Pontiff--your allegiance to your Emperor--but be faithful to your
own liberties. Ye have a right to your ancient constitution; but that
constitution needed not a king. Emulous of the name of Brutus, I am
above the titles of a Tarquin! Romans, awake! awake! be inspired with
a nobler love of liberty than that which, if it dethrones the tyrant of
today, would madly risk the danger of tyranny for tomorrow! Rome wants
still a liberator--never an usurper!--Take away yon bauble!"

There was a pause; the crowd were deeply affected--but they uttered no
shouts; they looked anxiously for a reply from their councillors, or
popular leaders.

"Signor," said Pandulfo di Guido, who was one of the Caporioni, "your
answer is worthy of your fame. But, in order to enforce the law, Rome
must endow you with a legal title--if not that of King, deign to accept
that of Dictator or of Consul."

"Long live the Consul Rienzi!" cried several voices.

Rienzi waved his hand for silence.

"Pandulfo di Guido! and you, honoured Councillors of Rome! such title is
at once too august for my merits, and too inapplicable to my functions.
I am one of the people--the people are my charge; the nobles can protect
themselves. Dictator and Consul are the appellations of patricians.
No," he continued after a short pause, "if ye deem it necessary, for
the preservation of order, that your fellow-citizen should be intrusted
with a formal title and a recognised power, be it so: but let it be
such as may attest the nature of our new institutions, the wisdom of the
people, and the moderation of their leaders. Once, my countrymen, the