647；butinthePomaeriumofRome，andamileroundit，heprohibitedtheworshipoftheEgyptiangods，Dion，l。liii。p。
679；l。liv。p。735。Theyremained，however，veryfashionableunderhisreignOvid。deArt。Amand。l。i。andthatofhissuccessor，tillthejusticeofTiberiuswasprovokedtosomeactsofseverity。SeeTacit。Annal。ii。85。Joseph。Antiquit。l。
xviii。c。3。
Note:See，inthepicturesfromthewallsofPompeii，therepresentationofanIsiactempleandworship。VestigesofEgyptianworshiphavebeentracedinGaul，and，Iaminformed，recentlyinBritain，inexcavationsatYork。—M。]
[Footnote!:Gibbonhereblendsintoone，twoevents，distantahundredandsixty—sixyearsfromeachother。ItwasintheyearofRome535，thatthesenatehavingorderedthedestructionofthetemplesofIsisandSerapis，theworkmanwouldlendhishand；
andtheconsul，L。PaulushimselfValer。Max。1，3seizedtheaxe，togivethefirstblow。Gibbonattributethiscircumstancetotheseconddemolition，whichtookplaceintheyear701andwhichheconsidersasthefirst。—W。]
[Footnote16:TertullianinApologetic。c。6，p。74。Edit。
Havercamp。IaminclinedtoattributetheirestablishmenttothedevotionoftheFlavianfamily。]
[Footnote17:SeeLivy，l。xi。[Suppl。]andxxix。]
[Footnote18:Macrob。Saturnalia，l。iii。c。9。Hegivesusaformofevocation。]
[Footnote19:MinutiusFaelixinOctavio，p。54。Arnobius，l。
vi。p。115。]
II。Thenarrowpolicyofpreserving，withoutanyforeignmixture，thepurebloodoftheancientcitizens，hadcheckedthefortune，andhastenedtheruin，ofAthensandSparta。TheaspiringgeniusofRomesacrificedvanitytoambition，anddeemeditmoreprudent，aswellashonorable，toadoptvirtueandmeritforherownwheresoevertheywerefound，amongslavesorstrangers，enemiesorbarbarians。^20DuringthemostflourishingaeraoftheAtheniancommonwealth，thenumberofcitizensgraduallydecreasedfromaboutthirty^21totwenty—onethousand。
^22If，onthecontrary，westudythegrowthoftheRomanrepublic，wemaydiscover，that，notwithstandingtheincessantdemandsofwarsandcolonies，thecitizens，who，inthefirstcensusofServiusTullius，amountedtonomorethaneighty—threethousand，weremultiplied，beforethecommencementofthesocialwar，tothenumberoffourhundredandsixty—threethousandmen，abletobeararmsintheserviceoftheircountry。^23WhenthealliesofRomeclaimedanequalshareofhonorsandprivileges，thesenateindeedpreferredthechanceofarmstoanignominiousconcession。TheSamnitesandtheLucanianspaidtheseverepenaltyoftheirrashness；buttherestoftheItalianstates，astheysuccessivelyreturnedtotheirduty，wereadmittedintothebosomoftherepublic，^24andsooncontributedtotheruinofpublicfreedom。Underademocraticalgovernment，thecitizensexercisethepowersofsovereignty；andthosepowerswillbefirstabused，andafterwardslost，iftheyarecommittedtoanunwieldymultitude。Butwhenthepopularassemblieshadbeensuppressedbytheadministrationoftheemperors，theconquerorsweredistinguishedfromthevanquishednations，onlyasthefirstandmosthonorableorderofsubjects；andtheirincrease，howeverrapid，wasnolongerexposedtothesamedangers。Yetthewisestprinces，whoadoptedthemaximsofAugustus，guardedwiththestrictestcarethedignityoftheRomanname，anddiffusedthefreedomofthecitywithaprudentliberality。^25
[Footnote20:Tacit。Annal。xi。24。TheOrbisRomanusofthelearnedSpanheimisacompletehistoryoftheprogressiveadmissionofLatium，Italy，andtheprovinces，tothefreedomofRome。
Note:Democraticstates，observesDenina，delleRevoluz。d'
Italia，l。ii。c。l。，aremostjealousofcommunicationtheprivilegesofcitizenship；monarchiesoroligarchieswillinglymultiplythenumbersoftheirfreesubjects。ThemostremarkableaccessionstothestrengthofRome，bytheaggregationofconqueredandforeignnations，tookplaceundertheregalandpatrician—wemayadd，theImperialgovernment。—M。]
[Footnote21:Herodotus，v。97。Itshouldseem，however，thathefollowedalargeandpopularestimation。]
[Footnote22:Athenaeus，Deipnosophist。l。vi。p。272。Edit。
Casaubon。MeursiusdeFortunaAttica，c。4。
Note:OnthenumberofcitizensinAthens，compareBoeckh，PublicEconomyofAthens，EnglishTr。，p。45，etseq。FynesClinton，EssayinFastiHellenici，vol。i。381。—M。]
[Footnote23:SeeaveryaccuratecollectionofthenumbersofeachLustruminM。deBeaufort，RepubliqueRomaine，l。iv。c。4。
Note:AllthesequestionsareplacedinanentirelynewpointofviewbyNicbuhr，RomischeGeschichte，vol。i。p。464。
HerejectsthecensusofServiusfulliusasunhistoric，vol。ii。
p。78，etseq。，andheestablishestheprinciplethatthecensuscomprehendedalltheconfederatecitieswhichhadtherightofIsopolity。—M。]
[Footnote24:Appian。deBell。Civil。l。i。VelleiusPaterculus，l。ii。c。15，16，17。]
[Footnote25:Maecenashadadvisedhimtodeclare，byoneedict，allhissubjectscitizens。ButwemayjustlysuspectthatthehistorianDionwastheauthorofacounselsomuchadaptedtothepracticeofhisownage，andsolittletothatofAugustus。]
ChapterII:TheInternalProsperityInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
PartII。
TilltheprivilegesofRomanshadbeenprogressivelyextendedtoalltheinhabitantsoftheempire，animportantdistinctionwaspreservedbetweenItalyandtheprovinces。Theformerwasesteemedthecentreofpublicunity，andthefirmbasisoftheconstitution。Italyclaimedthebirth，oratleasttheresidence，oftheemperorsandthesenate。^26TheestatesoftheItalianswereexemptfromtaxes，theirpersonsfromthearbitraryjurisdictionofgovernors。Theirmunicipalcorporations，formedaftertheperfectmodelofthecapital，
wereintrusted，undertheimmediateeyeofthesupremepower，withtheexecutionofthelaws。FromthefootoftheAlpstotheextremityofCalabria，allthenativesofItalywereborncitizensofRome。Theirpartialdistinctionswereobliterated，andtheyinsensiblycoalescedintoonegreatnation，unitedbylanguage，manners，andcivilinstitutions，andequaltotheweightofapowerfulempire。Therepublicgloriedinhergenerouspolicy，andwasfrequentlyrewardedbythemeritandservicesofheradoptedsons。HadshealwaysconfinedthedistinctionofRomanstotheancientfamilieswithinthewallsofthecity，thatimmortalnamewouldhavebeendeprivedofsomeofitsnoblestornaments。VirgilwasanativeofMantua；HoracewasinclinedtodoubtwhetherheshouldcallhimselfanApulianoraLucanian；itwasinPaduathatanhistorianwasfoundworthytorecordthemajesticseriesofRomanvictories。ThepatriotfamilyoftheCatosemergedfromTusculum；andthelittletownofArpinumclaimedthedoublehonorofproducingMariusandCicero，theformerofwhomdeserved，afterRomulusandCamillus，tobestyledtheThirdFounderofRome；andthelatter，aftersavinghiscountryfromthedesignsofCatiline，enabledhertocontendwithAthensforthepalmofeloquence。^27
[Footnote26:ThesenatorswereobligedtohaveonethirdoftheirownlandedpropertyinItaly。SeePlin。l。vi。ep。19。
ThequalificationwasreducedbyMarcustoonefourth。SincethereignofTrajan，Italyhadsunknearertotheleveloftheprovinces。]
[Footnote*:ItmaybedoubtedwhetherthemunicipalgovernmentofthecitieswasnottheoldItalianconstitutionratherthanatranscriptfromthatofRome。Thefreegovernmentofthecities，observesSavigny，wastheleadingcharacteristicofItaly。
GeschichtedesRomischenRechts，i。p。G。—M。]
[Footnote27:ThefirstpartoftheVeronaIllustrataoftheMarquisMaffeigivestheclearestandmostcomprehensiveviewofthestateofItalyundertheCaesars。
Note:CompareDenina，Revol。d'Italia，l。ii。c。6，p。100，4toedit。]
Theprovincesoftheempireastheyhavebeendescribedintheprecedingchapterweredestituteofanypublicforce，orconstitutionalfreedom。InEtruria，inGreece，^28andinGaul，^29itwasthefirstcareofthesenatetodissolvethosedangerousconfederacies，whichtaughtmankindthat，astheRomanarmsprevailedbydivision，theymightberesistedbyunion。
Thoseprinces，whomtheostentationofgratitudeorgenerositypermittedforawhiletoholdaprecarioussceptre，weredismissedfromtheirthrones，assoonastheyhadperformedtheirappointedtaskoffashioningtotheyokethevanquishednations。ThefreestatesandcitieswhichhadembracedthecauseofRomewererewardedwithanominalalliance，andinsensiblysunkintorealservitude。Thepublicauthoritywaseverywhereexercisedbytheministersofthesenateandoftheemperors，andthatauthoritywasabsolute，andwithoutcontrol。^!Butthesamesalutarymaximsofgovernment，whichhadsecuredthepeaceandobedienceofItalywereextendedtothemostdistantconquests。
AnationofRomanswasgraduallyformedintheprovinces，bythedoubleexpedientofintroducingcolonies，andofadmittingthemostfaithfulanddeservingoftheprovincialstothefreedomofRome。
[Footnote28:SeePausanias，l。vii。TheRomanscondescendedtorestorethenamesofthoseassemblies，whentheycouldnolongerbedangerous。]
[Footnote29:TheyarefrequentlymentionedbyCaesar。TheAbbeDubosattempts，withverylittlesuccess，toprovethattheassembliesofGaulwerecontinuedundertheemperors。Histoiredel'EtablissementdelaMonarchieFrancoise，l。i。c。4。]
[Footnote!:Thisis，perhaps，ratheroverstated。Mostcitiesretainedthechoiceoftheirmunicipalofficers:someretainedvaluableprivileges；Athens，forinstance，informwasstillaconfederatecity。Tac。Ann。ii。53。Theseprivileges，indeed，dependedentirelyonthearbitrarywilloftheemperor，whorevokedorrestoredthemaccordingtohiscaprice。SeeWaltherGeschichtelesRomischenRechts，i。324—anadmirablesummaryoftheRomanconstitutionalhistory。—M。]
"WheresoevertheRomanconquers，heinhabits，"isaveryjustobservationofSeneca，^30confirmedbyhistoryandexperience。ThenativesofItaly，alluredbypleasureorbyinterest，hastenedtoenjoytheadvantagesofvictory；andwemayremark，that，aboutfortyyearsafterthereductionofAsia，eightythousandRomansweremassacredinoneday，bythecruelordersofMithridates。^31Thesevoluntaryexileswereengaged，forthemostpart，intheoccupationsofcommerce，agriculture，andthefarmoftherevenue。Butafterthelegionswererenderedpermanentbytheemperors，theprovinceswerepeopledbyaraceofsoldiers；andtheveterans，whethertheyreceivedtherewardoftheirserviceinlandorinmoney，usuallysettledwiththeirfamiliesinthecountry，wheretheyhadhonorablyspenttheiryouth。Throughouttheempire，butmoreparticularlyinthewesternparts，themostfertiledistricts，andthemostconvenientsituations，werereservedfortheestablishmentofcolonies；someofwhichwereofacivil，andothersofamilitarynature。Intheirmannersandinternalpolicy，thecoloniesformedaperfectrepresentationoftheirgreatparent；andtheyweresoonendearedtothenativesbythetiesoffriendshipandalliance，theyeffectuallydiffusedareverencefortheRomanname，andadesire，whichwasseldomdisappointed，ofsharing，induetime，itshonorsandadvantages。^32Themunicipalcitiesinsensiblyequalledtherankandsplendorofthecolonies；andinthereignofHadrian，itwasdisputedwhichwasthepreferablecondition，ofthosesocietieswhichhadissuedfrom，orthosewhichhadbeenreceivedinto，thebosomofRome。^33TherightofLatium，asitwascalled，conferredonthecitiestowhichithadbeengranted，amorepartialfavor。Themagistratesonly，attheexpirationoftheiroffice，assumedthequalityofRomancitizens；butasthoseofficeswereannual，inafewyearstheycirculatedroundtheprincipalfamilies。^34Thoseoftheprovincialswhowerepermittedtobeararmsinthelegions；^35
thosewhoexercisedanycivilemployment；all，inaword，whoperformedanypublicservice，ordisplayedanypersonaltalents，wererewardedwithapresent，whosevaluewascontinuallydiminishedbytheincreasingliberalityoftheemperors。Yeteven，intheageoftheAntonines，whenthefreedomofthecityhadbeenbestowedonthegreaternumberoftheirsubjects，itwasstillaccompaniedwithverysolidadvantages。Thebulkofthepeopleacquired，withthattitle，thebenefitoftheRomanlaws，particularlyintheinterestingarticlesofmarriage，testaments，andinheritances；andtheroadoffortunewasopentothosewhosepretensionsweresecondedbyfavorormerit。ThegrandsonsoftheGauls，whohadbesiegedJuliusCaesarinAlcsia，commandedlegions，governedprovinces，andwereadmittedintothesenateofRome。^36Theirambition，insteadofdisturbingthetranquillityofthestate，wasintimatelyconnectedwithitssafetyandgreatness。
[Footnote30:SenecainConsolat。adHelviam，c。6。]
[Footnote31:MemnonapudPhotium，c。33，[c。224，p。231，edBekker。]Valer。Maxim。ix。2。PlutarchandDionCassiusswellthemassacreto150，000citizens；butIshouldesteemthesmallernumbertobemorethansufficient。]
[Footnote32:Twenty—fivecoloniesweresettledinSpain，seePlin。Hist。Nat。iii。3，4；iv。35；andnineinBritain，ofwhichLondon，Colchester，Lincoln，Chester，Gloucester，andBathstillremainconsiderablecities。SeeRichardofCirencester，p。
36，andWhittaker'sHistoryofManchester，l。i。c。3。]
[Footnote33:Aul。Gel。NoctesAtticae，xvi13。TheEmperorHadrianexpressedhissurprise，thatthecitiesofUtica，Gades，andItalica，whichalreadyenjoyedtherightsofMunicipia，shouldsolicitthetitleofcolonies。Theirexample，however，becamefashionable，andtheempirewasfilledwithhonorarycolonies。SeeSpanheim，deUsuNumismatumDissertat。xiii。]
[Footnote*:TherightofLatiumconferredanexemptionfromthegovernmentoftheRomanpraefect。Strabostatesthisdistinctly，l。iv。p。295，edit。Caesar's。SeealsoWalther，p。233。—M]
[Footnote34:Spanheim，OrbisRoman。c。8，p。62。]
[Footnote35:Aristid。inRomaeEncomio。tom。i。p。218，edit。
Jebb。]
[Footnote36:Tacit。Annal。xi。23，24。Hist。iv。74。]
SosensibleweretheRomansoftheinfluenceoflanguageovernationalmanners，thatitwastheirmostseriouscaretoextend，withtheprogressoftheirarms，theuseoftheLatintongue。^37TheancientdialectsofItaly，theSabine，theEtruscan，andtheVenetian，sunkintooblivion；butintheprovinces，theeastwaslessdocilethanthewesttothevoiceofitsvictoriouspreceptors。Thisobviousdifferencemarkedthetwoportionsoftheempirewithadistinctionofcolors，which，thoughitwasinsomedegreeconcealedduringthemeridiansplendorofprosperity，becamegraduallymorevisible，astheshadesofnightdescendedupontheRomanworld。Thewesterncountrieswerecivilizedbythesamehandswhichsubduedthem。
Assoonasthebarbarianswerereconciledtoobedience，theirmindswereopentoanynewimpressionsofknowledgeandpoliteness。ThelanguageofVirgilandCicero，thoughwithsomeinevitablemixtureofcorruption，wassouniversallyadoptedinAfrica，Spain，GaulBritain，andPannonia，^38thatthefainttracesofthePunicorCelticidiomswerepreservedonlyinthemountains，oramongthepeasants。^39EducationandstudyinsensiblyinspiredthenativesofthosecountrieswiththesentimentsofRomans；andItalygavefashions，aswellaslaws，toherLatinprovincials。Theysolicitedwithmoreardor，andobtainedwithmorefacility，thefreedomandhonorsofthestate；
supportedthenationaldignityinletters^40andinarms；andatlength，inthepersonofTrajan，producedanemperorwhomtheScipioswouldnothavedisownedfortheircountryman。ThesituationoftheGreekswasverydifferentfromthatofthebarbarians。Theformerhadbeenlongsincecivilizedandcorrupted。Theyhadtoomuchtastetorelinquishtheirlanguage，andtoomuchvanitytoadoptanyforeigninstitutions。Stillpreservingtheprejudices，aftertheyhadlostthevirtues，oftheirancestors，theyaffectedtodespisetheunpolishedmannersoftheRomanconquerors，whilsttheywerecompelledtorespecttheirsuperiorwisdomandpower。^41NorwastheinfluenceoftheGrecianlanguageandsentimentsconfinedtothenarrowlimitsofthatoncecelebratedcountry。Theirempire，bytheprogressofcoloniesandconquest，hadbeendiffusedfromtheAdriatictotheEuphratesandtheNile。AsiawascoveredwithGreekcities，andthelongreignoftheMacedoniankingshadintroducedasilentrevolutionintoSyriaandEgypt。Intheirpompouscourts，thoseprincesunitedtheeleganceofAthenswiththeluxuryoftheEast，andtheexampleofthecourtwasimitated，atanhumbledistance，bythehigherranksoftheirsubjects。SuchwasthegeneraldivisionoftheRomanempireintotheLatinandGreeklanguages。TothesewemayaddathirddistinctionforthebodyofthenativesinSyria，andespeciallyinEgypt，theuseoftheirancientdialects，bysecludingthemfromthecommerceofmankind，checkedtheimprovementsofthosebarbarians。^42Theslothfuleffeminacyoftheformerexposedthemtothecontempt，thesullenferociousnessofthelatterexcitedtheaversion，oftheconquerors。^43ThosenationshadsubmittedtotheRomanpower，buttheyseldomdesiredordeservedthefreedomofthecity:anditwasremarked，thatmorethantwohundredandthirtyyearselapsedaftertheruinofthePtolemies，beforeanEgyptianwasadmittedintothesenateofRome。^44
[Footnote37:SeePlin。Hist。Natur。iii。5。Augustin。deCivitateDei，xix7LipsiusdePronunciationeLinguaeLatinae，c。
3。]
[Footnote38:ApuleiusandAugustinwillanswerforAfrica；
StraboforSpainandGaul；Tacitus，inthelifeofAgricola，forBritain；andVelleiusPaterculus，forPannonia。TothemwemayaddthelanguageoftheInscriptions。
Note:Mr。HallamconteststhisassertionasregardsBritain。