[Footnote9:IsocratesinPanegyrico，tom。i。p。116，117，edit。
Battie，Cantab。1729claimsforhisnativeAthensthegloryoffirstinstitutingandrecommending。TheexampleofthePanathenaeawasimitatedatDelphi；buttheOlympicgameswereignorantofamusicalcrown，tillitwasextortedbythevaintyrannyofNero，Sueton。inNerone，c。23；Philostrat。apudCasaubonadlocum；DionCassius，orXiphilin，l。lxiii。p。1032，1041。Potter'sGreekAntiquities，vol。i。p。445，450。]
[Footnote10:TheCapitolinegamescertamenquinquenale，musicum，equestre，gymnicumwereinstitutedbyDomitianSueton。
c。4intheyearofChrist86，Censorin。deDieNatali，c。18，p。100，edit。Havercamp。andwerenotabolishedintheivthcentury，AusoniusdeProfessoribusBurdegal。V。Ifthecrownweregiventosuperiormerit，theexclusionofStatiusCapitolianostraeinficiatalyrae，Sylv。l。iii。v。31maydohonortothegamesoftheCapitol；buttheLatinpoetswholivedbeforeDomitianwerecrownedonlyinthepublicopinion。]
[Footnote11:PetrarchandthesenatorsofRomewereignorantthatthelaurelwasnottheCapitoline，buttheDelphiccrown，Plin。Hist。Naturp。39。Hist。CritiquedelaRepubliquedesLettres，tom。i。p。150—220。ThevictorsintheCapitolwerecrownedwithagarlandofoakeaves，Martial，l。iv。epigram54。]
[Footnote12:ThepiousgrandsonofLaurahaslabored，andnotwithoutsuccess，tovindicateherimmaculatechastityagainstthecensuresofthegraveandthesneersoftheprofane，tom。ii。
notes，p。76—82。]
Theceremonyofhiscoronation^13wasperformedintheCapitol，byhisfriendandpatronthesuprememagistrateoftherepublic。Twelvepatricianyouthswerearrayedinscarlet；sixrepresentativesofthemostillustriousfamilies，ingreenrobes，withgarlandsofflowers，accompaniedtheprocession；inthemidstoftheprincesandnobles，thesenator，countofAnguillara，akinsmanoftheColonna，assumedhisthrone；andatthevoiceofaheraldPetrarcharose。AfterdiscoursingonatextofVirgil，andthricerepeatinghisvowsfortheprosperityofRome，hekneltbeforethethrone，andreceivedfromthesenatoralaurelcrown，withamorepreciousdeclaration，"Thisistherewardofmerit。"Thepeopleshouted，"LonglifetotheCapitolandthepoet!"AsonnetinpraiseofRomewasacceptedastheeffusionofgeniusandgratitude；andafterthewholeprocessionhadvisitedtheVatican，theprofanewreathwassuspendedbeforetheshrineofSt。Peter。Intheactordiploma^14whichwaspresentedtoPetrarch，thetitleandprerogativesofpoet—laureatearerevivedintheCapitol，afterthelapseofthirteenhundredyears；andhereceivestheperpetualprivilegeofwearing，athischoice，acrownoflaurel，ivy，ormyrtle，ofassumingthepoetichabit，andofteaching，disputing，interpreting，andcomposing，inallplaceswhatsoever，andonallsubjectsofliterature。Thegrantwasratifiedbytheauthorityofthesenateandpeople；andthecharacterofcitizenwastherecompenseofhisaffectionfortheRomanname。Theydidhimhonor，buttheydidhimjustice。InthefamiliarsocietyofCiceroandLivy，hehadimbibedtheideasofanancientpatriot；
andhisardentfancykindledeveryideatoasentiment，andeverysentimenttoapassion。Theaspectofthesevenhillsandtheirmajesticruinsconfirmedtheselivelyimpressions；andhelovedacountrybywhoseliberalspirithehadbeencrownedandadopted。
ThepovertyanddebasementofRomeexcitedtheindignationandpityofhergratefulson；hedissembledthefaultsofhisfellow—citizens；applaudedwithpartialfondnessthelastoftheirheroesandmatrons；andintheremembranceofthepast，inthehopesofthefuture，waspleasedtoforgetthemiseriesofthepresenttime。Romewasstillthelawfulmistressoftheworld:thepopeandtheemperor，thebishopandgeneral，hadabdicatedtheirstationbyaningloriousretreattotheRhoneandtheDanube；butifshecouldresumehervirtue，therepublicmightagainvindicateherlibertyanddominion。Amidsttheindulgenceofenthusiasmandeloquence，^15Petrarch，Italy，andEurope，wereastonishedbyarevolutionwhichrealizedforamomenthismostsplendidvisions。TheriseandfallofthetribuneRienziwilloccupythefollowingpages:^16thesubjectisinteresting，thematerialsarerich，andtheglanceofapatriotbard^17willsometimesvivifythecopious，butsimple，narrativeoftheFlorentine，^18andmoreespeciallyoftheRoman，historian。^19
[Footnote13:ThewholeprocessofPetrarch'scoronationisaccuratelydescribedbytheabbedeSade，tom。i。p。425—435，tom。ii。p。1—6，notes，p。1—13，fromhisownwritings，andtheRomandiaryofLudovico，Monaldeschi，withoutmixinginthisauthenticnarrativethemorerecentfablesofSannuccioDelbene。]
[Footnote14:TheoriginalactisprintedamongthePiecesJustificativesintheMemoiressurPetrarque，tom。iii。p。50—
53。]
[Footnote15:TofindtheproofsofhisenthusiasmforRome，I
needonlyrequestthatthereaderwouldopen，bychance，eitherPetrarch，orhisFrenchbiographer。Thelatterhasdescribedthepoet'sfirstvisittoRome，tom。i。p。323—335。Butintheplaceofmuchidlerhetoricandmorality，Petrarchmighthaveamusedthepresentandfutureagewithanoriginalaccountofthecityandhiscoronation。]
[Footnote16:IthasbeentreatedbythepenofaJesuit，theP。
deCerceauwhoseposthumousworkConjurationdeNicolasGabrini，ditdeRienzi，TyrandeRome，en1347waspublishedatParis，1748，in12mo。IamindebtedtohimforsomefactsanddocumentsinJohnHocsemius，canonofLiege，acontemporaryhistorian，FabriciusBibliot。Lat。Med。Aevi，tom。iii。p。273，tom。iv。p。
85。]
[Footnote17:TheabbedeSade，whosofreelyexpatiatesonthehistoryofthexivthcentury，mighttreat，ashispropersubject，arevolutioninwhichtheheartofPetrarchwassodeeplyengaged，Memoires，tom。ii。p。50，51，320—417，notes，p。70—
76，tom。iii。p。221—243，366—375。NotanideaorafactinthewritingsofPetrarchhasprobablyescapedhim。]
[Footnote18:GiovanniVillani，l。xii。c。89，104，inMuratori，RerumItalicarumScriptores，tom。xiii。p。969，970，981—983。]
[Footnote19:InhisthirdvolumeofItalianantiquities，p。249
—548，MuratorihasinsertedtheFragmentaHistoriaeRomanaeabAnno1327usqueadAnnum1354，intheoriginaldialectofRomeorNaplesinthexivthcentury，andaLatinversionforthebenefitofstrangers。ItcontainsthemostparticularandauthenticlifeofColaNicholasdiRienzi；whichhadbeenprintedatBracciano，1627，in4to。，underthenameofTomasoFortifiocca，whoisonlymentionedinthisworkashavingbeenpunishedbythetribuneforforgery。Humannatureisscarcelycapableofsuchsublimeorstupidimpartiality:butwhosoeverintheauthoroftheseFragments，hewroteonthespotandatthetime，andpaints，withoutdesignorart，themannersofRomeandthecharacterofthetribune。
Note:SincethepublicationofmyfirsteditionofGibbon，somenewandveryremarkabledocumentshavebeenbroughttolightinalifeofNicolasRienzi，—ColadiRienzoundseineZeit，—
byDr。FelixPapencordt。ThemostimportantofthesedocumentsarelettersfromRienzitoCharlestheFourth，emperorandkingofBohemia，andtothearchbishopofPraque；theyenterintothewholehistoryofhisadventurouscareerduringitsfirstperiod，andthrowastronglightuponhisextraordinarycharacter。Thesedocumentswerefirstdiscoveredandmadeuseof，toacertainextent，byPelzel，thehistorianofBohemia。Theoriginalshavedisappeared，butacopymadebyPelzelforhisownuseisnowinthelibraryofCountThunatTeschen。Thereseemsnodoubtoftheirauthenticity。Dr。Papencordthasprintedthewholeinhisi:Urkunden，withtheexceptionofonelongtheologicalpaper。—
M。1845。]
InaquarterofthecitywhichwasinhabitedonlybymechanicsandJews，themarriageofaninnkeeperandawasherwomanproducedthefuturedelivererofRome。^20^!FromsuchparentsNicholasRienziGabrinicouldinheritneitherdignitynorfortune；andthegiftofaliberaleducation，whichtheypainfullybestowed，wasthecauseofhisgloryanduntimelyend。
Thestudyofhistoryandeloquence，thewritingsofCicero，Seneca，Livy，Caesar，andValeriusMaximus，elevatedabovehisequalsandcontemporariesthegeniusoftheyoungplebeian:heperusedwithindefatigablediligencethemanuscriptsandmarblesofantiquity；lovedtodispensehisknowledgeinfamiliarlanguage；andwasoftenprovokedtoexclaim，"WherearenowtheseRomans?theirvirtue，theirjustice，theirpower?whywasInotborninthosehappytimes?"^21WhentherepublicaddressedtothethroneofAvignonanembassyofthethreeorders，thespiritandeloquenceofRienzirecommendedhimtoaplaceamongthethirteendeputiesofthecommons。TheoratorhadthehonorofharanguingPopeClementtheSixth，andthesatisfactionofconversingwithPetrarch，acongenialmind:buthisaspiringhopeswerechilledbydisgraceandpovertyandthepatriotwasreducedtoasinglegarmentandthecharityofthehospital。
Fromthismiseryhewasrelievedbythesenseofmeritorthesmileoffavor；andtheemploymentofapostolicnotaryaffordedhimadailystipendoffivegoldflorins，amorehonorableandextensiveconnection，andtherightofcontrasting，bothinwordsandactions，hisownintegritywiththevicesofthestate。TheeloquenceofRienziwaspromptandpersuasive:themultitudeisalwayspronetoenvyandcensure:hewasstimulatedbythelossofabrotherandtheimpunityoftheassassins；norwasitpossibletoexcuseorexaggeratethepubliccalamities。Theblessingsofpeaceandjustice，forwhichcivilsocietyhasbeeninstituted，werebanishedfromRome:thejealouscitizens，whomighthaveenduredeverypersonalorpecuniaryinjury，weremostdeeplywoundedinthedishonoroftheirwivesanddaughters:^22
theywereequallyoppressedbythearroganceofthenoblesandthecorruptionofthemagistrates；^!!andtheabuseofarmsoroflawswastheonlycircumstancethatdistinguishedthelionsfromthedogsandserpentsoftheCapitol。TheseallegoricalemblemswerevariouslyrepeatedinthepictureswhichRienziexhibitedinthestreetsandchurches；andwhilethespectatorsgazedwithcuriouswonder，theboldandreadyoratorunfoldedthemeaning，appliedthesatire，inflamedtheirpassions，andannouncedadistanthopeofcomfortanddeliverance。TheprivilegesofRome，hereternalsovereigntyoverherprincesandprovinces，wasthethemeofhispublicandprivatediscourse；andamonumentofservitudebecameinhishandsatitleandincentiveofliberty。Thedecreeofthesenate，whichgrantedthemostampleprerogativestotheemperorVespasian，hadbeeninscribedonacopperplatestillextantinthechoirofthechurchofSt。
JohnLateran。^23Anumerousassemblyofnoblesandplebeianswasinvitedtothispoliticallecture，andaconvenienttheatrewaserectedfortheirreception。Thenotaryappearedinamagnificentandmysterioushabit，explainedtheinscriptionbyaversionandcommentary，^24anddescantedwitheloquenceandzealontheancientgloriesofthesenateandpeople，fromwhomalllegalauthoritywasderived。Thesupineignoranceofthenobleswasincapableofdiscerningtheserioustendencyofsuchrepresentations:theymightsometimeschastisewithwordsandblowstheplebeianreformer；buthewasoftensufferedintheColonnapalacetoamusethecompanywithhisthreatsandpredictions；andthemodernBrutus^25wasconcealedunderthemaskoffollyandthecharacterofabuffoon。Whiletheyindulgedtheircontempt，therestorationofthegoodestate，hisfavoriteexpression，wasentertainedamongthepeopleasadesirable，apossible，andatlengthasanapproaching，event；andwhileallhadthedispositiontoapplaud，somehadthecouragetoassist，theirpromiseddeliverer。
[Footnote20:ThefirstandsplendidperiodofRienzi，histribunitiangovernment，iscontainedinthexviiithchapteroftheFragments，p。399—479，which，inthenewdivision，formstheiidbookofthehistoryinxxxviii。smallerchaptersorsections。]
[Footnote!:ButseeinDr。Papencordt'swork，andinRienzi'sownwords，hisclaimtobeabastardsonoftheemperorHenrytheSeventh，whoseintriguewithhismotherRienzirelateswithasortofproudshamelessness。CompareaccountbytheeditorofDr。
Papencordt'sworkinQuarterlyReviewvol。lxix。—M。1845。]
[Footnote21:Thereadermaybepleasedwithaspecimenoftheoriginalidiom:Fodasoajuventutinenutricatodilattedeeloquentia，bonogramatico，megliorerettuorico，autoristabravo。
Dehcomoetquantoeraveloceleitore!moitousavaTitoLivio，Seneca，etTullio，etBalerioMassimo，moitolidilettavalemagnificentiediJulioCesareraccontare。Tuttaladiesespeculavanegl'intaglidimarmolequaliiacciointornoRoma。Noneraaltricheesso，chesapesselejereliantichipataffii。
Tuttescrittureantichevulgarizzava；quessefiuredimarmojustamenteinterpretava。Oncomespessodiceva，"DovesuonoquellibuoniRomani?doveenelorosommajustitia?polerammetrovareintempochequessifiuriano!"]
[Footnote*:SirJ。HobhousepublishedinhisIllustrationsofChildeHaroldRienzi'sjoyfullettertothepeopleofRomeontheapparentlyfavorableterminationofthismission。—M。1845。]
[Footnote22:PetrarchcomparesthejealousyoftheRomanswiththeeasytemperofthehusbandsofAvignon，Memoires，tom。i。p。
330。]
[Footnote!!:AllthisRienzi，writingatalaterperiodtothearchbishopofPrague，attributedtothecriminalabandonmentofhisflockbythesupremepontiff。SeeUrkundeapudPapencordt，p。xliv。QuarterlyReview，p。255。—M。1845。]
[Footnote23:ThefragmentsoftheLexregiamaybefoundintheInscriptionsofGruter，tom。i。p。242，andattheendoftheTacitusofErnesti，withsomelearnednotesoftheeditor，tom。
ii。]
[Footnote24:IcannotoverlookastupendousandlaughableblunderofRienzi。TheLexregiaempowersVespasiantoenlargethePomoerium，awordfamiliartoeveryantiquary。Itwasnotsotothetribune；heconfoundsitwithpomarium，anorchard，translatesloJardinodeRomacioeneItalia，andiscopiedbythelessexcusableignoranceoftheLatintranslatorp。406andtheFrenchhistorian，p。33。EventhelearningofMuratorihasslumberedoverthepassage。]
[Footnote25:PrioriBrutotamensimilior，juvenisuterque，longeingenicquamcujussimulationeminduerat，utsubhocobtentuliberatorillePR。aperireturtemporesuo……Illeregibus，hictyranniscontemptus，OppOpp。p。536。
Note:Fatcorattamenquod—nuncfatuum。nunchystrionem，nuncgravemnuncsimplicem，nuncastutum，nuncfervidum，nunctimidumsimulatorem，etdissimulatoremadhunccaritativumfinem，quemdixi，constitusepiusmemetipsum。Writingtoanarchbishop，ofPrague，Rienziallegesscripturalexamples。
SaltatorcoramarchaDavidetinsanusapparuitcoramRege；
blanda，astuta，ettectaJudithastititHoloferni；etastateJacobmeruitbenedici，Urkundexlix。—M。1845。]
Aprophecy，orratherasummons，affixedonthechurchdoorofSt。George，wasthefirstpublicevidenceofhisdesigns；anocturnalassemblyofahundredcitizensonMountAventine，thefirststeptotheirexecution。Afteranoathofsecrecyandaid，herepresentedtotheconspiratorstheimportanceandfacilityoftheirenterprise；thatthenobles，withoutunionorresources，werestrongonlyinthefearnobles，oftheirimaginarystrength；
thatallpower，aswellasright，wasinthehandsofthepeople；
thattherevenuesoftheapostolicalchambermightrelievethepublicdistress；andthatthepopehimselfwouldapprovetheirvictoryoverthecommonenemiesofgovernmentandfreedom。Aftersecuringafaithfulbandtoprotecthisfirstdeclaration，heproclaimedthroughthecity，bysoundoftrumpet，thatontheeveningofthefollowingday，allpersonsshouldassemblewithoutarmsbeforethechurchofSt。Angelo，toprovideforthereestablishmentofthegoodestate。ThewholenightwasemployedinthecelebrationofthirtymassesoftheHolyGhost；andinthemorning，Rienzi，bareheaded，butincompletearmor，issuedfromthechurch，encompassedbythehundredconspirators。Thepope'svicar，thesimplebishopofOrvieto，whohadbeenpersuadedtosustainapartinthissingularceremony，marchedonhisrighthand；andthreegreatstandardswerebornealoftastheemblemsoftheirdesign。Inthefirst，thebannerofliberty，Romewasseatedontwolions，withapalminonehandandaglobeintheother；St。Paul，withadrawnsword，wasdelineatedinthebannerofjustice；andinthethird，St。Peterheldthekeysofconcordandpeace。Rienziwasencouragedbythepresenceandapplauseofaninnumerablecrowd，whounderstoodlittle，andhopedmuch；andtheprocessionslowlyrolledforwardsfromthecastleofSt。
AngelototheCapitol。Histriumphwasdisturbedbysomesecretemotionswhichhelaboredtosuppress:heascendedwithoutopposition，andwithseemingconfidence，thecitadeloftherepublic；haranguedthepeoplefromthebalcony；andreceivedthemostflatteringconfirmationofhisactsandlaws。Thenobles，asifdestituteofarmsandcounsels，beheldinsilentconsternationthisstrangerevolution；andthemomenthadbeenprudentlychosen，whenthemostformidable，StephenColonna，wasabsentfromthecity。Onthefirstrumor，hereturnedtohispalace，affectedtodespisethisplebeiantumult，anddeclaredtothemessengerofRienzi，thatathisleisurehewouldcastthemadmanfromthewindowsoftheCapitol。Thegreatbellinstantlyranganalarm，andsorapidwasthetide，sourgentwasthedanger，thatColonnaescapedwithprecipitationtothesuburbofSt。Laurence:fromthence，afteramoment'srefreshment，hecontinuedthesamespeedycareertillhereachedinsafetyhiscastleofPalestrina；lamentinghisownimprudence，whichhadnottrampledthesparkofthismightyconflagration。AgeneralandperemptoryorderwasissuedfromtheCapitoltoallthenobles，thattheyshouldpeaceablyretiretotheirestates:theyobeyed；
andtheirdeparturesecuredthetranquillityofthefreeandobedientcitizensofRome。