286

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap. “ the Teutonic kingdom: and imitate the ex-

.“ ample of Constantine and Justinian , h who, by

“ the vigour of the senate and people, obtained“ thesceptreof the earth.”* But these splendidand fallacious wishes were not cherished byConrad the Franconian, whose eyes were fixedon the Holy land, and who died without visit-ing Rome soon after his return from the Holyland.

Frederic I. H is nephew and successor, Frederic Barba-

fc. D 1156. r ... . ’ .

rossa, was more ambitious ot the imperial crown;nor had any of the successors of Otho acquiredsuch absolute sway over the kingdom of Italy.Surrounded by his ecclesiastical and secularprinces, he gave audience in his camp at Sutri tothe ambassadors of Rome , who thus addressedhim in a free and florid oration: “ Incline your“ ear to the queen of cities; approach with a“ peaceful and friendly mind the precincts of“ Rome , which has cast away the yoke of the“ clergy, and is impatient to crown her legiti-“ mate emperor. Under your auspicious influ-“ ence, may the primitive times be restored.“ Assert the prerogatives of the eternal city, and“ reduce under her monarchy the insolence of“ the world. You are not ignorant, that, in for-“ mer ages, by the wisdom of the senate, by the“ valour and discipline of the equestrian order“ she extended her victorious arms to the East“ and West, beyond the Alps, and over the

h We desire (said the ignorant Romans) to restore the empire in eumstatum, quo fuit tempore Coustantini et Justiniani, qui totnm orbcmvigore senatus et populi Romani suis tenuerc manibus.

1 Otho Frising. de Gestis Frederici I, I. i, c. 28, p C62-G64.