The Roman Hymn of Liberty.

     Let the mountains exult around!

     ("Exultent in circuito Vestro Montes,” &c.—­Let the
     mountains exult around!  So begins Rienzi’s letter to the
     Senate and Roman people:  preserved by Hocsemius.)

     On her seven-hill’d throne renown’d,
     Once more old Rome is crown’d! 
     Jubilate!

     Sing out, O Vale and Wave! 
     Look up from each laurell’d grave,
     Bright dust of the deathless brave! 
     Jubilate!

     Pale Vision, what art thou?—­Lo,
     From Time’s dark deeps,
     Like a Wind, It sweeps,
     Like a Wind, when the tempests blow: 

     A shadowy form—­as a giant ghost—­
     It stands in the midst of the armed host! 
     The dead man’s shroud on Its awful limbs;
     And the gloom of Its presence the daylight dims: 
     And the trembling world looks on aghast—­
     All hail to the soul of the mighty past! 
     Hail! all hail!

     As we speak—­as we hallow—­It moves, It breathes;
     From its clouded crest bud the laurel wreaths—­
     As a Sun that leaps up from the arms of Night,
     The shadow takes shape, and the gloom takes light. 
     Hail! all hail!

     The Soul of the Past, again
     To its ancient home,
     In the hearts of Rome,
     Hath come to resume its reign!

     O Fame, with a prophet’s voice,
     Bid the ends of the Earth rejoice! 
     Wherever the Proud are Strong,
     And Right is oppress’d by Wrong;—­
     Wherever the day dim shines
     Through the cell where the captive pines;—­
     Go forth, with a trumpet’s sound! 
     And tell to the Nations round—­
     On the Hills which the Heroes trod—­
     In the shrines of the Saints of God—­
     In the Caesars’ hall, and the Martyrs’ prison—­
     That the slumber is broke, and the Sleeper arisen! 
     That the reign of the Goth and the Vandal is o’er: 
     And Earth feels the tread of the Roman once more!

As the hymn ended, the gate of the church opened; the crowd gave way on either side, and, preceded by three of the young nobles of the inferior order, bearing standards of allegorical design, depicting the triumph of Liberty, Justice, and Concord, forth issued Rienzi, clad in complete armour, the helmet alone excepted.  His face was pale with watching and intense excitement—­but stern, grave, and solemnly composed; and its expression so repelled any vociferous and vulgar burst of feeling, that those who beheld it hushed the shout on their lips, and stilled, by a simultaneous cry of reproof, the gratulations of the crowd behind.  Side by side with Rienzi moved Raimond, Bishop of Orvietto:  and behind, marching two by two, followed a hundred men-at-arms.  In complete silence the procession began its way, until, as it approached the Capitol, the awe of the crowd gradually vanished, and thousands upon thousands of voices rent the air with shouts of exultation and joy.