The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1Vernor, Hood, & Sharpe, 1806 - Byzantine Empire |
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Page 10
... hands of the emperor ; that the independent tribes of the Median and Carducian hills had implored his protection ... hand which had imposed it . Resigned by his suc- cessor Ha- drian . It was an ancient tradition , that when the Capitol ...
... hands of the emperor ; that the independent tribes of the Median and Carducian hills had implored his protection ... hand which had imposed it . Resigned by his suc- cessor Ha- drian . It was an ancient tradition , that when the Capitol ...
Page 17
... hand , it was impossible for cowardice or disobedience to escape the severest punishment . The centurions were authorised to chastise with blows , the generals had a right to punish with death ; and it was an inflexible maxim of Roman ...
... hand , it was impossible for cowardice or disobedience to escape the severest punishment . The centurions were authorised to chastise with blows , the generals had a right to punish with death ; and it was an inflexible maxim of Roman ...
Page 20
... hand the formidable pilum , a ponderous javelin , whose utmost length was about six feet , and which was terminated by a massy triangular point of steel of eighteen inches . This instrument was indeed much inferior to our modern fire ...
... hand the formidable pilum , a ponderous javelin , whose utmost length was about six feet , and which was terminated by a massy triangular point of steel of eighteen inches . This instrument was indeed much inferior to our modern fire ...
Page 21
... hand , there was not any cavalry that durst venture within its reach , nor any shield or corslet that could sustain the impetuosity of its weight . As soon as the Roman had darted his pilum , he drew his sword , and rushed forwards to ...
... hand , there was not any cavalry that durst venture within its reach , nor any shield or corslet that could sustain the impetuosity of its weight . As soon as the Roman had darted his pilum , he drew his sword , and rushed forwards to ...
Page 26
... hands of the legionaries themselves ; to whom the use of the spade and the pick - axe was no less familiar than that of the sword or pilum . Active valour may often be the present of nature ; but such patient diligence can be the fruit ...
... hands of the legionaries themselves ; to whom the use of the spade and the pick - axe was no less familiar than that of the sword or pilum . Active valour may often be the present of nature ; but such patient diligence can be the fruit ...
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Common terms and phrases
Africa Albinus Alexander ambition ancient Annal Antoninus arms army arts Asia August Augustan History Aurelius Victor authority barbarians Britain Cæsar camp Caracalla CHAP character citizens civil Claudius command Commodus conquest cruelty dangerous Danube death despotism dignity Dion Cassius discipline Domitian Elagabalus emperor enemy esteem fatal fate favour favourite flattered formed fortune freedom frontiers Gaul Geta Gordian Hadrian Herodian Hist honours hundred Imperial Italy Julian laws legions liberal luxury lxxii Macrinus magistrate mankind Marcus Maximin ment merit military ministers modern monarchy multitude murder Niger palace Pannonia Papinian peace peror person Pertinax pleasure Plin possessed Præ præfect Prætorian guards prince provinces rank received reign republic revenge Roman empire Roman world Rome ruin senate Severus slaves soldiers soon sovereign spirit successor Sueton Syria Tacit Tacitus thousand throne Tiberius tion Trajan troops tyrant valour Vegetius Velleius Paterculus vices victory virtue whilst youth
Popular passages
Page 130 - If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world, during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. The vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom.
Page 8 - After a war of about forty years, undertaken by the most stupid, maintained by the most dissolute, and terminated by the most timid of all the emperors, the far greater part of the island submitted to the Roman yoke.
Page 357 - ... each barbarian fixed his independent dwelling on the spot to which a plain, a wood, or a stream of fresh water, had induced him to give the preference.
Page 90 - But in the present imperfect condition of society, luxury, though it may proceed from vice or folly, seems to be the only means that can correct the unequal distribution of property.
Page 130 - The labours of these monarchs were overpaid by the immense reward that inseparably waited on their success ; by the honest pride of virtue, and by the exquisite delight of beholding the general happiness of which they were the authors.
Page 144 - But the words of the assassin sunk deep into the mind of Commodus, and left an indelible impression of fear and hatred against the whole body of the senate.* Those whom he had dreaded as importunate ministers, he now suspected as secret enemies. The Delators, a race of men discouraged, and almost extinguished, under the former reigns, again became formidable, as soon as they discovered that the emperor was desirous of nmding disaffection and treason in the senate.
Page 274 - Experience overturns these airy fabrics, and teaches us that in a large society the election of a monarch can never devolve to the wisest or to the most numerous part of the people.
Page 51 - Platonists endeavoured to reconcile the jarring interests of reason and piety. They have left us the most sublime proofs of the existence and perfections of the first cause; but, as it was impossible for them to conceive the creation of matter, the workman in the Stoic philosophy was not sufficiently distinguished from the work; whilst, on the contrary, the spiritual God of Plato and his disciples resembled an idea rather than a substance.
Page 154 - They only forgot to observe that, in the first ages of society, when the fiercer animals often dispute with man the possession of an unsettled country, a successful war against those savages is one of the most innocent and beneficial labours of heroism.
Page 49 - Fear, gratitude, and curiosity, a dream or an omen, a singular disorder, or a distant journey, perpetually disposed him to multiply the articles of his belief, and to enlarge the list of his protectors.