The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1 |
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Alexander already ancient appeared arms army arts Asia August authority barbarians body Cęsar camp CHAP character citizens civil command conduct conquest Dacia dangerous Danube death Dion discipline discovered East emperor empire enemy equal exercise father favour followed force formed fortune four freedom Germans Goths guards hands Herodian Hist honour human hundred imperial important Italy king latter laws learned least legions length less liberal lived manners Maximin ment merit miles military mind monarchy nature never observe original peace Persian person Pertinax pleasure possessed prętorian present preserved prince probably provinces rank received reign religion remained republic respect Roman Rome seems senate Severus soldiers soon spirit strength subjects success Tacit temple thousand throne tion tribes troops tyrant vices victory virtue whilst whole youth
Popular passages
Page 125 - 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.
Page 28 - I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom, and, perhaps, the establishment of my fame. But my pride was soon humbled, and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind, by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion, and that whatsoever might be the future date of my History, the life of the historian must be short and precarious.
Page 28 - It was on the day, or rather night, of the 27th of June 1787, between the hours of eleven and twelve, that I wrote the last lines of the last page in a summer-house in my garden. After laying down my pen, I took several turns in a berccau, or covered walk of acacias, which commands a prospect of the country, the lake, and the mountains.
Page 28 - I took several turns in a berceau, or covered walk of acacias, which commands a prospect of the country, the lake, and the mountains. The air was temperate, the sky was serene, the silver orb of the moon was reflected from the waters, and all nature was silent. I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom, and perhaps the establishment of my fame.
Page 10 - I found her learned without pedantry, lively in conversation, pure in sentiment, and elegant in manners ; and the first sudden emotion was fortified by the habits and knowledge of a more familiar acquaintance. She permitted me to make her two or three visits at her father's house.
Page 11 - I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son; my wound was insensibly healed by time, absence, and the habits of a new life. My cure was accelerated by a faithful report of the tranquillity and cheerfulness of the lady herself, and my love subsided in friendship and esteem.
Page 5 - ... of the World, which exhibit the Byzantine period on a larger scale. Mahomet and his Saracens soon fixed my attention; and some instinct of criticism directed me to the genuine sources. Simon Ockley, an original in every sense, first opened my eyes, and I was led from one book to another till I had ranged round the circle of Oriental history. Before I was sixteen...
Page 15 - The habits of a sedentary life were usefully broken by the duties of an active profession: in the healthful exercise of the field I hunted with a battalion, instead of a pack; and at that time I was ready, at any hour of the day or night, to fly from quarters to London, from London to quarters, on the slightest call of private or regimental business.
Page 7 - I repeated the offence with less ceremony ; the excuse was admitted with the same indulgence : the slightest motive of laziness or indisposition, the most trifling avocation at home or abroad, was allowed as a worthy impediment ; nor did my tutor appear conscious of my absence or neglect.
Page 7 - Trajan was ambitious of fame; and as long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1 The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon |
| Author | Edward Gibbon |
| Publisher | Bell and Bradfute, Peter Hill, Silvester Doig and A. Stirling, and John Ogle., 1811 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 22 Aug 2007 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |