Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 156 of 660 (23%)
page 156 of 660 (23%)
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of the Savelli to the inferior grade of a Raselli. The space beyond the
amphitheatre was filled with the people, who now poured fast in, stream after stream: all the while rang, clear and loud, the great bell of the church. At length, as Adrian and Montreal seated themselves at a little distance from Raimond, the bell suddenly ceased--the murmurs of the people were stilled--the purple curtain was withdrawn, and Rienzi came forth with slow and majestic steps. He came--but not in his usual sombre and plain attire. Over his broad breast he wore a vest of dazzling whiteness--a long robe, in the ample fashion of the toga, descended to his feet and swept the floor. On his head he wore a fold of white cloth, in the centre of which shone a golden crown. But the crown was divided, or cloven, as it were, by the mystic ornament of a silver sword, which, attracting the universal attention, testified at once that this strange garb was worn, not from the vanity of display, but for the sake of presenting to the concourse--in the person of the citizen--a type and emblem of that state of the city on which he was about to descant. "Faith," whispered one of the old nobles to his neighbour, "the plebeian assumes it bravely." "It will be rare sport," said a second. "I trust the good man will put some jests in his discourse." "What showman's tricks are these?" said a third. "He is certainly crazed!" said a fourth. "How handsome he is!" said the women, mixed with the populace. |
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