The qualities that made him rise, hurry him to his fall; and victory at the Marengo of his fortunes, urges him to destruction at its Moscow.
In his greatness Rienzi did not so much acquire new qualities, as develop in brighter light and deeper shadow those which he had always exhibited.

On the one hand he was just--resolute--the friend of the oppressed--the terror of the oppressor.

His wonderful intellect illumined everything it touched.

By rooting out abuse, and by searching examination and wise arrangement, he had trebled the revenues of the city without imposing a single new tax.

Faithful to his idol of liberty, he had not been betrayed by the wish of the people into despotic authority; but had, as we have seen, formally revived, and established with new powers, the Parliamentary Council of the city.