History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2

The Government And Death Of Jovian.Election Of Valentinian, Who Associates His Brother Valens, And Makes The Final Division Of The Eastern And Western Empires. Revolt Of Procopius.Civil And Ecclesiastical Administration.Germany.Britain.Africa.The East. The Danube.Death Of Valentinian.His Two Sons, Gratian And Valentinian II., Succeed To The Western Empire. Manners Of The Pastoral Nations.Progress Of The Huns, From China To Europe.Flight Of The Goths.They Pass The Danube.Gothic War.Defeat And Death Of Valens.Gratian Invests Theodosius With The Eastern Empire.His Character And Success.Peace And Settlement Of The Goths. 1111 (return) [ The sixteenth chapter I cannot help considering as a very ingenious and specious, but very disgraceful extenuation of the cruelties perpetrated by the Roman magistrates against the Christians. It is written in the most contemptibly factious spirit of prejudice against the sufferers; it is unworthy of a philosopher and of humanity. Let the narrative of Cyprians death be examined. He had to relate the murder of an innocent man of advanced age, and in a station deemed venerable by a considerable body of the provincials of Africa, put to death because he refused to sacrifice to Jupiter. Instead of pointing the indignation of posterity against such an atrocious act of tyranny, he dwells, with visible art, on the small circumstances of decorum and politeness which attended this murder, and which he relates with as much parade as if they were the most important particulars of the event. Dr. Robertson has been the subject of much blame for his real or supposed lenity towards the Spanish murderers and tyrants in America. That the sixteenth chapter of Mr. G. did not excite the same or greater disapprobation, is a proof of the unphilosophical and indeed fanatical animosity against Christianity, which was so prevalent during the latter part of the eighteenth century.Mackintosh: see Life, i. p. 244, 245.] ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 732
Author: Gibbon, Edward
Release Date: Jun 7, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English