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APPENDIX.

(A.)

LETTERS OF RIENZI.

TRIBUNUS SENATUI POPULOQUE ROMANO.

EXULTENT in circuitu vestro montes, induantur colles gaudio, et universe planities, atque vestra Romana civitas, et valles pacem germinent, ubertate fœcundentur, et eterna lætitia repleantur. Resurgat Romana civitas diuturne prostracionis a lapsu, solium solite majestatis ascendens, vestitus viduitatis deponat et lugubres, sponsalem induat purpuram, liberum diadema caput exornet, colla manilibus muniat, resumat justitie sceptrum, ac totis circumfulta, et renovata virtutibus, tanquam sponsa ornata, se placituram sponso suo exhibeat. Excitentur sacerdotes ejus, et proceres, seniores ejus, et juvenes matrone, pupilli simul et virgines, omnisque Romanus exercitus in voce salutis attonitus, flexis in terram genibus, fixis in cœlum oculis, palmis erectis ad sidera, lætissimis animis devotissimis mentibus, gratias Deo referrant, et gloriam resonant in excelsis. Ecce namque cœli aperti sunt, et Dei gloria, Dei patris orta lux Christi; Spiritus Sancti lumen effundens nobis inter tenebrosas habitantibus umbras mortis preparavit gratiam inopinate et admirabilis claritatis. Ecce quidem clementissimus Agnus Dei, peccata confundens, sanctissimus vir Romanus Pontifex, Pater Urbis, Sponsus et Dominus sue sponse clamoribus, querelis, et luctibus excitatus, compaciensque suis cladibus, calamitatibus, et ruinis, ad renovacionem ipsius urbis, gloriam plebisque, attonitus, mundi leticiam, et salutem, inspiracione sancti Spiritus, sinum clementie sue graciosus aperiens, misericordiam nobis propinavit, et gratiam,

ac universo mundo redempcionem promittit, et remissionem gentibus peccatorum. Etenim post honorabilem ambiaxate nostre supplicacionem non humano, verum divino consilio conformatam [perhabita deliberacione matura Dominorum Cardinalium, omniumque Romane curie prelatorum, diversis ac variis linguis in divinam consonantibus voluntatem Spiritus, sancti oracionibus, ac missis per universas Christianorum Ecclesias celebratis], die vigesima septima mensis hujusmodi in magna frequentia populi preclari Romani exercitus vocem gratie expectantis, solempnissime, immo angelico premisso sermone, in voce salutis, et leticie, decreto apostolico ad futurum quinquagesimum, et sic deinceps perpetuo, annum, promulgavit et edidit jubileum; nec non oblatum sibi urbis dominium grata voluntate suscipiens, visitacionem sedis apostolice post sedata Gallorum scandala, cum ineffabili novit affectu, sermone, vultu, manibus, toto decoro corpore totis signis exterioribus, ultra quam dici poterit, animosis. Cum itaque, fratres karrissimi, a domino factum sit istud mirabile quoddam in oculis intuencium non aliter nisi ut civitas vestra, Sponsa Romani Pontificis, expurgata viciorum vepribus, suasibus renovata virtutibus in odorem unguentorum suorum vernarum suscipiat sponsum suum. circo letis vos precamur in lacrimis ardentibus extorquamur exortam affectibus, quatenus, depositis ferreis armis, guerrarum flammis extinctis, mundificatis cordibus gratis desideriis, hæc grata, hæc divina munera, hæc dona cælestia capiatis, magnificantes in hymnis, psalmis jubilantes, et laudibus, nomen Domini nostri Jesu Christi, necnon clementissimo successori ejus Domino nostro summo Pontifici humiles gratias referentes, in cujus labiis gratia divina diffusa renovati estis, et benedicti eciam in eternum, insignem purpura, et auro ejus sculptam imaginem in Romano amphitheatro, seu capitolio statuentes, ut ipsius clementissimi Patris, patriæ, auctoris, et liberatoris urbis eterne, vivat in posteros leta et gloriosa memoria nullorum diuturnitate temporum peritura. Quis enim Scipio, quis Cæsar, quis Metellus, Marcellus, Fabius liberatores patrie veteribus rencensemus annalibus, et inextinguabili dignos memoria judicamus, quorum solempnes

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effigies in preciosis lapidibus sculptas pro virtutis memoria et splendore miramur, tanta tanquam gloria decorare patriam potuissent? Illi quidem armati in bellorum austeritatibus mundi calamitatibus, morte et sanguine civium perituras paruere victorias. Hic non rogatus cum omnium vita, leticia civium, et salute, immortales, ac eternos subjecit oculis posteritatis et nostris solo verbo triumphos. Nonne hic est qui spiritualibus telis armatus exurgens, adversus presentes, futurasque calamitates patrie, providum bellum gerens, omnem miseriam inopum, gentium pauperum, Ro- · mane reipublice debilitate, ac paratam desperate plebis mortem, uno sanctissimo ac triumphali verbo delevit? Venerandam itaque et colendam hujus Patris memoriam Romanum genus ceterorum memoriis antecellat, presentes predicent, et levata nacio future posteritatis expectet, honorificantes denique urbem ac vestram sanctissimam tantis muneribus dignam, tantis honoribus celitus validatam, per quam, fratres carissimi, nisi solutis viciorum calciamentis, et innocentibus, ac mundatis pedibus ambulare gentibus non liceret, quoniam locus in quo statis, et vivitis, terra verissime sancta est.

Annunciando denique vobis id gaudium, quod si Dominus noster summus Pontifex per hance celestem gratiam vos virtutes, et vicia expurgare, optata sibi fama dictante, perceperit, apertis tociens clemencie suæ alis ad visitacionem dilecte urbis sue, cum comitiva apostolorum, cicius, quam gentes crederent, transvolabit.

Nicolaus Laurencii, Romanus Consul, orphanorum, viduarum, et pauperium unicus popularis legatus ad Dominum nostrum Romanum Pontificem animo, manuque propriis.*

* This letter is marked, fol. 182, v. 183, of the Codex Taurinensis, and was published for the first time in the Historical Illustrations to the fourth canto of Childe Harold.

TRANSLATION.

The Tribune to the Senate and the Roman people.

Let the mountains around you exult! Let the hills, and the plains, and your city of Rome be covered with joy; and may the valleys shed peace, and be abundantly fruitful, and filled with everlasting gladness! May the Roman city, ascending the throne of her wonted majesty, rise for ever from the fall of her long prostration! Let her cast off the garment of widowhood and mourning, and put on the bridal purple! Let her head be adorned with the diadem of liberty, and her neck strengthened with collars! Let her resume the sceptre of justice, and, strong and regenerate in every virtue, like a fair-dressed bride, let her show herself to her bridegroom! May her priests and elders, her young and old matrons, her orphans and virgins, be raised, and with the whole Roman army, roused by the voice of salvation, on bended knees, with eyes fixed on heaven, and hands lifted to the stars, give thanks and sing glory to God in the highest with minds most cheerful and most devout. For behold the heavens are opened, and the glory of God, the light of God the Father of Christ has arisen; which, shedding upon us the rays of the Holy Spirit amidst the dark shadows of death, has prepared for us the grace of unexpected and wonderful brightness. Behold, indeed, the most merciful Lamb of God, confounding our sins, the most holy man, the Roman Pontiff, the Father of our city, the bridegroom and Lord, roused by the clamours and plaints and wailings of his bride, and compassionating her sufferings, disasters, and destructions, amazed at the regeneration of his city and exulation of the people, and at the gladness and salvation of the world, being also inspired by the Holy Spirit, and graciously opening the bosom of his clemency, has acquired for us grace and mercy, and promised redemption to the world, and forgiveness to sinners. For, after the honourable supplication of our Embassy, ordained, not by human but divine ccunsel

(inasmuch as it was sent after a mature deliberation of the Lords Cardinals, and of all the prelates of the Roman Senate, many and various tongues according with the divine will of the Holy Spirit, in discourses and masses celebrated in every Christian church), He (the Pope) did on the 27th day of this month, in a great assembly of the noble Roman people and army, then expecting the voice of grace, most solemnly, and in an oration truly angelical and full of salvation and gladness, proclaim and ordain a Jubilee by an Apostolic decree on the coming fiftieth year, and so on successively, assuming at the same time with gratitude the government of the city which was offered him, and accepting the visitation of the Apostolic Seat when the scandal of the French residence* shall have been put an end to: which offers he heard with an ineffable expression of speech, and countenance, and hands, and was in his decorous person, and indeed in all exterior appearances, animated beyond description.

Since, therefore, my dearest brethren, that miracle has been done in the presence of all of you, insomuch that your city, the bride of the Roman Pontiff, cleansed from the thorns of her vices, and regenerate in virtue, receives her bridegroom into the odours of her own vernal perfumes, we beseech you with ardent tears of joy to cast off your iron armour, to extinguish the flames of war, and with hearts cleansed of all your cherished desires, to accept these precious divine gifts, magnifying and extolling in hymns and psalms the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and offering our humble thanks to his successor our Lord the supreme Pontiff, by whom ye are regenerate and blessed for ever, through the divine grace poured forth from his lips: and do ye place his image, adorned with purple and gold, in the Amphitheatre, that the memory of the most merciful Father of his country, the founder and liberator of the Eternal City, may live renowned and survive all time. For what Scipio, what Cæsar, what Metellus, Marcellus, Fabius-names of ancient

* Avignon.

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