Italy, Past and Present (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ...of faith, and allegiance; the ideas of greatness, of splendour and dignity attached to the imperial crown; the fond recollections of the glories of Rome, and the hopes of seeing them realised in their visions of an Italian unity; their continual experience of the evils resulting from municipal dissensions and popular anarchy, caused the dispersed remnants of the discomfited aristocracy, and the warmest supporters of Ghibelinism, to regard the present GUELPHS AND GHIBELINES. 185 state of things as one of interregnum and transition; to cling fondly and closely to the vain phantom of a demolished empire, and to view with mistrust and indignation the slow and wily arts by which pontifical hypocrisy attempted to erect a theocratic throne on the august metropolis, which had been, and they expected would be still, the seat of empire. On the other hand, an unbounded, undiscerning love of independence, the intoxicating exultation of triumph, and an inextinguishable hatred and rancour against all remains of feudalism and monarchy--the illiberal prejudices of municipal rivalries--the excitement of the public debates of a popular sovereignty--inspired the largest mass of the people, and the heads of the Guelph party, with the blind presumption that every city could suffice, and ought to belong to itself; or that, if common interests or dangers should require the renewal of their confederation, their natural bond lay in the sacred unity of their common faith, their national banner was to be the standard of the church--that standard with which all their most intimate and indelible affections were virtually blended--that standard under which their pious fathers had rallied, when, with the blessings of Alexander and Innocent, they had, by prodigies of valour, repeatedly cr...