Rienzi

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Scene IV.?The Senate House on the Capitol. Nobles and Councillors. Frangipani, Bishop Raymond, Fortifiocca, Nicola Orsini, Caffarelli, Savelli, Guiseppe Orsini, Malatesta. Officers and others in groups conversing. Nicola. Know'st thou the matter, Count Frangi- pani, That doth demand our presence here to-day ? Frang. Unless to satisfy the Senate, Count, That in the deluge which hath well-nigh swept Into the Tiber our Rome's Seven Hills No noble Councillor hath been drown'd ! I Know not special reason that we lay Our wise heads collectively together. Ray. 'Tis of good omen, Lords, that on this hill Our ark the Roman Senate rests again. And I would that the olive-branch of peace Some dove had brought! Nic. Peace ! Reverend Legate ! Peace ! Were the world as full of doves as 'tis Of serpents, they would fall foul of cooing. The Millennium's yet to come ! [Trumpets sound. The Bishop, Nobles, and others fall back. Enter Stephen Colonna, Giovanni and Pietro Colonna, attended by Guards and Servants. Ste. Greeting To ye all. Thy blessing, holy Legate. [The Bishop gives his benediction. Count Frangipani, how doth your lordship ? Count Orsini, welcome. Malatesta, 'Tis long since I have grasp'd your hand. Thou too, Caffarelli! (They shake hands.) Be ye seated, Nobles. [All take their seats. I have thought meet, excellent Councillors, That ye should know (though doubtless much ere this Hath reach'd your ears) how slight hath been th' issue Of our last attempt to win back to Rome, Widowed so long, the Holy Father. The reasons, such as they be, that do force His Holiness still to deny himself, Are at length set forth on ample parchments, Where, in a haze of courteous words, needs Not spy-glasses to discern unswerving Purpose still to rule Rome f...