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THF. DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, suffice: but I cannot forget the sufferings of two

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pontiffs of the same age, the second and third ofLucius 11. the name of Lucius. The former, as he ascend-d. 1H 4 - e d j n battle-array to assault the capitol, wasstruck on the temple by a stone, and expired inLuciusIII. a few days. The latter was severely woundediis5. n81 " i° the persons of his servants. In a civil com-motion, several of his priests had been madeprisoners; and the inhuman Romans, reservingone as a guide for his brethren, put out theireyes, crowned them with ludicrous mitres,mounted them on asses with their faces to thetail, and extorted an oath, that, in this wretchedcondition, they should offer themselves as a les-son to the head of the church. Hope or fear,lassitude or remorse, the characters of the men,and the circumstances of the times, might some-times obtain an interval of peace and obedience;and the pope was restored with joyful acclama-tions to the Lateran or Vatican , from whence hehad been driven with threats and violence. Butthe root of mischief was deep and perennial;and a momentary calm was preceded and fol-lowed by such tempests as had almost sunk thebark of St. Peter. Rome continually presentedthe aspect of war and discord; the churches andpalaces were fortified and assaulted by the fac-tions and families; and, after giving peace toCaiistus 11. Europe , Calistus the second alone had resol u-

A. D. 1119- . r . .

1121. tion and power to prohibit the use ot privateinnocent arms metropolis. Among the nations who

liia. 1130 ’ revered the apostolic throne, the tumults ofRome provoked a general indignation; and, in aletter to his disciple Eugenius the third, St. Ber-