THE DECLINE AND FALL

280

CHAP.

LXIX.

punished only their enemies, they were obeyedonly by their adherents. Anarchy, no longertempered by the pastoral care of their bishop,admonished the Romans that they were incapa-ble of governing themselves; and they soughtabroad those blessings which they were hopelessof finding at home, [n the same age, and fromthe same motives, most of the Italian republicswere prompted to embrace a measure, which,however strange it may seem, was adapted totheir situation, and productive of the most salu-tary effects.* They chose, in some foreign butfriendly city, an impartial magistrate of noblebirth and unblemished character, a soldier anda statesman, recommended by the voice of fameand his country, to whom they delegated, for atime, the supreme administration of peace andwar. The compact between the governor andthe governed was sealed with oaths and sub-scriptions; and the duration of his power, themeasure of his stipend, the nature of their mutualobligations, were defined with scrupulous pre-cision. They swore to obey him as their lawfulsuperior; he pledged his faith to unite the in-difference of a stranger with the zeal of a patriot.At his choice, four or six knights and civilians,his assessors in arms and justice, attended thepodesta ,* who maintained, at his own expence, a

1 Muratori (dissert, xlv, tom. iv, p. 04-92) lias fully explained thismode of government; and the Oculus PastumCis, which he has giveu atthe end, is a treatise or sermon on the duties of these foreign magis-trates.

' In the Latin writers, at least of the silver age, the title of potesttav<as transferred from the office to the magistrate.

Hnjus