the sacred ceremony prevented the Bishop of Orvietto all occasion of
self-exoneration or reply.

The moment the ceremony was over, Rienzi touched the Bishop, and
whispered, "We will explain this to your liking. You feast with us at
the Lateran.--Your arm." Nor did he leave the good Bishop's arm, nor
trust him to other companionship, until to the stormy sound of horn
and trumpet, drum and cymbal, and amidst such a concourse as might have
hailed, on the same spot, the legendary baptism of Constantine, the
Tribune and his nobles entered the great gates of the Lateran, then the
Palace of the World.

Thus ended that remarkable ceremony and that proud challenge of the
Northern Powers, in behalf of the Italian liberties, which, had it been
afterwards successful, would have been deemed a sublime daring; which,
unsuccessful, has been construed by the vulgar into a frantic insolence;
but which, calmly considering all the circumstances that urged on
the Tribune, and all the power that surrounded him, was not, perhaps,
altogether so imprudent as it seemed. And, even accepting that
imprudence in the extremest sense,--by the more penetrating judge of
the higher order of character, it will probably be considered as the
magnificent folly of a bold nature, excited at once by position and
prosperity, by religious credulities, by patriotic aspirings, by
scholastic visions too suddenly transferred from revery to action,
beyond that wise and earthward policy which sharpens the weapon ere it
casts the gauntlet.

Chapter 4.VII. The Festival.

The Festival of that day was far the most sumptuous hitherto known. The
hint of Cecco del Vecchio, which so well depicted the character of his
fellow-citizens, as yet it exists, though not to such excess, in their
love of holyday pomp and gorgeous show, was not lost upon Rienzi. One
instance of the universal banqueting (intended, indeed, rather for
the people than the higher ranks) may illustrate the more than royal
profusion that prevailed. From morn till eve, streams of wine flowed
like a fountain from the nostrils of the Horse of the great Equestrian
Statue of Constantine. The mighty halls of the Lateran palace, open
to all ranks, were prodigally spread; and the games, sports, and
buffooneries of the time, were in ample requisition. Apart, the
Tribunessa, as Nina was rather unclassically entitled, entertained
the dames of Rome; while the Tribune had so effectually silenced or
conciliated Ra