rule must be rigidly observed--stale not your presence by custom. Never
may men like me, who have no external rank, appear amongst the crowd,
save on those occasions when the mind is itself a rank."

"That is true, as you have no train," answered Raimond, thinking of his
own well-liveried menials. "Adieu, then! we shall meet soon."

"Ay, at Philippi, my Lord. Reverend Father, your blessing!"

It was some time subsequent to this conference that Rienzi quitted the
sacred edifice. As he stood on the steps of the church--now silent and
deserted--the hour that precedes the brief twilight of the South lent
its magic to the view. There he beheld the sweeping arches of the mighty
Aqueduct extending far along the scene, and backed by the distant and
purpled hills. Before--to the right--rose the gate which took its
Roman name from the Coelian Mount, at whose declivity it yet stands.
Beyond--from the height of the steps--he saw the villages scattered
through the grey Campagna, whitening in the sloped sun; and in the
furthest distance the mountain shadows began to darken over the roofs
of the ancient Tusculum, and the second Alban (The first Alba--the Alba
Longa--whose origin Fable ascribes to Ascanius, was destroyed by Tullus
Hostilius. The second Alba, or modern Albano, was erected on the plain
below the ancient town, a little before the time of Nero.) city, which
yet rises, in desolate neglect, above the vanished palaces of Pompey and
Domitian.

The Roman stood absorbed and motionless for some moments, gazing on the
scene, and inhaling the sweet balm of the mellow air. It was the soft
springtime--the season of flowers, and green leaves, and whispering
winds--the pastoral May of Italia's poets: but hushed was the voice of