罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (25).docxVIP

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经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

Part3.

WhiletheEastanxiouslyexpectedthedecisionofthisgreatcontest,theemperorDiocletian,havingassembledinSyriaastrongarmyofobservation,displayedfromadistancetheresourcesoftheRomanpower,andreservedhimselfforanyfutureemergencyofthewar.Ontheintelligenceofthevictoryhecondescendedtoadvancetowardsthefrontier,withaviewofmoderating,byhispresenceandcounsels,theprideofGalerius.TheinterviewoftheRomanprincesatNisibiswasaccompaniedwitheveryexpressionofrespectononeside,andofesteemontheother.ItwasinthatcitythattheysoonafterwardsgaveaudiencetotheambassadoroftheGreatKing.^74Thepower,oratleastthespirit,ofNarses,hadbeenbrokenbyhislastdefeat;andheconsideredanimmediatepeaceastheonlymeansthatcouldstoptheprogressoftheRomanarms.HedespatchedApharban,aservantwhopossessedhisfavorandconfidence,withacommissiontonegotiateatreaty,orrathertoreceivewhateverconditionstheconquerorshouldimpose.Apharbanopenedtheconferencebyexpressinghismastersgratitudeforthegeneroustreatmentofhisfamily,andbysolicitingthelibertyofthoseillustriouscaptives.HecelebratedthevalorofGalerius,withoutdegradingthereputationofNarses,andthoughtitnodishonortoconfessthesuperiorityofthevictoriousCaesar,overamonarchwhohadsurpassedingloryalltheprincesofhisrace.NotwithstandingthejusticeofthePersiancause,hewasempoweredtosubmitthepresentdifferencestothedecisionoftheemperorsthemselves;convincedashewas,that,inthemidstofprosperity,theywouldnotbeunmindfulofthevicissitudesoffortune.Apharbanconcludedhisdiscourseinthestyleofeasternallegory,byobservingthattheRomanandPersianmonarchieswerethetwoeyesoftheworld,whichwouldremainimperfectandmutilatedifeitherofthemshouldbeputout.

[Footnote74:Theacco