954-987 953-973 foot of the lofty palace wall. Theophania and her tender-hearted maids of honour and sympathising ladies were ready. The basket descended, and the fair and zealous labourers hauled the pleasant freight-burly Zimiskes and his confederates-up to the window. The assassins burst into the sleeping Emperor's apartment. He was cruelly butchered, John Zimiskes insulting his uncle's dying 969-973 agonies by kicks and vituperations.-As for Zpped Theophania, Zimiskes profited by experience. During the remainder of her life, secluded in a monastery, she was abandoned to the tortures of craving passions and unsatisfied vengeance. John Zimiskes Emperor. Otho con tinues perse vering in to procure a Princess Undeterred by the turpitude of the Byzantine Court, Otho, his mind wholly occupied by his magnificent vision of restoring the Roman Empire to its pristine glory, persevered in his schemes for winning an Imperial Princess as the partner of his son, the young Emperor. Constantine Porphyrogenitus had most emendeavouring phatically warned his successors against the selfGrecian degradation, resulting from an alliance with a for his Son. Western Barbarian. This aversion,- closely paralleled by our European assumption of social superiority over the Orientals, - is generally known through the terse summary of fact and Decline and doctrine which we owe to the most popular amongst our standard historians. Yet the progress of society has practically furnished us with a clearer exposition than could be given by a writer who Gibbon's Fall, c. 53. 954-973 did not live to witness more than the incipient de- 954-997 velopement of the ideas, bound together according to each individual man's views, yet not connoted, by the undefinable term, Civilization. And, for a clearer exposition of the inward feeling entertained by Nicephorus, when a matrimonial connection with the younger Theophania was sought by a Teutscher Emperor, let us imagine the Envoy who represents his Majesty, Faustin le premier, seeking to obtain for the Crown Prince of Hayti-whom shall we say?-Not a British Princess; for, in such a contingency, the offer, however unsuitable, would be declined politely and delicately, without any expression of contemptuous horror: but, picture to yourself that same Envoy soliciting the fair daughter of a Senatorial free-soiler, to share the future diadem and throne of his swarthy master's son. refuses to grant the younger Theophania Otho probably expected that Nicephorus Nicephorus would feel fewer scruples than a real Porphyrogenitus, in conceding a Despoena appertaining to Otho II. to the family he had deposed. But though Nicephorus did not acquire the imperial dignity by descent-yea, though he was a usurper, he had adopted as heir-looms all the principles and practices of his predecessors; and denied assent. Otho, rendered the more eager by opposition, determined to employ military force in aid of otho atamatory persuasion. Had not he wooed and compel won Adelaide by the sword? Advancing as far the Grecian as Capua, he menaced the Greek possessions. Nicephorus sought to open negotiations, VOL. II. 3 G tempts to assent by attacking possessions. 954-997 Otho refused, probably expecting some 954-973 968Liutprand's nople. decided advantage; and his conquests in Apulia, widening and expanding, Byzantine pride condescended to make another overture for peace. Otho accepted the message, and having raised the siege of Bari, he selected as his Envoy the celebrated Liutprand, Bishop of Cremona. A Lombard, a Paduan, a son of that City, where the love of learning seems to have become adherent to the soil, Liutprand was not unworthy of his birth-place;-a good scholar,— versed in the classics,-possessing a very fair knowledge of the Greek tongue; perhaps, acquired colloquially, for at this period, the vernacular language of the Byzantine Greeks had scarcely departed from their ancestorial standard. A previous Legation to Constantine PorConstantiphyrogenitus, had made Liutprand well acquainted with his sphere of operations-but the learned Bishop's qualifications for diplomatic agency were more than counterbalanced by his faults of temper; nay, by his talents. Liutprand was a keen observer of character: and, yielding to the temptation so frequently conjoined to the useful gift, he was an uncharitable observer. Proud of his penetration, delighting in discovering the faults and the weaknesses, and the pretences and the sillynesses of all with whom he had to deal, enjoying when he could uncover the nakedness of his neighbours; a lick-spittle, catering for the supply of scandal to please the appetites of others, and, at the same time, gratifying his own. We have a Liutprand's report of Liutprand, accompanied by the Papal Legate, 954-987 proceeded to Byzantium, prepared and ready 954-973 to bully and ridicule the Court and the Nation, where and amongst whom he was to appear as his Sovereign's Representative. very full account of his Embassy in the form his Legation. of a journal, addressed to the two EmperorsOtho the father, Otho the son, and also to the Dowager Empress Adelaide." Cremona to Constantinople," ought to figure as the title of the production. It reads like a Book of the Season. contem plations Greeks. Much curious information however is con- Liutprand's tained in this "Libellus." It conveys the gene- views of the ral idea, that the differences between Eastern and Western Europe were no less marked than at the present day, and the sentiments of each party, ignorance, contempt and vanity, counterparted on either side. Liutprand is incessantly groaning at the absence of creature comforts; his miseries deplored in every tone of objurgation and growl. He was starved by the naked splendour of the marble palaces of the Grecian Cæsars. Beds not fit for a dog, if the members of the Legation were so happy as to find any, they being frequently compelled to wrap themselves in their mantles, and bundle themselves up, shivering on the precious tesselated pavement, so splendid and so cold. Sour wine, defiled by tar and gypsum. Disgusting food dished with more disgusting sauce; the main foundation of the feast, however, being generally leeks and garlic and onions, which Nicephorus was wont 3 G 2 970-973 954-987 to devour. Allowing for a portion of truth in these complaints, arising from differences of custom and taste, it is evident that the greater sobriety and simplicity of living amongst the Greeks, was one of the main causes of offence which the jovial Bishop received. The mission, with which Liutprand was charged, demanded the highest degree of tact, Whatever may Vices of the good sense, and good manners. Greeks. have been the corruption, the vileness, and the depravity of the Greeks, they certainly constituted the most refined society of the age, delighting in the literary treasures of their ancestors. Unable to imitate the works of Hellenic art, yet fully competent to appreciate their æsthetic excellence, they also inherited a gift long denied to Western Christendom-the whole of the Scriptures in their own mother tongue. Hence they prided themselves upon their superiority over the Teutonic Barbarians. The remote chance of a favourable result, was frustrated by Bishop Liutprand's pragmatic sneering, and arrogant bearing; Nicephorus and the demand which he made for Theophania, on behalf of the young Emperor, though supported by the Papal Legate, was treated as on the previous occasion. But Nicephorus sustained the dignity of his station, and his negative was conveyed in the most courteous and respectful form. After allowing an interval of about a year Nicephorus, to elapse, Otho resumed the war in Apulia vigorously, but he sustained many reverses, and who assents. the military skill and valour of Nicephorus might refuses. After the death of 11 Dec., 969, Otho treats with Zimiskes, |