ron had committed, your prayers should plead for him; but is
not his life notorious? Has he not been from boyhood the terror and
disgrace of Rome? How many matrons violated, merchants pillaged,
peaceful men stilettoed in the daylight, rise in dark witness against
the prisoner? And for such a man do I live to hear an aged prince and a
pope's vicar plead for mercy?--Fie, fie! But I will be even with ye.
The next poor man whom the law sentences to death, for your sake will I
pardon."

Raimond again drew aside the Tribune, while Colonna struggled to
suppress his rage.

"My friend," said the Bishop, "the nobles will feel this as an insult to
their whole order; the very pleading of Orsini's worst foe must convince
thee of this. Martino's blood will seal their reconciliation with each
other, and they will be as one man against thee."

"Be it so: with God and the People on my side, I will dare, though
a Roman, to be just. The bell ceases--you are already too late." So
saying, Rienzi threw open the casement; and by the staircase of the Lion
rose a gibbet from which swung with a creaking sound, arrayed in his
patrician robes, the yet palpitating corpse of Martino di Porto.

"Behold!" said the Tribune, sternly, "thus die all robbers. For
traitors, the same law has the axe and the scaffold!"

Raimond drew back and turned pale. Not so the veteran noble. Tears
of wounded pride started from his eyes; he approached, leaning on his
staff, to Rienzi, touched him on his shoulder, and said,--

"Tribune, a judge has lived to envy his victim!"

Rienzi turned with an equal pride to the Baron.

"We forgive idle words in the aged. My Lord, have you done with us?--we
would be alone."

"Give me thy arm, Raimond," said Stephen. "Tribune--farewell. Forget
that the Colonna sued thee,--an easy task, methinks; for, wise as you
are, you forget what every one else can remember."

"Ay, my Lord, what?"

"Birth, Tribune, birth--that's all!"

"The Signor Colonna has taken up my old calling, and turned a wit,"
returned Rienzi, with an indifferent and easy tone.

Then following Raimond and Stephen with his eyes, till the door closed
upon them, he muttered, "Insolent! were it not for Adrian, thy grey
beard should not bear thee harmless. Birth! what Colonna would not boast
himself, if he could, the grandson of an emperor?--Old man, there is
danger in thee which must be watched." With that he turned musingly
towards the casement, and again that g