its first law,
one that seems simple enough to our happier times, but never hitherto
executed at Rome: Every wilful homicide, of whatever rank, was to be
punished by death. It enacted, that no private noble or citizen should
be suffered to maintain fortifications and garrisons in the city or the
country; that the gates and bridges of the State should be under the
control of whomsoever should be elected Chief Magistrate. It forbade all
harbour of brigands, mercenaries, and robbers, on payment of a thousand
marks of silver; and it made the Barons who possessed the neighbouring
territories responsible for the safety of the roads, and the transport
of merchandise. It took under the protection of the State the widow and
the orphan. It appointed, in each of the quarters of the city, an armed
militia, whom the tolling of the bell of the Capitol, at any hour, was
to assemble to the protection of the State. It ordained, that in each
harbour of the coast, a vessel should be stationed, for the safeguard
of commerce. It decreed the sum of one hundred florins to the heirs of
every man who died in the defence of Rome; and it devoted the public
revenues to the service and protection of the State.

Such, moderate at once and effectual, was the outline of the New
Constitution; and it may amuse the reader to consider how great must
have been the previous disorders of the city, when the common and
elementary provisions of civilisation and security made the character of
the code proposed, and the limit of a popular revolution.

The most rapturous shouts followed this sketch of the New Constitution:
and, amidst the clamour, up rose the huge form of Cecco del Vecchio.
Despite his condition, he was a man of great importance at the present
crisis: his zeal and his courage, and, perhaps, still more, his brute
passion and stubborn prejudice, had made him popular. The lower order of
mechanics looked to him as their head and representative; out, then, he
spake loud and fearlessly,--speaking well, because his mind was full of
what he had to say.

"Countrymen and Citizens!--This New Constitution meets with your
approbation--so it ought. But what are good laws, if we do not have
good men to execute them? Who can execute a law so well as the man
who designs it? If you ask me to give you a notion how to make a good
shield, and my notion pleases you, would you ask me, or another smith,
to make it for you? If you ask another, he may make a good shield,