Amidstthetearsofthecity，StephentheThirdembracedthegenerousresolutionofvisitinginpersonthecourtsofLombardyandFrance，todeprecatetheinjusticeofhisenemy，ortoexcitethepityandindignationofhisfriend。Aftersoothingthepublicdespairbylitaniesandorations，heundertookthislaboriousjourneywiththeambassadorsoftheFrenchmonarchandtheGreekemperor。ThekingoftheLombardswasinexorable；buthisthreatscouldnotsilencethecomplaints，norretardthespeedoftheRomanpontiff，whotraversedthePennineAlps，reposedintheabbeyofSt。Maurice，andhastenedtograsptherighthandofhisprotector；ahandwhichwasneverliftedinvain，eitherinwarorfriendship。Stephenwasentertainedasthevisiblesuccessoroftheapostle；atthenextassembly，thefieldofMarchorofMay，hisinjurieswereexposedtoadevoutandwarlikenation，andherepassedtheAlps，notasasuppliant，butasaconqueror，attheheadofaFrencharmy，whichwasledbythekinginperson。TheLombards，afteraweakresistance，obtainedanignominiouspeace，andsworetorestorethepossessions，andtorespectthesanctity，oftheRomanchurch。
ButnosoonerwasAstolphusdeliveredfromthepresenceoftheFrencharms，thanheforgothispromiseandresentedhisdisgrace。Romewasagainencompassedbyhisarms；andStephen，apprehensiveoffatiguingthezealofhisTransalpinealliesenforcedhiscomplaintandrequestbyaneloquentletterinthenameandpersonofSt。Peterhimself。^52Theapostleassureshisadoptedsons，theking，theclergy，andthenoblesofFrance，that，deadintheflesh，heisstillaliveinthespirit；thattheynowhear，andmustobey，thevoiceofthefounderandguardianoftheRomanchurch；thattheVirgin，theangels，thesaints，andthemartyrs，andallthehostofheaven，unanimouslyurgetherequest，andwillconfesstheobligation；thatriches，victory，andparadise，willcrowntheirpiousenterprise，andthateternaldamnationwillbethepenaltyoftheirneglect，iftheysufferhistomb，histemple，andhispeople，tofallintothehandsoftheperfidiousLombards。ThesecondexpeditionofPepinwasnotlessrapidandfortunatethanthefirst:St。Peterwassatisfied，Romewasagainsaved，andAstolphuswastaughtthelessonsofjusticeandsinceritybythescourgeofaforeignmaster。Afterthisdoublechastisement，theLombardslanguishedabouttwentyyearsinastateoflanguoranddecay。Buttheirmindswerenotyethumbledtotheircondition；andinsteadofaffectingthepacificvirtuesofthefeeble，theypeevishlyharassedtheRomanswitharepetitionofclaims，evasions，andinroads，whichtheyundertookwithoutreflection，andterminatedwithoutglory。Oneitherside，theirexpiringmonarchywaspressedbythezealandprudenceofPopeAdriantheFirst，thegenius，thefortune，andgreatnessofCharlemagne，thesonofPepin；theseheroesofthechurchandstatewereunitedinpublicanddomesticfriendship，andwhiletheytrampledontheprostrate，theyvarnishedtheirproceedingswiththefairestcolorsofequityandmoderation。^53ThepassesoftheAlps，andthewallsofPavia，weretheonlydefenceoftheLombards；theformerweresurprised，thelatterwereinvested，bythesonofPepin；andafterablockadeoftwoyears，Desiderius，thelastoftheirnativeprinces，surrenderedhissceptreandhiscapital。
Underthedominionofaforeignking，butinthepossessionoftheirnationallaws，theLombardsbecamethebrethren，ratherthanthesubjects，oftheFranks；whoderivedtheirblood，andmanners，andlanguage，fromthesameGermanicorigin。^54
[Footnote*:GregoryI。hadbeendeadaboveacentury；readGregoryIII。—M]
[Footnote52:SeethismostextraordinaryletterintheCodexCarolinus，epistiii。p。92。Theenemiesofthepopeshavechargedthemwithfraudandblasphemy；yettheysurelymeanttopersuaderatherthandeceive。Thisintroductionofthedead，orofimmortals，wasfamiliartotheancientorators，thoughitisexecutedonthisoccasionintherudefashionoftheage。]