OF THE HOMAN EMPIRE.

10J

sciences of divinity and law; and his versatilegenius was equally adapted to the schools, thecamp, and the court. No sooner had he beeninvested with the Roman purple, than he wassent into Germany to arm the empire against therebels and heretics of Bohemia . The spirit ofpersecution is unworthy of a Christian; the mi-litary profession ill becomes a priest; but theformer is excused by the times; and the latterwas ennobled by the courage of Julian, whostood dauntless and alone in the disgracefulflight of the German host. As the pope’s legate,he opened the council of Basil ; but the presi-dent soon appeared the most strenuous cham-pion of ecclesiastical freedom; and an opposi-tion of seven years was conducted by his abilityand zeal. After promoting the strongest mea-sures against the authority and person of Euge-nius, some secret motive of interest or conscienceengaged him to desert on a sudden the popularparty. The cardinal withdrew himself from Ba-sil to Ferrara; and, in the debates of the Greeksand Latins, the two nations admired the dexte-rity of his arguments and the depth of his theo-logical erudition.* In his Hungarian embassywe have already seen the mischievous effects ofhis sophistry and eloquence, of which Julianhimself was the first victim. The cardinal, whoperformed the duties of a priest and a soldier,was lost in the defeat of Warna . The circum-

8 Syropulus honourably praises the talents of an enemy (p 11T)j"ruavra tiv« £urs» o l&Xtayof ffsirX»TUJ - £Cgy»; etyai k&i Xoyjxaij, xeu (*tr

MUt JjjVCTfltfTOJ 'PjJTOglXIJf,

VOL. XII, W

CHAP.LX VII.