filled--gave
additional effect to the words it had uttered. The whole character of
that bold address became invested with a something preternatural and
inspired; to the minds of the vulgar, the mortal was converted into the
oracle; and, marvelling at the unhesitating courage with which their
idol had rebuked and conjured the haughty barons,--each of whom they
regarded in the light of sanctioned executioners, whose anger could be
made manifest at once by the gibbet or the axe,--the people could not
but superstitiously imagine that nothing less than authority from above
could have gifted their leader with such hardihood, and preserved him
from the danger it incurred. In fact, it was in this very courage of
Rienzi that his safety consisted; he was placed in those circumstances
where audacity is prudence. Had he been less bold, the nobles would have
been more severe; but so great a license of speech in an officer of the
Holy See, they naturally imagined, was not unauthorised by the assent of
the Pope, as well as by the approbation of the people. Those who did not
(like Stephen Colonna) despise words as wind, shrank back from the task
of punishing one whose voice might be the mere echo of the wishes of the
pontiff. The dissensions of the nobles among each other, were no less
favourable to Rienzi. He attacked a body, the members of which had no
union.

"It is not my duty to slay him!" said one.

"I am not the representative of the barons!" said another.

"If Stephen Colonna heeds him not, it would be absurd, as well as
dangerous, in a meaner man to make himself the champion of the order!"
said a third.

The Colonna smiled approval, when Rienzi denounced an Orsini--an Orsini
laughed aloud, when the eloquence burst over a Colonna. The lesser
nobles were well pleased to hear attacks upon both: while, on the other
hand, the Bishop, by the long impunity of Rienzi, had taken courage
to sanction the conduct of his fellow-officer. He affected, indeed, at
times, to blame the excess of his fervour, but it was always accompanied
by the praises of his honesty; and the approbation of the Pope's Vicar
confirmed the impression of the nobles as to the approbation of the
Pope. Thus, from the very rashness of his enthusiasm had grown his
security and success.

Still, however, when the barons had a little recovered from the stupor
into which Rienzi had cast them, they looked round to each other; and
their looks confessed their sense of th