Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 4, 2025
"By the way," said Pandulfo, "I had almost forgot to tell thee, that the crowd would have poured themselves hither, so impatient were they to see thee; but I bade Cecco del Vecchio mount the rostrum, and tell them, in his blunt way, that it would be unseemly at the present time, when thou wert engaged in the Capitol on civil and holy affairs, to rush in so great a body into thy presence.
The cry of the mob surrounding his palace was not, "Perish him who executed Pandulfo," it was and this again and again must be carefully noted it was nothing more nor less than, "Perish him who has made the gabelle!" Gibbon sneers at the military skill and courage of Rienzi. For this sneer there is no cause.
On what pretence can I with honour raise the siege? To leave Palestrina, is to give a triumph to the Barons to abandon Adrian, to degrade my cause. Yet, while away from Rome, every hour breeds treason and danger. Pandulfo, Albornoz, Montreal all are at work against me. A keen and trusty spy, now; ha, well thought of Villani! What, ho Angelo Villani!" The young chamberlain appeared.
The only charges against him, as Senator, were the deaths of Montreal and Pandulfo di Guido, the imposition of the gabelle, and the renunciation of his former habits of rigid abstinence, for indulgence in wine and feasting. Of the first charges, the reader has already been enabled to form a judgment. To the last, alas! the reader must extend indulgence, and for it he may find excuse.
"A health to all, my friends;" continued Bruttini; "a health to the Barons, Rome's old friends; to Pandulfo di Guido, the Senator's new colleague, and to Fra Moreale, Rome's new Podesta." "The bell has ceased," said Vivaldi, putting down his goblet. "Heaven have mercy on the robber!" added Bruttini.
"Verily, yes," said Pandulfo; "a man at the head of a state should be temperate I never drink wine unmixed." "Ah," whispered Montreal, "if your calm good sense ruled Rome, then, indeed, the metropolis of Italy might taste of peace. Signor Vivaldi," and the host turned towards a wealthy draper, "these disturbances are bad for trade." "Very, very!" groaned the draper.
"Pandulfo," said he, in the same tone, "my heart misgives me the brood of serpents are in my hand I do not strangle them they may sting me to death, in return for my mercy it is their instinct!
Slowly and modestly, Pandulfo di Guido, a quiet, wealthy, and honest man of letters, whom nought save the violence of the times could have roused from his tranquil home, or his studious closet, passed to the chains.
It was but as yesterday that one of the Colonna, who was Senator, received a colleague in Bertoldo Orsini." "A most wise precaution," cried Vivaldi. "And where a colleague like Pandulfo di Guido?" "Viva Pandulfo di Guido!" cried the guests, and again their goblets were drained to the bottom. "And if fair words fail?" said Vivaldi. "Viva Fra Moreale!" cried Bruttini and Vivaldi, simultaneously.
The cardinal legate seated himself on the vacated throne, John knelt at his feet, laid down the crown, and spoke the words of allegiance as a vassal, offering money as the earnest of the tribute. Pandulfo indignantly trampled on the coin, in token that the Church scorned earthly riches; but earthly honors Rome did not scorn, and for five days the crown remained in the cardinal's keeping.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking