罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (129).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

TheprincesoftheNorth,ofthenations,saysConstantine,withoutfaithorfame,wereambitiousofminglingtheirbloodwiththebloodoftheCaesars,bytheirmarriagewitharoyalvirgin,orbythenuptialsoftheirdaughterswithaRomanprince.^58Theagedmonarch,inhisinstructionstohisson,revealsthesecretmaximsofpolicyandpride;andsuggeststhemostdecentreasonsforrefusingtheseinsolentandunreasonabledemands.Everyanimal,saysthediscreetemperor,ispromptedbythedistinctionoflanguage,religion,andmanners.Ajustregardtothepurityofdescentpreservestheharmonyofpublicandprivatelife;butthemixtureofforeignbloodisthefruitfulsourceofdisorderanddiscord.SuchhadeverbeentheopinionandpracticeofthesageRomans:theirjurisprudenceproscribedthemarriageofacitizenandastranger:inthedaysoffreedomandvirtue,asenatorwouldhavescornedtomatchhisdaughterwithaking:thegloryofMarkAntonywassulliedbyanEgyptianwife:^59andtheemperorTituswascompelled,bypopularcensure,todismisswithreluctancethereluctantBerenice.^60ThisperpetualinterdictwasratifiedbythefabuloussanctionofthegreatConstantine.Theambassadorsofthenations,moreespeciallyoftheunbelievingnations,weresolemnlyadmonished,thatsuchstrangeallianceshadbeencondemnedbythefounderofthechurchandcity.TheirrevocablelawwasinscribedonthealtarofSt.Sophia;andtheimpiousprincewhoshouldstainthemajestyofthepurplewasexcludedfromthecivilandecclesiasticalcommunionoftheRomans.IftheambassadorswereinstructedbyanyfalsebrethrenintheByzantinehistory,theymightproducethreememorableexamplesoftheviolationofthisimaginarylaw:themarriageofLeo,orratherofhisfatherConstantinetheFourth,withthedaughterofthekingoftheChozars,thenuptialsofthegranddaughterofRomanuswithaBulgarianprince,