BOOK V. THE CRISIS.

     “Questo ha acceso ’i fuoco e la fiamma laquale non la par
     spotegnere.”—­“Vita di Cola di Rienzi”, lib. i. cap. 29.

     “He has kindled fire and flames which he will not be able to
     extinguish.”—­“Life of Cola di Rienzi”.

Chapter 5.I.  The Judgment of the Tribune.

The brief words of the Tribune to Stephen Colonna, though they sharpened the rage of the proud old noble, were such as he did not on reflection deem it prudent to disobey.  Accordingly, at the appointed hour, he found himself in one of the halls of the Capitol, with a gallant party of his peers.  Rienzi received them with more than his usual graciousness.

They sate down to the splendid board in secret uneasiness and alarm, as they saw that, with the exception of Stephen Colonna, none, save the conspirators, had been invited to the banquet.  Rienzi, regardless of their silence and abstraction, was more than usually gay—­the old Colonna more than usually sullen.

“We fear we have but ill pleased you, my Lord Colonna, by our summons.  Once, methinks, we might more easily provoke you to a smile.”

“Situations are changed, Tribune, since you were my guest.”

“Why, scarcely so.  I have risen, but you have not fallen.  Ye walk the streets day and night in security and peace; your lives are safe from the robber, and your palaces no longer need bars and battlements to shield you from your fellow-citizens.  I have risen, but we all have risen—­from barbarous disorder into civilized life!  My Lord Gianni Colonna, whom we have made Captain over Campagna, you will not refuse a cup to the Buono Stato;—­nor think we mistrust your valour, when we say, that we rejoice Rome hath no enemies to attest your generalship.”

“Methinks,” quoth the old Colonna, bluntly, “we shall have enemies enough from Bohemia and Bavaria, ere the next harvest be green.”

“And, if so,” replied the Tribune, calmly, “foreign foes are better than civil strife.”

“Ay, if we have money in the treasury; which is but little likely, if we have many more such holydays.”

“You are ungracious, my Lord,” said the Tribune; “and, besides, you are more uncomplimentary to Rome than to ourselves.  What citizen would not part with gold to buy fame and liberty?”

“I know very few in Rome that would,” answered the Baron.  “But tell me, Tribune, you who are a notable casuist, which is the best for a state—­that its governor should be over-thrifty or over-lavish?”

“I refer the question to my friend, Luca di Savelli,” replied Rienzi.  “He is a grand philosopher, and I wot well could explain a much knottier riddle, which we will presently submit to his acumen.”

The Barons, who had been much embarrassed by the bold speech of the old Colonna, all turned their eyes to Savelli, who answered with more composure than was anticipated.