PartIII。
Sorapidwastheinfluenceofclimateandexample，thattheLombardsofthefourthgenerationsurveyedwithcuriosityandaffrighttheportraitsoftheirsavageforefathers。^49Theirheadswereshavenbehind，buttheshaggylockshungovertheireyesandmouth，andalongbeardrepresentedthenameandcharacterofthenation。Theirdressconsistedoflooselinengarments，afterthefashionoftheAnglo—Saxons，whichweredecorated，intheiropinion，withbroadstripesorvariegatedcolors。Thelegsandfeetwereclothedinlonghose，andopensandals；andeveninthesecurityofpeaceatrustyswordwasconstantlygirttotheirside。Yetthisstrangeapparel，andhorridaspect，oftenconcealedagentleandgenerousdisposition；
andassoonastherageofbattlehadsubsided，thecaptivesandsubjectsweresometimessurprisedbythehumanityofthevictor。
ThevicesoftheLombardsweretheeffectofpassion，ofignorance，ofintoxication；theirvirtuesarethemorelaudable，astheywerenotaffectedbythehypocrisyofsocialmanners，norimposedbytherigidconstraintoflawsandeducation。Ishouldnotbeapprehensiveofdeviatingfrommysubject，ifitwereinmypowertodelineatetheprivatelifeoftheconquerorsofItaly；andIshallrelatewithpleasuretheadventurousgallantryofAutharis，whichbreathesthetruespiritofchivalryandromance。^50Afterthelossofhispromisedbride，aMerovingianprincess，hesoughtinmarriagethedaughterofthekingofBavaria；andGarribaldacceptedtheallianceoftheItalianmonarch。Impatientoftheslowprogressofnegotiation，theardentloverescapedfromhispalace，andvisitedthecourtofBavariainthetrainofhisownembassy。Atthepublicaudience，theunknownstrangeradvancedtothethrone，andinformedGarribaldthattheambassadorwasindeedtheministerofstate，butthathealonewasthefriendofAutharis，whohadtrustedhimwiththedelicatecommissionofmakingafaithfulreportofthecharmsofhisspouse。Theudelindawassummonedtoundergothisimportantexamination；and，afterapauseofsilentrapture，hehailedherasthequeenofItaly，andhumblyrequestedthat，accordingtothecustomofthenation，shewouldpresentacupofwinetothefirstofhernewsubjects。Bythecommandofherfathersheobeyed:Autharisreceivedthecupinhisturn，and，inrestoringittotheprincess，hesecretlytouchedherhand，anddrewhisownfingeroverhisfaceandlips。Intheevening，Theudelindaimpartedtohernursetheindiscreetfamiliarityofthestranger，andwascomfortedbytheassurance，thatsuchboldnesscouldproceedonlyfromthekingherhusband，who，byhisbeautyandcourage，appearedworthyofherlove。Theambassadorsweredismissed:nosoonerdidtheyreachtheconfinesofItalythanAutharis，raisinghimselfonhishorse，dartedhisbattle—axeagainstatreewithincomparablestrengthanddexterity。\"Such，\"saidhetotheastonishedBavarians，\"sucharethestrokesofthekingoftheLombards。\"OntheapproachofaFrencharmy，Garribaldandhisdaughtertookrefugeinthedominionsoftheirally；andthemarriagewasconsummatedinthepalaceofVerona。Attheendofoneyear，itwasdissolvedbythedeathofAutharis:butthevirtuesofTheudelinda^51hadendearedhertothenation，andshewaspermittedtobestow，withherhand，thesceptreoftheItaliankingdom。
[Footnote49:TheepitaphofDroctulfPaul，l。iii。c。19maybeappliedtomanyofhiscountrymen:—