罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (11).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.

Tothistemple,astothecommoncentreofreligiousworship,theImperialfanaticattemptedtoremovetheAncilia,thePalladium,^54andallthesacredpledgesofthefaithofNuma.AcrowdofinferiordeitiesattendedinvariousstationsthemajestyofthegodofEmesa;buthiscourtwasstillimperfect,tillafemaleofdistinguishedrankwasadmittedtohisbed.Pallashadbeenfirstchosenforhisconsort;butasitwasdreadedlestherwarliketerrorsmightaffrightthesoftdelicacyofaSyriandeity,theMoon,adornedbytheAfricansunderthenameofAstarte,wasdeemedamoresuitablecompanionfortheSun.Herimage,withtherichofferingsofhertempleasamarriageportion,wastransportedwithsolemnpompfromCarthagetoRome,andthedayofthesemysticnuptialswasageneralfestivalinthecapitalandthroughouttheempire.^55

[Footnote54:HebrokeintothesanctuaryofVesta,andcarriedawayastatue,whichhesupposedtobethepalladium;butthevestalsboastedthat,byapiousfraud,theyhadimposedacounterfeitimageontheprofaneintruder.Hist.August.,p.103.]

[Footnote55:Dion,l.lxxix.p.1360.Herodian,l.v.p.193.Thesubjectsoftheempirewereobligedtomakeliberalpresentstothenewmarriedcouple;andwhatevertheyhadpromisedduringthelifeofElagabaluswascarefullyexactedundertheadministrationofMamaea.]

Arationalvoluptuaryadhereswithinvariablerespecttothetemperatedictatesofnature,andimprovesthegratificationsofsensebysocialintercourse,endearingconnections,andthesoftcoloringoftasteandtheimagination.ButElagabalus,(Ispeakoftheemperorofthatname,)corruptedbyhisyouth,hiscountry,andhisfortune,abandonedhimselftothegrossestpleasureswithungovernedfury,andsoonfounddisgustandsatietyinthemidstofhisenjoyments.Theinflammatorypowersofartweresummonedtohisaid:theconfusedmultitudeofwomen,ofw