60 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

no further than Rimini. All immediately northof it was called, not Italia, but Gallia. The moresplit into independencies, the more free in her case;of which lasting truth the Italian Republics wereonly dazzling instances. The exception would bewhile under one harsh yoke of transient servitude—which might include other nations equally well.Therefore the lower Lombards (as we say lowerempire) did nothing but follow the usages of thecountry, when, after waiting twenty years, and nosovereign appearing with the authority of anyproper election, they divided themselves into thirtyindependent duchies all through Italy— oneat Spoleto, another at Benevento — crown andname in Lombardy might shadow forth the defunctLombard kingdom; but in conformity with existingthings, they too assumed feudalism.

Sismondi does not draw as marked a separationas desirable between the Gothic or constitutionalsystem and the feudal. The former perished withthe primitive Lombards, like the Yisigothic Cortes.These limpid and fresh from the northern source,were too excellent for the vici ous south. Suchask purer disciples.

The feudal system led directly to absolute mo-narchy in Spain and elsewhere, and in Italy to thedeath of freedom as well, in the end ; though indi-