!"
No voice this time silenced the huge malcontent.
"His only real defence against the Barons," thought Adrian, "if he pay them well! But their number is not sufficient!"
Next came two hundred fantassins, or foot-soldiers, of Tuscany, with the corselets and arms of the heavy-armed soldiery - a gallant company, and whose cheerful looks and familiar bearing appeared to sympathise with the crowd. And in truth they did so, - for they were Tuscans, and therefore lovers of freedom. In them, too, the Romans seemed to recognise natural and legitimate allies, - and there was a general cry of "Vivano i bravi Toscani!"
"Poor defence!" thought the more sagacious Colonna; "the Barons can awe, and the mob corrupt them."
Next came a file of trumpeters and standard-bearers; - and now the sound of the music was drowned by shouts, which seemed to rise simultaneously as from every quarter of the city; - "Rienzi! Rienzi! - Welcome, welcome! - Liberty and Rienzi! Rienzi and the Good Estate!" Flowers dropped on his path, kerchiefs and banners waved from every house; - tears might be seen coursing, unheeded, down bearded cheeks; - youth and age were kneeling together, with uplifted hands, invoking blessings on the head of the Restored. On he came the Senator-Tribune - "the Phoenix to his pyre!"
Robed in scarlet, that literally blazed with gold, his proud head bared in the sun,
"Fie, Cecco del Vecchio, you were always a grumbler!" said a merchant of cloth, whose commodity the ceremonial had put in great request. "Fie! - for my part, I think Senator a less new-fangled title than Tribune. I hope there will be feasting enow, at last. Rome has been long dull. A bad time for trade, I warrant me!"
The artisan grinned scornfully. He was one of those who distinguished between the middle class and the working, and he loathed a merchant as much as he did a noble. "The day wears," said the little man; "he must be here anon. The Senator's lady, and all his train, have gone forth to meet him these two hours."
Scarce were these words uttered, when the crowd to the right swayed restlessly; and presently a horseman rode rapidly through the street. "Way there! Keep back! Way - make way for the Most Illustrious the Senator of Rome!"
The crowd became hushed - then murmuring - then hushed again. From balcony and casement stretched the neck of every gazer. The tramp of steeds was heard at a distance - the sound of clarion and trumpet; - then, gleaming through the distant curve of the streets, was seen the wave of the gonfalons - then, the glitter of spears - and then from the whole multitude, as from one voice, arose the shout, - "He comes! he comes!"
Adrian shrunk yet more backward amongst the throng; and, leaning against the wall of one of the houses, contemplated the approaching pageant.
First came, six abreast, the procession of Roman horsemen who had gone forth to meet the Senator, bearing boughs of olive in their hands; each hundred preceded by banners, inscribed with the words, "Liberty and Peace restored." As these passed the group by Adrian, each more popular citizen of the cavalcade was recognised, and received with loud shouts. By the garb and equipment of the horsemen, Adrian saw that they belonged chiefly to the traders of Rome; a race who, he well knew, unless strangely altered, valued liberty only as a commercial speculation. "A vain support these," thought the Colonna; - "what next?" on, then, came in glittering armour the German mercenaries, hired by the gold of the Brothers of Provence, in number two hundred and fifty, and previously in the pay of Malatesta of Rimini; - tall, stern, sedate, disciplined, - eyeing the crowd with a look, half of barbarian wonder, half of insolent disdain. No shout of gratulation welcomed these sturdy strangers; it was evident that their aspect cast a chill over the assembly.
"Shame!" growled Cecco del Vecchio, audibly. "Has the people's friend need of the swords which guard an Orsini or a Malatesta? - shame!"
No voice this time silenced the huge malcontent.
"His only real defence against the Barons," thought Adrian, "if he pay them well! But their number is not sufficient!"
Next came two hundred fantassins, or foot-soldiers, of Tuscany, with the corselets and arms of the heavy-armed soldiery - a gallant company, and whose cheerful looks and familiar bearing appeared to sympathise with the crowd. And in truth they did so, - for they were Tuscans, and therefore lovers of freedom. In them, too, the Romans seemed to recognise natural and legitimate allies, - and there was a general cry of "Vivano i bravi Toscani!"
"Poor defence!" thought the more sagacious Colonna; "the Barons can awe, and the mob corrupt them."
Next came a file of trumpeters and standard-bearers; - and now the sound of the music was drowned by shouts, which seemed to rise simultaneously as from every quarter of the city; - "Rienzi! Rienzi! - Welcome, welcome! - Liberty and Rienzi! Rienzi and the Good Estate!" Flowers dropped on his path, kerchiefs and banners waved from every house; - tears might be seen coursing, unheeded, down bearded cheeks; - youth and age were kneeling together, with uplifted hands, invoking blessings on the head of the Restored. On he came the Senator-Tribune - "the Phoenix to his pyre!"
Robed in scarlet, that literally blazed with gold, his proud head bared in the sun,