ehind--it
was Villani's. The concealing load was torn from his head--Rienzi stood
revealed!

"I am the Senator!" he said in a loud voice. "Who dare touch the
Representative of the People?"

The multitude were round him in an instant. Not led, but rather hurried
and whirled along, the Senator was borne to the Place of the Lion. With
the intense glare of the bursting flames, the grey image reflected a
lurid light, and glowed--(that grim and solemn monument!)--as if itself
of fire!

There arrived, the crowd gave way, terrified by the greatness of their
victim. Silent he stood, and turned his face around; nor could the
squalor of his garb, nor the terror of the hour, nor the proud grief of
detection, abate the majesty of his mien, or reassure the courage of the
thousands who gathered, gazing, round him. The whole Capitol wrapped
in fire, lighted with ghastly pomp the immense multitude. Down the long
vista of the streets extended the fiery light and the serried throng,
till the crowd closed with the gleaming standards of the Colonna--the
Orsini--the Savelli! Her true tyrants were marching into Rome! As the
sound of their approaching horns and trumpets broke upon the burning
air, the mob seemed to regain their courage. Rienzi prepared to speak;
his first word was as the signal of his own death.

"Die, tyrant!" cried Cecco del Vecchio: and he plunged his dagger in the
Senator's breast.

"Die, executioner of Montreal!" muttered Villani: "thus the trust is
fulfilled!" and his was the second stroke. Then as he drew back, and saw
the artisan in all the drunken fury of his brute passion, tossing up his
cap, shouting aloud, and spurning the fallen lion,--the young man gazed
upon him with a look of withering and bitter scorn, and said, while he
sheathed his blade, and slowly turned to quit the crowd,

"Fool, miserable fool! thou and these at least had no blood of kindred
to avenge!"

They heeded not his words--they saw him not depart; for as Rienzi,
without a word, without a groan, fell to the earth,--as the roaring
waves of the multitude closed over him,--a voice, shrill, sharp, and
wild, was heard above all the clamour. At the casement of the Palace,
(the casement of her bridal chamber,) Nina stood!--through the flames
that burst below and around, her face and outstretched arms alone
visible! Ere yet the sound of that thrilling cry passed from the air,
down with a mighty crash thundered that whole wing of the Capitol,--a