THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, describes from his own experience the repug-

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• nant state and spirit of Christendom. “ It is a“ body,” says he, “ without an head; a repub-“ lie without laws or magistrates. The pope“ and the emperor may shine as lofty titles, as“ splendid images; but they are unable to com-“ mand, and none are willing to obey: every“ state has a separate prince, and every prince“ has a separate interest. What eloquence could“ unite so many discordant and hostile powers“ under the same standard? Could they be as-“ sembled in arms, who would dare to assume“ the office of general? What order could be“ maintained?—what military discipline? Who“ would undertake to feed such an enormous“ multitude? Who would understand their va-“ rious languages, or direct their stranger and“ incompatible manners? What mortal could re-“ concile the English with the French , Genoa“ with Arragon, the Germans with the nativesof Hungary and Bohemia ? If a small number“ enlisted in the holy war, they must be over*“ thrown by the infidels; if many, by their own“ weight and confusion.” Yet the same 2E neas,when he was raised to the papal throne, underthe name of Pius the second, devoted his life tothe prosecution of the Turkish war. In thecouncil of Mantua he excited some sparks of afalse or feeble enthusiasm; but when the pontiffappeared at Ancona , to embark in person withthe troops, engagements vanished in excuses; a

That valuable annalist, and the Italian Muratori, will continue theaeries of events from the year 1153 to 1481, the end of Mahomet's life,and of this chapter.