罗马帝国衰亡史第一部分：01

In the second century of the Christian 1 AEra, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized 2 portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy 3 were guarded by ancient renown 4 and disciplined valor 5. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence 6: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government. During a happy period of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue 8 and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines. It is the design of this, and of the two succeeding chapters, to describe the prosperous condition of their empire; and after wards 9, from the death of Marcus Antoninus, to deduce the most important circumstances of its decline and fall; a revolution which will ever be remembered, and is still felt by the nations of the earth.

The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, were satisfied with preserving those dominions 10 which had been acquired by the policy of the senate, the active emulations of the consuls 11, and the martial 12 enthusiasm of the people. The

seven first centuries were filled with a rapid succession of triumphs; but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish 13 the ambitious design of subduing 14 the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils. Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for In the second century of the Christian AEra, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valor. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government. During a happy period of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines. It is the design of this, and of the two succeeding chapters, to describe the prosperous condition of their empire; and after wards, from the death of Marcus Antoninus, to deduce the most important circumstances of its decline and fall; a revolution which will ever be remembered, and is still felt by the nations of the earth. him to discover that Rome, in her present exalted 15 situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution 16 of remote wars, the undertaking 17 became every day more difficult, the event more doubtful, and

the possession more precarious 18, and less beneficial. The experience of Augustus added weight to these salutary reflections, and effectually convinced him that, by the prudent 19 vigor 20 of his counsels, it would be easy to secure every concession 21 which the safety or the dignity of Rome might require from the most formidable barbarians 22. Instead of exposing his person and his legions to the arrows of theParthians, he obtained, by an honorable treaty, the restitution 23 of the standards and prisoners which had been taken in the defeat of Crassus.

His generals, in the early part of his reign 7, attempted the reduction of Ethiopia and Arabia Felix. They marched near a thousand miles to the south of the tropic; but the heat of the climate soon repelled 24 the invaders 25, and protected the un- warlike natives of those sequestered 26 regions. The northern countries of Europe scarcely deserved the expense and labor 27 of conquest. The forests and morasses 28 of Germany were filled with a hardy 29 race of barbarians, who despised life when it was separated from freedom; and though, on the first attack, they seemed to yield to the weight of the Roman power, they soon, by a signal act of despair, regained 30 their independence, and reminded Augustus of the vicissitude 31 of fortune. On the death of that emperor, his testament 32 was publicly read in the senate. He bequeathed, as a valuable legacy 33 to his successors, the advice of confining the empire within those limits which nature seemed to have placed as its permanent bulwarks 34 and boundaries: on the west, the Atlantic Ocean; the Rhine and Danube on the north; the Euphrates on the east; and towards the south, the sandy deserts of Arabia and Africa.

Happily for the repose 35 of mankind, the moderate system recommended by the wisdom of Augustus, was adopted by the fears and vices 36 of his immediate 37 successors. Engaged in the pursuit of pleasure, or in the exercise of tyranny, the first Caesars seldom showed themselves to the armies, or to the provinces; nor were they disposed to suffer, that those triumphs which their indolence neglected, should be usurped 38 by the conduct and valor of their lieutenants 39. The military fame of a subject was considered as an insolent 40 invasion of the Imperial prerogative 41; and it became the duty, as well as interest, of every Roman general, to guard the frontiers intrusted to his care, without aspiring 42 to conquests which might have proved no less fatal to himself than to the vanquished 43 barbarians.

The only accession which the Roman empire received, during the first century of the Christian AEra, was the province of Britain. In this single instance, the successors of Caesar and Augustus were persuaded to follow the example of the former, rather than the precept 44 of the latter. The proximity of its situation to the coast of Gaul seemed to invite their arms; the pleasing though doubtful intelligence of a pearl fishery, attracted their avarice; and as Britain was viewed in the light of a distinct and insulated world, the conquest scarcely formed any exception to the general system of continental