罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (17).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

Chapter10:EmperorsDecius,Gallus,Aemilianus,ValerianAndGallienus.

Part1.TheEmperorsDecius,Gallus,Aemilianus,Valerian,AndGallienus.-TheGeneralIrruptionOfTheBarbariAns.-TheThirtyTyrants.

FromthegreatseculargamescelebratedbyPhilip,tothedeathoftheemperorGallienus,thereelapsedtwentyyearsofshameandmisfortune.Duringthatcalamitousperiod,everyinstantoftimewasmarked,everyprovinceoftheRomanworldwasafflicted,bybarbarousinvaders,andmilitarytyrants,andtheruinedempireseemedtoapproachthelastandfatalmomentofitsdissolution.Theconfusionofthetimes,andthescarcityofauthenticmemorials,opposeequaldifficultiestothehistorian,whoattemptstopreserveaclearandunbrokenthreadofnarration.Surroundedwithimperfectfragments,alwaysconcise,oftenobscure,andsometimescontradictory,heisreducedtocollect,tocompare,andtoconjecture:andthoughheoughtnevertoplacehisconjecturesintherankoffacts,yettheknowledgeofhumannature,andofthesureoperationofitsfierceandunrestrainedpassions,might,onsomeoccasions,supplythewantofhistoricalmaterials.

Thereisnot,forinstance,anydifficultyinconceiving,thatthesuccessivemurdersofsomanyemperorshadloosenedallthetiesofallegiancebetweentheprinceandpeople;thatallthegeneralsofPhilipweredisposedtoimitatetheexampleoftheirmaster;andthatthecapriceofarmies,longsincehabituatedtofrequentandviolentrevolutions,mighteverydayraisetothethronethemostobscureoftheirfellow-soldiers.Historycanonlyadd,thattherebellionagainsttheemperorPhilipbrokeoutinthesummeroftheyeartwohundredandforty-nine,amongthelegionsofMaesia;andthatasubalternofficer,^1namedMarinus,wastheobjectoftheirseditiouschoice.Philipwasalarmed.HedreadedlestthetreasonoftheMaesianarmyshouldprovethefirstsparkofa