or THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

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a brief confession, Ursini was led away to the chap.gallows. After such an example, none who LXX>were conscious of guilt could hope for impunity,and the flight of the wicked, the licentious, andthe idle, soon purified the city and territory ofRome . In this time (says the historian) thew'oods began to rejoice that they were no lon-ger infested with robbers; the oxen began toplough; the pilgrims visited the sanctuaries; theroads and inns were replenished with travellers;trade, plenty, and good faith, were restored inthe markets; and a purse of gold might be ex-posed without danger in the midst of the high-way. As soon as the life and property of thesubject are secure, the labours and rewards ofindustry spontaneously revive: Rome was stillthe metropolis of the Christian world; and thefame and fortunes of the tribune were diffusedin every country by the strangers who had en-joyed the blessings of his government.

The deliverance of his country inspired Ri-Thetri-enzi with a vast, and perhaps visionary idea of 5p e n c e t ‘ s d r f„uniting Italy in a great federative republic, of ltaly ’ &Ctwhich Rome should be the ancient and lawfulhead, and the free cities and princes the mem-bers and associates. His pen was not less elo-quent than his tongue; and his numerous epis-tles were delivered to swift and trusty messen-gers. On foot, with a white w and in their hand,they traversed the forests and mountains; en-joyed, in the most hostile states, the sacred se-curity of ambassadors; and reported, in thestyle of flattery or truth, that the highwaysalong their passage were lined with kneeling