repliedtheinflexibleAudoin，\"ofthewisecustomsofourancestors。Whatevermaybehismerit，aprinceisincapableofsittingattablewithhisfathertillhehasreceivedhisarmsfromaforeignandroyalhand。\"Alboinbowedwithreverencetotheinstitutionsofhiscountry，selectedfortycompanions，andboldlyvisitedthecourtofTurisund，kingoftheGepidae，whoembracedandentertained，accordingtothelawsofhospitality，themurdererofhisson。Atthebanquet，whilstAlboinoccupiedtheseatoftheyouthwhomhehadslain，atenderremembrancearoseinthemindofTurisund。\"Howdearisthatplace!howhatefulisthatperson!\"werethewordsthatescaped，withasigh，fromtheindignantfather。HisgriefexasperatedthenationalresentmentoftheGepidae；andCunimund，hissurvivingson，wasprovokedbywine，orfraternalaffection，tothedesireofvengeance。\"TheLombards，\"saidtherudeBarbarian，\"resemble，infigureandinsmell，themaresofourSarmatianplains。\"Andthisinsultwasacoarseallusiontothewhitebandswhichenvelopedtheirlegs。\"Addanotherresemblance，\"repliedanaudaciousLombard；\"youhavefelthowstronglytheykick。
VisittheplainofAsfield，andseekforthebonesofthybrother:theyaremingledwiththoseofthevilestanimals。\"TheGepidae，anationofwarriors，startedfromtheirseats，andthefearlessAlboin，withhisfortycompanions，laidtheirhandsontheirswords。ThetumultwasappeasedbythevenerableinterpositionofTurisund。Hesavedhisownhonor，andthelifeofhisguest；and，afterthesolemnritesofinvestiture，dismissedthestrangerinthebloodyarmsofhisson；thegiftofaweepingparent。Alboinreturnedintriumph；andtheLombards，whocelebratedhismatchlessintrepidity，werecompelledtopraisethevirtuesofanenemy。^8InthisextraordinaryvisithehadprobablyseenthedaughterofCunimund，whosoonafterascendedthethroneoftheGepidae。HernamewasRosamond，anappellationexpressiveoffemalebeauty，andwhichourownhistoryorromancehasconsecratedtoamoroustales。ThekingoftheLombardsthefatherofAlboinnolongerlivedwascontractedtothegranddaughterofClovis；buttherestraintsoffaithandpolicysoonyieldedtothehopeofpossessingthefairRosamond，andofinsultingherfamilyandnation。Theartsofpersuasionweretriedwithoutsuccess；andtheimpatientlover，byforceandstratagem，obtainedtheobjectofhisdesires。Warwastheconsequencewhichheforesawandsolicited；buttheLombardscouldnotlongwithstandthefuriousassaultoftheGepidae，whoweresustainedbyaRomanarmy。And，astheofferofmarriagewasrejectedwithcontempt，Alboinwascompelledtorelinquishhisprey，andtopartakeofthedisgracewhichhehadinflictedonthehouseofCunimund。^9
[Footnote8:PaulWarnefrid，thedeaconofFriuli，deGest。
Langobard。l。i。c。23，24。Hispicturesofnationalmanners，thoughrudelysketchedaremorelivelyandfaithfulthanthoseofBede，orGregoryofTours]
[Footnote9:Thestoryistoldbyanimpostor，Theophylact。
Simocat。l。vi。c。10；buthehadartenoughtobuildhisfictionsonpublicandnotoriousfacts。]
Whenapublicquarrelisenvenomedbyprivateinjuries，ablowthatisnotmortalordecisivecanbeproductiveonlyofashorttruce，whichallowstheunsuccessfulcombatanttosharpenhisarmsforanewencounter。ThestrengthofAlboinhadbeenfoundunequaltothegratificationofhislove，ambition，andrevenge:hecondescendedtoimploretheformidableaidofthechagan；andtheargumentsthatheemployedareexpressiveoftheartandpolicyoftheBarbarians。IntheattackoftheGepidae，hehadbeenpromptedbythejustdesireofextirpatingapeoplewhomtheiralliancewiththeRomanempirehadrenderedthecommonenemiesofthenations，andthepersonaladversariesofthechagan。IftheforcesoftheAvarsandtheLombardsshoulduniteinthisgloriousquarrel，thevictorywassecure，andtherewardinestimable:theDanube，theHebrus，Italy，andConstantinople，wouldbeexposed，withoutabarrier，totheirinvinciblearms。
But，iftheyhesitatedordelayedtopreventthemaliceoftheRomans，thesamespiritwhichhadinsultedwouldpursuetheAvarstotheextremityoftheearth。Thesespeciousreasonswereheardbythechaganwithcoldnessanddisdain:hedetainedtheLombardambassadorsinhiscamp，protractedthenegotiation，andbyturnsallegedhiswantofinclination，orhiswantofability，toundertakethisimportantenterprise。Atlengthhesignifiedtheultimatepriceofhisalliance，thattheLombardsshouldimmediatelypresenthimwithatitheoftheircattle；thatthespoilsandcaptivesshouldbeequallydivided；butthatthelandsoftheGepidaeshouldbecomethesolepatrimonyoftheAvars。
SuchhardconditionswereeagerlyacceptedbythepassionsofAlboin；and，astheRomansweredissatisfiedwiththeingratitudeandperfidyoftheGepidae，Justinabandonedthatincorrigiblepeopletotheirfate，andremainedthetranquilspectatorofthisunequalconflict。ThedespairofCunimundwasactiveanddangerous。HewasinformedthattheAvarshadenteredhisconfines；but，onthestrongassurancethat，afterthedefeatoftheLombards，theseforeigninvaderswouldeasilyberepelled，herushedforwardstoencountertheimplacableenemyofhisnameandfamily。ButthecourageoftheGepidaecouldsecurethemnomorethananhonorabledeath。Thebravestofthenationfellinthefieldofbattle；thekingoftheLombardscontemplatedwithdelighttheheadofCunimund；andhisskullwasfashionedintoacuptosatiatethehatredoftheconqueror，or，perhaps，tocomplywiththesavagecustomofhiscountry。^10Afterthisvictory，nofurtherobstaclecouldimpedetheprogressoftheconfederates，andtheyfaithfullyexecutedthetermsoftheiragreement。^11ThefaircountriesofWalachia，Moldavia，Transylvania，andtheotherpartsofHungarybeyondtheDanube，wereoccupied，withoutresistance，byanewcolonyofScythians；
andtheDacianempireofthechaganssubsistedwithsplendorabovetwohundredandthirtyyears。ThenationoftheGepidaewasdissolved；but，inthedistributionofthecaptives，theslavesoftheAvarswerelessfortunatethanthecompanionsoftheLombards，whosegenerosityadoptedavaliantfoe，andwhosefreedomwasincompatiblewithcoolanddeliberatetyranny。OnemoietyofthespoilintroducedintothecampofAlboinmorewealththanaBarbariancouldreadilycompute。ThefairRosamondwaspersuaded，orcompelled，toacknowledgetherightsofhervictoriouslover；andthedaughterofCunimundappearedtoforgivethosecrimeswhichmightbeimputedtoherownirresistiblecharms。
[Footnote10:ItappearsfromStrabo，Pliny，andAmmianusMarcellinus，thatthesamepracticewascommonamongtheScythiantribes，Muratori，ScriptoresRer。Italic。tom。i。p。424。ThescalpsofNorthAmericaarelikewisetrophiesofvalor。TheskullofCunimundwaspreservedabovetwohundredyearsamongtheLombards；andPaulhimselfwasoneofthegueststowhomDukeRatchisexhibitedthiscuponahighfestival，l。ii。c。28。]
[Footnote11:Paul，l。i。c。27。Menander，inExcerptLegat。p。
110，111。]
ThedestructionofamightykingdomestablishedthefameofAlboin。InthedaysofCharlemagne，theBavarians，theSaxons，andtheothertribesoftheTeutoniclanguage，stillrepeatedthesongswhichdescribedtheheroicvirtues，thevalor，liberality，andfortuneofthekingoftheLombards。^12Buthisambitionwasyetunsatisfied；andtheconqueroroftheGepidaeturnedhiseyesfromtheDanubetothericherbanksofthePo，andtheTyber。
Fifteenyearshadnotelapsed，sincehissubjects，theconfederatesofNarses，hadvisitedthepleasantclimateofItaly:themountains，therivers，thehighways，werefamiliartotheirmemory:thereportoftheirsuccess，perhapstheviewoftheirspoils，hadkindledintherisinggenerationtheflameofemulationandenterprise。TheirhopeswereencouragedbythespiritandeloquenceofAlboin:anditisaffirmed，thathespoketotheirsenses，byproducingattheroyalfeast，thefairestandmostexquisitefruitsthatgrewspontaneouslyinthegardenoftheworld。Nosoonerhadheerectedhisstandard，thanthenativestrengthoftheLombardwasmultipliedbytheadventurousyouthofGermanyandScythia。TherobustpeasantryofNoricumandPannoniahadresumedthemannersofBarbarians；andthenamesoftheGepidae，Bulgarians，Sarmatians，andBavarians，maybedistinctlytracedintheprovincesofItaly。^13OftheSaxons，theoldalliesoftheLombards，twentythousandwarriors，withtheirwivesandchildren，acceptedtheinvitationofAlboin。
Theirbraverycontributedtohissuccess；buttheaccessionortheabsenceoftheirnumberswasnotsensiblyfeltinthemagnitudeofhishost。Everymodeofreligionwasfreelypractisedbyitsrespectivevotaries。ThekingoftheLombardshadbeeneducatedintheArianheresy；buttheCatholics，intheirpublicworship，wereallowedtoprayforhisconversion；
whilethemorestubbornBarbarianssacrificedashe—goat，orperhapsacaptive，tothegodsoftheirfathers。^14TheLombards，andtheirconfederates，wereunitedbytheircommonattachmenttoachief，whoexcelledinallthevirtuesandvicesofasavagehero；andthevigilanceofAlboinprovidedanamplemagazineofoffensiveanddefensivearmsfortheuseoftheexpedition。TheportablewealthoftheLombardsattendedthemarch:theirlandstheycheerfullyrelinquishedtotheAvars，onthesolemnpromise，whichwasmadeandacceptedwithoutasmile，thatiftheyfailedintheconquestofItaly，thesevoluntaryexilesshouldbereinstatedintheirformerpossessions。
[Footnote12:UthactenusetiamtamapudBajoariorumgentem，quametSaxmum，sedetaliosejusdemlinguaehomines……ineorumcarminibuscelebretur。Paul，l。i。c。27。HediedA。D。
799，Muratori，inPraefat。tom。i。p。397。TheseGermansongs，someofwhichmightbeasoldasTacitus，deMoribusGerm。c。
2，werecompiledandtranscribedbyCharlemagne。Barbaraetantiquissimacarmina，quibusveterumregumactusetbellacanebanturscripsitmemoriaequemandavit，Eginard，inVit。
Carol。Magn。c。29，p。130，131。Thepoems，whichGoldastcommends，Animadvers。adEginard。p。207，appeartoberecentandcontemptibleromances。]
[Footnote13:TheothernationsarerehearsedbyPaul，l。ii。c。
6，26，MuratoriAntichitaItaliane，tom。i。dissert。i。p。4
hasdiscoveredthevillageoftheBavarians，threemilesfromModena。]
[Footnote14:GregorytheRomanDialog。l。i。iii。c。27，28，apudBaron。AnnalEccles。A。D。579，No。10supposesthattheylikewiseadoredthisshe—goat。Iknowbutofonereligioninwhichthegodandthevictimarethesame。]
Theymighthavefailed，ifNarseshadbeentheantagonistoftheLombards；andtheveteranwarriors，theassociatesofhisGothicvictory，wouldhaveencounteredwithreluctanceanenemywhomtheydreadedandesteemed。ButtheweaknessoftheByzantinecourtwassubservienttotheBarbariancause；anditwasfortheruinofItaly，thattheemperoroncelistenedtothecomplaintsofhissubjects。ThevirtuesofNarseswerestainedwithavarice；and，inhisprovincialreignoffifteenyears，heaccumulatedatreasureofgoldandsilverwhichsurpassedthemodestyofaprivatefortune。Hisgovernmentwasoppressiveorunpopular，andthegeneraldiscontentwasexpressedwithfreedombythedeputiesofRome。BeforethethroneofJustiniantheyboldlydeclared，thattheirGothicservitudehadbeenmoretolerablethanthedespotismofaGreekeunuch；andthat，unlesstheirtyrantwereinstantlyremoved，theywouldconsulttheirownhappinessinthechoiceofamaster。Theapprehensionofarevoltwasurgedbythevoiceofenvyanddetraction，whichhadsorecentlytriumphedoverthemeritofBelisarius。Anewexarch，Longinus，wasappointedtosupersedetheconquerorofItaly，andthebasemotivesofhisrecallwererevealedintheinsultingmandateoftheempressSophia，\"thatheshouldleavetomentheexerciseofarms，andreturntohisproperstationamongthemaidensofthepalace，whereadistaffshouldbeagainplacedinthehandoftheeunuch。\"\"Iwillspinhersuchathreadassheshallnoteasilyunravel!\"issaidtohavebeenthereplywhichindignationandconsciousvirtueextortedfromthehero。Insteadofattending，aslaveandavictim，atthegateoftheByzantinepalace，heretiredtoNaples，fromwhenceifanycreditisduetothebeliefofthetimesNarsesinvitedtheLombardstochastisetheingratitudeoftheprinceandpeople。^15Butthepassionsofthepeoplearefuriousandchangeable，andtheRomanssoonrecollectedthemerits，ordreadedtheresentment，oftheirvictoriousgeneral。Bythemediationofthepope，whoundertookaspecialpilgrimagetoNaples，theirrepentancewasaccepted；
andNarses，assumingamilderaspectandamoredutifullanguage，consentedtofixhisresidenceintheCapitol。Hisdeath，^16
thoughintheextremeperiodofoldage，wasunseasonableandpremature，sincehisgeniusalonecouldhaverepairedthelastandfatalerrorofhislife。Thereality，orthesuspicion，ofaconspiracydisarmedanddisunitedtheItalians。Thesoldiersresentedthedisgrace，andbewailedtheloss，oftheirgeneral。
Theywereignorantoftheirnewexarch；andLonginuswashimselfignorantofthestateofthearmyandtheprovince。IntheprecedingyearsItalyhadbeendesolatedbypestilenceandfamine，andadisaffectedpeopleascribedthecalamitiesofnaturetotheguiltorfollyoftheirrulers。^17
[Footnote15:ThechargeofthedeaconagainstNarsesl。ii。c。
5maybegroundless；buttheweakapologyoftheCardinalBaron。AnnalEccles。A。D。567，No。8—12isrejectedbythebestcritics—Pagitom。ii。p。639，640，Muratori，Annalid\'
Italia，tom。v。p。160—163，andthelasteditors，HoratiusBlancus，Script。RerumItalic。tom。i。p。427，428，andPhilipArgelatus，Sigon。Opera，tom。ii。p。11，12。TheNarseswhoassistedatthecoronationofJustinCorippus，l。iii。221isclearlyunderstoodtobeadifferentperson。]
[Footnote16:ThedeathofNarsesismentionedbyPaul，l。ii。c。
11。Anastas。inVit。Johan。iii。p。43。Agnellus，LiberPontifical。Raven。inScript。Rer。Italicarum，tom。ii。parti。
p。114，124。YetIcannotbelievewithAgnellusthatNarseswasninety—fiveyearsofage。Isitprobablethatallhisexploitswereperformedatfourscore?]
[Footnote17:ThedesignsofNarsesandoftheLombardsfortheinvasionofItalyareexposedinthelastchapterofthefirstbook，andthesevenlastchaptersofthesecondbook，ofPaulthedeacon。]
Whatevermightbethegroundsofhissecurity，AlboinneitherexpectednorencounteredaRomanarmyinthefield。HeascendedtheJulianAlps，andlookeddownwithcontemptanddesireonthefruitfulplainstowhichhisvictorycommunicatedtheperpetualappellationofLombardy。Afaithfulchieftain，andaselectband，werestationedatForumJulii，themodernFriuli，toguardthepassesofthemountains。TheLombardsrespectedthestrengthofPavia，andlistenedtotheprayersoftheTrevisans:
theirslowandheavymultitudesproceededtooccupythepalaceandcityofVerona；andMilan，nowrisingfromherashes，wasinvestedbythepowersofAlboinfivemonthsafterhisdeparturefromPannonia。Terrorprecededhismarch:hefoundeverywhere，orheleft，adrearysolitude；andthepusillanimousItalianspresumed，withoutatrial，thatthestrangerwasinvincible。
Escapingtolakes，orrocks，ormorasses，theaffrightedcrowdsconcealedsomefragmentsoftheirwealth，anddelayedthemomentoftheirservitude。Paulinus，thepatriarchofAquileia，removedhistreasures，sacredandprofane，totheIsleofGrado，^18andhissuccessorswereadoptedbytheinfantrepublicofVenice，whichwascontinuallyenrichedbythepubliccalamities。
Honoratus，whofilledthechairofSt。Ambrose，hadcredulouslyacceptedthefaithlessoffersofacapitulation；andthearchbishop，withtheclergyandnoblesofMilan，weredrivenbytheperfidyofAlbointoseekarefugeinthelessaccessiblerampartsofGenoa。Alongthemaritimecoast，thecourageoftheinhabitantswassupportedbythefacilityofsupply，thehopesofrelief，andthepowerofescape；butfromtheTrentinehillstothegatesofRavennaandRometheinlandregionsofItalybecame，withoutabattleorasiege，thelastingpatrimonyoftheLombards。ThesubmissionofthepeopleinvitedtheBarbariantoassumethecharacterofalawfulsovereign，andthehelplessexarchwasconfinedtotheofficeofannouncingtotheemperorJustintherapidandirretrievablelossofhisprovincesandcities。^19Onecity，whichhadbeendiligentlyfortifiedbytheGoths，resistedthearmsofanewinvader；andwhileItalywassubduedbytheflyingdetachmentsoftheLombards，theroyalcampwasfixedabovethreeyearsbeforethewesterngateofTicinum，orPavia。Thesamecouragewhichobtainstheesteemofacivilizedenemyprovokesthefuryofasavage，andtheimpatientbesiegerhadboundhimselfbyatremendousoath，thatage，andsex，anddignity，shouldbeconfoundedinageneralmassacre。
Theaidoffamineatlengthenabledhimtoexecutehisbloodyvow；but，asAlboinenteredthegate，hishorsestumbled，fell，andcouldnotberaisedfromtheground。Oneofhisattendantswaspromptedbycompassion，orpiety，tointerpretthismiraculoussignofthewrathofHeaven:theconquerorpausedandrelented；hesheathedhissword，andpeacefullyreposinghimselfinthepalaceofTheodoric，proclaimedtothetremblingmultitudethattheyshouldliveandobey。Delightedwiththesituationofacitywhichwasendearedtohispridebythedifficultyofthepurchase，theprinceoftheLombardsdisdainedtheancientgloriesofMilan；andPavia，duringsomeages，wasrespectedasthecapitalofthekingdomofItaly。^20
[Footnote18:WhichfromthistranslationwascalledNewAquileia，Chron。Venet。p。3。ThepatriarchofGradosoonbecamethefirstcitizenoftherepublic，p。9，&c。，buthisseatwasnotremovedtoVenicetilltheyear1450。Heisnowdecoratedwithtitlesandhonors；butthegeniusofthechurchhasbowedtothatofthestate，andthegovernmentofaCatholiccityisstrictlyPresbyterian。Thomassin，Disciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。i。p。156，157，161—165。AmelotdelaHoussaye，GouvernementdeVenise，tom。i。p。256—261。]
[Footnote19:PaulhasgivenadescriptionofItaly，asitwasthendividedintoeighteenregions，l。ii。c。14—24。TheDissertatioChorographicadeItaliaMediiAevi，byFatherBeretti，aBenedictinemonk，andregiusprofessoratPavia，hasbeenusefullyconsulted。]
[Footnote20:FortheconquestofItaly，seetheoriginalmaterialsofPaul，l。p。7—10，12，14，25，26，27，theeloquentnarrativeofSigonius，tom。il。deRegnoItaliae，l。i。
p。13—19，andthecorrectandcriticalreviewelMuratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。v。p。164—180。]
Thereignofthefounderwassplendidandtransient；and，beforehecouldregulatehisnewconquests，Alboinfellasacrificetodomestictreasonandfemalerevenge。InapalacenearVerona，whichhadnotbeenerectedfortheBarbarians，hefeastedthecompanionsofhisarms；intoxicationwastherewardofvalor，andthekinghimselfwastemptedbyappetite，orvanity，toexceedtheordinarymeasureofhisintemperance。