Registerforthatyear。—M。]
[Footnote!:ThegallantstrugglesoftheCorsicansfortheirindependence，underPaoli，werebroughttoacloseintheyear1769。Thisvolumewaspublishedin1776。SeeBotta，Storiad'Italia，vol。xiv。—M。]
[Footnote!!:Malta，itneedscarcelybesaid，isnowinthepossessionoftheEnglish。Wehavenot，however，thoughtitnecessarytonoticeeverychangeinthepoliticalstateoftheworld，sincethetimeofGibbon。—M]
Thislongenumerationofprovinces，whosebrokenfragmentshaveformedsomanypowerfulkingdoms，mightalmostinduceustoforgivethevanityorignoranceoftheancients。Dazzledwiththeextensivesway，theirresistiblestrength，andtherealoraffectedmoderationoftheemperors，theypermittedthemselvestodespise，andsometimestoforget，theoutlyingcountrieswhichhadbeenleftintheenjoymentofabarbarousindependence；andtheygraduallyusurpedthelicenseofconfoundingtheRomanmonarchywiththeglobeoftheearth。^88Butthetemper，aswellasknowledge，ofamodernhistorian，requireamoresoberandaccuratelanguage。HemayimpressajusterimageofthegreatnessofRome，byobservingthattheempirewasabovetwothousandmilesinbreadth，fromthewallofAntoninusandthenorthernlimitsofDacia，toMountAtlasandthetropicofCancer；thatitextendedinlengthmorethanthreethousandmilesfromtheWesternOceantotheEuphrates；thatitwassituatedinthefinestpartoftheTemperateZone，betweenthetwenty—fourthandfifty—sixthdegreesofnorthernlatitude；andthatitwassupposedtocontainabovesixteenhundredthousandsquaremiles，forthemostpartoffertileandwell—cultivatedland。^89
[Footnote88:Bergier，Hist。desGrandsChemins，l。iii。c。1，2，3，4，averyusefulcollection。]
[Footnote89:SeeTempleman'sSurveyoftheGlobe；butIdistrustboththeDoctor'slearningandhismaps。]
ChapterII:TheInternalProsperityInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
PartI。
OfTheUnionAndInternalProsperityOfTheRomanEmpire，InTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
Itisnotalonebytherapidity，orextentofconquest，thatweshouldestimatethegreatnessofRome。ThesovereignoftheRussiandesertscommandsalargerportionoftheglobe。IntheseventhsummerafterhispassageoftheHellespont，AlexandererectedtheMacedoniantrophiesonthebanksoftheHyphasis。^1
Withinlessthanacentury，theirresistibleZingis，andtheMogulprincesofhisrace，spreadtheircrueldevastationsandtransientempirefromtheSeaofChina，totheconfinesofEgyptandGermany。^2ButthefirmedificeofRomanpowerwasraisedandpreservedbythewisdomofages。TheobedientprovincesofTrajanandtheAntonineswereunitedbylaws，andadornedbyarts。Theymightoccasionallysufferfromthepartialabuseofdelegatedauthority；butthegeneralprincipleofgovernmentwaswise，simple，andbeneficent。Theyenjoyedthereligionoftheirancestors，whilstincivilhonorsandadvantagestheywereexalted，byjustdegrees，toanequalitywiththeirconquerors。
[Footnote1:TheywereerectedaboutthemidwaybetweenLahorandDelhi。TheconquestsofAlexanderinHindostanwereconfinedtothePunjab，acountrywateredbythefivegreatstreamsoftheIndus。
Note:TheHyphasisisoneofthefiveriverswhichjointheIndusortheSind，afterhavingtraversedtheprovinceofthePendj—ab—anamewhichinPersian，signifiesfiverivers。***
G。Thefiveriverswere，1。TheHydaspes，nowtheChelum，Behni，orBedusta，Sanscrit，Vitastha，Arrow—swift。2。TheAcesines，theChenab，Sanscrit，Chandrabhaga，Moon—gift。3。
Hydraotes，theRavey，orIraoty，Sanscrit，Iravati。4。
Hyphasis，theBeyah，Sanscrit，Vepasa，Fetterless。5。TheSatadru，Sanscrit，theHundredStreamed，theSutledj，knownfirsttotheGreeksinthetimeofPtolemy。Rennel。Vincent，CommerceofAnc。book2。Lassen，Pentapotam。Ind。Wilson'sSanscritDict。，andthevaluablememoirofLieut。Burnes，JournalofLondonGeogr。Society，vol。iii。p。2，withthetravelsofthatveryablewriter。CompareGibbon'sownnote，c。lxv。note25。—Msubstit。forG。]
[Footnote2:SeeM。deGuignes，HistoiredesHuns，l。xv。xvi。
andxvii。]
I。Thepolicyoftheemperorsandthesenate，asfarasitconcernedreligion，washappilysecondedbythereflectionsoftheenlightened，andbythehabitsofthesuperstitious，partoftheirsubjects。Thevariousmodesofworship，whichprevailedintheRomanworld，wereallconsideredbythepeople，asequallytrue；bythephilosopher，asequallyfalse；andbythemagistrate，asequallyuseful。Andthustolerationproducednotonlymutualindulgence，butevenreligiousconcord。
Thesuperstitionofthepeoplewasnotimbitteredbyanymixtureoftheologicalrancor；norwasitconfinedbythechainsofanyspeculativesystem。Thedevoutpolytheist，thoughfondlyattachedtohisnationalrites，admittedwithimplicitfaiththedifferentreligionsoftheearth。^3Fear，gratitude，andcuriosity，adreamoranomen，asingulardisorder，oradistantjourney，perpetuallydisposedhimtomultiplythearticlesofhisbelief，andtoenlargethelistofhisprotectors。ThethintextureofthePaganmythologywasinterwovenwithvariousbutnotdiscordantmaterials。Assoonasitwasallowedthatsagesandheroes，whohadlivedorwhohaddiedforthebenefitoftheircountry，wereexaltedtoastateofpowerandimmortality，itwasuniversallyconfessed，thattheydeserved，ifnottheadoration，atleastthereverence，ofallmankind。Thedeitiesofathousandgrovesandathousandstreamspossessed，inpeace，theirlocalandrespectiveinfluence；norcouldtheRomanswhodeprecatedthewrathoftheTiber，deridetheEgyptianwhopresentedhisofferingtothebeneficentgeniusoftheNile。Thevisiblepowersofnature，theplanets，andtheelementswerethesamethroughouttheuniverse。Theinvisiblegovernorsofthemoralworldwereinevitablycastinasimilarmouldoffictionandallegory。Everyvirtue，andevenvice，acquireditsdivinerepresentative；everyartandprofessionitspatron，whoseattributes，inthemostdistantagesandcountries，wereuniformlyderivedfromthecharacteroftheirpeculiarvotaries。
Arepublicofgodsofsuchoppositetempersandinterestsrequired，ineverysystem，themoderatinghandofasuprememagistrate，who，bytheprogressofknowledgeandflattery，wasgraduallyinvestedwiththesublimeperfectionsofanEternalParent，andanOmnipotentMonarch。^4Suchwasthemildspiritofantiquity，thatthenationswerelessattentivetothedifference，thantotheresemblance，oftheirreligiousworship。
TheGreek，theRoman，andtheBarbarian，astheymetbeforetheirrespectivealtars，easilypersuadedthemselves，thatundervariousnames，andwithvariousceremonies，theyadoredthesamedeities。^5TheelegantmythologyofHomergaveabeautiful，andalmostaregularform，tothepolytheismoftheancientworld。
[Footnote3:ThereisnotanywriterwhodescribesinsolivelyamannerasHerodotusthetruegeniusofpolytheism。ThebestcommentarymaybefoundinMr。Hume'sNaturalHistoryofReligion；andthebestcontrastinBossuet'sUniversalHistory。
SomeobscuretracesofanintolerantspiritappearintheconductoftheEgyptians，seeJuvenal，Sat。xv。；andtheChristians，aswellasJews，wholivedundertheRomanempire，formedaveryimportantexception；soimportantindeed，thatthediscussionwillrequireadistinctchapterofthiswork。
Note:M。Constant，inhisverylearnedandeloquentwork，"SurlaReligion，"withthetwoadditionalvolumes，"DuPolytheismeRomain，"hasconsideredthewholehistoryofpolytheisminatoneofphilosophy，which，withoutsubscribingtoallhisopinions，wemaybepermittedtoadmire。"Theboastedtoleranceofpolytheismdidnotrestupontherespectduefromsocietytothefreedomofindividualopinion。Thepolytheisticnations，tolerantastheyweretowardseachother，asseparatestates，werenotthelessignorantoftheeternalprinciple，theonlybasisofenlightenedtoleration，thateveryonehasarighttoworshipGodinthemannerwhichseemstohimthebest。
Citizens，onthecontrary，wereboundtoconformtothereligionofthestate；theyhadnotthelibertytoadoptaforeignreligion，thoughthatreligionmightbelegallyrecognizedintheirowncity，forthestrangerswhowereitsvotaries。"—SurlaReligion，v。184。Du。Polyth。Rom。ii。308。Atthistime，thegrowingreligiousindifference，andthegeneraladministrationoftheempirebyRomans，who，beingstrangers，woulddonomorethanprotect，notenlistthemselvesinthecauseofthelocalsuperstitions，hadintroducedgreatlaxity。ButintolerancewasclearlythetheorybothoftheGreekandRomanlaw。Thesubjectismorefullyconsideredinanotherplace。—
M。]
[Footnote4:Therights，powers，andpretensionsofthesovereignofOlympusareveryclearlydescribedinthexvthbookoftheIliad；intheGreekoriginal，Imean；forMr。Pope，withoutperceivingit，hasimprovedthetheologyofHomer。
Note:ThereisacuriouscoincidencebetweenGibbon'sexpressionsandthoseofthenewly—recovered"DeRepublica"ofCicero，thoughtheargumentisrathertheconverse，lib。i。c。
36。"Sivehaecadutilitatemvitaeconstitutesintaprincipibusrerumpublicarum，utrexputareturunusesseincoelo，quinutu，utaitHomerus，totumOlympumconverteret，idemqueetrexetpatoshabereturomnium。"—M。]
[Footnote5:See，forinstance，CaesardeBell。Gall。vi。17。
Withinacenturyortwo，theGaulsthemselvesappliedtotheirgodsthenamesofMercury，Mars，Apollo，&c。]
ThephilosophersofGreecededucedtheirmoralsfromthenatureofman，ratherthanfromthatofGod。Theymeditated，however，ontheDivineNature，asaverycuriousandimportantspeculation；andintheprofoundinquiry，theydisplayedthestrengthandweaknessofthehumanunderstanding。^6Ofthefourmostcelebratedschools，theStoicsandthePlatonistsendeavoredtoreconcilethejaringinterestsofreasonandpiety。Theyhaveleftusthemostsublimeproofsoftheexistenceandperfectionsofthefirstcause；but，asitwasimpossibleforthemtoconceivethecreationofmatter，theworkmanintheStoicphilosophywasnotsufficientlydistinguishedfromthework；
whilst，onthecontrary，thespiritualGodofPlatoandhisdisciplesresembledanidea，ratherthanasubstance。TheopinionsoftheAcademicsandEpicureanswereofalessreligiouscast；butwhilstthemodestscienceoftheformerinducedthemtodoubt，thepositiveignoranceofthelatterurgedthemtodeny，theprovidenceofaSupremeRuler。Thespiritofinquiry，promptedbyemulation，andsupportedbyfreedom，haddividedthepublicteachersofphilosophyintoavarietyofcontendingsects；
buttheingeniousyouth，who，fromeverypart，resortedtoAthens，andtheotherseatsoflearningintheRomanempire，werealikeinstructedineveryschooltorejectandtodespisethereligionofthemultitude。How，indeed，wasitpossiblethataphilosophershouldaccept，asdivinetruths，theidletalesofthepoets，andtheincoherenttraditionsofantiquity；orthatheshouldadore，asgods，thoseimperfectbeingswhomhemusthavedespised，asmen?Againstsuchunworthyadversaries，Cicerocondescendedtoemploythearmsofreasonandeloquence；butthesatireofLucianwasamuchmoreadequate，aswellasmoreefficacious，weapon。Wemaybewellassured，thatawriter，conversantwiththeworld，wouldneverhaveventuredtoexposethegodsofhiscountrytopublicridicule，hadtheynotalreadybeentheobjectsofsecretcontemptamongthepolishedandenlightenedordersofsociety。^7
[Footnote6:TheadmirableworkofCicerodeNaturaDeorumisthebestclewwehavetoguideusthroughthedarkandprofoundabyss。Herepresentswithcandor，andconfuteswithsubtlety，theopinionsofthephilosophers。]
[Footnote7:Idonotpretendtoassert，that，inthisirreligiousage，thenaturalterrorsofsuperstition，dreams，omens，apparitions，&c。，hadlosttheirefficacy。]
NotwithstandingthefashionableirreligionwhichprevailedintheageoftheAntonines，boththeinterestofthepriestsandthecredulityofthepeopleweresufficientlyrespected。Intheirwritingsandconversation，thephilosophersofantiquityassertedtheindependentdignityofreason；buttheyresignedtheiractionstothecommandsoflawandofcustom。Viewing，withasmileofpityandindulgence，thevariouserrorsofthevulgar，theydiligentlypractisedtheceremoniesoftheirfathers，devoutlyfrequentedthetemplesofthegods；andsometimescondescendingtoactapartonthetheatreofsuperstition，theyconcealedthesentimentsofanatheistunderthesacerdotalrobes。Reasonersofsuchatemperwerescarcelyinclinedtowrangleabouttheirrespectivemodesoffaith，orofworship。Itwasindifferenttothemwhatshapethefollyofthemultitudemightchoosetoassume；andtheyapproachedwiththesameinwardcontempt，andthesameexternalreverence，thealtarsoftheLibyan，theOlympian，ortheCapitolineJupiter。^8
[Footnote8:Socrates，Epicurus，Cicero，andPlutarchalwaysinculcatedadecentreverenceforthereligionoftheirowncountry，andofmankind。ThedevotionofEpicuruswasassiduousandexemplary。Diogen。Laert。x。10。]
ItisnoteasytoconceivefromwhatmotivesaspiritofpersecutioncouldintroduceitselfintotheRomancouncils。Themagistratescouldnotbeactuatedbyablind，thoughhonestbigotry，sincethemagistrateswerethemselvesphilosophers；andtheschoolsofAthenshadgivenlawstothesenate。Theycouldnotbeimpelledbyambitionoravarice，asthetemporalandecclesiasticalpowerswereunitedinthesamehands。Thepontiffswerechosenamongthemostillustriousofthesenators；
andtheofficeofSupremePontiffwasconstantlyexercisedbytheemperorsthemselves。Theyknewandvaluedtheadvantagesofreligion，asitisconnectedwithcivilgovernment。Theyencouragedthepublicfestivalswhichhumanizethemannersofthepeople。Theymanagedtheartsofdivinationasaconvenientinstrumentofpolicy；andtheyrespected，asthefirmestbondofsociety，theusefulpersuasion，that，eitherinthisorinafuturelife，thecrimeofperjuryismostassuredlypunishedbytheavenginggods。^9Butwhilsttheyacknowledgedthegeneraladvantagesofreligion，theywereconvincedthatthevariousmodesofworshipcontributedaliketothesamesalutarypurposes；
andthat，ineverycountry，theformofsuperstition，whichhadreceivedthesanctionoftimeandexperience，wasthebestadaptedtotheclimate，andtoitsinhabitants。Avariceandtasteveryfrequentlydespoiledthevanquishednationsoftheelegantstatuesoftheirgods，andtherichornamentsoftheirtemples；^10but，intheexerciseofthereligionwhichtheyderivedfromtheirancestors，theyuniformlyexperiencedtheindulgence，andevenprotection，oftheRomanconquerors。TheprovinceofGaulseems，andindeedonlyseems，anexceptiontothisuniversaltoleration。Underthespeciouspretextofabolishinghumansacrifices，theemperorsTiberiusandClaudiussuppressedthedangerouspoweroftheDruids:^11buttheprieststhemselves，theirgodsandtheiraltars，subsistedinpeacefulobscuritytillthefinaldestructionofPaganism。^12
[Footnote9:Polybius，l。vi。c。53，54。Juvenal，Sat。xiii。
lamentsthatinhistimethisapprehensionhadlostmuchofitseffect。]
[Footnote10:SeethefateofSyracuse，Tarentum，Ambracia，Corinth，&c。，theconductofVerres，inCicero，Actioii。Orat。
4，andtheusualpracticeofgovernors，intheviiithSatireofJuvenal。]
[Footnote11:Seuton。inClaud。—Plin。Hist。Nat。xxx。1。]
[Footnote12:Pelloutier，HistoiredesCeltes，tom。vi。p。230—
252。]
Rome，thecapitalofagreatmonarchy，wasincessantlyfilledwithsubjectsandstrangersfromeverypartoftheworld，^13whoallintroducedandenjoyedthefavoritesuperstitionsoftheirnativecountry。^14Everycityintheempirewasjustifiedinmaintainingthepurityofitsancientceremonies；andtheRomansenate，usingthecommonprivilege，sometimesinterposed，tocheckthisinundationofforeignrites。TheEgyptiansuperstition，ofallthemostcontemptibleandabject，wasfrequentlyprohibited:thetemplesofSerapisandIsisdemolished，andtheirworshippersbanishedfromRomeandItaly。
^15Butthezealoffanaticismprevailedoverthecoldandfeebleeffortsofpolicy。Theexilesreturned，theproselytesmultiplied，thetempleswererestoredwithincreasingsplendor，andIsisandSerapisatlengthassumedtheirplaceamongtheRomanDeities。^16Norwasthisindulgenceadeparturefromtheoldmaximsofgovernment。Inthepurestagesofthecommonwealth，CybeleandAesculapiushadbeeninvitedbysolemnembassies；^17anditwascustomarytotempttheprotectorsofbesiegedcities，bythepromiseofmoredistinguishedhonorsthantheypossessedintheirnativecountry。^18Romegraduallybecamethecommontempleofhersubjects；andthefreedomofthecitywasbestowedonallthegodsofmankind。^19
[Footnote13:Seneca，Consolat。adHelviam，p。74。Edit。，Lips。]
[Footnote14:DionysiusHalicarn。Antiquitat。Roman。l。ii。vol。
i。p。275，edit。Reiske。]
[Footnote*:YettheworshipofforeigngodsatRomewasonlyguarantiedtothenativesofthosecountriesfromwhencetheycame。TheRomansadministeredthepriestlyofficesonlytothegodsoftheirfathers。Gibbon，throughoutthewholeprecedingsketchoftheopinionsoftheRomansandtheirsubjects，hasshownthroughwhatcausestheywerefreefromreligioushatredanditsconsequences。But，ontheotherhandtheinternalstateofthesereligions，theinfidelityandhypocrisyoftheupperorders，theindifferencetowardsallreligion，ineventhebetterpartofthecommonpeople，duringthelastdaysoftherepublic，andundertheCaesars，andthecorruptingprinciplesofthephilosophers，hadexercisedaveryperniciousinfluenceonthemanners，andevenontheconstitution。—W。]
[Footnote15:IntheyearofRome701，thetempleofIsisandSerapiswasdemolishedbytheorderoftheSenate，DionCassius，l。xl。p。252，andevenbythehandsoftheconsul，ValeriusMaximus，l。3。^!AfterthedeathofCaesaritwasrestoredatthepublicexpense，Dion。l。xlvii。p。501。WhenAugustuswasinEgypt，hereveredthemajestyofSerapis，Dion，l。li。p。