About noon
said the old Colonna . And as the band swept on , the rude foreigners , encouraged by their leaders , had each some taunt or jest , uttered in a barbarous attempt at the southern patois , for the lazy giant , as he again appeared in front of his forge , leaning on his anvil as before , and betraying no sign of attention to his insultors , save by a heightened glow of his swarthy visage ; -- and so the gallant procession passed through the streets , and quitted the Eternal City . There was a long interval of deep silence -- of general calm -- throughout the whole of Rome : the shops were still but half-opened ; no man betook himself to his business ; it was like the commencement of some holyday , when indolence precedes enjoyment . About noon , a few small knots of men might be seen scattered about the streets , whispering to each other , but soon dispersing ; and every now and then , a single passenger , generally habited in the long robes used by the men of letters , or in the more sombre garb of monks , passed hurriedly up the street towards the Church of St. Mary of Egypt , once the Temple of Fortune . Then , again , all was solitary and deserted . Suddenly , there was heard the sound of a single trumpet ! It swelled -- it gathered on the ear .