罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (138).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

Privateorpublicinterestsuppressedthemurmursofthedukesandcounts;butaFrenchbaron(heissupposedtobeRobertofParis^71)presumedtoascendthethrone,andtoplacehimselfbythesideofAlexius.ThesagereproofofBaldwinprovokedhimtoexclaim,inhisbarbarousidiom,Whoisthisrustic,thatkeepshisseat,whilesomanyvaliantcaptainsarestandingroundhim?Theemperormaintainedhissilence,dissembledhisindignation,andquestionedhisinterpreterconcerningthemeaningofthewords,whichhepartlysuspectedfromtheuniversallanguageofgestureandcountenance.Beforethedepartureofthepilgrims,heendeavoredtolearnthenameandconditionoftheaudaciousbaron.IamaFrenchman,repliedRobert,ofthepurestandmostancientnobilityofmycountry.AllthatIknowis,thatthereisachurchinmyneighborhood,^72theresortofthosewhoaredesirousofapprovingtheirvalorinsinglecombat.Tillanenemyappears,theyaddresstheirprayerstoGodandhissaints.ThatchurchIhavefrequentlyvisited.ButneverhaveIfoundanantagonistwhodaredtoacceptmydefiance.AlexiusdismissedthechallengerwithsomeprudentadviceforhisconductintheTurkishwarfare;andhistoryrepeatswithpleasurethislivelyexampleofthemannersofhisageandcountry.

[Footnote71:Hecalledhimself(seeAlexias,l.x.p.301.)Whatatitleofnoblesseoftheeleventhcentury,ifanyonecouldnowprovehisinheritance!Annarelates,withvisiblepleasure,thattheswellingBarbarian,waskilled,orwounded,afterfightinginthefrontinthebattleofDorylaeum,(l.xi.p.317.)ThiscircumstancemayjustifythesuspicionofDucange,(Not.p.362,)thathewasnootherthanRobertofParis,ofthedistrictmostpeculiarlystyledtheDuchyorIslandofFrance,(LIsledeFrance.)]

[Footnote72:Withthesamepenetration,DucangediscovershischurchtobethatofSt.Drausus,orDrosin,ofSoissons,