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 the insolence of the orator, and
the affront offered to themselves.

"Per fede!" quoth Reginaldo di Orsini, "this is past bearing,--the
plebeian has gone too far!"