罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (108).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

Fromthelong-disputedbanksoftheTigrisandEuphrates,thereignofthegrandsonofNushirvanwassuddenlyextendedtotheHellespontandtheNile,theancientlimitsofthePersianmonarchy.Buttheprovinces,whichhadbeenfashionedbythehabitsofsixhundredyearstothevirtuesandvicesoftheRomangovernment,supportedwithreluctancetheyokeoftheBarbarians.Theideaofarepublicwaskeptalivebytheinstitutions,oratleastbythewritings,oftheGreeksandRomans,andthesubjectsofHeracliushadbeeneducatedtopronouncethewordsoflibertyandlaw.ButithasalwaysbeentheprideandpolicyofOrientalprincestodisplaythetitlesandattributesoftheiromnipotence;toupbraidanationofslaveswiththeirtruenameandabjectcondition,andtoenforce,bycruelandinsolentthreats,therigoroftheirabsolutecommands.TheChristiansoftheEastwerescandalizedbytheworshipoffire,andtheimpiousdoctrineofthetwoprinciples:theMagiwerenotlessintolerantthanthebishops;andthemartyrdomofsomenativePersians,whohaddesertedthereligionofZoroaster,^63wasconceivedtobethepreludeofafierceandgeneralpersecution.BytheoppressivelawsofJustinian,theadversariesofthechurchweremadetheenemiesofthestate;theallianceoftheJews,Nestorians,andJacobites,hadcontributedtothesuccessofChosroes,andhispartialfavortothesectariesprovokedthehatredandfearsoftheCatholicclergy.Consciousoftheirfearandhatred,thePersianconquerorgovernedhisnewsubjectswithanironsceptre;and,asifhesuspectedthestabilityofhisdominion,heexhaustedtheirwealthbyexorbitanttributesandlicentiousrapinedespoiledordemolishedthetemplesoftheEast;andtransportedtohishereditaryrealmsthegold,thesilver,thepreciousmarbles,thearts,andtheartistsoftheAsiaticcities.Intheobscurepictureofthecalamitiesoftheempire,^64