58 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

pieces, but whatever remained of the Lombards,even in that extremity, had only taken one of hissons for king ; but a vile populace at Rome, quitevoluntarily, and without Charlemagne’s requiring it,saluted him Emperor; so above all kings. Whatcould the Lombards, but assent, and rejoicethat the lot had fallen at least upon a trulygreat man?

The worthless electors, far from appreciating hismerits, would have huzzaed for a Nero just thesame. But Charlemagne was in advance of his age.If a thicker darkness than ever, came over Europeafter his death, that is no fault of his, nor of hisfamily, that reigned for about seventy-three yearsafter him, so that his dynasty closed in a.d. 888.The Italians have no one to accuse but themselves,if they profaned the sun of Christianity, and bytheir wickedness contrived to turn its good intoevil; or neglected freedom, then abused, and atlength suffocated. Universal influence, as bothlegislator and warrior, was Charlemagne’s duringhis whole long reign; nor thus alone, but fornearly a century it decorated and kept life andsovereign power in his line after him, in spite oftheir inferiority of talent; and surely that is morethan can be said of other noted conquerors.

Italy has always been a divided country, save a