I XLV. produce, was exchanged by a more equitable CHAP. tranfaction for an adequate proportion of landed property. Under thefe foreign mafters, the bufinefs of agriculture, in the cultivation of corn, vines, and olives, was exercifed with degenerate skill and industry by the labour of the flaves and natives. But the occupations of a paftoral life were more pleafing to the idleness of the Barbarians. In the rich meadows of Venetia, they restored and improved the breed of horfes for which that province had once been illustrious 43; and the Italians beheld with astonishment a foreign race of oxen or buffaloes 4. The depopulation of Lombardy, and the increase of forefts, afforded an ample range for the pleasures of the chafe 45. That marvellous art which teaches the birds of the air to acknowledge the voice, and execute the commands of 43 The ftuds of Dionyfius of Syracufe, and his frequent victories in the Olympic games, had diffused among the Greeks the fame of the Venetian horfes; but the breed was extinct in the time of Strabo (1. v. p. 325.). Gifulf obtained from his uncle generofarum equarum greges. Paul, 1. ii. c. 9. The Lombards afterwards introduced caballi sylvatici-wild horses. Paul, l. iv. c. 11. 44 Tunc (A. D. 596) primum, bubali in Italiam delati Italiæ populis miracula fuere (Paul Warnefrid, 1. iv. c. 11.). The buffaloes,' whofe native climate appears to be Africa and India, are unknown to Europe, except in Italy, where they are numerous and useful. The ancients were ignorant of these animals, unless Aristotle (Hist. Animal. 1. ii. c. 1. p. 58. Paris, 1783) has defcribed them as the wild. _oxen of Arachofia. See Buffon, Hift, Naturelle, tom. xi. and Supplement, tom. vi. Hift. Generale des Voyages, tom. i. p. 7. 481. ii 105. iii. 291. iv. 234. 461. v. 193. vi. 491. viii. 400. x. 666. Pennant's Quadrupedes, p. 24. Dictionaire d'Hift. Naturelle, par Valmont de Romare, tom. ii. p. 74. Yet I must not conceal the fufpicion that Paul, by a vulgar error, may have applied the name of bubalus to the aurochs, or wild bull, of ancient Germany. 45 Confult the xxist Differtation of Muratori. XLV. CHAP. their mafter, had been unknown to the ingenuity of the Greeks and Romans 46. Scandinavia and Scythia produce the boldest and most tractable fal Drefs and 47 cons *; they were tamed and educated by the rov ing inhabitants always on horfeback and in the field. This favourite amusement of our ancestors was introduced by the Barbarians into the Roman provinces; and the laws of Italy esteem the fword and the hawk as of equal dignity and importance in the hands of a noble Lombard 48. So rapid was the influence of climate and exmarriage. ample, that the Lombards of the fourth generation furveyed with curiofity and affright the portraits of their favage forefathers". Their heads were fhaven 46 Their ignorance is proved by the filence even of those who profeffedly treat of the arts of hunting and the history of animals. Aristotle (Hist. Animal. I. ix. c. 36. tom. i. p. 586, and the Notes of his last editor, M. Camus, tom. ii. p. 314.), Pliny (Hift. Natur. l.x. c. 1o.), Ælian (de Natur. Animal. 1. ii. c. 42.), and perhaps Homer (Odyff. xxii. 302-306.), describe with astonishment a tacit league and common chafe between the hawks and the Thracian fowlers. 47 Particularly the gerfaut, or gyrfalcon, of the fize of a small eagle. See the animated description of M. de Buffon, Hift. Naturelle, tom. xvi. p. 239, &c. 48 Script. Rerum Italicarum, tom. i. part ii. p. 129. This is the Terribilis vifu facies, fed corda benignus The portraits of the old Lombards might ftill be seen in the palace of Monza, fhaven behind, but the fhaggy locks hung over their eyes and mouth, and a long beard, repre. fented the name and character of the nation. Their drefs confifted of loofe linen garments, after the fashion of the Anglo-Saxons, which were decorated, in their opinion, with broad ftripes of variegated colours. The legs and feet were clothed in long hofe, and open fandals; and even in the fecurity of peace a trufty fword was constantly girt to their fide. Yet this strange apparel, and horrid afpect, often concealed a gentle and generous disposition; and as soon as the rage of battle had fubfided, the captives and subjects were fometimes surprised by the humanity of the victor. The vices of the Lombards were the effect of paffion, of ignorance, of intoxication; their virtues are the more laudable, as they were not affected by the hypocrify of social manners, nor impofed by the rigid constraint of laws and education. I fhould not be apprehenfive of deviating from my fubject if it were in my power to delineate the private life of the conquerors of Italy, and I fhall relate with pleasure the adventurous gallantry of Autharis, which breathes the true spirit of chivalry and romance". After the loss of his promised bride, a Merovingian princess, he fought in marriage the daughter of the king of Bavaria; and Garibald Monza, twelve miles from Milan, which had been founded or reftored by queen Theudelinda (1. iv. 22, 23.). See Muratori, tom. i. differtaz. xxiii. p. 300. 5o The story of Autharis and Theudelinda is related by Paul, 1. iii. c. 29. 34.; and any fragment of Bavarian antiquity excites the indefatigable diligence of the count de Buat, Hift. des Peuples de l'Europe, tom. xi. p. 595-635. tom. xii. p. 1-53. accepted CHAP. XLV. 1 XLV. CHAP. accepted the alliance of the Italian monarch. Impatient of the flow progrefs of negociation, the ardent lover escaped from his palace, and visited the court of Bavaria in the train of his own embally. At the public audience, the unknown ftranger advanced to the throne, and informed Garibald, that the ambaffador was indeed the minifter of ftate, but that he alone was the friend of Autharis, who had trufted him with the delicate commission of making a faithful report of the charms of his fpoufe. Theudelinda was fummoned to undergo this important examination, and after a paufe of filent rapture, he hailed her as the queen of Italy, and humbly requested, that, according to the custom of the nation, fhe would prefent a cup of wine to the first of her new fubjects. By the command of her father, fhe obeyed: Autharis received the cup in his turn, and, in reftoring it to the princefs, he fecretly touched her hand, and drew his own finger over his face and lips. In the evening, Theudelinda imparted to her nurse the indiscreet familiarity of the stranger, and was com forted by the affurance, that fuch boldnefs could proceed only from the king her husband, who, by his beauty and courage, appeared worthy of her love. The ambaffadors were difmiffed: no fooner did they reach the confines of Italy, than Autharis, raifing himself on his horse, darted his battle-axe against a tree with incomparable ftrength and dexterity: "Such," faid he to the aftonished Bavarians, “fuch are the strokes of the king of the "Lombards." On the approach of a French army, Garibald and his daughter took refuge in the dominions 4. 51 CHAP. ment, dominions of their ally; and the marriage was confummated in the palace of Verona. At the end of one year, it was diffolved by the death of Autharis: but the virtues of Theudelinda " had endeared her to the nation, and fhe was permitted to bestow, with her hand, the fceptre of the Italian kingdom,. From this fact, as well as from fimilar events 2, Govera it is certain that the Lombards poffeffed freedom to elect their fovereign, and fenfe to decline the frequent use of that dangerous privilege. The public revenue arofe from the produce of land, and the profits of justice. When the independent dukes agreed that Autharis fhould afcend the throne of his father, they endowed the regal office with a fair moiety of their respective domains. The proudest nobles afpired to the honours of fervitude near the perfon of their prince: he rewarded the fidelity of his vaffals by the precarious gift of penfions and benefices; and atoned for the injuries of war, by the rich foundation of monafteries and churches. In peace a judge, a leader in war, he never ufurped the powers of a fole and absolute legiflator. The king of Italy convened the national affemblies in the palace, or more probably in the fields, of Pavia: his great council was compofed of the perfons most eminent by their birthand dignities; but the validity, as well as the exe 51 Giannone (Istoria Civile de Napoli, tom. i. p. 263.) has juftly cenfured the impertinence of Boccaccio (Gio. iii. Novel. 2.), who, without right, or truth, or pretence, has given the pious queen Theudelinda to the arms of a muleteer. 52 Paul, l. iii. c. 16. The first differtations of Muratori, and the first volume of Giannone's hiftory, may be confulted for the state of the kingdom of Italy. |