roying the life of one of the richest
subjects in Europe. Montreal, we may be quite sure, would have purchased
his life at an immeasurably higher price than the paltry sum lent to
Rienzi by his brothers. And this is not a probable hypothesis, but a
certain fact, for we are expressly told that Montreal, "knowing the
Tribune was in want of money, offered Rienzi, that if he would let
him go, he, Montreal, would furnish him not only with twenty thousand
florins, (four times the amount of Rienzi's debt to him,) but with as
many soldiers and as much money as he pleased." This offer Rienzi did
not attend to. Would he have rejected it had avarice been his motive?
And what culpable injustice, to mention the vague calumny without citing
the practical contradiction! When Gibbon tells us, also, that "the most
virtuous citizen of Rome," meaning Pandulfo, or Pandolficcio di Guido,
(Matthew Villani speaks of him as a wise and good citizen, of great
repute among the People--and this, it seems, he really was.) was
sacrificed to his jealousy, he a little exaggerates the expression
bestowed upon Pandulfo, which is that of "virtuoso assai;" and
that expression, too, used by a man who styles the robber Montreal,
"eccellente uomo--di quale fama suono per tutta la Italia di virtude"
("An excellent man whose fame for valour resounded throughout all
Italy.")--(so good a moral critic was the writer!) but he also
altogether waves all mention of the probabilities that are sufficiently
apparent, of the scheming of Pandulfo to supplant Rienzi, and to obtain
the "Signoria del Popolo." Still, however, if the death of Pandulfo may
be considered a blot on the memory of Rienzi, it does not appear that it
was this which led to his own fate. The cry of the mob surrounding his
palace was not, "Perish him who executed Pandulfo," it was--and this
again and again must be carefully noted--it was nothing more nor less
than, "Perish him who has made the gabelle!"

Gibbon sneers at the military skill and courage of Rienzi. For this
sneer there is no cause. His first attempts, his first rise, attested
sufficiently his daring and brave spirit; in every danger he was
present--never shrinking from a foe so long as he was supported by
the People. He distinguished himself at Viterbo when in the camp of
Albornoz, in several feats of arms, ("Vita di Cola di Rienzi", lib. ii.
cap. 14.) and his end was that of a hero. So much for his courage; as to
his military skill; it wo