University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

A Herald enters. Psein goes.
Acciajoli.
Whence come you, sir?

Herald.
From Gaeta.

Acciajoli.
What duty?

Herald.
To see the queen.

Acciajoli.
The queen you can not see:
Her consort died too lately.

Herald.
Therefore I
Must see the queen.

Acciajoli.
If you bring aught that throws
Light upon that dark treason, speak at once.

Herald.
The light must fall from Rome. Cola Rienzi,
Tribune of Rome, and arbiter of justice
To Europe, tarrying on the extremest verge
Of our dominions, to inspect the castles,
Heard the report, brought with velocity
Incredible, which man gave man along
The land, and ship gave ship along the coast.

Acciajoli.
Then 'twas prepared: and those who spread the news
Perpetrated the deed.

Herald.
Such promptitude.
Could not escape the Tribune. He demands
The presence of Giovanna queen of Naples,
To plead her cause before him.

Acciajoli.
Is Rienzi
A king? above a king?

Herald.
Knowest thou not
Rienzi is the tribune of the people?

Acciajoli.
Sir! we have yet to learn by what authority
He regulates the destiny of princes.

Herald.
The wisest men have greatly more to learn
Than ever they have learnt: there will be children
Who in their childhood shall know more than we do.
Lord Seneschal! I am but citizen
In my own city, nor among the first,
But I am herald here, and, being herald,
Let no man dare to question me. The king
Of Hungary is cited to appear,
Since in his name are accusations made
By some at Naples, which your queen must answer.

Acciajoli.
Her dignity and wisdom will decide,
I am well pleas'd that those around the castle
Threw no obstruction in your way.

Herald.
The soldiers
Resisted my approach; but instantly
Two holy friars spread out their arms in front,
And they disparted like the Red-sea waves,
And grounded arms before me.

Acciajoli.
Then no hindrance
To our most gracious queen, should she comply?

Herald.
None; for Rienzi's name is spell against it.

Giovanni
(enters).
O! is there one to hear me patiently?
Let me fly to him!

Acciajoli.
Hath our sovran heard
The order of Rienzi?

Giovanna.
Call it not
An order, lest my people be incenst.

Herald.
Lady! if plainly hath been understood
The subject of my mission, the few words
Containing it may be unread by me.
Therefore I place them duly in the hands
Of the Lord Seneschal. With brief delay
Your presence were desirable.

Giovanna.
What time
Return you, sir?

Herald.
This evening.

Giovanna.
And by sea?

Herald.
In the same bark which brought me.

Giovanna.
If some ship
More spacious be now lying at the mole,
I will embark in that; if not, in yours,
And we will sail together. You have power
Which I have not in Naples; and the troops,
And those who seem to guide them, hear your words.

Herald.
Lady! not mine; but there are some they hear.

Giovanna.
Entreat them to let pass the wretched ones
Who fancied I could succour them within,
Whom famine must soon seize. Until they pass
I can not. Dear is fame to me; but far
Be Fame that stalks to us o'er hurried graves.
Lord Seneschal! see Rome's ambassador
Be duly honoured: then, whatever else
Is needful for departure, be prepared.