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DILIGENCE and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer may ascribe to himself; if any merit, indeed, can be assumed from the performance of an indispensible duty. I may, therefore, be allowed to say, that I have carefully examined all the original materials that could illustrate the subject which I had undertaken to treat. Should I ever complete the extensive design which has been sketched out in the preface, I might perhaps conclude it with a critical account of the authors consulted during the progress of the whole work; and however such an attempt might incur the censure of ostentation, I am persuaded, that it would be susceptible of entertainment, as well as information.

At present I shall content myself with a single observation. The biographers who, under the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine, composed, or rather compiled, the lives of the emperors, from Hadrian to the sons of Carus, are usually mentioned, under the names of Ælius Spartianus, Julius Capitolinus, Ælius Lampridius, Vulcatius Gallicanus, Trebellius Pollio, and Flavius Vopiscus. But there is so much perplexity in the titles of the Mss.; and so many disputes have arisen among the critics (see Fa-.

bricius, Biblioth. Latin. 1. iii, c. 6) concerning their number, their names, and their respective property, that for the most part I have quoted them without distinction, under the general and well-known title of the Augustan History.

CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.

CHAP. I.

The extent and military force of the empire in the age of

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Imitated by his successors,

Conquest of Britain was the first exception to it,

Dacia, the second exception to it,

Conquests of Trajan in the East,

Resigned by his successor Hadrian,

Contrast of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius,

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8

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Pacific system of Hadrian and the two Antonines, ib.
Defensive wars of Marcus Antoninus,

Military establishment of the Roman emperors,

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Of the union and internal prosperity of the Roman em-

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60

Division of the Latin and the Greek provinces,

General use of both the Greek and Latin languages, 62

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A. D.

Populousness of the Roman empire,

Obedience and union,

Roman monuments,

Many of them erected at private expence,
Example of Herodes Atticus,

His reputation,

Most of the Roman monuments for public use,

Temples, theatres, aqueducts,

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ib.

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75

ib.

Number and greatness of the cities of the empire, 77

In Italy,

Gaul and Spain,

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ib.

78

79

ib

81

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83

ib.

84

85

ib.

86

ib.

ib.

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91.

92

94

Of the constitution of the Roman empire in the age of

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