province of Milan. They also invaded Languedoc, where they
were soon named Albigenses. According to a rather pre-
valent opinion, the Cathares of France came from Italy; those
of Italy derived their origin from a Bulgarian pope of the
ninth century named Bogomile, who was himself connected
through one or more intermediaries with the Manichæans of
the third century. Thus, in order to have the lineage of this
sect, one must pass from Bulgaria and go back to Manichæism.
Catharism professed dualism, it posited as the origin of things
two principles, one good, the other bad: it is this--besides
several doubtful testimonies--which connects them with the
Manichæans. Nevertheless it is important not to forget that
dualistic metaphysics were only an accessory element of
Catharism. In fact the Cathares placed metaphysics in the
background, as they were usually ignorant of them, and con-
fined themselves to preaching morality, a morality of renuncia-
tion, of conflict with sensuality. They forbade the use of
meat, were severe in their sexual relations, and recommended
celibacy to such a degree as to condemn marriage. It was a
purely theoretical condemnation, for in reality most of them
married. Celibacy was required only of the "perfect," those
who had received the rite of consolamentum (imposition of
hands for imparting the spirit of consolation); the simple
"believers" were not required to submit to this. For to be
saved, it was sufficient to receive the consolamentum at the
moment of death, and this was the practice of most believers.
Those who submitted to this rite before the near approach
of death formed an inconsiderable exception. Certain
enthusiasts allowed themselves to die of hunger in order to
shorten their life--a practice which was called the endura.
But the endura was so rare that it does not appear in the
list of crimes imputed to the Cathares by the Catholic con-
troversalists of the period. If the endura, which was a pro-
duct of some diseased brains, be excepted, the morality of the
Cathares appears to have been ascetic, a morality of monks.
The abominations of which they were subsequently accused,
are ill-attested and should be regarded as legendary. As the
Catharic movement was really only a moral life, its origin

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