line of the empire, was
respected as the equal of kings. The death of a jealous lover was an
easy and grateful sacrifice; and, as Helmichis issued from the bath, he
received the deadly potion from the hand of his mistress. The taste of
the liquor, its speedy operation, and his experience of the character of
Rosamond, convinced him that he was poisoned: he pointed his dagger to
her breast, compelled her to drain the remainder of the cup, and expired
in a few minutes, with the consolation that she could not survive to
enjoy the fruits of her wickedness. The daughter of Alboin and
Rosamond, with the richest spoils of the Lombards, was embarked for
Constantinople: the surprising strength of Peredeus amused and terrified
the Imperial court: [2111] his blindness and revenge exhibited an
imperfect copy of the adventures of Samson. By the free suffrage of the
nation, in the assembly of Pavia, Clepho, one of their noblest chiefs,
was elected as the successor of Alboin. Before the end of eighteen
months, the throne was polluted by a second murder: Clepho was stabbed
by the hand of a domestic; the regal office was suspended above ten
years during the minority of his son Autharis; and Italy was divided and
oppressed by a ducal aristocracy of thirty tyrants. [22]

[Footnote 2111: He killed a lion. His eyes were put out by the timid
Justin. Peredeus requesting an interview, Justin substituted two
patricians, whom the blinded Barbarian stabbed to the heart with two
concealed daggers. See Le Beau, vol. x. p. 99.--M.]

[Footnote 22: See the history of Paul, l. ii. c. 28--32. I have borrowed
some interesting circumstances from the Liber Pontificalis of Agnellus,
in Script. Rer. Ital. tom. ii. p. 124. Of all chronological guides,
Muratori is the safest.]

When the nephew of Justinian ascended the throne, he proclaimed a new
aera of happiness and glory. The annals of the second Justin [23] are
marked with disgrace abroad and misery at home. In the West, the Roman
empire was afflicted by the loss of Italy, the desolation of Africa, and
the conquests of the Persians. Injustice prevailed both in the capital
and the provinces: the rich trembled for their property, the poor for
their safety, the ordinary magistrates were ignorant or venal, the
occasional remedies appear to have been arbitrary and violent, and the
complaints of the people could no longer be silenced by the splendid
names of a legislator and a conqueror. The opinion which imput