Cola di Rienzi

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Note from MECW :

This draft of the young Engels’ verse drama Cola di Rienzi only became known after Volume 2, containing his early works, letters and literary experiments, had already gone to press. This draft is therefore being published in the present volume as a supplement, although chronologically it belongs to Volume 2.

The draft manuscript was discovered among the posthumous papers of the German poet Adolf Schults, a native of Elberfeld, by Michael Knieriem, director of Frederick Engels House in Wuppertal. Schults belonged to a group of Wuppertal writers and art-lovers which included many of Engels’ fellow pupils from the Elberfeld high school who kept in touch with him during his residence (from July 1838 to March 1841) ;n Bremen, where he was gaining practical experience with a commercial firm and was also engaged in literary activities. Knieriem arranged the first publication of this drama in co-operation with Hans Pelger, director of Karl Marx House in Trier (see Michael Knieriem, Friedrich Engels: Cola di Rienzi. Ein unbehannter dramatischer Entwurf. Herausgegeben vom Friedrich-Engels-Haus, Wuppertal, und Karl-Marx-Haus, Trier, Trier, 1974). The draft was evidently intended for an opera libretto, as may be gathered from a letter of September 30, 1840, sent by Engels’ schoolfriend Carl de Haas to Schults and other Elberfeld writers in which there is a reference to Engels’ intention of writing the text of an opera at the request of one of his Elberfeld friends. This is also borne out by the style of the work, parts of which are specially adapted for performance (ducts, trios, and settings for chorus), and in which provision is made for the insertion of musical episodes. The draft was in all probability written between the end of 1840 and the beginning of 1841, since one page of the manuscript bears a short passage in Hebrew from the Old Testament which was also quoted in a letter of February 22, 184 1, from Engels to Friedrich Graeber (see MECW, Vol. 2, p. 526).

Engels took the plot for his drama from events in Rome in the middle of the 14th century — the struggle which developed between the feudal aristocracy on the one hand and the merchant and artisan population on the other. In May 1347, as a result of a popular uprising, a republic was proclaimed in Rome with “people’s tribune” Cola di Rienzi at its head. With Rienzi, firm measures against the nobility and a desire to affirm the principle of popular sovereignty and achieve the unification of Italy were combined with fantastic notions about the restoration of ancient Rome’s grandeur and world domination. Banished from Rome at the end of 1347 as a result of intrigues by the feudal magnates, Rienzi was reinstated in August 1354 with the aid of mercenary troops commanded by foreign condottieri. The people rose against Rienzi, however, resenting his despotic behaviour, his ambitiousness, and the increased tax burden, a measure which was forced on him by the costs of paying the mercenaries and conducting the war with the aristocrats. On October 8, 1354, an insurrection flared up against him and he was killed. The action in Engels’ drama deals with the second period of Rienzi’s rule.

The manuscript is a rough draft. In several places, there are author’s corrections, erasures and additions in the margin. On one page, the initials “F. E.” and Engels’ signature are to be seen in the margin. Some drawings made by the author on several pages refer to the plot of the drama, while others are unconnected with it (there are also some cartoons). The last pages contain a variant of the beginning of Act One, Scene One (in the present edition, this has been printed after the corresponding first version and has been separated from it, as from the continuation, by a horizontal line).

ACT ONE

Scene One

The Forum in Rome, with the Capitol in the background. Enter Colonna with other Patricians, and, soon after, the people, led by Battista.

PATRICIANS

Away, Colonna, the people crowd us. Come, flee from the wrath of the howling mob!

COLONNA

Flee? A Colonrta flee the dregs

Of the people whose necks he so often trod And trampled on?

Flee, cowardlings, flee! I’ll brave their fury!

PATRICIANS

See you them surging along the street? Can you not hear them raging? Come! The people, with Battista at their head, crowd onto the stage.

BATTISTA

How are you, fine sirs, today? Must you make such haste to go? Surely you’d be glad to stay?

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Can you let them mock you so?

BATTISTA

See their faces, how they plead! Stay with us, we humbly pray!

COLONNA AND PATRICIANS

Hence, you insolent ones, away!

BATTISTA

Just to serve you is our need!

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Draw, Patricians!

BATTISTA

We would treat you as our parents, We would never mutiny, We would never speak too free, Leave our families in your care. All our goods you need not spare; You may torture, thrash or flail us, Crush, bait, shackle us and gaol us, For our sins you may impale us, All we ask you is, please stay!

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Well, my lords, what do you say?

PATRICIANS

Hence, you insolent ones, away!

COLONNA

Hence, you insolent, filthy rabble! Know you not this voice’s thunder That has rent you oft asunder? Know you not how this foot treads When it walks upon your heads? Know you not your lord and master?

Scene One revised

Colonna, Orsini, Orlando Orsini. The people in the background. Enter Patricians; they remain standing on one side.

ORSINI

Come, Colonna, let us hurry, For the mob approaches, see!

COLONNA

I shall stand and face their fury. Never was I known to flee!

ORSINI

Yield, just once, or we’ll pay dear. We were mad to tarry longer.

ORLANDO

We must go, or else I fear We shall not escape their anger.

COLONNA

No! I’ll walk, though I die here, Through their midst, defying danger!

BATTISTA

(He comes out from among the people. The people draw nearer.) How are you, fine sirs, today? Must you make such haste to go? Surely you’d be glad to stay?

ORSINI

Can you let them mock you so?

BATTISTA

See their faces, how they plead. Stay with us, we humbly pray!

COLONNA, ORSINI, ORLANDO

Hence, you insolent ones, away!

BATTISTA

Just to serve you is our need!

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Draw, Patricians!

BATTISTA

We would treat you as our parents, We would never mutiny,

Never speak too evilly,

Leave our families in your care. All our goods you need not spare; You may torture, thrash or flail us, Crush, bait, shackle us and gaol us, For our sins you may impale us, All we ask you is, please stay!

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Well, my lords, what do you say?

COLONNA, ORSINI, ORLANDO

Hence, you insolent ones, away!

COLONNA

Hence, you insolent, filthy rabble! Know you not this voice’s thunder That has rent you oft asunder? Know you not how this foot treads When it walks upon your heads? Know you not your lord and master?

PEOPLE

Down with you!

COLONNA (to the Patricians)

Draw your swords! Our lives are at stake! Cola di Rienzi

PEOPLE

Down with you! We are free!

BATTISTA

Do stay with us, we beg you!

PATRICIANS

Away! Just let us flee their rage Until revenge’s hour shall strike!

COLONNA

Let us give in for now.

Rave, you rabble, rave on!

One day we shall return,

Then tremble before our wrath!

PEOPLE

Down with you! (Exeunt Colonna and Patricians. The people gradually divide into two choruses, the first of which is bigger than the second.)

BATTISTA

See, they quail, those noble lords, Cowering back with unsheathed swords, Count and Baron, Marquis and Prince, Needs must hastily hie them hence! But what use, if ten small devils Leave us, and the worst of evils— Yes, the Prince of Hell, none other— Comes and takes the whole place over? Granted those ones are a curse, Still the Tribune plagues us worse!

FIRST CHORUS

Hail to the Tribune, the people’s liberator! Who dares to revile him?

SECOND CHORUS

Down with him!

BATTISTA

He is as evil and as good

As yonder lords of noble blood.

He ever speaks words passing fair, Yet to the people shuts his ear. Tyrants out, a despot in—

‘Twill end as it did first begin.

FIRST CHORUS

Silence, slanderer!

SECOND CHORUS

No, say on!

BATTISTA

He is as evil and as good As yonder lords of noble blood.

FIRST CHORUS

Traitor! Defame not the liberator! Hail to the Tribune! Hail to Rienzi! Traitor! Away with you! Beat him, beat him!

SECOND CHORUS

Down with him, the tyrant! Curse Rienzi! Death to the Tribune! We will protect you!

BATTISTA

To you he speaks, etc.

Tyrants out, etc.

(Confusion. The music of a triumphal procession is heard in the distance. Cannon-fire. All are startled.)

BOTH CHORUSES

He comes! Let us meet him!

FIRST CHORUS

Hail to the liberator. Cola di Rienzi

SECOND CHORUS

He’ll fall to our revenge

Soon, as did those others,

However firm he stands.

BOTH CHORUSES

To meet him!

(Exeunt omnes.)

Scene Two

Colonna’s palace, Camilla’s chamber.

CAMILLA

Why that turmoil? What’s the meaning Of that roaring mob out there;

All that raving, running, screaming, Bloody flags waved in the air?

And I hear a wild throng gathered At the palace steps: they’re crying Out the name of my own father, Threatening and vilifying.

Will you escape, father, safe and sound From the crazed people that riot and swarm? Will Holy Mary, Protectress, look down Like a good star and preserve you from harm? Fear is upon me, black and ineffable, Father, all for your sake!

Spare me this suffering, dreadful, unbearable, Father, oh please come back!

All the servants, in their terror, Leaving me, have run away,

And I stand here white with horror In the palace on my own.

But—Oh God! for here comes Walter— Heart, O heart, be still, I pray! — Now he sees me quail and falter, Through the gates he runs alone!

Enter Montreal.

CAMILLA

By all the Saints in Heaven, Montreal, you dare—

MONTREAL (going down on his knees)

O Camilla! My Camilla!

CAMILLA

You dare set foot inside this house Denied to you forever by my father? Let him but meet you here, and from his sword Your life’s in danger!

MONTREAL

Sweet lady, do you mind no more The love that bound us lastingly, The vows that by the stars we swore, The tears you used to shed for me?

CAMILLA

Leave me! O Saints, my poor heart Is bursting in my breast!

MONTREAL

Beloved, see the hectic fever That drives the blood into my face. Am I now strange to you forever Who on your breast once found my peace?

CAMILLA

I must not look you in the eye, Being beholden to forswear you. My wretched heart will break, but I, Alas, I must not dare come near you.

MONTREAL

O see me begging at your feet,

My only dearest love are you!

But lock your heart against me, sweet, And Heaven locks its portals too!

CAMILLA

My breast is heaving up and down, From him I cannot stay apart. Once more in true love’s toils I’m bound. Walter—forever yours my heart!

BOTH

O true love’s blessed victory!

No matter what else may conspire Against us, what can mar our sky When each belongs to each entire? Though we be shunned the whole world over, Our bond disparaged as a bane,

If we do not desert each other, Indeed our star can never wane!

CAMILLA

But tell me, Walter, what arouses The mob on the streets to such violent rage? And, above all, my father, my father— Where is he?

MONTREAL

Fear not! Your father is in safety, Debating flight with the city nobles In the Orsinis’ palace.

The Tribune approached; rejoicing, the people All went to meet him. Like lightning he moved, And, ere the nobles could guess what was happening, He stood at the gates of the city. Your father will soon be here with his trusted friends, To lead you from here to a place of safety. But look! his suite comes over there, With trumpets sounding, banners waving! Yes, I can see his silver hair!

He comes, and so I must be leaving.

CAMILLA

My Walter, go away from me, But for my love you need not fear. 1 shall yearn for you constantly, My heart shall ever hold you dear!

WALTER

My joy—until we meet again! The Saints be with you—I will come Back to you, love, a nobler man, To carry you, my Princess, home! Great things to do some day I mean. My life on it: the time will come, I’ll raise you to the throne as queen And you shall reign with me in Rome.

CAMILLA

My loving heart content would be If I were simply your poor wife. It were the height of bliss for me To serve you, body and soul, for life!

BOTH

O true love’s blessed victory! etc.

Scene Three

The people swarm onto the stage and range themselves in the background, while Battista [stands] in front with the chorus of malcontents. Triumphal procession.

CHORUS OF PEOPLE

Hail to the Tribune, the people’s liberator! Hail to Rienzi, Father of the Fatherland! The procession grows.

BATTISTA

With mercenaries he moves in,

The people’s freedom claims to win! He’s scared of his own countrymen. This joke will soon come to an end!

Chorus as above. BATTISTA

They fill the air with joyful cries. Suffering soon will make them wise! Cola di Rienzi

CHORUS OF MALCONTENTS

Down with the foreign mercenaries! Down with the Tribune! Curse you, the people’s oppressor, Curse you, desecrator of holy places! Away with the foreigners, away!

CHORUS OF PEOPLE

Hail to the Tribune on high! Long live the Father of the Fatherland!

BATTISTA

See, he looks arrogant enough,

Now that his clever trick’s come off. See how defiant he goes there,

Now that he’s caught us in his snare. He will not long remain so proud When common sense dawns on the crowd. Chorus of people as above.

RIENZI (on the rostrum)

So stand I once again amongst you, 0 noble Romans! Again I see

All Rome’s holy places—the Capitol, The eternal Forum! You are welcoming me, And so my gratitude shall not be wanting. 1 swear before God’s countenance To consecrate my whole life to your freedom, That Ancient Rome shall rise again As great and free as ever from her ruins! I shall not rest, nor tarry,

Till Rome in all her ancient splendour, And in her ancient majesty,

Shines before all the peoples of this Earth! Even as the phoenix, prouder, more magnificent, Soars up aloft from its own funeral pyre, So may the bygone age of world conquest Return once more, new and imperishable!

CHORUS OF PEOPLE (as above)

Curtain

ACT TWO

Scene One

Palestrina. A chamber in Colonna’s house. At the beginning, shots are heard from time to time.

Colonna, Camilla.

CAMILLA

Father, for Jesus’ sake, what is afoot? With anxious faces your friends are leaving, Deserting you; the besiegers’ cannon Are thundering closer and fiercer than ever— Are we then lost, my father, oh tell me!

COLONNA

Camilla, be calm and listen.

The ambitious Orsini wanted

No more to obey me, the chosen leader, But stand beside me, give orders like me! I stuck to my rights;

The rift between us was irremediably wide. His son stepped forward. Fathers, said he, Be not divided in danger’s hour, When unity is our foremost need.

I want to reunite you!

Give me, Colonna, your daughter in marriage. Long have I loved her, the fair Camilla. If, through your children, you are united By holy bonds,

Strife no longer shall split you asunder Over the power in the land.

Then his father spoke up as follows: So be it! But if you refuse, Colonna, Tomorrow I shall withdraw my troops And come to terms with the Tribune. Then try and hold the fortress alone! Those were his words. And so, my daughter, Even before the sun goes down You’ll go—as I told him — to young Orsini And join him in wedlock. So make you ready.

Cola di Rienzi

CAMILLA

Oh God, what shall I do?

COLONNA

You seem unwilling to give in. I’d long intended that you should win A better thing on your brow to set Than Count Orsini’s coronet. Whoever might your hand in marriage merit At least a princedom should inherit— Or so I thought. Things worked out differently. What choice have we?

CAMILLA

So it is settled, then:

I’ll be the sacrifice.

For peace between you men,

My own peace I must lose.

Am I so much alone

That he I most despise

Must be my husband—one

I would not freely choose?

Father, I beg you, spare me your fury!

Just for you, I

Would gladly die,

But Count Orsini I never shall marry!

COLONNA

What evil spirit has made you so wild?

You even choose

My wish to refuse?

I, I command you, iniquitous child!

CAMILLA

Command of me whatever you will, But the vow that I swore

To the man I adore,

I honour it still!

COLONNA

To Montreal I’m to give you away? I thought the hope of his winning your hand

Had long, long since been gone from your mind. A fine son-in-law for me, I must say! Since when have plunderers, Robbers and murderers

Won the Colonnas’ womenfolk, pray?

CAMILLA

Ere I should prove

False to my vow,

Let the Earth now

Swallow me up, or the blackness of night.

Walter, our love

Nothing can blight,

True ones in woe

Live to the day when their darkness turns bright!

COLONNA

Can you not see the threat that surrounds us?

Iron balls

Pound down the walls,

The enemy stranglehold tightens around us. Think of what’s going to happen to you At the dread hour

When turret and tower

Fall, and foeman comes swarming through. Who will protect you and save you from force When the wild soldiers clutch you with their claws?

CAMILLA

My Walter will shield me, he surely will come! If he comes not, a dagger will save me From shame!

COLONNA

Did not this Montreal of yours First put us in this sorry plight, Sending the Tribune his own force To harass us by day and night?

Yet this same Montreal

You’d choose before them all?

CAMILLA

I shall stay true to him forever!

COLONNA

Will you not think and have some sense?

CAMILLA

What I’ve said I won’t gainsay.

COLONNA

Intractable one, then get you hence, I’ll tame this obduracy!

CAMILLA

What I’ve sworn I should forswear?

COLONNA

Yes. Before this day is through—

CAMILLA

Empty then my promise were!

COLONNA

I will see you change your view.

CAMILLA

These my passions—

COLONNA

I’ll suppress!

CAMILLA

This my love—

COLONNA

cannot survive.

CAMILLA

Such devotion to repress—

COLONNA

that will be child’s play to me!

CAMILLA

I shall not betray him, never!

COLONNA, CAMILLA

{	Ha,	it may cost	{	you your	life.
	Yes,			me my

CAMILLA

I’ll be true to him forever. His I am and e’er shall be!

CAMILLA, COLONNA

All upon it I would stake,

Though it may cost	{	you your	life.
		me mine

{	This your vow you must forsake
	This my vow I’ll not forsake

And obey	{	me	constantly!
		him

A SERVANT (entering)

My Lord, a stranger waits outside. He has important news to bring you, But only to you he’ll give his name.

COLONNA

Let him come in! (Exit servant. Enter Montreal in cloak and hat. He doffs his and flings back his cloak.)

CAMILLA

Oh Heavens! Walter!

COLONNA

Montreal! You dare to enter my house, You, whose soldiers besiege us now, You, that have taken the enemy’s side, You, that have stolen my daughter’s heart From me? What is your purpose here?

MONTREAL

Softly, dear sir, and listen to me! Do you remember, you turned me away When I was seeking Camilla’s hand? Now I revenge myself, as befits a knight. My soldiers have you completely surrounded, Their guns rock Palestrina’s towers. A sign from me, and the whole wild horde streams in, And then you are lost. For who will save you? Well, I will save you, if you so wish! Palestrina need not fall, and I shall lead you In pomp and ceremony back to Rome!

COLONNA

So you would treacherously leave the Tribune? That is hardly a knightly deed— I’ll have no part in it at all.

MONTREAL

What treachery’s here? My brothers, not I, Sent the troops to join the Tribune. I never sanctioned the deed at all. Who’s to prevent me withdrawing my soldiers? That I’ll do. This only I ask: Give me what I could anyway win for myself!

COLONNA

What do you want of me?

MONTREAL

In Romagna, in the March of Ancona Are thousands obedient to my word. I have no land, and yet I am

The most powerful man in Italy.

I come to you, and I demand:

Agree to let me assume the title Of Roman Podestà and take your daughter As wife beside me on the Throne! (Colonna paces up and down in thought.)

CAMILLA

Did I not say he’d rescue us, Hearing that I was in distress? Did I not know he’d think of me In times of danger or of stress?

MONTREAL

How could I ever desert my beloved Or my beloved’s father in need?

COLONNA

So be it! I’ll sacrifice Qrsini. He always envied me, being vain. He and his house may fall, but I shall rise My son, here is my daughterl She’s yours! Be Podestà of Rome with her beside you! Camilla, past returning

Are hate and enmity.

I have appeased your yearning, Look up, look up at me!

CAMILLA

Flowers of love’s joy so tender From harsh adversity Have blossomed in their splendour— O wondrous Destiny!

MONTREAL

And now what do we care

That once we burned so long, Wrestling with despair,

And grief, and pain, and wrong!

CAMILLA

O day of joy for lovers!

MONTREAL

O gift of love so true!

CAMILLA

O bliss when suffering’s over!

COLONNA

Now take you each the other,

May life be good to you!

Cola di Rienzi

ALL THREE

We’ll go unhesitating

To meet our destiny,

The Future contemplating

Serene, and gay, and free,

Through harsh pain sanctified, After long strife together—

Love’s flames thus purified

Shall burn and burn forever!

Scene Two

A room in Rienzi’s home.

RIENZI (paper in hand)

Curse the traitorsl For turning the people Away from me, for reviling me.

As if I’d fatten myself on the poor! Curse them! If only the people stay loyal, The future shall see me gloriously vindicated. My people all, for whom I’ve gladly Been cursed, reviled, imprisoned, banned, For whom I’ve braved the Tyrants, loudly Crying amongst them: Hold your hand! My people, you will not go under Shamed and abused, like cowards base; You shall arise in all your grandeur, A proud and a victorious race!

You know not the many trials, Cares and anguish I went through; You know not the many perils

That I faced because of you!

Long years, hesitating never, Through the thorns I struggled on, Yet you may not thank me ever

For the good that I have done!

But no! I wanted Rome to free

That fell, a victim to dissension. Restore her ancient dignity—

Is that no fine and great intention?

O Ancient Rome, do but once show Yourself to me in your past might, And I have lived enough, can go Happy into the grave’s dark night!

NINA (entering)

Oh Cola, tell me, is it true

That foes are plotting against you? Is danger hanging over

The head so dear to me?

RIENZI

Calm yourself, my dearest wife. A few power-seeking, envious ones, And Walter von Montreal, that traitor, Are stirring up the people against me, Hoping to bring about my downfall. Helped by God and a loyal people, 1 shall outwit the treacherous ones. Before they even sense the danger, Their heads will roll for their own crimes. How could these schemes of theirs unnerve me? Are they as strong as I am here, With my true-loving wife to serve me, And with my senses calm and clear?

NINA

Cola, why can’t I put to flight The fears with which I am consumed? In dreams I’ve seen your face all white Since you the purple robe assumed.

RIENZI

My dearest wife, come, fear no more! We are not in the slightest danger; Untroubled can the eagle soar Clear of the snakes that hiss with anger.

NINA

I cannot think what I would do,

If I should lose you, love, one day.

Cola di Rienzi

Whoever left me without you,

Would steal my very life away.

COLA

Oh, put aside all fear and care, For what inspires me is sublime.

I can’t go under—do not dare— Until I have achieved my aim, Until Rome’s might triumphantly

Is born again, and Freedom shakes The dust off, and the world can see In trembling how the lion wakes. If, in the heat of battle, I stood Alone, in peril of my life, Deserted and abandoned, would

You not stay by me, dearest wife?

NINA

Dearest, as some God may decree, So let it be, then, for us two.

I cannot, and I will not, flee,

In need and death I’ll stand by you!

BOTH

Firmly together, on our own, We shall face treachery and lies. Though in this world we stood alone, Our true love ever would suffice!

Scene Three

A hall in the Colonnas’ palace, festively arrayed f a banquet.

Montreal, Battista, Chorus of guests.

MONTREAL

Your health, good sirs! Let gaiety And the wine goblet reign this night! Think not how late the hour may be, While the wine laughs in beaker bright.

Let song resound

These halls around

Till the dawn breaks with radiant light!

CHORUS

Drink all the brimming cup may hold, Quaff merrily the flowing wine; The goblet filled with liquid gold Revives man’s heart at any time.

Let song resound

These halls around

Until the light of dawn doth shine!

BATTISTA

Ho, there! A song, who’ll sing a song?

MONTREAL

Hey, boy, hand me that lute of yours. Let me sing you a song of Provence After the fashion of my native land— The song of a high-born troubadour.

(Here follows a love-song, to be inserted later.)

BATTISTA

Long life to all the ladies!

CHORUS

Long life to the ladies! In sparkling wine We think about them all the time! Long life to all the ladies!

MONTREAL

Ho, butler, fill the glasses! Lachrymae Christi, Monte Falerno, Bring us the best Falernian wine! Now let us drink and let us sing!

CHORUS

Drink all the brimming cup, etc.

(The Capitol bell sounds.)

BATTISTA

What is happening? Hear you the Capitol bell?

MONTREAL

What could it be? Nothing to trouble us! Let us be merry! It’s nothing to alarm us!

BATTISTA

I drink this, noble sir, to you, And to your gallant following too! That the Tribune by you may be Relieved of his authority!

Loudly I cry to one and all:

Long live Walter von Montreal!

CHORUS

Loud ring our voices one and all: Long live our gracious host! Long live Walter von Montreal!

CHOIR OF MONKS (off)

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine! Et lux perpétua luceat eis!

MONTREAL

What has come over you, friends? Let the priests whine of graves and of death, Life is red-blooded while we draw breath!

(CHOIR OF MONKS in the background: Dies irae, dies ilia.)

I thank you all, my friends!

Let us drown out those wailing monks With joyous cries!

Long live Rome, the eternal city!

CHORUS

Long live Rome, the eternal city! Drink all the brimming cup, etc.

(CHOIR, off: Ne me perdas ilia die! quia pius es!)

MONTREAL

And here’s a toast to the Tribune’s downfall, The traitor who, on the people’s sweat, Carouses there in the Capitol! Revenge will be on him before he knows it. Down with him!

CHORUS

Down with the Tribune, be our word— Let him reap his treason’s reward! (Three bangs on the door. Confusion.)

MONTREAL

Enter, you uninvited guests! (Enter the Tribune in purple and ermine, followed by men-at-arms.) Pause.

RIENZI

Are you so gay, then, Montreal, When the Capitol bell outside And the chanting priests tell you the tidings That your brothers are being led to execution? Let you and the rest all know this!

CHOIR

Judex ergo nunc tedebit etc.

[RIENZI]

At last your hour has struck,

And your traitor’s reward is settled! (Montreal and Battista are led off.)

Curtain

Cola di Rienzi

ACT THREE

Scene One

A room in Rienzi’s home.

NINA (hastening in, breathless)

Help, Holy Mary!

Help, Father in Heaven!

Oh, what a rabble

Comes down the streets tearing, Roaring, rampaging,

Many-voiced, raging;

They’re bursting through breaches And soon they will reach us.

Our palace they’re nearing!

In wild agitation

They threaten destruction

And grim devastation;

In savage eruption

The rabble draws nigh!

Our deliverance please send,

Ye most blessed ones on high;

Let the angels’ wings extend

Over us protectingly.

Hear, oh hear my anguished plea, Come to us, shield us from danger. Please, oh please let us not be Victims of the mob’s blind anger!

Nearer and nearer

The rabble is teeming,

Higher and higher

The flood is streaming.

Swords are glittering, Spear-points flickering,

Flashing bright!

Ever nearer and more mighty,

Death enfolds us with his arm. Help, O Mary! Help, Almighty!

Do not let us come to harm!

RIENZI (entering)

It’s happened — something I never feared! The maddened people have risen against me, Howling vengeance for Montreal’s death And for Battista’s too.

NINA

O dearest Cola! Danger is pressing nearer and nearer, 0 save us both!

RIENZI

Keep calm, beloved wife!

Danger is not so very near.

Still in the flush of youth am I, And with a face unyielding, proud, 1 shall go out there to defy

The fury of the crowd!

My eye is swift as lightning blast, My brow unmarred by life’s abuse, Like swords, my words are keen and fast— So let all Hell break loose!

Let Hell break loose—still I shall brave it. I raised myself up to the throne, Now I must stand my ground and save it. I’ll calm their anger down!

NINA

Oh, let us yield, I humbly pray, Let us seek refuge from their fury. Cola, just once, hear what I say, O Cola, let us hurry!

RIENZI

In cowardice? Not while I draw breath!

NINA

Cola, while still there’s time—decide! Cola di Rienzi

RIENZI

I’ll stand and face it out with death, Though he press in from every side!

NINA

Oh, come! The mob does not deserve So great a sacrifice—oh, no!

RIENZI

If ruin strikes, my death shall serve Before the whole wide world to show I did not shrink to dedicate My life that Rome once more be great.

NINA

So, husband, you’ll not run away? Then from your side I shall not go, As in good times, likewise in woe And wretched fortune, I shall stay.

RIENZI

Come to my breast, O marvellous wife! The reward of striving constantly Blooms in your love, God’s joy, for me, Though reached I not my goal in life!

NINA

So big, so strong you are, my mate! Held in your warm embrace, to fall With you, most wonderful of all— Oh what a high and blissful fate!

COLA, NINA

And so we go forth joyously, Embracing one another tight, Bathed in the glow of true love’s light, To meet whate’er our fate may be! Though death outside await us twain, Through fire and sword, both unaffrighted We go, together and united,

To face what Fortune may ordain!

Scene Two

Before the Capitol.

CAMILLA (hair unbound, sword in hand)

So it has come, then,

For what I so languish,

The hour of revenge

For my sorrow and anguish. The hour of revenge!

His blood shall be shed

In atonement for yours,

My murdered, my dear one, Though I strike him dead

With this, my own hand.

True love has been murdered, Burn hatred, burn more,

And stain, blood of tyrants, My thirsting sword-blade

With purple-red gore.

Not woman, but Fury Henceforth be my name;

With steel I shall sever

The veins of that same

Vile traitor who sent

My love to his grave!

Away with compassion

And womanly weakness! Vengeance, ay, vengeance

For that shameful crime

Is all that I crave!

The crowds are all swarming And gathering together,

More frenzied than ever

I’m going to make them.

Fall, then, Rienzi,

From the throne to your doom— Your victim, my lover,

Awaits you in the tomb!

(To the people, who have gathered round her.) Vengeance I cry! Vengeance I cry! For the tyrant’s execution, Cola di Rienzi

For the grimmest retribution, Storm into the Capitol!

From his rooms in all their glory Drag him hither bodily,

To his end so grim and gory; Dying, he’ll atone for all!

CHORUS

Vengeance! Vengeance!—To the Capitol.

CAMILLA

On his guilty head let roll Curses, death, calamity. Liberty from us he stole, Now it is his reckoning time. At our feet in terror, he Shall like any traitor die. Red his blood shall flow and free For his most perfidious crime.

CHORUS

At our feet in terror, etc. Enter Rienzi, Nina following him.

RIENZI

Citizens of Rome! Why do you gather here In milling crowds, with spear and sword Before the Capitol?

Do you not trust me now, whom you elected And on whose shoulders you it was that laid This purple? What have I done to harm you? Let me finish my task.

Let me restore our ancient glory And you’ll be lords of the Earth And free, with laws of your own making. Listen not to the voice of slander, Judge me by deeds alone!

CAMILLA

Do not listen to him speaking, Let yourselves be not misled. Be intent alone on wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty!

CHORUS

By your flattery, by your speaking, We’ll no longer be misled. Now we only think of wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty! They press towards him.

NINA

God!

RIENZI

Hence, insolent ones, away!

NINA

See you not the tears I shed?

CAMILLA

Ha, Triumph! Now the vengeance-seeking Flames I’ve kindled, as I see.

CHORUS

Now we only think of wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty!

NINA

Would you spill the blood of him Whom you owe your fortune to? If it’s blood you want, take mine: I’ll atone for every sin.

CAMILLA

Only vengeance for his crime, Push compassion far from you!

NINA

Hear my weeping and lamenting, He did good—give that a thought! Cola di Rienzi

CAMILLA

Think, you Romans, unrelenting, Of the suffering he brought!

CHORUS

Yes, we’re mindful, unrelenting, Of the suffering he brought.

NINA

Please have mercy!

CAMILLA

Think of vengeance!

NINA

Spare this noble man, I say.

CAMILLA

On the tyrant wreak your vengeance For your freedom snatched away.

CHORUS

Vengeance on the tyrant, vengeance, For our freedom snatched away!

NINA

Do not let yourselves be blinded By your fury’s raging fire!

CAMILLA

Ha! Now shall his life be ended By the people’s burning ire!

NINA

Show us mercy!

CAMILLA

Think of vengeance.

NINA

Please have mercy.

CAMILLA

Hear her not.

CHORUS

Ha, you traitor, this our vengeance

And our wrath escape you not!