THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, sand Romans returned, without honour or effect,LXX ‘ from the attack of Marino; and his vengeancewas amused by painting his enemies, their headsdownwards, and drowning two dogs (at leastthey should have been bears) as the representa-tives of the Ursini. The belief of his incapa-- city encouraged, their operations: they were in-vited by their secret adherents; and the baronsattempted, with four thousand foot and sixteenhundred horse, to enter Rome by force or sur-prise. The city was prepared for their recep-tion: the alarm-bell rung all night; the gateswere strictly guarded, or insolently open ; and,after some hesitation, they sounded a retreat.The two first divisions had passed along thewalls, but the prospect of a free entrance tempt-ed the headstrong valour of the nobles in therear; and, after a successful skirmish, they wereoverthrown and massacred, without quarter, by

Defeat and cr owds of the Roman people. Stephen Co-

deathoftbe , , , • • ,

Coionna, lonna the younger, the noble spirit to whom Pe-° V ‘ 2 °‘ trarch ascribed the restoration of Italy , was pre-ceded or accompanied in death by his son John,a gallant youth, by his brother Peter, who mightregret the ease and honours of the church, by anephew of legitimate birth, and by two bastardsof the Coionna race; and the number of seven,the seven crowns, as Rienzi styled them, of theHoly Ghost, was completed by the agony of thedeplorable parent, and the veteran chief, whohad survived the hope and fortune of his house.The vision and prophecies of St. Martin andpope Boniface had been used by the tribune to