That, to the city and the plain-to earth, Hark! that great voice Hath broke our bondage. Look, without a stroke The famous strength of Rome; then to sweep on, Oh! glorious wreck RIENZI pauses. Of gods and Cæsars! thou shalt reign again, Citizens. Live Rienzi-live our Tribune! RIENZI. MISS MITFOrd. Second Selection. Enter COLONNA, URSINI, FRANGIPANI, SAVELLI, CASTELLO, ETC. Col. Gibbet and cord! a base plebeian death! And he the head of the great Roman name, That rivalled the Colonna! Ursini, Thy brother shall not die. The grief is thine, Urs. If ye resist ye share his doom, Plead! plead ! Dissemble with the tyrant,-stifle hate, And master scorn, as I have done. Plead for him. To Cola-most familiar of the drones That thronged my hall of afternoons, content Urs. Fear not, but revenge will come We being friends, from whose dissension sprang Lord Angelo Enter ANGELO COLONNA. Thou wilt not fail us. Ang. Surely, no! 'tis stern, [Goes up to URSINI. Revengeful, cruel, pitiless! The people To soothe the fickle people—yet he's wiser: He'll be persuaded. Fra. He approaches. Rie. Why, this Enter RIENZI attended. Is well, my lords, this full assemblage. Now Angelo Colonna, A double welcome! Rome lacked half her state Rie. When last his name was on my lips-Well, sir, Ang. Yet, mercy— Rie. Angelo, Waste not thy pleadings on a desperate cause And a resolved spirit. She awaits thee. Haste to that fairer court. My Lord Colonna, This is a needful justice. Col. Noble Tribune, It is a crime which custom Rie. Ay, the law [Exit A. COLONNA. Of the strong against the weak-your law, the law Sav. He is noble. Rie. Therefore, A thousand times he dies. Ye are noble, sirs, And need a warning. Col. Sick, almost to death. Rie. Ye have less cause to grieve. Cas. Remember, Tribune, He hath two uncles, cardinals. Wouldst outrage Rie. The lord cardinals, Meek, pious, lowly men, and loving virtue, Col. An Ursini! Head of the Ursini! Urs. Mine own brother! Rie. And darest talk thou to me of brothers? Thou, Whose groom-wouldst have me break my own just laws, To save thy brother? Thine! Hast thou forgotten When that most beautiful and blameless boy, Had open trial, is guilty, is condemned, And he shall die! If Col. Yet listen to us Rie. Lords, ye could To beg her husband's life; condemned to die And those poor innocent babes between the stones Sav. Yet he is noble! Let him not die a felon's death. Rie. Again, Ye weary me. No more of this. Colonna, Thy son loves my fair daughter. 'Tis a union, 66 I bid ye to the bridal feast. A fair good morrow! And now MISS MITFORD. RICHARD II. Enter KING RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, and attendants. K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, Brought hither Henry Hereford, thy bold son; K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument, On some apparent danger seen in him, Aimed at your highness-no inveterate malice. K. Rich. Then call them to our presence face to face, And frowning, brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak [Exeunt some Attendants. High stomached are they both, and full of ire, In rage, deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. Re-enter Attendants with BOLINGBROKE and NORFOLK. Boling. May many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! Nor. Each day still better other's happiness; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown ! K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come ; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason. Boling. First (Heaven be the record to my speech!) Tendering the precious safety of my prince, What my tongue speaks, my right drawn sword may prove. zeal : |