"O Romans!" resumed Rienzi, passionately--"awake! I conjure you! Let
this memorial of your former power--your ancient liberties--sink deep
into your souls. In a propitious hour, if ye seize it,--in an evil one,
if ye suffer the golden opportunity to escape,--has this record of the
past been unfolded to your eyes. Recollect that the Jubilee approaches."

The Bishop of Orvietto smiled, and bowed approvingly; the people, the
citizens, the inferior nobles, noted well those signs of encouragement;
and, to their minds, the Pope himself, in the person of his Vicar,
looked benignly on the daring of Rienzi.

"The Jubilee approaches,--the eyes of all Christendom will be directed
hither. Here, where, from all quarters of the globe, men come for peace,
shall they find discord?--seeking absolution, shall they perceive
but crime? In the centre of God's dominion, shall they weep at your
weakness?--in the seat of the martyred saints, shall they shudder at
your vices?--in the fountain and source of Christ's law, shall they
find all law unknown? You were the glory of the world--will you be its
by-word? You were its example--will you be its warning? Rise, while it
is yet time!--clear your roads from the bandits that infest them!--your
walls from the hirelings that they harbour! Banish these civil discords,
or the men--how proud, how great, soever--who maintain them! Pluck
the scales from the hand of Fraud!--the sword from the hand of
Violence!--the balance and the sword are the ancient attributes of
Justice!--restore them to her again! This be your high task,--these be
your great ends! Deem any man who opposes them a traitor to his country.
Gain a victory greater than those of the Caesars--a victory over
yourselves! Let the pilgrims of the world behold the resurrection of
Rome! Make one epoch of the Jubilee of Religion and the Restoration of
Law! Lay the sacrifice of your vanquished passions--the first-fruits of