If the projects of Rienzi failed, he might, by that in activity, the better preserve the people from new chains, and their champion from death.
If those projects succeeded, he might equally save his house from the popular wrath--and, advocating liberty, check disorder.

Such, at least, were his hopes; and thus did the Italian sagacity and caution of his character control and pacify the enthusiasm of youth and courage.
The sun shone, calm and cloudless, upon the vast concourse gathered before the broad space that surrounds the Church of St.John of Lateran.

Partly by curiosity--partly by the desire of the Bishop of Orvietto--partly because it was an occasion in which they could display the pomp of their retinues--many of the principal Barons of Rome had gathered to this spot.
On one of the steps ascending to the church, with his mantle folded round him, stood Walter de Montreal, gazing on the various parties that, one after another, swept through the lane which the soldiers of the Church preserved unimpeded, in the middle of the crowd, for the access of the principal nobles.

He watched with interest, though with his usual carelessness of air and roving glance, the different marks and looks of welcome given by the populace to the different personages of note.
Banners and penons preceded each Signor, and, as they waved aloft, the witticisms or nicknames--the brief words of praise or censure, that imply so much--which passed to and fro among that lively crowd, were treasured carefully in his recollection.
"Make way, there!--way for my Lord Martino Orsini--Baron di Porto!" "Peace, minion!--draw back! way for the Signor Adrian Colonna, Baron di Castello, and Knight of the Empire." And at those two rival shouts, you saw waving on high the golden bear of the Orsini, with the motto--"Beware my embrace!" and the solitary column on an azure ground, of the Colonna, with Adrian's especial device--"Sad, but strong." The train of Martino Orsini was much more numerous than that of Adrian, which last consisted but of ten servitors.

But Adrian's men attracted far greater admiration amongst the crowd, and pleased more the experienced eye of the warlike Knight of St.John.Their arms were polished like mirrors; their height was to an inch the same; their march was regular and sedate; their mien erect; they looked neither to the right nor left; they betrayed that ineffable discipline--that harmony of order--which Adrian had learned to impart to his men during his own apprenticeship of arms.