So great was the popular fervour, and so much had it been refined and deepened in its tone by the addresses of Rienzi, that even the most indifferent had caught the contagion:  and no man liked to be seen shrinking from the rest:  so that the most neutral, knowing themselves the most marked, were the most entrapped into allegiance to the Buono Stato.  The first who advanced to the platform and took the oath was the Signor di Raselli, the father of Nina.—­Others of the lesser nobility followed his example.

The presence of the Pope’s Vicar induced the aristocratic; the fear of the people urged the selfish; the encouragement of shouts and gratulations excited the vain.  The space between Adrian and Rienzi was made clear.  The young noble suddenly felt the eyes of the Tribune were upon him; he felt that those eyes recognised and called upon him—­he coloured—­he breathed short.  The noble forbearance of Rienzi had touched him to the heart;—­the applause—­the pageant—­the enthusiasm of the scene, intoxicated—­confused him.—­He lifted his eyes and saw before him the sister of the Tribune—­the lady of his love!  His indecision—­his pause—­continued, when Raimond, observing him, and obedient to a whisper from Rienzi, artfully cried aloud—­“Room for the Lord Adrian di Castello! a Colonna! a Colonna!” Retreat was cut off.  Mechanically, and as if in a dream, Adrian ascended to the platform:  and to complete the triumph of the Tribune, the sun’s last ray beheld the flower of the Colonna—­the best and bravest of the Barons of Rome—­confessing his authority, and subscribing to his laws!

BOOK III.  THE FREEDOM WITHOUT LAW.

     “Ben furo avventurosi i cavalieri
     Ch’ erano a quella eta, che nei vallone,
     Nelle scure spelonche e boschi fieri,
     Tane di serpi, d’orsi e di leoni,
     Trovavan quel che nei palazzi altieri
     Appena or trovar pon giudici buoni;
     Donne che nella lor piu fresca etade
     Sien degne di aver titol di beltade.”

     Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, can. xiii. 1.

Chapter 3.I.  The Return of Walter de Montreal to his Fortress.

When Walter de Montreal and his mercenaries quitted Corneto, they made the best of their way to Rome; arriving there, long before the Barons, they met with a similar reception at the gates, but Montreal prudently forbore all attack and menace, and contented himself with sending his trusty Rodolf into the city to seek Rienzi, and to crave permission to enter with his troop.  Rodolf returned in a shorter time than was anticipated.  “Well,” said Montreal impatiently, “you have the order I suppose.  Shall we bid them open the gates?”

“Bid them open our graves,” replied the Saxon, bluntly.  “I trust my next heraldry will be to a more friendly court.”

“How! what mean you?”

“Briefly this:—­I found the new governor, or whatever his title, in the palace of the Capitol, surrounded by guards and councillors, and in a suit of the finest armour I ever saw out of Milan.”