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Gheraldi waits without (or should) to see me.

In faith, you must go one kiss; and so, away.
Isidora. Farewell, my lord.

Duke. We'll ride together, dearest,

Some few hours hence.

Isid. Just as you please; farewell.

Duke. Farewell; with what a waving air she goes.

Along the corridor. How like a fawn;

Yet statelier.

Hark! no sound, however soft

(Nor gentlest echo), telleth when she treads;
But every motion of her shape doth seem
Hallowed by silence. Thus did Hebe grow
Amidst the gods, a paragon; and thus—
Away! I'm grown the very fool of love.

[Exit.

Miss Mitford.

RIENZI.

COLA DI RIENZI (afterwards the last of the Tribunes) heads the People, to overthrow the powerful Faction of the URSINI, and other despotic Nobles, who tyrannize over Rome. ANGELO COLONNA, instigated by love for CLAUDIA, RIENZI's Daughter, and hate towards the rival House of URSINI, attends a Meeting of the People assembled by RIENZI to declare and redress their Wrongs.

Rome. Before the Gates of the Capitol.

ALBERTI, PAOLO, CITIZENS.

1st Citizen. This is the chosen spot. A brave assemblage! zd Cit. Why, yes. No marvel that Rienzi struck

So bold a blow. I had heard shrewd reports

Of heats, and discontents, and gathering bands,
But never dreamed of Cola.

Pao. "Tis the spot!

Where loiters he? The night wears on apace.
Alberti. It is not yet the hour.

1st Cit. Who speaks?

Another Cit. Alberti,

The captain of the guard; he and his soldiers

Have joined our faction.

Alb. Comrades, we shall gain

An easy victory. The Ursini,

Drunk with false hope and brute debauch, feast high
Within their palace. Never wore emprise

A fairer face.

Pao. And yet the summer heaven,

Sky, moon, and stars, are overcast.

Send that this darkness

Enter RIENZI.

The saints

Rie. [Advancing to the front.] Darkness! did ye never Watch the dark glooming of the thunder-cloud,

Ere the storm burst? We'll light this darkness, Sir,

With the brave flash of spear and sword.

All the Citizens shout. Rienzi!

Live, brave Rienzi! honest Cola!

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The bright sun rises to his course, and lights

A race of slaves!-He sets, and his last beam

Falls on a slave

Slaves to a horde

Of petty tyrants, feudal despots; lords
Rich in some dozen paltry villages—

Strong in some hundred spearmen,—only great

In that strange spell-a name.

Each hour, dark fraud,

Or open rapine, or protected murder,

Cry out against them.

But this very day,

An honest man, my neighbour-[Pointing to PAOLO]— there he stands,

Was struck,-struck like a dog, by one who wore
The badge of Ursini; because, forsooth,

He tossed not high his ready cap in air,

At sight of that great ruffian. Be we men,
And suffer such dishonour?
The stain away in blood?
I have known deeper wrongs.
I had a brother once-

Men, and wash not
Such shames are common:
I that speak to ye,

How I loved

That gracious boy! Younger by fifteen years,
Brother at once and son! "He left my side;

A summer bloom on his fair cheeks,—a smile
Parting his innocent lips." In one short hour
The pretty harmless boy was slain! I saw
The corse, the mangled corse, and then I cried
For vengeance!-Rouse, ye Romans!

Have ye brave sons?-Look in the next fierce brawl
To see them die. Have ye fair daughters?—Look
To see them live, torn from your arms, distained,
Dishonoured; and, if ye dare call for justice,
Be answered by the lash. Yet, this is Rome,

That sate on her seven hills, and from her throne

Of beauty ruled the world!

The eternal city shall be free;

Once again, I swear,

her sons

Shall walk with princes. Ere to-morrow's dawn,

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'Tis Angelo Colonna. Touch him not,

I would hold parley with him.

The hour is nigh. Away!

Good Alberti,

[Exit ALBERTI.

Enter ANGELO COLONNA.

Now, Sir!

[To ANGELO.

Ang. What be ye,

That thus in stern and watchful mystery

Cluster beneath the veil of night, and start

To hear a stranger's foot?

Rie. Romans.

Ang. And wherefore

Meet ye, my countrymen ?

Rie. For freedom.

Ang. Surely

Thou art Cola di Rienzi?

Rie. Ay, that voice

The traitor voice.

Ang. I knew thee by the words.

Who, save thyself, in this bad age, when man

Lies prostrate like yon temple, dared conjoin
The sounds of Rome and freedom?

Rie. I shall teach

The world to blend those words, as in the days

Before the Cæsars.

Thou shalt be the first

To hail the union. I have seen thee hang

On tales of the world's mistress; thy young hand
Hath clinched thy maiden sword.

Unsheath it now,

Now, at thy country's call! What, dost thou pause?
Is the flame quenched? Dost falter? Hence with thee,
Pass on! pass whilst thou may!

Ang. Hear me, Rienzi.

Even now my spirit leaps up at the thought
Of those brave storied days—a treasury
Of matchless visions, bright and glorified,
Paling the dim lights of this darkling world
With the golden blaze of heaven;

but past

As clouds of yesterday, as last night's dream.

and gone,

Rie. A dream! Dost see yon phalanx, still and stern?

An hundred leaders, each with such a band,

Wait with suppressed impatience till they hear

The great bell of the Capitol, to spring

At once on their proud foes. Join them.
Ang. My father!

Rie. Already he hath quitted Rome.
Ang. My kinsmen !

Rie. We are too strong for contest.

Thou shalt see

No other change within our peaceful streets

Than that of slaves to freemen. Such a change
As is the silent step from night to day,
From darkness into light. We talk too long.
Ang. Yet reason with them ;- -warn them.
Rie. And their answer-

Will be the jail, the gibbet, or the axe

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