Peter，whoseimageyouthreatentodestroy。^35TheremoteandinteriorkingdomsoftheWestpresenttheirhomagetoChristandhisvicegerent；andwenowpreparetovisitoneoftheirmostpowerfulmonarchs，whodesirestoreceivefromourhandsthesacramentofbaptism。^36TheBarbarianshavesubmittedtotheyokeofthegospel，whileyoualonearedeaftothevoiceoftheshepherd。ThesepiousBarbariansarekindledintorage:theythirsttoavengethepersecutionoftheEast。Abandonyourrashandfatalenterprise；reflect，tremble，andrepent。Ifyoupersist，weareinnocentofthebloodthatwillbespiltinthecontest；mayitfallonyourownhead!\"
[Footnote33:ThetwoepistlesofGregoryII。havebeenpreservedintheActaoftheNiceneCouncil，tom。viii。p。651—674。
Theyarewithoutadate，whichisvariouslyfixed，byBaroniusintheyear726，byMuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。vi。p。120in729，andbyPagiin730。Suchistheforceofprejudice，thatsomepapistshavepraisedthegoodsenseandmoderationoftheseletters。]
[Footnote34:Epist。i。p。664。ThisproximityoftheLombardsishardofdigestion。CamilloPellegriniDissert。iv。deDucatuBeneventi，intheScript。Ital。tom。v。p。172，173forciblyreckonsthexxivthstadia，notfromRome，butfromthelimitsoftheRomanduchy，tothefirstfortress，perhapsSora，oftheLombards。IratherbelievethatGregory，withthepedantryoftheage，employsstadiaformiles，withoutmuchinquiryintothegenuinemeasure。]
[Footnote35:{Greek}]
[Footnote36:p。665。ThepopeappearstohaveimposedontheignoranceoftheGreeks:helivedanddiedintheLateran；andinhistimeallthekingdomsoftheWesthadembracedChristianity。
MaynotthisunknownSeptetushavesomereferencetothechiefoftheSaxonHeptarchy，toInakingofWessex，who，inthepontificateofGregorytheSecond，visitedRomeforthepurpose，notofbaptism，butofpilgrimage!Pagi。A。，89，No。2。A。D。
726，No。15。]
ThefirstassaultofLeoagainsttheimagesofConstantinoplehadbeenwitnessedbyacrowdofstrangersfromItalyandtheWest，whorelatedwithgriefandindignationthesacrilegeoftheemperor。Butonthereceptionofhisproscriptiveedict，theytrembledfortheirdomesticdeities:theimagesofChristandtheVirgin，oftheangels，martyrs，andsaints，wereabolishedinallthechurchesofItaly；andastrongalternativewasproposedtotheRomanpontiff，theroyalfavorasthepriceofhiscompliance，degradationandexileasthepenaltyofhisdisobedience。Neitherzealnorpolicyallowedhimtohesitate；andthehaughtystraininwhichGregoryaddressedtheemperordisplayshisconfidenceinthetruthofhisdoctrineorthepowersofresistance。Withoutdependingonprayersormiracles，heboldlyarmedagainstthepublicenemy，andhispastorallettersadmonishedtheItaliansoftheirdangerandtheirduty。^37Atthissignal，Ravenna，Venice，andthecitiesoftheExarchateandPentapolis，adheredtothecauseofreligion；theirmilitaryforcebyseaandlandconsisted，forthemostpart，ofthenatives；andthespiritofpatriotismandzealwastransfusedintothemercenarystrangers。TheItalianssworetoliveanddieinthedefenceofthepopeandtheholyimages；
theRomanpeoplewasdevotedtotheirfather，andeventheLombardswereambitioustosharethemeritandadvantageofthisholywar。Themosttreasonableact，butthemostobviousrevenge，wasthedestructionofthestatuesofLeohimself:themosteffectualandpleasingmeasureofrebellion，wasthewithholdingthetributeofItaly，anddeprivinghimofapowerwhichhehadrecentlyabusedbytheimpositionofanewcapitation。^38Aformofadministrationwaspreservedbytheelectionofmagistratesandgovernors；andsohighwasthepublicindignation，thattheItalianswerepreparedtocreateanorthodoxemperor，andtoconducthimwithafleetandarmytothepalaceofConstantinople。Inthatpalace，theRomanbishops，thesecondandthirdGregory，werecondemnedastheauthorsoftherevolt，andeveryattemptwasmade，eitherbyfraudorforce，toseizetheirpersons，andtostrikeattheirlives。Thecitywasrepeatedlyvisitedorassaultedbycaptainsoftheguards，anddukesandexarchsofhighdignityorsecrettrust；theylandedwithforeigntroops，theyobtainedsomedomesticaid，andthesuperstitionofNaplesmayblushthatherfatherswereattachedtothecauseofheresy。ButtheseclandestineoropenattackswererepelledbythecourageandvigilanceoftheRomans；theGreekswereoverthrownandmassacred，theirleaderssufferedanignominiousdeath，andthepopes，howeverinclinedtomercy，refusedtointercedefortheseguiltyvictims。AtRavenna，^39
theseveralquartersofthecityhadlongexercisedabloodyandhereditaryfeud；inreligiouscontroversytheyfoundanewalimentoffaction:butthevotariesofimagesweresuperiorinnumbersorspirit，andtheexarch，whoattemptedtostemthetorrent，losthislifeinapopularsedition。Topunishthisflagitiousdeed，andrestorehisdominioninItaly，theemperorsentafleetandarmyintotheAdriaticGulf。Aftersufferingfromthewindsandwavesmuchlossanddelay，theGreeksmadetheirdescentintheneighborhoodofRavenna:theythreatenedtodepopulatetheguiltycapital，andtoimitate，perhapstosurpass，theexampleofJustiniantheSecond，whohadchastisedaformerrebellionbythechoiceandexecutionoffiftyoftheprincipalinhabitants。Thewomenandclergy，insackclothandashes，layprostrateinprayer:themenwereinarmsforthedefenceoftheircountry；thecommondangerhadunitedthefactions，andtheeventofabattlewaspreferredtotheslowmiseriesofasiege。Inahard—foughtday，asthetwoarmiesalternatelyyieldedandadvanced，aphantomwasseen，avoicewasheard，andRavennawasvictoriousbytheassuranceofvictory。
Thestrangersretreatedtotheirships，butthepopuloussea—coastpouredforthamultitudeofboats；thewatersofthePoweresodeeplyinfectedwithblood，thatduringsixyearsthepublicprejudiceabstainedfromthefishoftheriver；andtheinstitutionofanannualfeastperpetuatedtheworshipofimages，andtheabhorrenceoftheGreektyrant。AmidstthetriumphoftheCatholicarms，theRomanpontiffconvenedasynodofninety—threebishopsagainsttheheresyoftheIconoclasts。Withtheirconsent，hepronouncedageneralexcommunicationagainstallwhobywordordeedshouldattackthetraditionofthefathersandtheimagesofthesaints:inthissentencetheemperorwastacitlyinvolved，^40butthevoteofalastandhopelessremonstrancemayseemtoimplythattheanathemawasyetsuspendedoverhisguiltyhead。Nosoonerhadtheyconfirmedtheirownsafety，theworshipofimages，andthefreedomofRomeandItaly，thanthepopesappeartohaverelaxedoftheirseverity，andtohavesparedtherelicsoftheByzantinedominion。Theirmoderatecouncilsdelayedandpreventedtheelectionofanewemperor，andtheyexhortedtheItaliansnottoseparatefromthebodyoftheRomanmonarchy。TheexarchwaspermittedtoresidewithinthewallsofRavenna，acaptiveratherthanamaster；andtilltheImperialcoronationofCharlemagne，thegovernmentofRomeandItalywasexercisedinthenameofthesuccessorsofConstantine。^41
[Footnote37:IshalltranscribetheimportantanddecisivepassageoftheLiberPontificalis。Respiciensergopiusvirprofanamprincipisjussionem，jamcontraImperatoremquasicontrahostemsearmavit，renuenshaeresimejus，scribensubiquesecavereChristianos，eoquodortafuissetimpietastalis。IgiturpermotiomnesPentapolenses，atqueVenetiarumexercituscontraImperatorisjussionemrestiterunt；dicentessenunquaminejusdempontificiscondescenderenecem，sedproejusmagisdefensioneviriliterdecertare，p。156。]
[Footnote38:Acensus，orcapitation，saysAnastasius，p。156；
amostcrueltax，unknowntotheSaracensthemselves，exclaimsthezealousMaimbourg，Hist。desIconoclastes，l。i。，andTheophanes，p。344，whotalksofPharaoh\'snumberingthemalechildrenofIsrael。ThismodeoftaxationwasfamiliartotheSaracens；and，mostunluckilyforthehistorians，itwasimposedafewyearsafterwardsinFrancebyhispatronLouisXIV。]
[Footnote39:SeetheLiberPontificalisofAgnellus，intheScriptoresRerumItalicarumofMuratori，tom。ii。parsi。，whosedeepershadeofbarbarismmarksthedifferencebetweenRomeandRavenna。Yetweareindebtedtohimforsomecuriousanddomesticfacts—thequartersandfactionsofRavenna，p。154，
therevengeofJustinianII，p。160，161，thedefeatoftheGreeks，p。170，171，&c。]
[Footnote40:YetLeowasundoubtedlycomprisedinthesiquis……imaginumsacrarum……destructor……extiterit，sitextorrisacorporeD。N。JesuChristiveltotiusecclesiaeunitate。Thecanonistsmaydecidewhethertheguiltorthenameconstitutestheexcommunication；andthedecisionisofthelastimportancetotheirsafety，since，accordingtotheoracleGratian，Caus。xxiii。q。5，47，apudSpanheim，Hist。Imag。p。
112homicidasnonessequiexcommunicatostrucidant。]
[Footnote41:CompescuittaleconsiliumPontifex，speransconversionemprincipis，Anastas。p。156。SednedesisterentabamoreetfideR。J。admonebat，p。157。ThepopesstyleLeoandConstantineCopronymus，ImperatoresetDomini，withthestrangeepithetofPiissimi。AfamousMosaicoftheLateranA。D。798
representsChrist，whodeliversthekeystoSt。PeterandthebannertoConstantineV。Muratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。vi。p。
337。]
ThelibertyofRome，whichhadbeenoppressedbythearmsandartsofAugustus，wasrescued，aftersevenhundredandfiftyyearsofservitude，fromthepersecutionofLeotheIsaurian。BytheCaesars，thetriumphsoftheconsulshadbeenannihilated:inthedeclineandfalloftheempire，thegodTerminus，thesacredboundary，hadinsensiblyrecededfromtheocean，theRhine，theDanube，andtheEuphrates；andRomewasreducedtoherancientterritoryfromViterbotoTerracina，andfromNarnitothemouthoftheTyber。^42Whenthekingswerebanished，therepublicreposedonthefirmbasiswhichhadbeenfoundedbytheirwisdomandvirtue。Theirperpetualjurisdictionwasdividedbetweentwoannualmagistrates:thesenatecontinuedtoexercisethepowersofadministrationandcounsel；andthelegislativeauthoritywasdistributedintheassembliesofthepeople，byawell—proportionedscaleofpropertyandservice。Ignorantoftheartsofluxury，theprimitiveRomanshadimprovedthescienceofgovernmentandwar:thewillofthecommunitywasabsolute:therightsofindividualsweresacred:onehundredandthirtythousandcitizenswerearmedfordefenceorconquest；andabandofrobbersandoutlawswasmouldedintoanationdeservingoffreedomandambitiousofglory。^43WhenthesovereigntyoftheGreekemperorswasextinguished，theruinsofRomepresentedthesadimageofdepopulationanddecay:herslaverywasahabit，herlibertyanaccident；theeffectofsuperstition，andtheobjectofherownamazementandterror。Thelastvestigeofthesubstance，oreventheforms，oftheconstitution，wasobliteratedfromthepracticeandmemoryoftheRomans；andtheyweredevoidofknowledge，orvirtue，againtobuildthefabricofacommonwealth。Theirscantyremnant，theoffspringofslavesandstrangers，wasdespicableintheeyesofthevictoriousBarbarians。AsoftenastheFranksorLombardsexpressedtheirmostbittercontemptofafoe，theycalledhimaRoman；\"andinthisname，\"saysthebishopLiutprand，\"weincludewhateverisbase，whateveriscowardly，whateverisperfidious，theextremesofavariceandluxury，andeveryvicethatcanprostitutethedignityofhumannature。\"^44Bythenecessityoftheirsituation，theinhabitantsofRomewerecastintotheroughmodelofarepublicangovernment:theywerecompelledtoelectsomejudgesinpeace，andsomeleadersinwar:thenoblesassembledtodeliberate，andtheirresolvescouldnotbeexecutedwithouttheunionandconsentofthemultitude。ThestyleoftheRomansenateandpeoplewasrevived，^45butthespiritwasfled；andtheirnewindependencewasdisgracedbythetumultuousconflictofvicentiousnessandoppression。Thewantoflawscouldonlybesuppliedbytheinfluenceofreligion，andtheirforeignanddomesticcounselsweremoderatedbytheauthorityofthebishop。
Hisalms，hissermons，hiscorrespondencewiththekingsandprelatesoftheWest，hisrecentservices，theirgratitude，andoath，accustomedtheRomanstoconsiderhimasthefirstmagistrateorprinceofthecity。TheChristianhumilityofthepopeswasnotoffendedbythenameofDominus，orLord；andtheirfaceandinscriptionarestillapparentonthemostancientcoins。^46Theirtemporaldominionisnowconfirmedbythereverenceofathousandyears；andtheirnoblesttitleisthefreechoiceofapeople，whomtheyhadredeemedfromslavery。
[Footnote42:IhavetracedtheRomanduchyaccordingtothemaps，andthemapsaccordingtotheexcellentdissertationoffatherBeretti，deChorographiaItaliaeMediiAevi，sect。xx。p。
216—232。YetImustnicelyobserve，thatViterboisofLombardfoundation，p。211，andthatTerracinawasusurpedbytheGreeks。]
[Footnote43:Ontheextent，population，&c。，oftheRomankingdom，thereadermayperuse，withpleasure，theDiscoursPreliminairetotheRepubliqueRomaineofM。deBeaufort，tom。
i。，whowillnotbeaccusedoftoomuchcredulityfortheearlyagesofRome。]
[Footnote44:QuosRomanosnos，Longobardiscilicet，Saxones，Franci，Locharingi，Bajoarii，Suevi，Burgundiones，tantodedignamurutinimicosnostroscommoti，nilaliudcontumeliarumnisiRomane，dicamus:hocsolo，idestRomanorumnomine，quicquidignobilitatis，quicquidtimiditatis，quicquidavaritiae，quicquidluxuriae，quicquidmendacii，immoquicquidvitiorumestcomprehendentes，Liutprand，inLegatScript。Ital。tom。ii。parai。p。481。ForthesinsofCatoorTullyMinosmighthaveimposedasafitpenancethedailyperusalofthisbarbarouspassage。]
[Footnote*:Yetthiscontumelioussentence，quotedbyRobertsonCharlesVnote2aswellasGibbon，wasappliedbytheangrybishoptotheByzantineRomans，whom，indeed，headmitstobethegenuinedescendantsofRomulus。—M。]
[Footnote45:PipinoregiFrancorum，omnissenatus，atqueuniversapopuligeneralitasaDeoservataeRomanaeurbis。CodexCarolin。epist。36，inScript。Ital。tom。iii。parsii。p。160。
Thenamesofsenatusandsenatorwerenevertotallyextinct，Dissert。Chorograph。p。216，217；butinthemiddleagestheysignifiedlittlemorethannobiles，optimates，&c。，Ducange，Gloss。Latin。]
[Footnote46:SeeMuratori，Antiquit。ItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。
ii。Dissertatxxvii。p。548。OnoneofthesecoinswereadHadrianusPapaA。D。772；onthereverse，Vict。Ddnn。withthewordConob，whichthePereJoubertSciencedesMedailles，tom。
ii。p。42explainsbyConstantinopoliOfficinaBsecunda。]
InthequarrelsofancientGreece，theholypeopleofElisenjoyedaperpetualpeace，undertheprotectionofJupiter，andintheexerciseoftheOlympicgames。^47HappywouldithavebeenfortheRomans，ifasimilarprivilegehadguardedthepatrimonyofSt。Peterfromthecalamitiesofwar；iftheChristians，whovisitedtheholythreshold，wouldhavesheathedtheirswordsinthepresenceoftheapostleandhissuccessor。
Butthismysticcirclecouldhavebeentracedonlybythewandofalegislatorandasage:thispacificsystemwasincompatiblewiththezealandambitionofthepopestheRomanswerenotaddicted，liketheinhabitantsofElis，totheinnocentandplacidlaborsofagriculture；andtheBarbariansofItaly，thoughsoftenedbytheclimate，werefarbelowtheGrecianstatesintheinstitutionsofpublicandprivatelife。AmemorableexampleofrepentanceandpietywasexhibitedbyLiutprand，kingoftheLombards。Inarms，atthegateoftheVatican，theconquerorlistenedtothevoiceofGregorytheSecond，^48withdrewhistroops，resignedhisconquests，respectfullyvisitedthechurchofSt。Peter，andafterperforminghisdevotions，offeredhisswordanddagger，hiscuirassandmantle，hissilvercross，andhiscrownofgold，onthetomboftheapostle。Butthisreligiousfervorwastheillusion，perhapstheartifice，ofthemoment；thesenseofinterestisstrongandlasting；theloveofarmsandrapinewascongenialtotheLombards；andboththeprinceandpeoplewereirresistiblytemptedbythedisordersofItaly，thenakednessofRome，andtheunwarlikeprofessionofhernewchief。Onthefirstedictsoftheemperor，theydeclaredthemselvesthechampionsoftheholyimages:LiutprandinvadedtheprovinceofRomagna，whichhadalreadyassumedthatdistinctiveappellation；theCatholicsoftheExarchateyieldedwithoutreluctancetohiscivilandmilitarypower；andaforeignenemywasintroducedforthefirsttimeintotheimpregnablefortressofRavenna。ThatcityandfortresswerespeedilyrecoveredbytheactivediligenceandmaritimeforcesoftheVenetians；andthosefaithfulsubjectsobeyedtheexhortationofGregoryhimself，inseparatingthepersonalguiltofLeofromthegeneralcauseoftheRomanempire。^49TheGreekswerelessmindfuloftheservice，thantheLombardsoftheinjury:thetwonations，hostileintheirfaith，werereconciledinadangerousandunnaturalalliance:thekingandtheexarchmarchedtotheconquestofSpoletoandRome:thestormevaporatedwithouteffect，butthepolicyofLiutprandalarmedItalywithavexatiousalternativeofhostilityandtruce。HissuccessorAstolphusdeclaredhimselftheequalenemyoftheemperorandthepope:Ravennawassubduedbyforceortreachery，^50andthisfinalconquestextinguishedtheseriesoftheexarchs，whohadreignedwithasubordinatepowersincethetimeofJustinianandtheruinoftheGothickingdom。RomewassummonedtoacknowledgethevictoriousLombardasherlawfulsovereign；theannualtributeofapieceofgoldwasfixedastheransomofeachcitizen，andtheswordofdestructionwasunsheathedtoexactthepenaltyofherdisobedience。TheRomanshesitated；theyentreated；theycomplained；andthethreateningBarbarianswerecheckedbyarmsandnegotiations，tillthepopeshadengagedthefriendshipofanallyandavengerbeyondtheAlps。^51
[Footnote47:SeeWest\'sDissertationontheOlympicGames，Pindar。vol。ii。p。32—36，editionin12mo。，andthejudiciousreflectionsofPolybiustom。i。l。iv。p。466，editGronov。]
[Footnote48:ThespeechofGregorytotheLombardisfinelycomposedbySigonius，deRegnoItaliae，l。iii。Opera，tom。ii。
p。173，whoimitatesthelicenseandthespiritofSallustorLivy。]
[Footnote49:TheVenetianhistorians，JohnSagorninus，Chron。
Venet。p。13，andthedogeAndrewDandolo，ScriptoresRer。
Ital。tom。xii。p。135，havepreservedthisepistleofGregory。
ThelossandrecoveryofRavennaarementionedbyPaulusDiaconus，deGest。Langobard，l。vi。c。42，54，inScript。Ital。
tom。i。parsi。p。506，508；butourchronologists，Pagi，Muratori，&c。，cannotascertainthedateorcircumstances]
[Footnote50:TheoptionwilldependonthevariousreadingsoftheMss。ofAnastasius—deceperat，ordecerpserat，Script。
Ital。tom。iii。parsi。p。167。]
[Footnote51:TheCodexCarolinusisacollectionoftheepistlesofthepopestoCharlesMartel，whomtheystyleSubregulus，
Pepin，andCharlemagne，asfarastheyear791，whenitwasformedbythelastoftheseprinces。HisoriginalandauthenticMs。BibliothecaeCubicularisisnowintheImperiallibraryofVienna，andhasbeenpublishedbyLambeciusandMuratori，Script。RerumItal。tom。iii。parsii。p。75，&c。]
Inhisdistress，thefirstGregoryhadimploredtheaidoftheherooftheage，ofCharlesMartel，whogovernedtheFrenchmonarchywiththehumbletitleofmayororduke；andwho，byhissignalvictoryovertheSaracens，hadsavedhiscountry，andperhapsEurope，fromtheMahometanyoke。TheambassadorsofthepopewerereceivedbyCharleswithdecentreverence；butthegreatnessofhisoccupations，andtheshortnessofhislife，preventedhisinterferenceintheaffairsofItaly，exceptbyafriendlyandineffectualmediation。HissonPepin，theheirofhispowerandvirtues，assumedtheofficeofchampionoftheRomanchurch；andthezealoftheFrenchprinceappearstohavebeenpromptedbytheloveofgloryandreligion。ButthedangerwasonthebanksoftheTyber，thesuccoronthoseoftheSeine，andoursympathyiscoldtotherelationofdistantmisery。