Montreal!--cross not my path!"

With this soliloquy Rienzi turned within, and, retiring to his
apartment, was seen no more that night.



Chapter 2.V. The Procession of the Barons.--The Beginning of the End.

It was the morning of the 19th of May, the air was brisk and clear,
and the sun, which had just risen, shone cheerily upon the glittering
casques and spears of a gallant procession of armed horsemen, sweeping
through the long and principal street of Rome. The neighing of the
horses, the ringing of the hoofs, the dazzle of the armour, and the
tossing to and fro of the standards, adorned with the proud insignia of
the Colonna, presented one of the gay and brilliant spectacles peculiar
to the middle ages.

At the head of the troop, on a stout palfrey, rode Stephen Colonna.
At his right was the Knight of Provence, curbing, with an easy hand,
a slight, but fiery steed of the Arab race: behind him followed two
squires, the one leading his war-horse, the other bearing his lance and
helmet. At the left of Stephen Colonna rode Adrian, grave and silent,
and replying only by monosyllables to the gay bavardage of the Knight
of Provence. A considerable number of the flower of the Roman nobles
followed the old Baron; and the train was closed by a serried troop of
foreign horsemen, completely armed.

There was no crowd in the street,--the citizens looked with seeming
apathy at the procession from their half-closed shops.