Chapter 2.V. The Procession of the Barons. - The Beginning of the End.
It was the morning of the 19th of May, the air was brisk and clear, and the
sun, which had just risen, shone cheerily upon the glittering casques and
spears of a gallant procession of armed horsemen, sweeping through the long
and principal street of Rome. The neighing of the horses, the ringing of
the hoofs, the dazzle of the armour, and the tossing to and fro of the
standards, adorned with the proud insignia of the Colonna, presented one of
the gay and brilliant spectacles peculiar to the middle ages.
At the head of the troop, on a stout palfrey, rode Stephen Colonna. At his
right was the Knight of Provence, curbing, with an easy hand, a slight, but
fiery steed of the Arab race: behind him followed two squires, the one
leading his war-horse, the other bearing his lance and helmet. At the left
of Stephen Colonna rode Adrian, grave and silent, and replying only by
monosyllables to the gay bavardage of the Knight of Provence. A
considerable number of the flower of the Roman nobles followed the old
Baron; and the train was closed by a serried troop of foreign horsemen,
completely armed.
There was no crowd in the street, - the citizens looked with seeming apathy
at the procession from their half-closed shops.
"Have these Romans no passion for shows?" asked Montreal; "if they could be
more easily amused they would be more easily governed."
"Oh, Rienzi, and such buffoons, amuse them. We do better, - we terrify!"
replied Stephen.
"What sings the troubadour, Lord Adrian?" said Montreal.
"'Smiles, false smiles, should form the school
For those who rise, and those who rule:
The brave they trick, and fair subdue,
Kings deceive, the States undo.
Smiles, false smiles!
"'Frowns, true frowns, ourselves betray,
The brave arouse, the fair dismay,
Sting the pride, which blood must heal,
Mix the bowl, and point the steel.
Frowns, true frowns!'
"The lay is of France, Signor; yet methinks it brings its wisdom from
Italy; - for the serpent smile is your countrymen's proper distinction, and
the frown ill becomes them."
"Sir Knight," replied Adrian, sharply, and incensed at the taunt, "you
Foreigners have taught us how to frown: - a virtue sometimes."
"But not wisdom, unless the hand could maintain what the brow menaced,"
returned Montreal, with haughtiness; for he had much of the Franc vivacity
which often overcame his prudence; and he had conceived a secret pique
against Adrian since their interview at Stephen's palace.
"Sir Knight," answered Adrian, colouring, "our conversation may lead to
warmer words than I would desire to have with one who has rendered me so
gallant a service."
"Nay, then, let us go back to the troubadours," said Montreal,
indifferently. "Forgive me if I do not think highly, in general, of
Italian honour, or Italian valour; your valour I acknowledge, for I have
witnessed it, and valour and honour go together, - let that suffice!"
As Adrian was about to answer, his eye fell suddenly on the burly form of
Cecco del Vecchio, who was leaning his bare and brawny arms over his anvil,
and gazing, with a smile, upon the group. There was something in that
smile which turned the current of Adrian's thoughts, and which he could not
contemplate without an unaccountable misgiving.
"A strong villain, that," said Montreal, also eyeing the smith. "I should
like to enlist him. Fellow!" cried he, aloud, "you have an arm that were
as fit to wield the sword as to fashion it. Desert your anvil, and follow
the fortunes of Fra Moreale!"
The smith nodded his head. "Signor Cavalier," said he, gravely, "we poor
men have no passion for war; we want not to kill others - we desire only
ourselves to live, - if you will let us!"
"By the Holy Mother, a slavish answer! But you Romans - "
"Are slaves!" interrupted the smith, turning away to the interior of his
forge.
"The dog is mutinous!" said the old Colonna. And as the band swept on, the
rude foreigners, encouraged by their leaders, had each some taunt or jest,
uttered in a barbarous attempt at the southern patois, for the lazy giant,
as he again appeared in front of his forge, leaning on his anvil as before,
and betraying no sign of attention to his insultors, save by a heightened
glow of his swarthy visage; - and so the gallant procession passed through
the streets, and quitted the Eternal City.
There was a long interval of deep silence - of general calm - throughout
the whole of Rome: the shops were still but half-opened; no man betook
himself to his business; it was like the commencement of some holyday, when
indolence precedes enjoyment.
About noon, a few small knots of men might be seen scattered about the
streets, whispering to each other, but soon dispersing; and every now and
then, a single passenger, generally habited in the long robes used by the
men of letters, or in the more sombre garb of monks, passed hurriedly up
the street towards the Church of St. Mary of Egypt, once the Temple of
Fortune. Then, again, all was solitary and deserted. Suddenly, there was
heard the sound of a single trumpet! It swelled - it gathered on the ear.
Cecco del Vecchio looked up from his anvil! A solitary horseman paced
slowly by the forge, and wound a long loud blast of the trumpet suspended
round his neck, as he passed through the middle of the street. Then might
you see a crowd, suddenly, and as by magic, appear emerging from every
corner; the street became thronged with multitudes; but it was only by the
tramp of their feet, and an indistinct and low murmur, that they broke the
silence. Again the horseman wound his trump, and when the note ceased, he
cried aloud - "Friends and Romans! tomorrow, at dawn of day, let each man
find himself unarmed before the Church of St. Angelo. Cola di Rienzi
convenes the Romans to provide for the good state of Rome." A shout, that
seemed to shake the bases of the seven hills, broke forth at the end of
this brief exhortation; the horseman rode slowly on, and the crowd
followed. - This was the commencement of the Revolution!
