PartIII。
Sorapidwastheinfluenceofclimateandexample，thattheLombardsofthefourthgenerationsurveyedwithcuriosityandaffrighttheportraitsoftheirsavageforefathers。^49Theirheadswereshavenbehind，buttheshaggylockshungovertheireyesandmouth，andalongbeardrepresentedthenameandcharacterofthenation。Theirdressconsistedoflooselinengarments，afterthefashionoftheAnglo—Saxons，whichweredecorated，intheiropinion，withbroadstripesorvariegatedcolors。Thelegsandfeetwereclothedinlonghose，andopensandals；andeveninthesecurityofpeaceatrustyswordwasconstantlygirttotheirside。Yetthisstrangeapparel，andhorridaspect，oftenconcealedagentleandgenerousdisposition；
andassoonastherageofbattlehadsubsided，thecaptivesandsubjectsweresometimessurprisedbythehumanityofthevictor。
ThevicesoftheLombardsweretheeffectofpassion，ofignorance，ofintoxication；theirvirtuesarethemorelaudable，astheywerenotaffectedbythehypocrisyofsocialmanners，norimposedbytherigidconstraintoflawsandeducation。Ishouldnotbeapprehensiveofdeviatingfrommysubject，ifitwereinmypowertodelineatetheprivatelifeoftheconquerorsofItaly；andIshallrelatewithpleasuretheadventurousgallantryofAutharis，whichbreathesthetruespiritofchivalryandromance。^50Afterthelossofhispromisedbride，aMerovingianprincess，hesoughtinmarriagethedaughterofthekingofBavaria；andGarribaldacceptedtheallianceoftheItalianmonarch。Impatientoftheslowprogressofnegotiation，theardentloverescapedfromhispalace，andvisitedthecourtofBavariainthetrainofhisownembassy。Atthepublicaudience，theunknownstrangeradvancedtothethrone，andinformedGarribaldthattheambassadorwasindeedtheministerofstate，butthathealonewasthefriendofAutharis，whohadtrustedhimwiththedelicatecommissionofmakingafaithfulreportofthecharmsofhisspouse。Theudelindawassummonedtoundergothisimportantexamination；and，afterapauseofsilentrapture，hehailedherasthequeenofItaly，andhumblyrequestedthat，accordingtothecustomofthenation，shewouldpresentacupofwinetothefirstofhernewsubjects。Bythecommandofherfathersheobeyed:Autharisreceivedthecupinhisturn，and，inrestoringittotheprincess，hesecretlytouchedherhand，anddrewhisownfingeroverhisfaceandlips。Intheevening，Theudelindaimpartedtohernursetheindiscreetfamiliarityofthestranger，andwascomfortedbytheassurance，thatsuchboldnesscouldproceedonlyfromthekingherhusband，who，byhisbeautyandcourage，appearedworthyofherlove。Theambassadorsweredismissed:nosoonerdidtheyreachtheconfinesofItalythanAutharis，raisinghimselfonhishorse，dartedhisbattle—axeagainstatreewithincomparablestrengthanddexterity。\"Such，\"saidhetotheastonishedBavarians，\"sucharethestrokesofthekingoftheLombards。\"OntheapproachofaFrencharmy，Garribaldandhisdaughtertookrefugeinthedominionsoftheirally；andthemarriagewasconsummatedinthepalaceofVerona。Attheendofoneyear，itwasdissolvedbythedeathofAutharis:butthevirtuesofTheudelinda^51hadendearedhertothenation，andshewaspermittedtobestow，withherhand，thesceptreoftheItaliankingdom。
[Footnote49:TheepitaphofDroctulfPaul，l。iii。c。19maybeappliedtomanyofhiscountrymen:—
Terribilisvisufacies，sedcordabenignusLongaquerobustopectorebarbafuit。
TheportraitsoftheoldLombardsmightstillbeseeninthepalaceofMonza，twelvemilesfromMilan，whichhadbeenfoundedorrestoredbyQueenTheudelinda，l。iv。22，23。SeeMuratori，tom。i。disserta，xxiii。p。300。]
[Footnote50:ThestoryofAutharisandTheudelindaisrelatedbyPaul，l。iii。29，34；andanyfragmentofBavarianantiquityexcitestheindefatigablediligenceofthecountdeBuat，Hist。
desPeuplesdel\'Europe，ton。xi。p。595—635，tom。xii。p。1—
53。]
[Footnote51:GiannoneIstoriaCiviledeNapoli，tom。i。p。263
hasjustlycensuredtheimpertinenceofBoccaccio，Gio。iii。
Novel。2，who，withoutright，ortruth，orpretence，hasgiventhepiousqueenTheudelindatothearmsofamuleteer。]
Fromthisfact，aswellasfromsimilarevents，^52itiscertainthattheLombardspossessedfreedomtoelecttheirsovereign，andsensetodeclinethefrequentuseofthatdangerousprivilege。Thepublicrevenuearosefromtheproduceoflandandtheprofitsofjustice。WhentheindependentdukesagreedthatAutharisshouldascendthethroneofhisfather，theyendowedtheregalofficewithafairmoietyoftheirrespectivedomains。Theproudestnoblesaspiredtothehonorsofservitudenearthepersonoftheirprince:herewardedthefidelityofhisvassalsbytheprecariousgiftofpensionsandbenefices；andatonedfortheinjuriesofwarbytherichfoundationofmonasteriesandchurches。Inpeaceajudge，aleaderinwar，heneverusurpedthepowersofasoleandabsolutelegislator。ThekingofItalyconvenedthenationalassembliesinthepalace，ormoreprobablyinthefields，ofPavia:hisgreatcouncilwascomposedofthepersonsmosteminentbytheirbirthanddignities；butthevalidity，aswellastheexecution，oftheirdecreesdependedontheapprobationofthefaithfulpeople，thefortunatearmyoftheLombards。AboutfourscoreyearsaftertheconquestofItaly，theirtraditionalcustomsweretranscribedinTeutonicLatin，^53andratifiedbytheconsentoftheprinceandpeople:somenewregulationswereintroduced，moresuitabletotheirpresentcondition；theexampleofRothariswasimitatedbythewisestofhissuccessors；andthelawsoftheLombardshavebeenesteemedtheleastimperfectoftheBarbariccodes。^54
Securebytheircourageinthepossessionofliberty，theserudeandhastylegislatorswereincapableofbalancingthepowersoftheconstitution，orofdiscussingthenicetheoryofpoliticalgovernment。Suchcrimesasthreatenedthelifeofthesovereign，orthesafetyofthestate，wereadjudgedworthyofdeath；buttheirattentionwasprincipallyconfinedtothedefenceofthepersonandpropertyofthesubject。Accordingtothestrangejurisprudenceofthetimes，theguiltofbloodmightberedeemedbyafine；yetthehighpriceofninehundredpiecesofgolddeclaresajustsenseofthevalueofasimplecitizen。Lessatrociousinjuries，awound，afracture，ablow，anopprobriousword，weremeasuredwithscrupulousandalmostridiculousdiligence；andtheprudenceofthelegislatorencouragedtheignoblepracticeofbarteringhonorandrevengeforapecuniarycompensation。TheignoranceoftheLombardsinthestateofPaganismorChristianitygaveimplicitcredittothemaliceandmischiefofwitchcraft，butthejudgesoftheseventeenthcenturymighthavebeeninstructedandconfoundedbythewisdomofRotharis，whoderidestheabsurdsuperstition，andprotectsthewretchedvictimsofpopularorjudicialcruelty。^55Thesamespiritofalegislator，superiortohisageandcountry，maybeascribedtoLuitprand，whocondemns，whilehetolerates，theimpiousandinveterateabuseofduels，^56observing，fromhisownexperience，thatthejustercausehadoftenbeenoppressedbysuccessfulviolence。WhatevermeritmaybediscoveredinthelawsoftheLombards，theyarethegenuinefruitofthereasonoftheBarbarians，whoneveradmittedthebishopsofItalytoaseatintheirlegislativecouncils。Butthesuccessionoftheirkingsismarkedwithvirtueandability；thetroubledseriesoftheirannalsisadornedwithfairintervalsofpeace，order，anddomestichappiness；andtheItaliansenjoyedamilderandmoreequitablegovernment，thananyoftheotherkingdomswhichhadbeenfoundedontheruinsoftheWesternempire。^57
[Footnote52:Paul，l。iii。c。16。ThefirstdissertationsofMuratori，andthefirstvolumeofGiannone\'shistory，maybeconsultedforthestateofthekingdomofItaly。]
[Footnote53:ThemostaccurateeditionoftheLawsoftheLombardsistobefoundintheScriptoresRerumItalicarum，tom。
i。partii。p。1—181，collatedfromthemostancientMss。andillustratedbythecriticalnotesofMuratori。]
[Footnote54:Montesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xxviii。c。1。LesloixdesBourguignonssontassezjudicieuses；cellesdeRotharisetdesautresprincesLombardslesontencoreplus。]
[Footnote55:SeeLegesRotharis，No。379，p。47。Strigaisusedasthenameofawitch。Itisofthepurestclassicorigin，Horat。epod。v。20。Petron。c。134；andfromthewordsofPetronius，quaestrigescomederuntnervostuos?itmaybeinferredthattheprejudicewasofItalianratherthanBarbaricextraction。]
[Footnote56:QuiaincertisumusdejudicioDei，etmultosaudivimusperpugnamsinejustacausasuamcausamperdere。SedpropterconsuetudinomgentemnostramLangobardorumlegemimpiamvetarenonpossumus。Seep。74，No。65，oftheLawsofLuitprand，promulgatedA。D。724。]
[Footnote57:ReadthehistoryofPaulWarnefrid；particularlyl。
iii。c。16。Baroniusrejectsthepraise，whichappearstocontradicttheinvectivesofPopeGregorytheGreat；butMuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。v。p。217presumestoinsinuatethatthesaintmayhavemagnifiedthefaultsofAriansandenemies。]
AmidstthearmsoftheLombards，andunderthedespotismoftheGreeks，weagaininquireintothefateofRome，^58whichhadreached，aboutthecloseofthesixthcentury，thelowestperiodofherdepression。Bytheremovaloftheseatofempire，andthesuccessivelossoftheprovinces，thesourcesofpublicandprivateopulencewereexhausted:theloftytree，underwhoseshadethenationsoftheearthhadreposed，wasdeprivedofitsleavesandbranches，andthesaplesstrunkwaslefttowitherontheground。Theministersofcommand，andthemessengersofvictory，nolongermetontheAppianorFlaminianway；andthehostileapproachoftheLombardswasoftenfelt，andcontinuallyfeared。Theinhabitantsofapotentandpeacefulcapital，whovisitwithoutananxiousthoughtthegardenoftheadjacentcountry，willfaintlypictureintheirfancythedistressoftheRomans:theyshutoropenedtheirgateswithatremblinghand，beheldfromthewallstheflamesoftheirhouses，andheardthelamentationsoftheirbrethren，whowerecoupledtogetherlikedogs，anddraggedawayintodistantslaverybeyondtheseaandthemountains。Suchincessantalarmsmustannihilatethepleasuresandinterruptthelaborsofarurallife；andtheCampagnaofRomewasspeedilyreducedtothestateofadrearywilderness，inwhichthelandisbarren，thewatersareimpure，andtheairisinfectious。Curiosityandambitionnolongerattractedthenationstothecapitaloftheworld:but，ifchanceornecessitydirectedthestepsofawanderingstranger，hecontemplatedwithhorrorthevacancyandsolitudeofthecity，andmightbetemptedtoask，Whereisthesenate，andwherearethepeople?Inaseasonofexcessiverains，theTyberswelledaboveitsbanks，andrushedwithirresistibleviolenceintothevalleysofthesevenhills。Apestilentialdiseasearosefromthestagnationofthedeluge，andsorapidwasthecontagion，thatfourscorepersonsexpiredinanhourinthemidstofasolemnprocession，whichimploredthemercyofHeaven。^59A
societyinwhichmarriageisencouragedandindustryprevailssoonrepairstheaccidentallossesofpestilenceandwar:but，asthefargreaterpartoftheRomanswascondemnedtohopelessindigenceandcelibacy，thedepopulationwasconstantandvisible，andthegloomyenthusiastsmightexpecttheapproachingfailureofthehumanrace。^60Yetthenumberofcitizensstillexceededthemeasureofsubsistence:theirprecariousfoodwassuppliedfromtheharvestsofSicilyorEgypt；andthefrequentrepetitionoffaminebetraystheinattentionoftheemperortoadistantprovince。TheedificesofRomewereexposedtothesameruinanddecay:themoulderingfabricswereeasilyoverthrownbyinundations，tempests，andearthquakes:andthemonks，whohadoccupiedthemostadvantageousstations，exultedintheirbasetriumphovertheruinsofantiquity。^61Itiscommonlybelieved，thatPopeGregorytheFirstattackedthetemplesandmutilatedthestatuesofthecity；that，bythecommandoftheBarbarian，thePalatinelibrarywasreducedtoashes，andthatthehistoryofLivywasthepeculiarmarkofhisabsurdandmischievousfanaticism。ThewritingsofGregoryhimselfrevealhisimplacableaversiontothemonumentsofclassicgenius；andhepointshisseverestcensureagainsttheprofanelearningofabishop，whotaughttheartofgrammar，studiedtheLatinpoets，andpronouncedwiththesamevoicethepraisesofJupiterandthoseofChrist。Buttheevidenceofhisdestructiverageisdoubtfulandrecent:theTempleofPeace，orthetheatreofMarcellus，havebeendemolishedbytheslowoperationofages，andaformalproscriptionwouldhavemultipliedthecopiesofVirgilandLivyinthecountrieswhichwerenotsubjecttotheecclesiasticaldictator。^62
[Footnote58:ThepassagesofthehomiliesofGregory，whichrepresentthemiserablestateofthecityandcountry，aretranscribedintheAnnalsofBaronius，A。D。590，No。16，A。D。
595，No。2，&c。，&c。]
[Footnote59:Theinundationandplaguewerereportedbyadeacon，whomhisbishop，GregoryofTours，haddespatchedtoRomeforsomerelicsTheingeniousmessengerembellishedhistaleandtheriverwithagreatdragonandatrainoflittleserpents，Greg。Turon。l。x。c。1。]
[Footnote60:GregoryofRomeDialog。l。ii。c。15relatesamemorablepredictionofSt。Benedict。RomaaGentilibusnonexterminabitursedtempestatibus，coruscisturbinibusacterraemotuinsemetipsamarcescet。Suchaprophecymeltsintotruehistory，andbecomestheevidenceofthefactafterwhichitwasinvented。]
[Footnote61:QuiainunoseorecumJovislaudibus，Christilaudesnoncapiunt，etquamgravenefandumquesitepiscopiscanerequodneclaicoreligiosoconveniat，ipseconsidera，l。
ix。ep。4。ThewritingsofGregoryhimselfattesthisinnocenceofanyclassictasteorliterature]
[Footnote62:Bayle，DictionnaireCritique，tom。ii。598，569，
inaverygoodarticleofGregoireI。，hasquoted，forthebuildingsandstatues，PlatinainGregorioI。；forthePalatinelibrary，JohnofSalisbury，deNugisCurialium，l。ii。c。26；
andforLivy，AntoninusofFlorence:theoldestofthethreelivedinthexiithcentury。]
LikeThebes，orBabylon，orCarthage，thenamesofRomemighthavebeenerasedfromtheearth，ifthecityhadnotbeenanimatedbyavitalprinciple，whichagainrestoredhertohonoranddominion。Avaguetraditionwasembraced，thattwoJewishteachers，atent—makerandafisherman，hadformerlybeenexecutedinthecircusofNero，andattheendoffivehundredyears，theirgenuineorfictitiousrelicswereadoredasthePalladiumofChristianRome。ThepilgrimsoftheEastandWestresortedtotheholythreshold；buttheshrinesoftheapostleswereguardedbymiraclesandinvisibleterrors；anditwasnotwithoutfearthatthepiousCatholicapproachedtheobjectofhisworship。Itwasfataltotouch，itwasdangeroustobehold，thebodiesofthesaints；andthosewho，fromthepurestmotives，presumedtodisturbthereposeofthesanctuary，wereaffrightedbyvisions，orpunishedwithsuddendeath。Theunreasonablerequestofanempress，whowishedtodeprivetheRomansoftheirsacredtreasure，theheadofSt。Paul，wasrejectedwiththedeepestabhorrence；andthepopeasserted，mostprobablywithtruth，thatalinenwhichhadbeensanctifiedintheneighborhoodofhisbody，orthefilingsofhischain，whichitwassometimeseasyandsometimesimpossibletoobtain，possessedanequaldegreeofmiraculousvirtue。^63Butthepoweraswellasvirtueoftheapostlesresidedwithlivingenergyinthebreastoftheirsuccessors；andthechairofSt。PeterwasfilledunderthereignofMauricebythefirstandgreatestofthenameofGregory。^64
HisgrandfatherFelixhadhimselfbeenpope，andasthebishopswerealreadyboundbythelawsofcelibacy，hisconsecrationmusthavebeenprecededbythedeathofhiswife。TheparentsofGregory，Sylvia，andGordian，werethenoblestofthesenate，andthemostpiousofthechurchofRome；hisfemalerelationswerenumberedamongthesaintsandvirgins；andhisownfigure，withthoseofhisfatherandmother，wererepresentednearthreehundredyearsinafamilyportrait，^65whichheofferedtothemonasteryofSt。Andrew。ThedesignandcoloringofthispictureaffordanhonorabletestimonythattheartofpaintingwascultivatedbytheItaliansofthesixthcentury；butthemostabjectideasmustbeentertainedoftheirtasteandlearning，sincetheepistlesofGregory，hissermons，andhisdialogues，aretheworkofamanwhowassecondineruditiontononeofhiscontemporaries:^66hisbirthandabilitieshadraisedhimtotheofficeofpraefectofthecity，andheenjoyedthemeritofrenouncingthepompsandvanitiesofthisworld。Hisamplepatrimonywasdedicatedtothefoundationofsevenmonasteries，^67oneinRome，^68andsixinSicily；anditwasthewishofGregorythathemightbeunknowninthislife，andgloriousonlyinthenext。Yethisdevotionanditmightbesincerepursuedthepathwhichwouldhavebeenchosenbyacraftyandambitiousstatesman。ThetalentsofGregory，andthesplendorwhichaccompaniedhisretreat，renderedhimdearandusefultothechurch；andimplicitobediencehasalwaysbeeninculcatedasthefirstdutyofamonk。Assoonashehadreceivedthecharacterofdeacon，GregorywassenttoresideattheByzantinecourt，thenuncioorministeroftheapostolicsee；andheboldlyassumed，inthenameofSt。Peter，atoneofindependentdignity，whichwouldhavebeencriminalanddangerousinthemostillustriouslaymanoftheempire。HereturnedtoRomewithajustincreaseofreputation，and，afterashortexerciseofthemonasticvirtues，hewasdraggedfromthecloistertothepapalthrone，bytheunanimousvoiceoftheclergy，thesenate，andthepeople。Healoneresisted，orseemedtoresist，hisownelevation；andhishumblepetition，thatMauricewouldbepleasedtorejectthechoiceoftheRomans，couldonlyservetoexalthischaracterintheeyesoftheemperorandthepublic。Whenthefatalmandatewasproclaimed，GregorysolicitedtheaidofsomefriendlymerchantstoconveyhiminabasketbeyondthegatesofRome，andmodestlyconcealedhimselfsomedaysamongthewoodsandmountains，tillhisretreatwasdiscovered，asitissaid，byacelestiallight。
[Footnote63:Gregor。l。iii。epist。24，edict。12，&c。FromtheepistlesofGregory，andtheviiithvolumeoftheAnnalsofBaronius，thepiousreadermaycollecttheparticlesofholyironwhichwereinsertedinkeysorcrossesofgold，anddistributedinBritain，Gaul，Spain，Africa，Constantinople，andEgypt。Thepontificalsmithwhohandledthefilemusthaveunderstoodthemiracleswhichitwasinhisownpowertooperateorwithhold；acircumstancewhichabatesthesuperstitionofGregoryattheexpenseofhisveracity。]
[Footnote64:BesidestheepistlesofGregoryhimself，whicharemethodizedbyDupin，BibliothequeEccles。tom。v。p。103—126，
wehavethreelivesofthepope；thetwofirstwrittenintheviiithandixthcenturies，deTripliciVitaSt。Greg。PrefacetotheivthvolumeoftheBenedictineedition，bythedeaconsPaulp。1—18andJohn，p。19—188，andcontainingmuchoriginal，thoughdoubtful，evidence；thethird，alongandlaboredcompilationbytheBenedictineeditors，p。199—305。