hematterupbeforeCheccohadtimetosurrender.However,heproceeded,—
'Youareagoodman,Checco,andIrespectyoudeeplyforwhatyouhavesaid.Butifyouwillnotstirtosaveyourself,thinkoftheothers.'
'Whatdoyoumean?'saidChecco,startingasiffromadream.
'Haveyoutherighttosacrificeyourfellowmen?ThecitizensofForlidependonyou.'
'Ah,theywilleasilyfindanotherleader.Why,youyourselfwillbeofgreaterassistancetothemthanIhaveeverbeen.Howmuchbetterwilltheybeinyourstronghandsthanwithme!'
'No,no!Youaretheonlymanwhohaspowerhere.Youcouldnotbereplaced.'
'ButwhatcanIdomorethanIamdoing.IdonotseektoleaveForliIwillstayhereandprotectmyselfasmuchasIcan.Icannotdomore.'
'Oh,Checco,lookattheirstate.Itcannotcontinue.TheyaregrounddownnowtheCountmustimposethesetaxes,andwhatwillbetheirconditionthen?Thepeoplearedyingintheirmisery,andthesurvivorsholdhappythosewhodie.Howcanyoulookonandseeallthis?Andyou,youknowGirolamowillkillyouitisamatteroftime,andwhocantellhowshortatime?Perhapsevennowheisforgingtheweaponofyourdeath.'
'Mydeath!Mydeath!'criedChecco.'Allthatisnothing!'
'Butwhatwillbethelotofthepeoplewhenyouaregone?YouaretheonlycurbonRiario'styranny.Whenyouaredead,nothingwillkeephimback.Andwhenoncehehaseasedhispathbymurderhewillnotfailtodosoagain.Weshallliveunderperpetualterroroftheknife.Oh,havemercyonyourfellow-citizens.'
'Mycountry!'saidChecco.'Mycountry!'
'Youcannotresistthis.Forthegoodofyourcountryyoumustleaduson.'
'Andifmysoul—'
'Itisforyourcountry.Ah!Checco,thinkofusall.Notforourselvesonly,butforourwives,ourinnocentchildren,webegyou,weimplore.Shallwegodownonourkneestoyou?'
'Oh,myGod,whatshallIdo?'saidChecco,extremelyagitated.
'Listentomyfather,Checco!'saidScipione.'Hehasrightonhisside.'
'Oh,notyou,too!Donotoverwhelmme.Ifeelyouareallagainstme.Godhelpme!Iknowitiswrong,butIfeelmyselfwavering.'
'Donotthinkofyourself,Checcoitisforothers,forourliberty,ourlives,ourall,thatweimploreyou.'
'Youmovemeterribly.YouknowhowIlovemycountry,