ed the opinion of the
Tribune;" all the rest is the pure fiction of the ingenious Frenchman!
Again, Du Cerceau, describing the appearance of the Barons at this fatal
moment, says, "Notwithstanding the grief and despair visible in their
countenances, they shewed a noble indignation, generally attendant on
innocence in the hour of death." What says the authority from which
alone, except his own, the good Father could take his account? Why, not
a word about this noble indignation, or this parade of innocence! The
original says simply, that "the Barons were so frozen with terror
that they were unable to speak," (diventaso si gelati che non poteano
favellare;) "that the greater part humbled themselves," (e prese
penitenza e comunione;) that when Rienzi addressed them "all the Barons
(come dannati) stood in sadness." (See "Vita di Cola di Rienzi", lib. i.
cap. 29.) Du Cerceau then proceeds to state, that "although he (Rienzi)
was grieved at heart to behold his victims snatched from him, he
endeavoured to make a merit of it in the eyes of the People." There is
not a word of this in the original!

So when Rienzi, on a latter occasion, placed the Prefect John di Vico
in prison, this Jesuit says, "To put a gloss upon this action before
the eyes of the people, Rienzi gave out that the Governor, John di Vico,
keeping a correspondence with the conspirators, came with no other view
than to betray the Romans." And if this scribbler, who pretends to have
consulted the Vatican MSS., had looked at the most ordinary authorities,
he would have seen that John di Vico did come with that view. (See for
Di Vico's secret correspondence with the Barons, La Cron. Bologn. page
406; and La Cron. Est. page 444.)

Again, in the battle between the Barons and the Romans at the gates, Du
Cerceau thus describes the conduct of the Tribune:--"The Tribune, amidst
his troops, knew so little of what had passed, that seeing at a distance
one of his standards fall, he looked upon all as lost, and, casting up
his eyes to heaven full of despair, cried out, 'O God, will you then
forsake me?' But no sooner was he informed of the entire defeat of
his enemies, than his dread and cowardice even turned to boldness and
arrogance."

Now in the original all that is said of this is, "That it is true that
the standard of the Tribune fell--the Tribune astonished, (or if you
please, dismayed, sbigottio,) stood with his eyes raised to heaven, and
could find no other words t