Rienzi [76]
street. Then might you see a crowd, suddenly, and as by magic, appear emerging from every corner; the street became thronged with multitudes; but it was only by the tramp of their feet, and an indistinct and low murmur, that they broke the silence. Again the horseman wound his trump, and when the note ceased, he cried aloud - "Friends and Romans! tomorrow, at dawn of day, let each man find himself unarmed before the Church of St. Angelo. Cola di Rienzi convenes the Romans to provide for the good state of Rome." A shout, that seemed to shake the bases of the seven hills, broke forth at the end of this brief exhortation; the horseman rode slowly on, and the crowd followed. - This was the commencement of the Revolution!
Chapter 2.VI. The Conspirator Becomes the Magistrate.
At midnight, when the rest of the city seemed hushed in rest, lights were streaming from the windows of the Church of St. Angelo. Breaking from its echoing aisles, the long and solemn notes of sacred music stole at frequent intervals upon the air. Rienzi was praying within the church; thirty masses consumed the hours from night till morn, and all the sanction of religion was invoked to consecrate the enterprise of liberty. (In fact, I apprehend that if ever the life of Cola di Rienzi shall be written by a hand worthy of the task, it will be shown that a strong religious feeling was blended with the political enthusiasm of the people, - the religious feeling of a premature and crude reformation, the legacy of Arnold of Brescia. It was not, however, one excited against the priests, but favoured by them. The principal conventual orders declared for the Revolution.) The sun had long risen, and the crowd had long been assembled before the church door, and in vast streams along every street that led to it, - when the bell of the church tolled out long and merrily; and as it ceased, the voices of the choristers within chanted the following hymn, in which were somewhat strikingly, though barbarously, blended, the spirit of the classic patriotism with the fervour of religious zeal: -
The Roman Hymn of Liberty.
Let the mountains exult around! ("Exultent in circuito Vestro Montes," &c. - Let the mountains exult around! So begins Rienzi's letter to the Senate and Roman people: preserved by Hocsemius.) On her seven-hill'd throne renown'd, Once more old Rome is crown'd! Jubilate!
Sing out, O Vale and Wave! Look up from each laurell'd grave, Bright dust of the deathless brave! Jubilate!
Pale Vision, what art thou? - Lo, From Time's dark deeps, Like a Wind, It sweeps, Like a Wind, when the tempests blow:
A shadowy form - as a giant ghost - It stands in the midst of the armed host!
The dead man's shroud on Its awful limbs; And the gloom of Its presence the daylight dims: And the trembling world looks on aghast - All hail to the SOUL OF THE MIGHTY PAST! Hail! all hail!
As we speak - as we hallow - It moves, It breathes; From its clouded crest bud the laurel wreaths - As a Sun that leaps up from the arms of Night, The shadow takes shape, and the gloom takes light. Hail! all hail!
The Soul of the Past, again To its ancient home, In the hearts of Rome, Hath come to resume its reign!
O Fame, with a prophet's voice, Bid the ends of the Earth rejoice! Wherever the Proud are Strong, And Right is oppress'd by Wrong; - Wherever the day dim shines Through the cell where the captive pines; - Go forth, with a trumpet's sound! And tell to the Nations round - On the Hills which the Heroes trod - In the shrines of the Saints of God - In the Caesars' hall, and the Martyrs' prison - That the slumber is broke, and the Sleeper arisen! That the reign of the Goth and the Vandal is o'er: And Earth feels the tread of THE ROMAN once more!
As the hymn ended, the gate of the church opened; the crowd gave way on either side, and, preceded by three of the young nobles of the inferior order, bearing standards of allegorical design, depicting the triumph
Chapter 2.VI. The Conspirator Becomes the Magistrate.
At midnight, when the rest of the city seemed hushed in rest, lights were streaming from the windows of the Church of St. Angelo. Breaking from its echoing aisles, the long and solemn notes of sacred music stole at frequent intervals upon the air. Rienzi was praying within the church; thirty masses consumed the hours from night till morn, and all the sanction of religion was invoked to consecrate the enterprise of liberty. (In fact, I apprehend that if ever the life of Cola di Rienzi shall be written by a hand worthy of the task, it will be shown that a strong religious feeling was blended with the political enthusiasm of the people, - the religious feeling of a premature and crude reformation, the legacy of Arnold of Brescia. It was not, however, one excited against the priests, but favoured by them. The principal conventual orders declared for the Revolution.) The sun had long risen, and the crowd had long been assembled before the church door, and in vast streams along every street that led to it, - when the bell of the church tolled out long and merrily; and as it ceased, the voices of the choristers within chanted the following hymn, in which were somewhat strikingly, though barbarously, blended, the spirit of the classic patriotism with the fervour of religious zeal: -
The Roman Hymn of Liberty.
Let the mountains exult around! ("Exultent in circuito Vestro Montes," &c. - Let the mountains exult around! So begins Rienzi's letter to the Senate and Roman people: preserved by Hocsemius.) On her seven-hill'd throne renown'd, Once more old Rome is crown'd! Jubilate!
Sing out, O Vale and Wave! Look up from each laurell'd grave, Bright dust of the deathless brave! Jubilate!
Pale Vision, what art thou? - Lo, From Time's dark deeps, Like a Wind, It sweeps, Like a Wind, when the tempests blow:
A shadowy form - as a giant ghost - It stands in the midst of the armed host!
The dead man's shroud on Its awful limbs; And the gloom of Its presence the daylight dims: And the trembling world looks on aghast - All hail to the SOUL OF THE MIGHTY PAST! Hail! all hail!
As we speak - as we hallow - It moves, It breathes; From its clouded crest bud the laurel wreaths - As a Sun that leaps up from the arms of Night, The shadow takes shape, and the gloom takes light. Hail! all hail!
The Soul of the Past, again To its ancient home, In the hearts of Rome, Hath come to resume its reign!
O Fame, with a prophet's voice, Bid the ends of the Earth rejoice! Wherever the Proud are Strong, And Right is oppress'd by Wrong; - Wherever the day dim shines Through the cell where the captive pines; - Go forth, with a trumpet's sound! And tell to the Nations round - On the Hills which the Heroes trod - In the shrines of the Saints of God - In the Caesars' hall, and the Martyrs' prison - That the slumber is broke, and the Sleeper arisen! That the reign of the Goth and the Vandal is o'er: And Earth feels the tread of THE ROMAN once more!
As the hymn ended, the gate of the church opened; the crowd gave way on either side, and, preceded by three of the young nobles of the inferior order, bearing standards of allegorical design, depicting the triumph