Rienzi [224]
faults of his character, and established him more and more in the gratitude of Rienzi. He loved to feel that one faithful heart beat near him, and the page, raised to the rank of his chamberlain, always attended his person, and slept in his ante-chamber.
Retiring that night at Tivoli, to the apartment prepared for him, the Senator sat down by the open casement, through which were seen, waving in the starlight, the dark pines that crowned the hills, while the stillness of the hour gave to his ear the dash of the waterfalls heard above the regular and measured tread of the sentinels below. Leaning his cheek upon his hand, Rienzi long surrendered himself to gloomy thought, and, when he looked up, he saw the bright blue eye of Villani fixed in anxious sympathy on his countenance.
"Is my Lord unwell?" asked the young chamberlain, hesitating.
"Not so, my Angelo; but somewhat sick at heart. Methinks, for a September night, the air is chill!"
"Angelo," resumed Rienzi, who had already acquired that uneasy curiosity which belongs to an uncertain power, - "Angelo, bring me hither yon writing implements; hast thou heard aught what the men say of our probable success against Palestrina?"
"Would my Lord wish to learn all their gossip, whether it please or not?" answered Villani.
"If I studied only to hear what pleased me, Angelo, I should never have returned to Rome."
"Why, then, I heard a constable of the Northmen say, meaningly, that the place will not be carried."
"Humph! And what said the captains of my Roman Legion?"
"My Lord, I have heard it whispered that they fear defeat less than they do the revenge of the Barons, if they are successful."
"And with such tools the living race of Europe and misjudging posterity will deem that the workman is to shape out the Ideal and the Perfect! Bring me yon Bible."
As Angelo reverently brought to Rienzi the sacred book, he said,
"Just before I left my companions below, there was a rumour that the Lord Adrian Colonna had been imprisoned by his kinsman."
"I too heard, and I believe, as much," returned Rienzi: "these Barons would gibbet their own children in irons, if there were any chance of the shackles growing rusty for want of prey. But the wicked shall be brought low, and their strong places shall be made desolate."
"I would, my Lord," said Villani, "that our Northmen had other captains than these Provencals."
"Why?" asked Rienzi, abruptly.
"Have the creatures of the Captain of the Grand Company ever held faith with any man whom it suited the avarice or the ambition of Montreal to betray? Was he not, a few months ago, the right arm of John di Vico, and did he not sell his services to John di Vico's enemy, the Cardinal Albornoz? These warriors barter men as cattle."
"Thou describest Montreal rightly: a dangerous and an awful man. But methinks his brothers are of a duller and meaner kind; they dare not the crimes of the Robber Captain. Howbeit, Angelo, thou hast touched a string that will make discord with sleep tonight. Fair youth, thy young eyes have need of slumber; withdraw, and when thou hearest men envy Rienzi, think that - "
"God never made Genius to be envied!" interrupted Villani, with an energy that overcame his respect. "We envy not the sun, but rather the valleys that ripen beneath his beams."
"Verily, if I be the sun," said Rienzi, with a bitter and melancholy smile, "I long for night, - and come it will, to the human as to the celestial Pilgrim! - Thank Heaven, at least, that our ambition cannot make us immortal!"
Chapter 9.V. The Biter Bit.
The next morning, when Rienzi descended to the room where his captains awaited him, his quick eye perceived that a cloud still lowered upon the brow of Messere Brettone. Arimbaldo, sheltered by the recess of the rude casement, shunned his eye.
"A fair morning, gentles," said Rienzi; "the Sun laughs upon our enterprise. I have messengers from Rome betimes - fresh troops will join us ere noon."
"I am glad, Senator," answered Brettone, "that you have tidings
Retiring that night at Tivoli, to the apartment prepared for him, the Senator sat down by the open casement, through which were seen, waving in the starlight, the dark pines that crowned the hills, while the stillness of the hour gave to his ear the dash of the waterfalls heard above the regular and measured tread of the sentinels below. Leaning his cheek upon his hand, Rienzi long surrendered himself to gloomy thought, and, when he looked up, he saw the bright blue eye of Villani fixed in anxious sympathy on his countenance.
"Is my Lord unwell?" asked the young chamberlain, hesitating.
"Not so, my Angelo; but somewhat sick at heart. Methinks, for a September night, the air is chill!"
"Angelo," resumed Rienzi, who had already acquired that uneasy curiosity which belongs to an uncertain power, - "Angelo, bring me hither yon writing implements; hast thou heard aught what the men say of our probable success against Palestrina?"
"Would my Lord wish to learn all their gossip, whether it please or not?" answered Villani.
"If I studied only to hear what pleased me, Angelo, I should never have returned to Rome."
"Why, then, I heard a constable of the Northmen say, meaningly, that the place will not be carried."
"Humph! And what said the captains of my Roman Legion?"
"My Lord, I have heard it whispered that they fear defeat less than they do the revenge of the Barons, if they are successful."
"And with such tools the living race of Europe and misjudging posterity will deem that the workman is to shape out the Ideal and the Perfect! Bring me yon Bible."
As Angelo reverently brought to Rienzi the sacred book, he said,
"Just before I left my companions below, there was a rumour that the Lord Adrian Colonna had been imprisoned by his kinsman."
"I too heard, and I believe, as much," returned Rienzi: "these Barons would gibbet their own children in irons, if there were any chance of the shackles growing rusty for want of prey. But the wicked shall be brought low, and their strong places shall be made desolate."
"I would, my Lord," said Villani, "that our Northmen had other captains than these Provencals."
"Why?" asked Rienzi, abruptly.
"Have the creatures of the Captain of the Grand Company ever held faith with any man whom it suited the avarice or the ambition of Montreal to betray? Was he not, a few months ago, the right arm of John di Vico, and did he not sell his services to John di Vico's enemy, the Cardinal Albornoz? These warriors barter men as cattle."
"Thou describest Montreal rightly: a dangerous and an awful man. But methinks his brothers are of a duller and meaner kind; they dare not the crimes of the Robber Captain. Howbeit, Angelo, thou hast touched a string that will make discord with sleep tonight. Fair youth, thy young eyes have need of slumber; withdraw, and when thou hearest men envy Rienzi, think that - "
"God never made Genius to be envied!" interrupted Villani, with an energy that overcame his respect. "We envy not the sun, but rather the valleys that ripen beneath his beams."
"Verily, if I be the sun," said Rienzi, with a bitter and melancholy smile, "I long for night, - and come it will, to the human as to the celestial Pilgrim! - Thank Heaven, at least, that our ambition cannot make us immortal!"
Chapter 9.V. The Biter Bit.
The next morning, when Rienzi descended to the room where his captains awaited him, his quick eye perceived that a cloud still lowered upon the brow of Messere Brettone. Arimbaldo, sheltered by the recess of the rude casement, shunned his eye.
"A fair morning, gentles," said Rienzi; "the Sun laughs upon our enterprise. I have messengers from Rome betimes - fresh troops will join us ere noon."
"I am glad, Senator," answered Brettone, "that you have tidings