ad broke bread with a beggar in a time of famine.) "Strike for
the Snake (The Lion was, however, the animal usually arrogated by the
heraldic vanity of the Savelli.) and the Savelli!" were then heard on
high, mingled with the German and hoarse shout, "Full purses, and the
Three Kings of Cologne." The Romans, rather ferocious than disciplined,
fell butchered in crowds round the ranks of the mercenaries: but as one
fell, another succeeded; and still burst with undiminished fervour
the countercry of "Rome, the Tribune, and the People!--Spirito Santo,
Cavaliers!" Exposed to every shaft and every sword by his emblematic
diadem and his imperial robe, the fierce Rienzi led on each assault,
wielding an enormous battle-axe, for the use of which the Italians were
celebrated, and which he regarded as a national weapon. Inspired by
every darker and sterner instinct of his nature, his blood heated, his
passions aroused, fighting as a citizen for liberty, as a monarch
for his crown, his daring seemed to the astonished foe as that of one
frantic; his preservation that of one inspired: now here, now there;
wherever flagged his own, or failed the opposing, force, glittered his
white robe, and rose his bloody battle-axe; but his fury seemed rather
directed against the chiefs than the herd; and still where his charger
wheeled was heard his voice, "Where is a Colonna?"--"Defiance to the
Orsini!"--"Spirito Santo, Cavaliers!" Three times was the sally led from
the gate; three times were the Romans beaten back; and on the third, the
gonfalon, borne before the Tribune, was cloven to the ground. Then, for
the first time, he seemed amazed and alarmed, and, raising his eyes to
heaven, he exclaimed, "O Lord, hast thou then forsaken me?" With that,
taking heart, once more he waved his arm, and again led forward his wild
array.

At eve the battle ceased. Of the Barons who had been the main object of
the Tribune's assault, the pride and boast was broken. Of the princely
line of the Colonna, three lay dead. Giordano Orsini was mortally
wounded; the fierce Rinaldo had not shared the conflict. Of the
Frangipani, the haughtiest signors were no more; and Luca, the dastard
head of the Savelli, had long since saved himself by flight. On the
other hand, the slaughter of the citizens had been prodigious;--the
ground was swamped with blood--and over heaps of slain, (steeds and
riders,) the twilight star beheld Rienzi and the Romans returning
victors from the p