OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

by the magistrates of the city, to seclude themfrom all correspondence with the world. If theelection be not consummated in three days, theluxury of their tables is contracted to a singledish at dinner and supper; and after the eighthday, they are reduced to a scanty allowance ofbread, water, and wine. During the vacancy ofthe holy see, the cardinals are prohibited fromtouching the revenues, or assuming, unless insome rare emergency, the government of thechurch; all agreements and promises among theelectors are formally annulled; and their in-tegrity is fortified by their solemn oath and theprayers of the catholics. Some articles of in-convenient or superfluous rigour have been gra-dually relaxed, but the principle of confinementis vigorous and entire; they are still urged, bythe personal motives of health and freedom, toaccelerate the moment of their deliverance; andthe improvement of ballot or secret votes haswrapt the struggles of the conclave* in the silkyveil of charity and politeness.' By these insti-

b The genius of cardinal de Rntz had a right to paint a conclave (of1665), in which he was a spectator and an actor (Memoirs, tom. iv,p. 15-57); but I am at a loss to appreciate the knowledge or autho-rity of an auonymous Italian , whose history (Conclavi de PontificiRomani, in quarto, 1667) has been continued since the reign of Alex-ander VII . The accidental form of the work furnishes a lesson, thoughnot an antidote, to ambition. From a labyrinth of intrigues, weemerge to the adoration of the successful candidate; but the nextpage opens with his funeral.

* The expressions of cardinal de Retz are positive and picturesque:On v vegnt toujours ensemble avec le mime respect, et la mime civi-lity que l’on observe dans le cabinet des rois, avec la mime politessequ’on avoit dans la cour de Henri III., avec la mime familiariti que1 on voit dans les colleges, avec la mime modestie, qni se remarquedans les noviciats; et avec la mime charite, du moiiis en apparence,qui pourroit itre eutre des frercs parfaitement unis.

297

CHAP.

LXIX.