RIENZI. ACT I. SCENE I. Rome, in the fourteenth century—A Street in Rome—A Temple in Ruins, in the background, a Portico with columns in front of it, so managed that a person may appear and disappear amongst the pillars and recesses. Enter PAOLO, and three Citizens, meeting. FIRST CIT. Ah, Messer Paolo, a good morrow to thee! The streets are full to-day. I have not seen Such an out-pouring of our Roman hive Since the last jubilee. Whence comes the swarm? PAO. The stirring Ursini, on a hot canvass For their proud chief, the factious Martin. FIRST CIT. He, Our senator! a proper ruler! sick, too, SECOND CIT. Nay, he were harmless, then. But 'tis his brother, John, of Ursini, The subtle John, that drives this business onward. FIRST CIT. A proper ruler! Martin Ursini, That seized the Widow Landi's house, to make A kennel for his hounds, that carried off Hath e'er beheld her since. SECOND CIT. "Twas likelier John! The dark, smooth, subtle John! He's the prime mover THIRD CIT. Ye have bold tongues. FIRST CIT. Art thou of their black faction? THIRD CIT. No; I ply My trade, and hold my peace. Should have been senator. FIRST CIT. No, he's too old: The Count Savelli, or young Angelo. SECOND CIT. "Tis ill to choose between them. THIRD CIT. Ay, and dangerous To meddle with such great ones. A man in yonder porch. Dost not see [Looking toward the ruin. [RIENZI appears in the Temple, with a piece of decayed marble in his hands. PAO. Our honest neighbour, Cola Rienzi, poring o'er some stone With legend half defaced. Thou knowest Cola? FIRST CIT. A follower of the Colonna ? PAO. Ay: He haunts their palace, and, with rancorous hate, Pursues the Ursini. Didst never hear How his young brother, poor Antonio, fell, Murdered by their base groom? He hates the Ursini; And follows the Colonna: scarce for love, Rather to feast his learned spleen, for Cola SECOND CIT. He approaches. PAO. Cola, [RIENZI comes forward, with the piece of marble. What dragg'st thou there? a stone? RIE. A mouldering stone! An earth-encrusted stone! PAO. A tombstone? RIE. Ay, Fit emblem of our city. Here be words An' ye could read them, words whose sense is dead Even as the tongue. Did ye ever hear the sound Of liberty, of country? Back to earth, Rebellious stone! Back! back! thou preachest treason! [Throwing the stone up the Stage. FIRST CIT. Treason to the Ursini! What will thy patrons, The proud Colonna, say to this new power? RIE. My patrons !-Oh, they'll fight! they'll fight !— They'll pour Their men at arms into our streets, and wage Fierce battle; burn and plunder, spoil and slay, Guilty or innocent, or friend or foe: Their nature, sirs, their noble nature! PAO. Well, And we? What is our fate, sir prophet? RIE. We! Whichever wheel turn round, we shall be crushed Between the millstones. That's our destiny, The destiny we earn. SECOND CIT. He's right. The barons Make an arena of the city, vexing Our quiet streets with brawls; plundering and killing The peaceful citizens. Even the Colonna, Albeit Stephen be a thought more brave, THIRD CIT. Yet the yoke Must be endured. RIE. Must! Be ye men? PAO. Why, Cola, What should we do? RIE. Talk, talk, my masters! Speech Is your fit weapon. Talk! Women and slaves So drown the rattle of their chains. Talk! talk! And tell in gentle whispers, gazing round Lest other listeners than the storied walls Of these old temples hear ye, how on Monday A noble gallant, one of the Corsi, stole,— Seized is the courtlier phrase,-and wrung the neck Unmatched in Italy, the poor old man Weeps as it were his child; or how, on Tuesday, Right through a band of pious pilgrims, journeying Are lamed for life! Or how, on Wednesday- RIE. I can go through the week. PAO. But, for the pilgrims, Art sure of that foul sacrilege? RIE. As sure As that thou standest there; as that the Ursini Parade the city. [Distant shouts.] Hark! do ye not hear The shouting mob approach ?-Sure as that ye Who frown, and lift your eyes, and shake your heads, And look aghast at such foul sacrilege, Will join your voice to that base cry, and shout Ye are Italians; men of womanish soul, The tyrant of to-day. Go, swell his train. I'll to my porch again, and feed my spirit SECOND CIT. A brave man. THIRD CIT. Full surely, A dangerous. Hark! [Goes into the Temple. [PAOLO and Citizens retire to the background in front of the Temple. Enter Officer and six Halberdiers, who cross, and URSINI, FRANGIPANI, and two Lords, in conversation, followed by armed Attendants, and accompanied by a Crowd, who shout Live the Ursini, &c. URS. [To the Mob.] Thanks, gentle friends. [To the Lords.] Yes, I expect to-morrow A packet from Avignon; even Colonna Will bow to Clement's mandate. FRA. If he do not URS. Oh, never doubt! If he refuse, why, then- At the Alberteschi Palace. Follow fast. |