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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
Chapter09:StateOfGermanyUntilTheBarbarians.
Part1.TheStateOfGermanyTillTheInvasionOfTheBarbariansInTheTimeOfTheEmperorDecius.
ThegovernmentandreligionofPersiahavedeservedsomenotice,fromtheirconnectionwiththedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire.WeshalloccasionallymentiontheScythianorSarmatiantribes,^*which,withtheirarmsandhorses,theirflocksandherds,theirwivesandfamilies,wanderedovertheimmenseplainswhichspreadthemselvesfromtheCaspianSeatotheVistula,fromtheconfinesofPersiatothoseofGermany.ButthewarlikeGermans,whofirstresisted,theninvaded,andatlengthoverturnedtheWesternmonarchyofRome,willoccupyamuchmoreimportantplaceinthishistory,andpossessastronger,and,ifwemayusetheexpression,amoredomestic,claimtoourattentionandregard.ThemostcivilizednationsofmodernEuropeissuedfromthewoodsofGermany;andintherudeinstitutionsofthosebarbarianswemaystilldistinguishtheoriginalprinciplesofourpresentlawsandmanners.Intheirprimitivestateofsimplicityandindependence,theGermansweresurveyedbythediscerningeye,anddelineatedbythemasterlypencil,ofTacitus,^*thefirstofhistorianswhoappliedthescienceofphilosophytothestudyoffacts.Theexpressiveconcisenessofhisdescriptionshasservedtoexercisethediligenceofinnumerableantiquarians,andtoexcitethegeniusandpenetrationofthephilosophichistoriansofourowntimes.Thesubject,howevervariousandimportant,hasalreadybeensofrequently,soably,andsosuccessfullydiscussed,thatitisnowgrownfamiliartothereader,anddifficulttothewriter.Weshallthereforecontentourselveswithobserving,andindeedwithrepeating,someofthemostimportantcircumstancesofclimate,ofmanners,andofinstitutions,whichrenderedthewildbarbariansofGermanysuchformidableenemiestotheRomanpower
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