the population, helpless, unarmed, degraded, ready to side with any
or every one who would give them bread, or let them earn it for
themselves (for slaves must eat, even though their masters starve),
and careless of, if not even hostile to, their masters' interests,
the moment those masters were gone to the wars.

In such a case, nothing was before them, save certain defeat at last
by an enemy who could pour in ever fresh troops of mercenaries, and
who had the command of the seas.

I may seem to be describing the case of a modern and just as valiant
and noble a people. I do not mention its name. The parallel, I
fear, is too complete, not to have already suggested itself to you.



LECTURE VII--PAULUS DIACONUS



And now I come to the final settlement of Italy and the Lombard race;
and to do that well, I must introduce you to-day to an old
chronicler--a very valuable, and as far as we know, faithful writer--
Paul Warnefrid, alias Paul the Deacon.

I shall not trouble you with much commentary on him; but let him, as
much as possible, tell his own story. He may not be always quite
accurate, but you will get no one more accurate. In the long run,
you will know nothing about the matter, save what he tells you; so be
content with what you can get. Let him shew you what sort of an