of poison given to him in prison. He grew quite unwieldy; his face was bloated and his eyes changed his colour, sometimes inflamed and blood shot; his beard was long and neglected; his whole air, in one word, was so inexpressibly barbarous and fierce, that it was impossible to look at him without horror. His debaucheries affected no less his mind than his body, which became inactive and incapable of application. His temper was exceedingly altered. Restlessness, inconstancy, caprice, were foibles that were born with him, but of which he had once made admirable advantage over a people equally as restless, inconstant, and capricious.

Such was the course of the second administration of that celebrated tribune, who flattered himself he should obtain universal monarchy. It must be confessed that, since his return, he had partly laid aside his chimeras; that he never rose up against the pope, his sovereign, as he had formerly done, and that he was in some things praiseworthy: but whether the black part of his character surpassed the white, whether the fickle humour of the Romans was at that time incapable of fixing a stability of government, or weather the former novelty, to which they had even been idolaters, had lost its charms by the hopes of another, it is certain that this second administration was much less fortunate to them and to Rienzi than the former, as will be seen after we have shown the secret and pressing motive that obliged him to lay aside his expedition against Palestrina, and suddenly return to Rome.

BOOK XIII.

THE chevalier Montreal, understanding that the senator, far from endeavouring to reimburse the sums which he had advanced for his restoration, had borrowed some thousand florins more of his brothers, repaired to Rome during the expedition against Palestrina. He went accompanied with a small retinue, to solicit the payment with great haughtiness; and not considering that he was in a city wherein he could not express himself with the same freedom as at the head of his army, he let drop complaints and threats against the senator, intimating that the hand which raised could as easily overturn and ruin. At the same time he had the indiscretion to say, in the presence of his domestics, that Rienzi was a traitor whom he could not move either by reason, persuasion, or promises; and that he would slay him with his own hand. The arrival and discontent of Montreal came to the ears of the senator, who, justly imagining that this chief of the robbers, after having raised contributions over Italy, was plotting against his authority and person, resolved to oppose him. He surprised Rome by his sudden return, but he kept it not long in suspense, and the treachery of a servant gave him room to publish the true motive of it. This woman; irritated at some ill usage she had received from her master Montreal, determined to revenge herself by the most cruel means. She went sécretly to the senator, and approaching him all in tears, she

pretended she knew not how to unfold too much or too little of an affair so delicate, as to affect equally the life of her master and that of the tribune; then, after a few artful fetches to excite the more his curiosity, she told him all she had heard the chevalier mention.

Rienzi, less astonished at the mystery she had unfolded, than rejoiced at having so fine an opportunity of destroying Montreal, upon whom he redoubled his vengeance, missed not his aim As he knew that warrior capable of undertaking the most desperate enterprises, and saw himself continually attended by his two brothers, he was apprehensive of being ruined by the very men who had raised him.The obligation he lay under to them for his new fortune, was to him a burden the more insupportable, as he found himself in no condition to repay the favour, or those sums he stood indebted for. He was in great want of money to pay his troops and establish his authority; the aid he found at first to restore him failed for want of security; he had to no purpose exhausted all his artifices, to engage the three brothers not only to be less pressing for their monies, but further to make new efforts to put him in a situation wherein he might show his ingratitude with the more grandeur and dignity; but covetousness had a greater ascendancy over Montreal than any other consideration. Rienzi resolved to seize upon Montreal, and ordered him instantly to be brought before him. The chevalier, who knew not that he was betrayed, and had perhaps forgot the expres sions which had slipped from him, presented himself without fear or suspicion. Rienzi caused him to be forthwith thrown into a dungeon and fettered. His two brothers were at the same time taken into custody, as accomplices in the pretended conspiracy, the news of which the senator took care should presently be published throughout the eity.

Montreal, less a politician than a soldier, could not conceive by what fatal snare he had thus imprudently thrown himself into the hands of a man, too much offended to believe him innocent, and too vindictive to forgive him he opened his eyes too late, and calling to mind all that an enraged woman had deposed against him, doubted not but he was entirely lost. He was ready to despair on reflecting

that selfishness and avarice had cost him his life; yet as he knew Rienzi selfish and avaricious as himself, he was in hopes he should find out means to appease him, and extricate himself out of the abyss he had unfortunately fallen into. He knew that the senator was in extreme want of money, and impatient to raise it at any interest whatever. Rienzi, indeed, although he was obliged to disband part of his forces, looked upon the expedition against Palestrina as laid aside only by the necessity of the times. Persuaded that he should never be secure as long as that place remained an asylum for the nobles and other male-contents, he was more determined than ever to risk all to destroy it. The difficulty was to find the money requisite, without laying new taxes upon the people, whose affections he was willing in these beginnings to obtain. On the other hand, the foreign troops murmured, and it was thought that, if he did not satisfy them, they would raise an insurrection, betray and deliver him up to the Colonnas, whose party greatly increased in the city. Montreal resolved to take advantage of the perplexing condition of the senator: he offered Rienzi, upon condition of setting him at liberty, to pay his forces, bring him fresh, and supply in general all his exigencies, leaving his two brothers in his hands as hostages.

The offer was not mean, and Montreal relied so much upon the success of his negociation, that he already comforted his two brothers, telling them he would not have them be uneasy at remaining hostages for him; that he should make but a short stay, and bring with him twenty thousand florins for their ransom; and that he should at length calm the madness of Rienzi, in giving him more men and money. than his heart could wish for. But the chevalier's brothers knew better the bottom of the senator; they could not per suade themselves that he would sacrifice his vengeance to his avarice. They nevertheless conjured Montreal to spare no pains to deliver them as soon as possible from one so cruel. The chevalier soon found himself mistaken, and that his brothers knew better the character of the man than he. The very night Montreal was apprehended, while he was sleeping soundly upon the security of his offers, and the sacrifice of his treasures, he was awakened in surprise

and dragged to the rack. As it was not customary to use men of fortune in that manner, the chevalier at the sight of the cords and the preparations for the torture, could not withhold his indignation: "Wretches," said he, flying at those who came to torture him, "from whence this insolence to insult a person of my rank?" Then giving them the strappado, and lifting himself from the ground: "Ah!" said he again," am I no longer general of a powerful army? Must I see myself in this condition, after raising contributions throughout Tuscany, and making all Italy tremble?" This was a crime sufficient to complete his ruin. Rienzi well knew that his proceeding, in regard to Montreal, could not be disapproved of by the sovereign pontiff. It is uncertain what confession the chevalier made upon the rack; he was, however, reconducted to prison, where, judging from the treatment he met with, there was little hope left of mercy, he desired a confessor, and spent the remainder of the night with a cordelier, that he might prepare himself to die like a Christian. He settled his affairs with great presence of mind, and, turning himself afterwards to his brothers, who melted into tears, Comfort yourselves," said he; "I die resigned and content, and the more so that I die alone; you will not accompany me: I understand both men and things well: I know it is my life, not yours the tyrant has in view; he will sacrifice me, and save you: happy is it for me, for the expiation of my offences, to die in the sacred place where the innocent blood of the blessed apostles St. Peter and St. Paul was spilt. It is you," continued he, addressing himself to Arimbald, "it is you have thrown me into this abyss of misery; but, far from reproaching you, I see you only to comfort you. I am a man as you are, and as such have been surprised, deceived and betrayed. Cease then your affliction, study only to learn mankind: your happiness depends upon your union: for bravery, honour and probity I leave you my example to follow. Show yourselves the worthy brothers of a man who had made Italy bend to him. I know my destiny, and as my intentions have been upright, I doubt not of mercy from the Almighty."

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In such terms of affection and heroism he discoursed