fortunes, and think and dare as if no blood save that of the Teuton
Emperor flowed through our veins."

"Methinks, dear Cola," said the younger brother, "that Nature played us
an unfair trick--to you she transmitted the royal soul, derived from
our father's parentage; and to me only the quiet and lowly spirit of my
mother's humble lineage."

"Nay," answered Cola, quickly, "you would then have the brighter
share,--for I should have but the Barbarian origin, and you the Roman.
Time was, when to be a simple Roman was to be nobler than a northern
king.--Well, well, we may live to see great changes!"

"I shall live to see thee a great man, and that will content me," said
the younger, smiling affectionately; "a great scholar all confess you
to be already: our mother predicts your fortunes every time she hears of
your welcome visits to the Colonna."

"The Colonna!" said Cola, with a bitter smile; "the Colonna--the
pedants!--They affect, dull souls, the knowledge of the past, play the
patron, and misquote Latin over their cups! They are pleased to welcome
me at their board, because the Roman doctors call me learned, and
because Nature gave me a wild wit, which to them is pleasanter than the
stale jests of a hired buffoon. Yes, they would advance my fortunes--but
how? by some place in the public offices, which would fill a dishonoured
coffer, by wringing, yet more sternly, the hard-earned coins from our
famishing citizens! If there be a vile thing in the world, it is a
plebeian, advanced by patricians, not for the purpose of righting his
own order, but for playing the pander to the worst interests of theirs.
He who is of the people but makes himself a traitor to his birth, if he