^37Withequalpresumptionthetribunewatchedorreposedwithintheconsecratedprecinctsofthebaptistery；andthefailureofhisstate—bedwasinterpretedasanomenofhisapproachingdownfall。Atthehourofworship，heshowedhimselftothereturningcrowdsinamajesticattitude，witharobeofpurple，hissword，andgiltspurs；buttheholyritesweresooninterruptedbyhislevityandinsolence。Risingfromhisthrone，andadvancingtowardsthecongregation，heproclaimedinaloudvoice:"WesummontoourtribunalPopeClement:andcommandhimtoresideinhisdioceseofRome:wealsosummonthesacredcollegeofcardinals。^38Weagainsummonthetwopretenders，CharlesofBohemiaandLewisofBavaria，whostylethemselvesemperors:welikewisesummonalltheelectorsofGermany，toinformusonwhatpretencetheyhaveusurpedtheinalienablerightoftheRomanpeople，theancientandlawfulsovereignsoftheempire。"^39Unsheathinghismaidensword，hethricebrandishedittothethreepartsoftheworld，andthricerepeatedtheextravagantdeclaration，"Andthistooismine!"Thepope'svicar，thebishopofOrvieto，attemptedtocheckthiscareeroffolly；buthisfeebleprotestwassilencedbymartialmusic；andinsteadofwithdrawingfromtheassembly，heconsentedtodinewithhisbrothertribune，atatablewhichhadhithertobeenreservedforthesupremepontiff。Abanquet，suchastheCaesarshadgiven，waspreparedfortheRomans。Theapartments，porticos，andcourtsoftheLateranwerespreadwithinnumerabletablesforeithersex，andeverycondition；astreamofwineflowedfromthenostrilsofConstantine'sbrazenhorse；nocomplaint，exceptofthescarcityofwater，couldbeheard；andthelicentiousnessofthemultitudewascurbedbydisciplineandfear。AsubsequentdaywasappointedforthecoronationofRienzi；^40sevencrownsofdifferentleavesormetalsweresuccessivelyplacedonhisheadbythemosteminentoftheRomanclergy；theyrepresentedthesevengiftsoftheHolyGhost；andhestillprofessedtoimitatetheexampleoftheancienttribunes。Theseextraordinaryspectaclesmightdeceiveorflatterthepeople；andtheirownvanitywasgratifiedinthevanityoftheirleader。Butinhisprivatelifehesoondeviatedfromthestrictruleoffrugalityandabstinence；andtheplebeians，whowereawedbythesplendorofthenobles，wereprovokedbytheluxuryoftheirequal。Hiswife，hisson，hisuncle，abarberinnameandprofession，exposedthecontrastofvulgarmannersandprincelyexpense；andwithoutacquiringthemajesty，Rienzidegeneratedintothevices，ofaking。
[Footnote36:Strangeasitmayseem，thisfestivalwasnotwithoutaprecedent。Intheyear1327，twobarons，aColonnaandanUrsini，theusualbalance，werecreatedknightsbytheRomanpeople:theirbathwasofrose—water，theirbedsweredeckedwithroyalmagnificence，andtheywereservedatSt。MariaofAraceliintheCapitol，bythetwenty—eightbuonihuomini。TheyafterwardsreceivedfromRobert，kingofNaples，theswordofchivalry，Hist。Rom。l。i。c。2，p。259。]
[Footnote37:AllpartiesbelievedintheleprosyandbathofConstantinePetrarch。Epist。Famil。vi。2，andRienzijustifiedhisownconductbyobservingtothecourtofAvignon，thatavasewhichhadbeenusedbyaPagancouldnotbeprofanedbyapiousChristian。Yetthiscrimeisspecifiedinthebullofexcommunication，Hocsemius，apudduCerceau，p。189，190。]
[Footnote38:ThisverbalsummonsofPopeClementVI。，whichrestsontheauthorityoftheRomanhistorianandaVaticanMs。，isdisputedbythebiographerofPetrarch，tom。ii。not。p。70—
76，withargumentsratherofdecencythanofweight。ThecourtofAvignonmightnotchoosetoagitatethisdelicatequestion。]
[Footnote39:Thesummonsofthetworivalemperors，amonumentoffreedomandfolly，isextantinHocsemius，Cerceau，p。163—
166。]
[Footnote40:Itissingular，thattheRomanhistorianshouldhaveoverlookedthissevenfoldcoronation，whichissufficientlyprovedbyinternalevidence，andthetestimonyofHocsemius，andevenofRienzi，Cerceanp。167—170，229。]
[Footnote*:ItwasonthisoccasionthathemadetheprofanecomparisonbetweenhimselfandourLord；andthestrikingcircumstancetookplacewhichherelatesinhislettertothearchbishopofPrague。Inthemidstofallthewildandjoyousexultationofthepeople，oneofhismostzealoussupporters，amonk，whowasinhighreputeforhissanctity，stoodapartinacornerofthechurchandweptbitterly!AdomesticchaplainofRienzi'sinquiredthecauseofhisgrief。"Now，"repliedthemanofGod，"isthymastercastdownfromheaven—neversawImansoproud。BytheaidoftheHolyGhosthehasdriventhetyrantsfromthecitywithoutdrawingasword；thecitiesandthesovereignsofItalyhavesubmittedtohispower。WhyishesoarrogantandungratefultowardstheMostHigh?Whydoesheseekearthlyandtransitoryrewardsforhislabors，andinhiswantonspeechlikenhimselftotheCreator?Tellthymasterthathecanonlyatoneforthisoffencebytearsofpenitence。"Intheeveningthechaplaincommunicatedthissolemnrebuketothetribune:itappalledhimforthetime，butwassoonforgotteninthetumultandhurryofbusiness。—M。1845。]
Asimplecitizendescribeswithpity，orperhapswithpleasure，thehumiliationofthebaronsofRome。"Bareheaded，theirhandscrossedontheirbreast，theystoodwithdowncastlooksinthepresenceofthetribune；andtheytrembled，goodGod，howtheytrembled!"^41AslongastheyokeofRienziwasthatofjusticeandtheircountry，theirconscienceforcedthemtoesteemtheman，whomprideandinterestprovokedthemtohate:
hisextravagantconductsoonfortifiedtheirhatredbycontempt；
andtheyconceivedthehopeofsubvertingapowerwhichwasnolongersodeeplyrootedinthepublicconfidence。TheoldanimosityoftheColonnaandUrsiniwassuspendedforamomentbytheircommondisgrace:theyassociatedtheirwishes，andperhapstheirdesigns；anassassinwasseizedandtortured；heaccusedthenobles；andassoonasRienzideservedthefate，headoptedthesuspicionsandmaxims，ofatyrant。Onthesameday，undervariouspretences，heinvitedtotheCapitolhisprincipalenemies，amongwhomwerefivemembersoftheUrsiniandthreeoftheColonnaname。Butinsteadofacouncilorabanquet，theyfoundthemselvesprisonersundertheswordofdespotismorjustice；andtheconsciousnessofinnocenceorguiltmightinspirethemwithequalapprehensionsofdanger。Atthesoundofthegreatbellthepeopleassembled；theywerearraignedforaconspiracyagainstthetribune'slife；andthoughsomemightsympathizeintheirdistress，notahand，noravoice，wasraisedtorescuethefirstofthenobilityfromtheirimpendingdoom。
Theirapparentboldnesswaspromptedbydespair；theypassedinseparatechambersasleeplessandpainfulnight；andthevenerablehero，StephenColonna，strikingagainstthedoorofhisprison，repeatedlyurgedhisguardstodeliverhimbyaspeedydeathfromsuchignominiousservitude。Inthemorningtheyunderstoodtheirsentencefromthevisitofaconfessorandthetollingofthebell。ThegreathalloftheCapitolhadbeendecoratedforthebloodyscenewithredandwhitehangings:thecountenanceofthetribunewasdarkandsevere；theswordsoftheexecutionerswereunsheathed；andthebaronswereinterruptedintheirdyingspeechesbythesoundoftrumpets。Butinthisdecisivemoment，Rienziwasnotlessanxiousorapprehensivethanhiscaptives:hedreadedthesplendoroftheirnames，theirsurvivingkinsmen，theinconstancyofthepeoplethereproachesoftheworld，and，afterrashlyofferingamortalinjury，hevainlypresumedthat，ifhecouldforgive，hemighthimselfbeforgiven。HiselaborateorationwasthatofaChristianandasuppliant；and，asthehumbleministerofthecommons，heentreatedhismasterstopardonthesenoblecriminals，forwhoserepentanceandfutureservicehepledgedhisfaithandauthority。
"Ifyouarespared，"saidthetribune，"bythemercyoftheRomans，willyounotpromisetosupportthegoodestatewithyourlivesandfortunes?"Astonishedbythismarvellousclemency，thebaronsbowedtheirheads；andwhiletheydevoutlyrepeatedtheoathofallegiance，mightwhisperasecret，andmoresincere，assuranceofrevenge。Apriest，inthenameofthepeople，pronouncedtheirabsolution:theyreceivedthecommunionwiththetribune，assistedatthebanquet，followedtheprocession；and，aftereveryspiritualandtemporalsignofreconciliation，weredismissedinsafetytotheirrespectivehomes，withthenewhonorsandtitlesofgenerals，consuls，andpatricians。^42
[Footnote41:Puoisefacevastaredenantease，mentresedeva，libaronituttiinpiediritticolevracciapiecate，ecolicapuccitratti。Dehcomostavanopaurosi!Hist。Rom。l。ii。c。
20，p。439。Hesawthem，andweseethem。]
[Footnote42:Theoriginalletter，inwhichRienzijustifieshistreatmentoftheColonna，Hocsemius，apudduCerceau，p。222—
229，displays，ingenuinecolors，themixtureoftheknaveandthemadman。]
Duringsomeweekstheywerecheckedbythememoryoftheirdanger，ratherthanoftheirdeliverance，tillthemostpowerfuloftheUrsini，escapingwiththeColonnafromthecity，erectedatMarinothestandardofrebellion。Thefortificationsofthecastlewereinstantlyrestored；thevassalsattendedtheirlord；
theoutlawsarmedagainstthemagistrate；theflocksandherds，theharvestsandvineyards，fromMarinotothegatesofRome，weresweptawayordestroyed；andthepeoplearraignedRienziastheauthorofthecalamitieswhichhisgovernmenthadtaughtthemtoforget。Inthecamp，Rienziappearedtolessadvantagethanintherostrum；andheneglectedtheprogressoftherebelbaronstilltheirnumberswerestrong，andtheircastlesimpregnable。
FromthepagesofLivyhehadnotimbibedtheart，oreventhecourage，ofageneral:anarmyoftwentythousandRomansreturnedwithouthonororeffectfromtheattackofMarino；andhisvengeancewasamusedbypaintinghisenemies，theirheadsdownwards，anddrowningtwodogsatleasttheyshouldhavebeenbearsastherepresentativesoftheUrsini。Thebeliefofhisincapacityencouragedtheiroperations:theywereinvitedbytheirsecretadherents；andthebaronsattempted，withfourthousandfoot，andsixteenhundredhorse，toenterRomebyforceorsurprise。Thecitywaspreparedfortheirreception；thealarm—bellrungallnight；thegateswerestrictlyguarded，orinsolentlyopen；andaftersomehesitationtheysoundedaretreat。Thetwofirstdivisionshadpassedalongthewalls，buttheprospectofafreeentrancetemptedtheheadstrongvalorofthenoblesintherear；andafterasuccessfulskirmish，theywereoverthrownandmassacredwithoutquarterbythecrowdsoftheRomanpeople。StephenColonnatheyounger，thenoblespirittowhomPetrarchascribedtherestorationofItaly，wasprecededoraccompaniedindeathbyhissonJohn，agallantyouth，byhisbrotherPeter，whomightregrettheeaseandhonorsofthechurch，byanephewoflegitimatebirth，andbytwobastardsoftheColonnarace；andthenumberofseven，thesevencrowns，asRienzistyledthem，oftheHolyGhost，wascompletedbytheagonyofthedeplorableparent，andtheveteranchief，whohadsurvivedthehopeandfortuneofhishouse。ThevisionandpropheciesofSt。MartinandPopeBonifacehadbeenusedbythetribunetoanimatehistroops:^43hedisplayed，atleastinthepursuit，thespiritofahero；butheforgotthemaximsoftheancientRomans，whoabhorredthetriumphsofcivilwar。TheconquerorascendedtheCapitol；depositedhiscrownandsceptreonthealtar；andboasted，withsometruth，thathehadcutoffanear，whichneitherpopenoremperorhadbeenabletoamputate。^44Hisbaseandimplacablerevengedeniedthehonorsofburial；andthebodiesoftheColonna，whichhethreatenedtoexposewiththoseofthevilestmalefactors，weresecretlyinterredbytheholyvirginsoftheirnameandfamily。^45Thepeoplesympathizedintheirgrief，repentedoftheirownfury，anddetestedtheindecentjoyofRienzi，whovisitedthespotwheretheseillustriousvictimshadfallen。Itwasonthatfatalspotthatheconferredonhissonthehonorofknighthood:andtheceremonywasaccomplishedbyaslightblowfromeachofthehorsemenoftheguard，andbyaridiculousandinhumanablutionfromapoolofwater，whichwasyetpollutedwithpatricianblood。^46
[Footnote43:Rienzi，intheabove—mentionedletter，ascribestoSt。Martinthetribune，BonifaceVIII。theenemyofColonna，himself，andtheRomanpeople，thegloryoftheday，whichVillanilikewisel。12，c。104describesasaregularbattle。
Thedisorderlyskirmish，theflightoftheRomans，andthecowardiceofRienzi，arepaintedinthesimpleandminutenarrativeofFortifiocca，ortheanonymouscitizen，l。i。c。34
—37。]
[Footnote44:IndescribingthefalloftheColonna，IspeakonlyofthefamilyofStephentheelder，whoisoftenconfoundedbytheP。duCerceauwithhisson。Thatfamilywasextinguished，butthehousehasbeenperpetuatedinthecollateralbranches，ofwhichIhavenotaveryaccurateknowledge。CircumspicesaysPetrarchfamiliaetuaestatum，Columniensiumdomos:solitopaucioreshabeatcolumnas。Quidadremmodofundamentumstabile，solidumquepermaneat。]
[Footnote45:TheconventofSt。Silvesterwasfounded，endowed，andprotectedbytheColonnacardinals，forthedaughtersofthefamilywhoembracedamonasticlife，andwho，intheyear1318，weretwelveinnumber。Theotherswereallowedtomarrywiththeirkinsmeninthefourthdegree，andthedispensationwasjustifiedbythesmallnumberandclosealliancesofthenoblefamiliesofRome，MemoiressurPetrarque，tom。i。p。110，tom。
ii。p。401。]
[Footnote46:Petrarchwroteastiffandpedanticletterofconsolation，Fam。l。vii。epist。13，p。682，683。Thefriendwaslostinthepatriot。Nullatotoorbeprincipumfamiliacarior；cariortamenrespublica，cariorRoma，cariorItalia。
JerendsgracesauxDieuxden'etrepasRomain。]
AshortdelaywouldhavesavedtheColonna，thedelayofasinglemonth，whichelapsedbetweenthetriumphandtheexileofRienzi。Intheprideofvictory，heforfeitedwhatyetremainedofhiscivilvirtues，withoutacquiringthefameofmilitaryprowess。Afreeandvigorousoppositionwasformedinthecity；
andwhenthetribuneproposedinthepubliccouncil^47toimposeanewtax，andtoregulatethegovernmentofPerugia，thirty—ninemembersvotedagainsthismeasures；repelledtheinjuriouschargeoftreacheryandcorruption；andurgedhimtoprove，bytheirforcibleexclusion，thatifthepopulaceadheredtohiscause，itwasalreadydisclaimedbythemostrespectablecitizens。Thepopeandthesacredcollegehadneverbeendazzledbyhisspeciousprofessions；theywerejustlyoffendedbytheinsolenceofhisconduct；acardinallegatewassenttoItaly，andaftersomefruitlesstreaty，andtwopersonalinterviews，hefulminatedabullofexcommunication，inwhichthetribuneisdegradedfromhisoffice，andbrandedwiththeguiltofrebellion，sacrilege，andheresy。^48ThesurvivingbaronsofRomewerenowhumbledtoasenseofallegiance；theirinterestandrevengeengagedthemintheserviceofthechurch；butasthefateoftheColonnawasbeforetheireyes，theyabandonedtoaprivateadventurertheperilandgloryoftherevolution。JohnPepin，countofMinorbino，^49inthekingdomofNaples，hadbeencondemnedforhiscrimes，orhisriches，toperpetualimprisonment；andPetrarch，bysolicitinghisrelease，indirectlycontributedtotheruinofhisfriend。Attheheadofonehundredandfiftysoldiers，thecountofMinorbinointroducedhimselfintoRome；
barricadedthequarteroftheColonna:andfoundtheenterpriseaseasyasithadseemedimpossible。Fromthefirstalarm，thebelloftheCapitolincessantlytolled；but，insteadofrepairingtothewell—knownsound，thepeopleweresilentandinactive；andthepusillanimousRienzi，deploringtheiringratitudewithsighsandtears，abdicatedthegovernmentandpalaceoftherepublic。
[Footnote47:ThiscouncilandoppositionisobscurelymentionedbyPollistore，acontemporarywriter，whohaspreservedsomecuriousandoriginalfacts，Rer。Italicarum，tom。xxv。c。31，p。
798—804。]
[Footnote48:ThebriefsandbullsofClementVI。againstRienziaretranslatedbytheP。duCerceau，p。196，232，fromtheEcclesiasticalAnnalsofOdericusRaynaldus，A。D。1347，No。15，17，21，&c。，whofoundtheminthearchivesoftheVatican。]
[Footnote49:MatteoVillanidescribestheorigin，character，anddeathofthiscountofMinorbino，amandanaturainconstanteesenzafede，whosegrandfather，acraftynotary，wasenrichedandennobledbythespoilsoftheSaracensofNocera，l。vii。c。
102，103。Seehisimprisonment，andtheeffortsofPetrarch，tom。ii。p。149—151]
ChapterLXX:FinalSettlementOfTheEcclesiasticalState。
PartIII。
Withoutdrawinghissword，countPepinrestoredthearistocracyandthechurch；threesenatorswerechosen，andthelegate，assumingthefirstrank，acceptedhistwocolleaguesfromtherivalfamiliesofColonnaandUrsini。Theactsofthetribunewereabolished，hisheadwasproscribed；yetsuchwastheterrorofhisname，thatthebaronshesitatedthreedaysbeforetheywouldtrustthemselvesinthecity，andRienziwasleftaboveamonthinthecastleofSt。Angelo，fromwhencehepeaceablywithdrew，afterlaboring，withouteffect，torevivetheaffectionandcourageoftheRomans。Thevisionoffreedomandempirehadvanished:theirfallenspiritwouldhaveacquiescedinservitude，haditbeensmoothedbytranquillityandorder；anditwasscarcelyobserved，thatthenewsenatorsderivedtheirauthorityfromtheApostolicSee；thatfourcardinalswereappointedtoreform，withdictatorialpower，thestateoftherepublic。Romewasagainagitatedbythebloodyfeudsofthebarons，whodetestedeachother，anddespisedthecommons:theirhostilefortresses，bothintownandcountry，againrose，andwereagaindemolished:andthepeacefulcitizens，aflockofsheep，weredevoured，saystheFlorentinehistorian，bytheserapaciouswolves。ButwhentheirprideandavaricehadexhaustedthepatienceoftheRomans，aconfraternityoftheVirginMaryprotectedoravengedtherepublic:thebelloftheCapitolwasagaintolled，thenoblesinarmstrembledinthepresenceofanunarmedmultitude；andofthetwosenators，Colonnaescapedfromthewindowofthepalace，andUrsiniwasstonedatthefootofthealtar。Thedangerousofficeoftribunewassuccessivelyoccupiedbytwoplebeians，CerroniandBaroncelli。ThemildnessofCerroniwasunequaltothetimes；andafterafaintstruggle，heretiredwithafairreputationandadecentfortunetothecomfortsofrurallife。Devoidofeloquenceorgenius，Baroncelliwasdistinguishedbyaresolutespirit:hespokethelanguageofapatriot，andtrodinthefootstepsoftyrants；hissuspicionwasasentenceofdeath，andhisowndeathwastherewardofhiscruelties。Amidstthepublicmisfortunes，thefaultsofRienziwereforgotten；andtheRomanssighedforthepeaceandprosperityoftheirgoodestate。^50