Diligenceandaccuracyaretheonlymeritswhichanhistoricalwritermayascribetohimself；ifanymerit，indeed，canbeassumedfromtheperformanceofanindispensableduty。I

maythereforebeallowedtosay，thatIhavecarefullyexaminedalltheoriginalmaterialsthatcouldillustratethesubjectwhichIhadundertakentotreat。ShouldIevercompletetheextensivedesignwhichhasbeensketchedoutinthePreface，I

mightperhapsconcludeitwithacriticalaccountoftheauthorsconsultedduringtheprogressofthewholework；andhoweversuchanattemptmightincurthecensureofostentation，Iampersuadedthatitwouldbesusceptibleofentertainment，aswellasinformation。

AtpresentIshallcontentmyselfwithasingleobservation。

Thebiographers，who，underthereignsofDiocletianandConstantine，composed，orrathercompiled，thelivesoftheEmperors，fromHadriantothesonsofCarus，areusuallymentionedunderthenamesofAeliusSpartianus，JuliusCapitolinus，AeliusLampridius，VulcatiusGallicanus，TrebelliusPollioandFlaviusVopiscus。ButthereissomuchperplexityinthetitlesoftheMSS。，andsomanydisputeshavearisenamongthecritics(seeFabricius，Biblioth。Latin。l。iii。c。6)

concerningtheirnumber，theirnames，andtheirrespectiveproperty，thatforthemostpartIhavequotedthemwithoutdistinction，underthegeneralandwell—knowntitleoftheAugustanHistory。

PrefaceToTheFourthVolumeOfTheOriginalQuartoEdition。

Inowdischargemypromise，andcompletemydesign，ofwritingtheHistoryoftheDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire，bothintheWestandtheEast。ThewholeperiodextendsfromtheageofTrajanandtheAntonines，tothetakingofConstantinoplebyMahomettheSecond；andincludesareviewoftheCrusades，andthestateofRomeduringthemiddleages。Sincethepublicationofthefirstvolume，twelveyearshaveelapsed；twelveyears，accordingtomywish，"ofhealth，ofleisure，andofperseverance。"Imaynowcongratulatemydeliverancefromalongandlaboriousservice，andmysatisfactionwillbepureandperfect，ifthepublicfavorshouldbeextendedtotheconclusionofmywork。

Itwasmyfirstintentiontohavecollected，underoneview，thenumerousauthors，ofeveryageandlanguage，fromwhomIhavederivedthematerialsofthishistory；andIamstillconvincedthattheapparentostentationwouldbemorethancompensatedbyrealuse。IfIhaverenouncedthisidea，ifIhavedeclinedanundertakingwhichhadobtainedtheapprobationofamaster—artist，myexcusemaybefoundintheextremedifficultyofassigningapropermeasuretosuchacatalogue。A

nakedlistofnamesandeditionswouldnotbesatisfactoryeithertomyselformyreaders:thecharactersoftheprincipalAuthorsoftheRomanandByzantineHistoryhavebeenoccasionallyconnectedwiththeeventswhichtheydescribe；amorecopiousandcriticalinquirymightindeeddeserve，butitwoulddemand，anelaboratevolume，whichmightswellbydegreesintoagenerallibraryofhistoricalwriters。Forthepresent，Ishallcontentmyselfwithrenewingmyseriousprotestation，thatIhavealwaysendeavoredtodrawfromthefountain—head；thatmycuriosity，aswellasasenseofduty，hasalwaysurgedmetostudytheoriginals；andthat，iftheyhavesometimeseludedmysearch，I

havecarefullymarkedthesecondaryevidence，onwhosefaithapassageorafactwerereducedtodepend。

[Footnote*:SeeDr。Robertson'sPrefacetohisHistoryofAmerica。]

IshallsoonrevisitthebanksoftheLakeofLausanne，acountrywhichIhaveknownandlovedfrommyearlyyouth。Underamildgovernment，amidstabeauteouslandscape，inalifeofleisureandindependence，andamongapeopleofeasyandelegantmanners，Ihaveenjoyed，andmayagainhopetoenjoy，thevariedpleasuresofretirementandsociety。ButIshallevergloryinthenameandcharacterofanEnglishman:Iamproudofmybirthinafreeandenlightenedcountry；andtheapprobationofthatcountryisthebestandmosthonorablerewardofmylabors。WereIambitiousofanyotherPatronthanthePublic，IwouldinscribethisworktoaStatesman，who，inalong，astormy，andatlengthanunfortunateadministration，hadmanypoliticalopponents，almostwithoutapersonalenemy；whohasretained，inhisfallfrompower，manyfaithfulanddisinterestedfriends；andwho，underthepressureofsevereinfirmity，enjoysthelivelyvigorofhismind，andthefelicityofhisincomparabletemper。LordNorthwillpermitmetoexpressthefeelingsoffriendshipinthelanguageoftruth:buteventruthandfriendshipshouldbesilent，ifhestilldispensedthefavorsofthecrown。

Inaremotesolitude，vanitymaystillwhisperinmyear，thatmyreaders，perhaps，mayinquirewhether，intheconclusionofthepresentwork，Iamnowtakinganeverlastingfarewell。

TheyshallhearallthatIknowmyself，andallthatIcouldrevealtothemostintimatefriend。Themotivesofactionorsilencearenowequallybalanced；norcanIpronounce，inmymostsecretthoughts，onwhichsidethescalewillpreponderate。I

cannotdissemblethatsixquartosmusthavetried，andmayhaveexhausted，theindulgenceofthePublic；that，intherepetitionofsimilarattempts，asuccessfulAuthorhasmuchmoretolosethanhecanhopetogain；thatIamnowdescendingintothevaleofyears；andthatthemostrespectableofmycountrymen，themenwhomIaspiretoimitate，haveresignedthepenofhistoryaboutthesameperiodoftheirlives。YetIconsiderthattheannalsofancientandmoderntimesmayaffordmanyrichandinterestingsubjects；thatIamstillpossessedofhealthandleisure；thatbythepracticeofwriting，someskillandfacilitymustbeacquired；andthat，intheardentpursuitoftruthandknowledge，Iamnotconsciousofdecay。Toanactivemind，indolenceismorepainfulthanlabor；andthefirstmonthsofmylibertywillbeoccupiedandamusedintheexcursionsofcuriosityandtaste。

Bysuchtemptations，Ihavebeensometimesseducedfromtherigiddutyevenofapleasingandvoluntarytask:butmytimewillnowbemyown；andintheuseorabuseofindependence，Ishallnolongerfearmyownreproachesorthoseofmyfriends。Iamfairlyentitledtoayearofjubilee:nextsummerandthefollowingwinterwillrapidlypassaway；andexperienceonlycandeterminewhetherIshallstillpreferthefreedomandvarietyofstudytothedesignandcompositionofaregularwork，whichanimates，whileitconfines，thedailyapplicationoftheAuthor。

Capriceandaccidentmayinfluencemychoice；butthedexterityofself—lovewillcontrivetoapplaudeitheractiveindustryorphilosophicrepose。

DowningStreet，May1，1788。

P。S。Ishallembracethisopportunityofintroducingtwoverbalremarks，whichhavenotconvenientlyofferedthemselvestomynotice。1。AsoftenasIusethedefinitionsofbeyondtheAlps，theRhine，theDanube，&c。，IgenerallysupposemyselfatRome，andafterwardsatConstantinople；withoutobservingwhetherthisrelativegeographymayagreewiththelocal，butvariable，situationofthereader，orthehistorian。2。Inpropernamesofforeign，andespeciallyofOrientalorigin，itshouldbealwaysouraimtoexpress，inourEnglishversion，afaithfulcopyoftheoriginal。Butthisrule，whichisfoundedonajustregardtouniformityandtruth，mustoftenberelaxed；andtheexceptionswillbelimitedorenlargedbythecustomofthelanguageandthetasteoftheinterpreter。Ouralphabetsmaybeoftendefective；aharshsound，anuncouthspelling，mightoffendtheearortheeyeofourcountrymen；andsomewords，notoriouslycorrupt，arefixed，and，asitwere，naturalizedinthevulgartongue。TheprophetMohammedcannolongerbestrippedofthefamous，thoughimproper，appellationofMahomet:thewell—knowncitiesofAleppo，Damascus，andCairo，wouldalmostbelostinthestrangedescriptionsofHaleb，Demashk，andAlCahira:thetitlesandofficesoftheOttomanempirearefashionedbythepracticeofthreehundredyears；andwearepleasedtoblendthethreeChinesemonosyllables，Con—fu—tzee，intherespectablenameofConfucius，oreventoadoptthePortuguesecorruptionofMandarin。ButIwouldvarytheuseofZoroasterandZerdusht，asIdrewmyinformationfromGreeceorPersia:sinceourconnectionwithIndia，thegenuineTimourisrestoredtothethroneofTamerlane:ourmostcorrectwritershaveretrenchedtheAl，thesuperfluousarticle，fromtheKoran；andweescapeanambiguoustermination，byadoptingMosleminsteadofMusulman，inthepluralnumber。Inthese，andinathousandexamples，theshadesofdistinctionareoftenminute；andIcanfeel，whereIcannotexplain，themotivesofmychoice。

ChapterI:TheExtentOfTheEmpireInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。

Antoninies。

PartI。

Introduction。

TheExtentAndMilitaryForceOfTheEmpireInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。

InthesecondcenturyoftheChristianAera，theempireofRomecomprehendedthefairestpartoftheearth，andthemostcivilizedportionofmankind。Thefrontiersofthatextensivemonarchywereguardedbyancientrenownanddisciplinedvalor。

Thegentlebutpowerfulinfluenceoflawsandmannershadgraduallycementedtheunionoftheprovinces。Theirpeacefulinhabitantsenjoyedandabusedtheadvantagesofwealthandluxury。Theimageofafreeconstitutionwaspreservedwithdecentreverence:theRomansenateappearedtopossessthesovereignauthority，anddevolvedontheemperorsalltheexecutivepowersofgovernment。Duringahappyperiodofmorethanfourscoreyears，thepublicadministrationwasconductedbythevirtueandabilitiesofNerva，Trajan，Hadrian，andthetwoAntonines。Itisthedesignofthis，andofthetwosucceedingchapters，todescribetheprosperousconditionoftheirempire；

andafterwards，fromthedeathofMarcusAntoninus，todeducethemostimportantcircumstancesofitsdeclineandfall；arevolutionwhichwilleverberemembered，andisstillfeltbythenationsoftheearth。

TheprincipalconquestsoftheRomanswereachievedundertherepublic；andtheemperors，forthemostpart，weresatisfiedwithpreservingthosedominionswhichhadbeenacquiredbythepolicyofthesenate，theactiveemulationsoftheconsuls，andthemartialenthusiasmofthepeople。Thesevenfirstcenturieswerefilledwitharapidsuccessionoftriumphs；butitwasreservedforAugustustorelinquishtheambitiousdesignofsubduingthewholeearth，andtointroduceaspiritofmoderationintothepubliccouncils。Inclinedtopeacebyhistemperandsituation，itwaseasyforhimtodiscoverthatRome，inherpresentexaltedsituation，hadmuchlesstohopethantofearfromthechanceofarms；andthat，intheprosecutionofremotewars，theundertakingbecameeverydaymoredifficult，theeventmoredoubtful，andthepossessionmoreprecarious，andlessbeneficial。TheexperienceofAugustusaddedweighttothesesalutaryreflections，andeffectuallyconvincedhimthat，bytheprudentvigorofhiscounsels，itwouldbeeasytosecureeveryconcessionwhichthesafetyorthedignityofRomemightrequirefromthemostformidablebarbarians。InsteadofexposinghispersonandhislegionstothearrowsoftheParthians，heobtained，byanhonorabletreaty，therestitutionofthestandardsandprisonerswhichhadbeentakeninthedefeatofCrassus。^1

[Footnote1:DionCassius，(l。liv。p。736，)withtheannotationsofReimar，whohascollectedallthatRomanvanityhasleftuponthesubject。ThemarbleofAncyra，onwhichAugustusrecordedhisownexploits，assertedthathecompelledtheParthianstorestoretheensignsofCrassus。]

Hisgenerals，intheearlypartofhisreign，attemptedthereductionofEthiopiaandArabiaFelix。Theymarchednearathousandmilestothesouthofthetropic；buttheheatoftheclimatesoonrepelledtheinvaders，andprotectedtheun—warlikenativesofthosesequesteredregions。^2ThenortherncountriesofEuropescarcelydeservedtheexpenseandlaborofconquest。

TheforestsandmorassesofGermanywerefilledwithahardyraceofbarbarians，whodespisedlifewhenitwasseparatedfromfreedom；andthough，onthefirstattack，theyseemedtoyieldtotheweightoftheRomanpower，theysoon，byasignalactofdespair，regainedtheirindependence，andremindedAugustusofthevicissitudeoffortune。^3Onthedeathofthatemperor，histestamentwaspubliclyreadinthesenate。Hebequeathed，asavaluablelegacytohissuccessors，theadviceofconfiningtheempirewithinthoselimitswhichnatureseemedtohaveplacedasitspermanentbulwarksandboundaries:onthewest，theAtlanticOcean；theRhineandDanubeonthenorth；theEuphratesontheeast；andtowardsthesouth，thesandydesertsofArabiaandAfrica。^4

[Footnote2:Strabo，(l。xvi。p。780，)Plinytheelder，(Hist。

Natur。l。vi。c。32，35，[28，29，]andDionCassius，(l。liii。p。

723，andl。liv。p。734，)haveleftusverycuriousdetailsconcerningthesewars。TheRomansmadethemselvesmastersofMariaba，orMerab，acityofArabiaFelix，wellknowntotheOrientals。(SeeAbulfedaandtheNubiangeography，p。52)Theywerearrivedwithinthreedays'journeyofthespicecountry，therichobjectoftheirinvasion。

Note:ItisthecityofMerabthattheArabssaywastheresidenceofBelkis，queenofSaba，whodesiredtoseeSolomon。

Adam，bywhichthewaterscollectedinitsneighborhoodwerekeptback，havingbeensweptaway，thesuddeninundationdestroyedthiscity，ofwhich，nevertheless，vestigesremain。ItborderedonacountrycalledAdramout，whereaparticulararomaticplantgrows:itisforthisreasonthatwerealinthehistoryoftheRomanexpedition，thattheywerearrivedwithinthreedays'journeyofthespicecountry。—G。CompareMalte—Brun，Geogr。Eng。trans。vol。ii。p。215。TheperiodofthisfloodhasbeencopiouslydiscussedbyReiske，(Program。devetustaEpochaArabum，rupturacataractaeMerabensis。)Add。

Johannsen，Hist。Yemanae，p。282。Bonn，1828；andseeGibbon，note16。toChap。L。—M。

Note:Two，accordingtoStrabo。ThedetailedaccountofStrabomakestheinvadersfailbeforeMarsuabae:thiscannotbethesameplaceasMariaba。Ukertobserves，thatAeliusGalluswouldnothavefailedforwantofwaterbeforeMariaba。(SeeM。

Guizot'snoteabove。)"Either，therefore，theyweredifferentplaces，orStraboismistaken。"(Ukert，GeographicderGriechenundRomer，vol。i。p。181。)Strabo，indeed，mentionsMariabadistinctfromMarsuabae。GibbonhasfollowedPlinyinreckoningMariabaamongtheconquestsofGallus。Therecanbelittledoubtthatheiswrong，asGallusdidnotapproachthecapitalofSabaea。ComparethenoteoftheOxfordeditorofStrabo。—M。]

[Footnote3:BytheslaughterofVarusandhisthreelegions。

SeethefirstbookoftheAnnalsofTacitus。Sueton。inAugust。

c。23，andVelleiusPaterculus，l。ii。c。117，&c。Augustusdidnotreceivethemelancholynewswithallthetemperandfirmnessthatmighthavebeenexpectedfromhischaracter。]

[Footnote4:Tacit。Annal。l。ii。DionCassius，l。lvi。p。833，andthespeechofAugustushimself，inJulian'sCaesars。ItreceivesgreatlightfromthelearnednotesofhisFrenchtranslator，M。Spanheim。]

Happilyforthereposeofmankind，themoderatesystemrecommendedbythewisdomofAugustus，wasadoptedbythefearsandvicesofhisimmediatesuccessors。Engagedinthepursuitofpleasure，orintheexerciseoftyranny，thefirstCaesarsseldomshowedthemselvestothearmies，ortotheprovinces；norweretheydisposedtosuffer，thatthosetriumphswhichtheirindolenceneglected，shouldbeusurpedbytheconductandvaloroftheirlieutenants。ThemilitaryfameofasubjectwasconsideredasaninsolentinvasionoftheImperialprerogative；

anditbecametheduty，aswellasinterest，ofeveryRomangeneral，toguardthefrontiersintrustedtohiscare，withoutaspiringtoconquestswhichmighthaveprovednolessfataltohimselfthantothevanquishedbarbarians。^5

[Footnote5:Germanicus，SuetoniusPaulinus，andAgricolawerecheckedandrecalledinthecourseoftheirvictories。Corbulowasputtodeath。Militarymerit，asitisadmirablyexpressedbyTacitus，was，inthestrictestsenseoftheword，imperatoriavirtus。]

TheonlyaccessionwhichtheRomanempirereceived，duringthefirstcenturyoftheChristianAera，wastheprovinceofBritain。Inthissingleinstance，thesuccessorsofCaesarandAugustuswerepersuadedtofollowtheexampleoftheformer，ratherthanthepreceptofthelatter。TheproximityofitssituationtothecoastofGaulseemedtoinvitetheirarms；thepleasingthoughdoubtfulintelligenceofapearlfishery，attractedtheiravarice；^6andasBritainwasviewedinthelightofadistinctandinsulatedworld，theconquestscarcelyformedanyexceptiontothegeneralsystemofcontinentalmeasures。Afterawarofaboutfortyyears，undertakenbythemoststupid，^7maintainedbythemostdissolute，andterminatedbythemosttimidofalltheemperors，thefargreaterpartoftheislandsubmittedtotheRomanyoke。^8ThevarioustribesofBritainpossessedvalorwithoutconduct，andtheloveoffreedomwithoutthespiritofunion。Theytookuparmswithsavagefierceness；theylaidthemdown，orturnedthemagainsteachother，withwildinconsistency；andwhiletheyfoughtsingly，theyweresuccessivelysubdued。NeitherthefortitudeofCaractacus，northedespairofBoadicea，northefanaticismoftheDruids，couldaverttheslaveryoftheircountry，orresistthesteadyprogressoftheImperialgenerals，whomaintainedthenationalglory，whenthethronewasdisgracedbytheweakest，orthemostviciousofmankind。AttheverytimewhenDomitian，confinedtohispalace，felttheterrorswhichheinspired，hislegions，underthecommandofthevirtuousAgricola，defeatedthecollectedforceoftheCaledonians，atthefootoftheGrampianHills；andhisfleets，venturingtoexploreanunknownanddangerousnavigation，displayedtheRomanarmsroundeverypartoftheisland。TheconquestofBritainwasconsideredasalreadyachieved；anditwasthedesignofAgricolatocompleteandinsurehissuccess，bytheeasyreductionofIreland，forwhich，inhisopinion，onelegionandafewauxiliariesweresufficient。