Butsuchvoluntaryobedienceevaporateswiththefirsttransportsofzeal；andRienzifelttheimportanceofjustifyinghisusurpationbyaregularformandalegaltitle。Athisownchoice，theRomanpeoplewouldhavedisplayedtheirattachmentandauthority，bylavishingonhisheadthenamesofsenatororconsul，ofkingoremperor:hepreferredtheancientandmodestappellationoftribune；theprotectionofthecommonswastheessenceofthatsacredoffice；andtheywereignorant，thatithadneverbeeninvestedwithanyshareinthelegislativeorexecutivepowersoftherepublic。Inthischaracter，andwiththeconsentoftheRoman，thetribuneenactedthemostsalutarylawsfortherestorationandmaintenanceofthegoodestate。Bythefirsthefulfilsthewishofhonestyandinexperience，thatnocivilsuitshouldbeprotractedbeyondthetermoffifteendays。Thedangeroffrequentperjurymightjustifythepronouncingagainstafalseaccuserthesamepenaltywhichhisevidencewouldhaveinflicted:thedisordersofthetimesmightcompelthelegislatortopunisheveryhomicidewithdeath，andeveryinjurywithequalretaliation。Buttheexecutionofjusticewashopelesstillhehadpreviouslyabolishedthetyrannyofthenobles。Itwasformallyprovided，thatnone，exceptthesuprememagistrate，shouldpossessorcommandthegates，bridges，ortowersofthestate；thatnoprivategarrisonsshouldbeintroducedintothetownsorcastlesoftheRomanterritory；thatnoneshouldbeararms，orpresumetofortifytheirhousesinthecityorcountry；thatthebaronsshouldberesponsibleforthesafetyofthehighways，andthefreepassageofprovisions；andthattheprotectionofmalefactorsandrobbersshouldbeexpiatedbyafineofathousandmarksofsilver。Buttheseregulationswouldhavebeenimpotentandnugatory，hadnotthelicentiousnoblesbeenawedbytheswordofthecivilpower。AsuddenalarmfromthebelloftheCapitolcouldstillsummontothestandardabovetwentythousandvolunteers:thesupportofthetribuneandthelawsrequiredamoreregularandpermanentforce。Ineachharborofthecoastavesselwasstationedfortheassuranceofcommerce；astandingmilitiaofthreehundredandsixtyhorseandthirteenhundredfootwaslevied，clothed，andpaidinthethirteenquartersofthecity:andthespiritofacommonwealthmaybetracedinthegratefulallowanceofonehundredflorins，orpounds，totheheirsofeverysoldierwholosthislifeintheserviceofhiscountry。Forthemaintenanceofthepublicdefence，fortheestablishmentofgranaries，forthereliefofwidows，orphans，andindigentconvents，Rienziapplied，withoutfearofsacrilege，therevenuesoftheapostolicchamber:thethreebranchesofhearth—money，thesalt—duty，andthecustoms，wereeachoftheannualproduceofonehundredthousandflorins；
^26andscandalousweretheabuses，ifinfourorfivemonthstheamountofthesalt—dutycouldbetrebledbyhisjudiciouseconomy。Afterthusrestoringtheforcesandfinancesoftherepublic，thetribunerecalledthenoblesfromtheirsolitaryindependence；requiredtheirpersonalappearanceintheCapitol；
andimposedanoathofallegiancetothenewgovernment，andofsubmissiontothelawsofthegoodestate。Apprehensivefortheirsafety，butstillmoreapprehensiveofthedangerofarefusal，theprincesandbaronsreturnedtotheirhousesatRomeinthegarbofsimpleandpeacefulcitizens:theColonnaandUrsini，theSavelliandFrangipani，wereconfoundedbeforethetribunalofaplebeian，ofthevilebuffoonwhomtheyhadsooftenderided，andtheirdisgracewasaggravatedbytheindignationwhichtheyvainlystruggledtodisguise。Thesameoathwassuccessivelypronouncedbytheseveralordersofsociety，theclergyandgentlemen，thejudgesandnotaries，themerchantsandartisans，andthegradualdescentwasmarkedbytheincreaseofsincerityandzeal。Theysworetoliveanddiewiththerepublicandthechurch，whoseinterestwasartfullyunitedbythenominalassociationofthebishopofOrvieto，thepope\'svicar，totheofficeoftribune。ItwastheboastofRienzi，thathehaddeliveredthethroneandpatrimonyofSt。Peterfromarebelliousaristocracy；andClementtheSixth，whorejoicedinitsfall，affectedtobelievetheprofessions，toapplaudthemerits，andtoconfirmthetitle，ofhistrustyservant。Thespeech，perhapsthemind，ofthetribune，wasinspiredwithalivelyregardforthepurityofthefaith:heinsinuatedhisclaimtoasupernaturalmissionfromtheHolyGhost；enforcedbyaheavyforfeituretheannualdutyofconfessionandcommunion；
andstrictlyguardedthespiritualaswellastemporalwelfareofhisfaithfulpeople。^27
[Footnote*:Etego，Deosemperauctore，ipsadiepristinaleg。
primaTribunatus，quaequidemdignitasatemporedefloratiImperii，etperannosVoetultrasubtyrannicaoccupationevacavit，ipsosomnespotentesindifferenterDeumatjustitiamodientes，amea，ymoaDeifaciefugiendovehementiSpiritudissipavi，etnulloeffusocruoretrementesexpuli，sineicturemanentsRomaneterrefacierenovata。LibellusTribuniadCaesarem，p。xxxiv—M。1845。]
[Footnote26:InoneMS。Ireadl。ii。c。4，p。409perfumantequatrosolli，inanother，quatroflorini，animportantvariety，sincetheflorinwasworthtenRomansolidi，Muratori，dissert。
xxviii。Theformerreadingwouldgiveusapopulationof25，000，thelatterof250，000families；andImuchfear，thattheformerismoreconsistentwiththedecayofRomeandherterritory。]
[Footnote27:Hocsemius，p。498，apudduCerceau，Hist。deRienzi，p。194。ThefifteentribunitianlawsmaybefoundintheRomanhistorianwhomforbrevityIshallnameFortifiocca，l。
ii。c。4]
ChapterLXX:FinalSettlementOfTheEcclesiasticalState。
PartII。
Neverperhapshastheenergyandeffectofasinglemindbeenmoreremarkablyfeltthaninthesudden，thoughtransient，reformationofRomebythetribuneRienzi。Adenofrobberswasconvertedtothedisciplineofacamporconvent:patienttohear，swifttoredress，inexorabletopunish，histribunalwasalwaysaccessibletothepoorandstranger；norcouldbirth，ordignity，ortheimmunitiesofthechurch，protecttheoffenderorhisaccomplices。Theprivilegedhouses，theprivatesanctuariesinRome，onwhichnoofficerofjusticewouldpresumetotrespass，wereabolished；andheappliedthetimberandironoftheirbarricadesinthefortificationsoftheCapitol。ThevenerablefatheroftheColonnawasexposedinhisownpalacetothedoubleshameofbeingdesirous，andofbeingunable，toprotectacriminal。Amule，withajarofoil，hadbeenstolennearCapranica；andthelordoftheUrsinifamilywascondemnedtorestorethedamage，andtodischargeafineoffourhundredflorinsforhisnegligenceinguardingthehighways。Norwerethepersonsofthebaronsmoreinviolatethantheirlandsorhouses；and，eitherfromaccidentordesign，thesameimpartialrigorwasexercisedagainsttheheadsoftheadversefactions。
PeterAgapetColonna，whohadhimselfbeensenatorofRome，wasarrestedinthestreetforinjuryordebt；andjusticewasappeasedbythetardyexecutionofMartinUrsini，who，amonghisvariousactsofviolenceandrapine，hadpillagedashipwreckedvesselatthemouthoftheTyber。^28Hisname，thepurpleoftwocardinals，hisuncles，arecentmarriage，andamortaldiseaseweredisregardedbytheinflexibletribune，whohadchosenhisvictim。Thepublicofficersdraggedhimfromhispalaceandnuptialbed:histrialwasshortandsatisfactory:thebelloftheCapitolconvenedthepeople:strippedofhismantle，onhisknees，withhishandsboundbehindhisback，heheardthesentenceofdeath；andafterabriefconfession，Ursiniwasledawaytothegallows。Aftersuchanexample，nonewhowereconsciousofguiltcouldhopeforimpunity，andtheflightofthewicked，thelicentious，andtheidle，soonpurifiedthecityandterritoryofRome。Inthistimesaysthehistorian，thewoodsbegantorejoicethattheywerenolongerinfestedwithrobbers；
theoxenbegantoplough；thepilgrimsvisitedthesanctuaries；
theroadsandinnswerereplenishedwithtravellers；trade，plenty，andgoodfaith，wererestoredinthemarkets；andapurseofgoldmightbeexposedwithoutdangerinthemidstofthehighway。Assoonasthelifeandpropertyofthesubjectaresecure，thelaborsandrewardsofindustryspontaneouslyrevive:
RomewasstillthemetropolisoftheChristianworld；andthefameandfortunesofthetribunewerediffusedineverycountrybythestrangerswhohadenjoyedtheblessingsofhisgovernment。
[Footnote28:Fortifiocca，l。ii。c。11。Fromtheaccountofthisshipwreck，welearnsomecircumstancesofthetradeandnavigationoftheage。1。TheshipwasbuiltandfreightedatNaplesfortheportsofMarseillesandAvignon。2。ThesailorswereofNaplesandtheIsleofOenarialessskilfulthanthoseofSicilyandGenoa。3。ThenavigationfromMarseilleswasacoastingvoyagetothemouthoftheTyber，wheretheytookshelterinastorm；but，insteadoffindingthecurrent，unfortunatelyranonashoal:thevesselwasstranded，themarinersescaped。4。Thecargo，whichwaspillaged，consistedoftherevenueofProvencefortheroyaltreasury，manybagsofpepperandcinnamon，andbalesofFrenchcloth，tothevalueof20，000florins；arichprize。]
ThedeliveranceofhiscountryinspiredRienziwithavast，andperhapsvisionary，ideaofunitingItalyinagreatfederativerepublic，ofwhichRomeshouldbetheancientandlawfulhead，andthefreecitiesandprincesthemembersandassociates。Hispenwasnotlesseloquentthanhistongue；andhisnumerousepistlesweredeliveredtoswiftandtrustymessengers。Onfoot，withawhitewandintheirhand，theytraversedtheforestsandmountains；enjoyed，inthemosthostilestates，thesacredsecurityofambassadors；andreported，inthestyleofflatteryortruth，thatthehighwaysalongtheirpassagewerelinedwithkneelingmultitudes，whoimploredHeavenforthesuccessoftheirundertaking。Couldpassionhavelistenedtoreason；couldprivateinteresthaveyieldedtothepublicwelfare；thesupremetribunalandconfederateunionoftheItalianrepublicmighthavehealedtheirintestinediscord，andclosedtheAlpsagainsttheBarbariansoftheNorth。Butthepropitiousseasonhadelapsed；andifVenice，Florence，Sienna，Perugia，andmanyinferiorcitiesofferedtheirlivesandfortunestothegoodestate，thetyrantsofLombardyandTuscanymustdespise，orhate，theplebeianauthorofafreeconstitution。Fromthem，however，andfromeverypartofItaly，thetribunereceivedthemostfriendlyandrespectfulanswers:
theywerefollowedbytheambassadorsoftheprincesandrepublics；andinthisforeignconflux，onalltheoccasionsofpleasureorbusiness，thelowbornnotarycouldassumethefamiliarormajesticcourtesyofasovereign。^29ThemostgloriouscircumstanceofhisreignwasanappealtohisjusticefromLewis，kingofHungary，whocomplained，thathisbrotherandherhusbandhadbeenperfidiouslystrangledbyJane，queenofNaples:^30herguiltorinnocencewaspleadedinasolemntrialatRome；butafterhearingtheadvocates，^31thetribuneadjournedthisweightyandinvidiouscause，whichwassoondeterminedbytheswordoftheHungarian。BeyondtheAlps，moreespeciallyatAvignon，therevolutionwasthethemeofcuriosity，wonder，andapplause。Petrarchhadbeentheprivatefriend，perhapsthesecretcounsellor，ofRienzi:hiswritingsbreathethemostardentspiritofpatriotismandjoy；andallrespectforthepope，allgratitudefortheColonna，waslostinthesuperiordutiesofaRomancitizen。Thepoet—laureateoftheCapitolmaintainstheact，applaudsthehero，andmingleswithsomeapprehensionandadvice，themostloftyhopesofthepermanentandrisinggreatnessoftherepublic。^32
[Footnote29:ItwasthusthatOliverCromwell\'soldacquaintance，whorememberedhisvulgarandungraciousentranceintotheHouseofCommons，wereastonishedattheeaseandmajestyoftheprotectoronhisthrone，SeeHarris\'sLifeofCromwell，p。27—34，fromClarendonWarwick，Whitelocke，Waller，&c。Theconsciousnessofmeritandpowerwillsometimeselevatethemannerstothestation。]
[Footnote30:Seethecauses，circumstances，andeffectsofthedeathofAndrewinGiannone，tom。iii。l。xxiii。p。220—229，
andtheLifeofPetrarchMemoires，tom。ii。p。143—148，245—
250，375—379，notes，p。21—37。TheabbedeSadewishestoextenuateherguilt。]
[Footnote31:TheadvocatewhopleadedagainstJanecouldaddnothingtothelogicalforceandbrevityofhismaster\'sepistle。
Johanna!inordinatavitapraecedens，retentiopotestatisinregno，neglectavindicta，viraltersusceptus，etexcusatiosubsequens，necisvirituiteprobantfuisseparticipemetconsortem。JaneofNaples，andMaryofScotland，haveasingularconformity。]
[Footnote*:InhislettertothearchbishopofPrague，RienzithusdescribestheeffectofhiselevationonItalyandontheworld:\"DidInotrestorerealpeaceamongthecitieswhichweredistractedbyfactions?didInotcauseallthecitizens，exiledbypartyviolence，withtheirwretchedwivesandchildren，tobereadmitted?hadInotbeguntoextinguishthefactiousnamesscismaticanominaofGuelfandGhibelline，forwhichcountlessthousandshadperishedbodyandsoul，undertheeyesoftheirpastors，bythereductionofthecityofRomeandallItalyintooneamicable，peaceful，holy，andunitedconfederacy?theconsecratedstandardsandbannershavingbeenbymecollectedandblendedtogether，and，inwitnesstoourholyassociationandperfectunion，offeredupinthepresenceoftheambassadorsofallthecitiesofItaly，onthedayoftheassumptionofourBlessedLady。\"p。xlvii。
IntheLibellusadCaesarem:\"IreceivedthehomageandsubmissionofallthesovereignsofApulia，thebaronsandcounts，andalmostallthepeopleofItaly。IwashonoredbysolemnembassiesandlettersbytheemperorofConstantinopleandthekingofEngland。ThequeenofNaplessubmittedherselfandherkingdomtotheprotectionofthetribune。ThekingofHungary，bytwosolemnembassies，broughthiscauseagainsthisqueenandhisnoblesbeforemytribunal；andIventuretosayfurther，thatthefameofthetribunealarmedthesoldanofBabylon。WhentheChristianpilgrimstothesepulchreofourLordrelatedtotheChristianandJewishinhabitantsofJerusalemalltheyetunheard—ofandwonderfulcircumstancesofthereformationinRome，bothJewsandChristianscelebratedtheeventwithunusualfestivities。Whenthesoldaninquiredthecauseoftheserejoicings，andreceivedthisintelligenceaboutRome，heorderedallthehavensandcitiesonthecoasttobefortified，andputinastateofdefence，\"p。xxxv。—M。1845。]
[Footnote32:SeetheEpistolaHortatoriadeCapessendaRepublica，fromPetrarchtoNicholasRienzi，Opp。p。535—540，
andthevtheclogueorpastoral，aperpetualandobscureallegory。]
WhilePetrarchindulgedthesepropheticvisions，theRomanherowasfastdecliningfromthemeridianoffameandpower；andthepeople，whohadgazedwithastonishmentontheascendingmeteor，begantomarktheirregularityofitscourse，andthevicissitudesoflightandobscurity。Moreeloquentthanjudicious，moreenterprisingthanresolute，thefacultiesofRienziwerenotbalancedbycoolandcommandingreason:hemagnifiedinatenfoldproportiontheobjectsofhopeandfear；
andprudence，whichcouldnothaveerected，didnotpresumetofortify，histhrone。Intheblazeofprosperity，hisvirtueswereinsensiblytincturedwiththeadjacentvices；justicewithcruelly，cruelty，liberalitywithprofusion，andthedesireoffamewithpuerileandostentatiousvanity。Hemighthavelearned，thattheancienttribunes，sostrongandsacredinthepublicopinion，werenotdistinguishedinstyle，habit，orappearance，fromanordinaryplebeian；^33andthatasoftenastheyvisitedthecityonfoot，asingleviator，ormeadle，attendedtheexerciseoftheiroffice。TheGracchiwouldhavefrownedorsmiled，couldtheyhavereadthesonoroustitlesandepithetsoftheirsuccessor，\"Nicholas，severeandmerciful；
delivererofRome；defenderofItaly；^34friendofmankind，andofliberty，peace，andjustice；tribuneaugust:\"histheatricalpageantshadpreparedtherevolution；butRienziabused，inluxuryandpride，thepoliticalmaximofspeakingtotheeyes，aswellastheunderstanding，ofthemultitude。Fromnaturehehadreceivedthegiftofahandsomeperson，^35tillitwasswelledanddisfiguredbyintemperance:andhispropensitytolaughterwascorrectedinthemagistratebytheaffectationofgravityandsternness。Hewasclothed，atleastonpublicoccasions，inaparty—coloredrobeofvelvetorsatin，linedwithfur，andembroideredwithgold:therodofjustice，whichhecarriedinhishand，wasasceptreofpolishedsteel，crownedwithaglobeandcrossofgold，andenclosingasmallfragmentofthetrueandholywood。Inhiscivilandreligiousprocessionsthroughthecity，herodeonawhitesteed，thesymbolofroyalty:thegreatbanneroftherepublic，asunwithacircleofstars，adovewithanolivebranch，wasdisplayedoverhishead；ashowerofgoldandsilverwasscatteredamongthepopulace，fiftyguardswithhalberdsencompassedhisperson；atroopofhorseprecededhismarch；andtheirtymbalsandtrumpetswereofmassysilver。
[Footnote*:Anillustriousfemalewriterhasdrawn，withasinglestroke，thecharacterofRienzi，Crescentius，andArnoldofBrescia，thefondrestorersofRomanliberty:\'Quiontprislessouvenirspourlesesperances。\'Corinne，tom。i。p。159。
CouldTacitushaveexcelledthis?\"Hallam，volip。418。—M。]
[Footnote33:InhisRomanQuestions，PlutarchOpuscul。tom。i。
p。505，506，edit。Graec。Hen。Steph。states，onthemostconstitutionalprinciples，thesimplegreatnessofthetribunes，whowerenotproperlymagistrates，butacheckonmagistracy。Itwastheirdutyandinterest。Rienzi，andPetrarchhimself，wereincapableperhapsofreadingaGreekphilosopher；buttheymighthaveimbibedthesamemodestdoctrinesfromtheirfavoriteLatins，LivyandValeriusMaximus。]
[Footnote34:IcouldnotexpressinEnglishtheforcible，thoughbarbarous，titleofZelatorItaliae，whichRienziassumed。]
[Footnote35:Erabell\'homo，l。ii。c。l。p。399。Itisremarkable，thattherisosarcasticooftheBraccianoeditioniswantingintheRomanMS。，fromwhichMuratorihasgiventhetext。
Inhissecondreign，whenheispaintedalmostasamonster，Rienzitraveaunaventrescatonnatrionfale，amododeunoAbbateAsiano，orAsinino，l。iii。c。18，p。523。]
Theambitionofthehonorsofchivalry^36betrayedthemeannessofhisbirth，anddegradedtheimportanceofhisoffice；
andtheequestriantribunewasnotlessodioustothenobles，whomheadopted，thantotheplebeians，whomhedeserted。Allthatyetremainedoftreasure，orluxury，orart，wasexhaustedonthatsolemnday。RienziledtheprocessionfromtheCapitoltotheLateran；thetediousnessofthewaywasrelievedwithdecorationsandgames；theecclesiastical，civil，andmilitaryordersmarchedundertheirvariousbanners；theRomanladiesattendedhiswife；andtheambassadorsofItalymightloudlyapplaudorsecretlyderidethenoveltyofthepomp。Intheevening，whichtheyhadreachedthechurchandpalaceofConstantine，hethankedanddismissedthenumerousassembly，withaninvitationtothefestivaloftheensuingday。FromthehandsofavenerableknighthereceivedtheorderoftheHolyGhost；
thepurificationofthebathwasapreviousceremony；butinnostepofhislifedidRienziexcitesuchscandalandcensureasbytheprofaneuseoftheporphyryvase，inwhichConstantineafoolishlegendhadbeenhealedofhisleprosybyPopeSylvester。