OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

323

myrtle, of assuming the poetic habit, and ofteaching, disputing, interpreting, and composing,in all places whatsoever, and on all subjects ofliterature. The grant was ratified by the au-thority of the senate and people; and the cha-racter of citizen was the recompence of his affec-tion for the Roman name. They did him ho-nour, but they did him justice. In the familiarsociety of Cicero and Livy, he had imbibed theideas of an ancient patriot; and his ardent fancykindled every idea to a sentiment, and every sen-timent to a passion. The aspect of the sevenhills and their majestic ruins confirmed theselively impressions; and he loved a country bywhose liberal spirit he had been crowned andadopted. The poverty and debasement of Rome excited the indignation and pity of her gratefulson: he dissembled the faults of his fellow-citi-zens; applauded with partial fondness the lastof their heroes and matrons; and in the remem-brance of the past, in the hope of the future, waspleased to forget the miseries of the present time.Rome was still the lawful mistress of the world:the pope and the emperor, her bishop and gene-ral, had abdicated their station by an ingloriousretreat to the Rhone and the Danube ; but if shecould resume her virtue, the republic might againvindicate her liberty and dominion. Amidstthe indulgence of enthusiasm and eloquence.*

P To find the proofs of his enthusiasm for Rome , I need only requestthat the reader would open, by chance, either Petrarch, or his French biographer. The latter has described the poet’s first visit to Rome (tom. i, p. 328-335). But in the place of much idle rhetoric and mo-rality, Petrarch might have amused the present and future age with anoriginal account of the city and his coronation.

CHAP.

LXX.