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thfulness was doubtless very frequent； and in certain cases led to a sanguinary vengeance。 We have only to remember how the northern princes of that time dealt with their wives on the first suspicion of infidelity。
But it was not merely the sensual desire； not merely the vulgar appetite of the ordinary man； which trespassed upon forbidden ground among the Italians of that day； but also the passion of the best and noblest； and this； not only because the unmarried girl did not appear in society； but also because the man； in proportion to the completeness of his own nature； felt himself most strongly attracted by the woman whom marriage had developed。 These are the men who struck the loftiest notes of lyrical poetry； and who have attempted in their treatises and dialogues to give us an idealized image of the devouring passion 'l'amor divino。' When they complain of the cruelty of the winged god； they are not only thinking of the coyness or hard…heartedness of the beloved one； but also of the unlawfulness of the passion itself。 They seek to raise themselves above this painful consciousness by that spiritualization of love which found a support in the Platonic doctrine of the soul； and of which Pietro Bembo is the most famous representative。 His thoughts on this subject are set forth by himself in the third book of the 'Asolani；' and indirectly by Castiglione； who puts in his mouth the splendid speech with which the fourth book of the 'Cortigiano' concludes。 Neither of these writers was a stoic in his conduct； but at that time it meant something to be at once a famous and a good man； and this praise must be accorded to both of them； their contemporaries took what these men said to be a true expression of their feeling； and we have not the right to despise it as affectation。 Those who take the trouble to study the speech in the 'Cortigiano' will see how poor an idea of it can be given by an extract。 There were then living in Italy several distinguished women； who owed their celebrity chiefly to relations of this kind； such as Giulia Gonzaga； Veronica da Correggio； and； above all； Vittoria Colonna。 The land of profligates and scoffers respected these women and this sort of loveand what more can be said in their favour？ We cannot tell how far vanity had to do with the matter； how far Vittoria was flattered to hear around her the sublimated utterances of hopeless love from the most famous men in Italy。 If the thing was here and there a fashion； it was still no trifling praise for Vittoria that she； as least； never went out of fashion； and in her latest years produced the most profound impressions。 It was long before other countries had anything similar to show。
In the imagination then； which governed this people more than any other； lies one general reason why the course of every passion was violent； and why the means used for the gratification of passion were often criminal。 There is a violence which cannot control itself because it is born of weakness； but in Italy we find what is the corruption of powerful natures。 Sometimes this corruption assumes a colossal shape； and crime seems to acquire almost a personal existence of its own。
The restraints of which men were conscious were but few。 Each individual； even among the lowest of the people； felt himself inwardly emancipated from the control of the State and its police； whose title to respect was illegitimate； and itself founded on violence； and no man believed any longer in the justice of the law。 When a murder was committed； the sympathies of the people； before the circumstances of the case were known； ranged themselves instinctively on the side of the murderer。 A proud； manly bearing before and at the execution excited such admiration that the narrator often forgets to tell us for what offence the criminal was put to death。 But when we add to this inward contempt of law and to the countless grudges and enmities which called for satisfaction； the impunity which crime enjoyed during times of political disturbance； we can only wonder that the State and society were not utterly dissolved。 Crises of this kind occurred at Naples； during the transition from the Aragonese to the French and Spanish rule； and at Milan； on the repeated expulsions and returns of the Sforzas； at such times those men who have never in their hearts recognized the bonds of law and society； come forward and give free play to their instincts of murder and rapine。 Let us take； by way of example； a picture drawn from a humbler sphere。
When the Duchy of Milan was suffering from the disorders which followed the death of Galeazzo Maria Sforza； about the year 1480； all safety came to an end in the provincial cities。 This was the case in Parma； where the Milanese Governor； terrified by threats of murder； consented to throw open the gaols and let loose the most abandoned criminals。 Burglary； the demolition of houses； public assassination and murders； were events of everyday occurrence。 At first the authors of these deeds prowled about singly； and masked； soon large gangs of armed men went to work every night without disguise。 Threatening letters； satires； and scandalous jests circulated freely； and a sonnet in ridicule of the Government seems to have roused its indignation far more than the frightful condition of the city。 In many churches the sacred vessels with the host were stolen； and this fact is characteristic of the temper which prompted these outrages。 It is impossible to say what would happen now in any country of the world； if the government and police ceased to act； and yet hindered by their presence the establishment of a provisional authority； but what then occurred in Italy wears a character of its own； through the great share which the personal hatred and revenge had in it。 The impression； indeed； which Italy at this period makes on us is； that even in quiet times great crimes were commoner than in other countries。 We may； it is true； be misled by the fact that we have far fuller details on such matters here than elsewhere； and that the same force of imagination； which gives a special character to crimes actually committed； causes much to be invented which never really happened。 The amount of violence was perhaps as great elsewhere。 It is hard to say for certain； whether in the year 1500 men were any safer； whether human life was any better protected； in powerful； wealthy Germany； with its robber knights； extortionate beggars； and daring highwaymen。 But one thing is certain； that premeditated crimes； committed professionally and for hire by third parties； occurred in Italy with great and appalling frequency。
So far as regards brigandage； Italy； especially in the more fortunate provinces； such as Tuscany； was certainly not more； and probably less； troubled than the countries of the North。 But the figures which do meet us are characteristic of the country。 It would be hard； for instance； to find elsewhere the case of a priest； gradually driven by passion from one excess to another； till at last he came to head a band of robbers。 That age offers us this example among others。 On August 12； 1495； the prie