PartVI。
GeneralObservationsOnTheFallOfTheRomanEmpireInTheWest。
TheGreeks，aftertheircountryhadbeenreducedintoaprovince，imputedthetriumphsofRome，nottothemerit，buttothefortune，oftherepublic。Theinconstantgoddess，whosoblindlydistributesandresumesherfavors，hadnowconsentedsuchwasthelanguageofenviousflatterytoresignherwings，todescendfromherglobe，andtofixherfirmandimmutablethroneonthebanksoftheTyber。^1AwiserGreek，whohascomposed，withaphilosophicspirit，thememorablehistoryofhisowntimes，deprivedhiscountrymenofthisvainanddelusivecomfort，byopeningtotheirviewthedeepfoundationsofthegreatnessofRome。^2Thefidelityofthecitizenstoeachother，andtothestate，wasconfirmedbythehabitsofeducation，andtheprejudicesofreligion。Honor，aswellasvirtue，wastheprincipleoftherepublic；theambitiouscitizenslaboredtodeservethesolemngloriesofatriumph；andtheardoroftheRomanyouthwaskindledintoactiveemulation，asoftenastheybeheldthedomesticimagesoftheirancestors。^3Thetemperatestrugglesofthepatriciansandplebeianshadfinallyestablishedthefirmandequalbalanceoftheconstitution；whichunitedthefreedomofpopularassemblies，withtheauthorityandwisdomofasenate，andtheexecutivepowersofaregalmagistrate。Whentheconsuldisplayedthestandardoftherepublic，eachcitizenboundhimself，bytheobligationofanoath，todrawhisswordinthecauseofhiscountry，tillhehaddischargedthesacreddutybyamilitaryserviceoftenyears。Thiswiseinstitutioncontinuallypouredintothefieldtherisinggenerationsoffreemenandsoldiers；andtheirnumberswerereenforcedbythewarlikeandpopulousstatesofItaly，who，afterabraveresistance，hadyieldedtothevalorandembracedthealliance，oftheRomans。
Thesagehistorian，whoexcitedthevirtueoftheyoungerScipio，andbeheldtheruinofCarthage，^4hasaccuratelydescribedtheirmilitarysystem；theirlevies，arms，exercises，subordination，marches，encampments；andtheinvinciblelegion，superiorinactivestrengthtotheMacedonianphalanxofPhilipandAlexander。FromtheseinstitutionsofpeaceandwarPolybiushasdeducedthespiritandsuccessofapeople，incapableoffear，andimpatientofrepose。Theambitiousdesignofconquest，whichmighthavebeendefeatedbytheseasonableconspiracyofmankind，wasattemptedandachieved；andtheperpetualviolationofjusticewasmaintainedbythepoliticalvirtuesofprudenceandcourage。Thearmsoftherepublic，sometimesvanquishedinbattle，alwaysvictoriousinwar，advancedwithrapidstepstotheEuphrates，theDanube，theRhine，andtheOcean；andtheimagesofgold，orsilver，orbrass，thatmightservetorepresentthenationsandtheirkings，weresuccessivelybrokenbytheironmonarchyofRome。^5
[Footnote1:SucharethefigurativeexpressionsofPlutarch，Opera，tom。ii。p。318，edit。Wechel，towhom，onthefaithofhissonLamprias，Fabricius，Bibliot。Graec。tom。iii。p。341，
Ishallboldlyimputethemaliciousdeclamation。ThesameopinionshadprevailedamongtheGreekstwohundredandfiftyyearsbeforePlutarch；andtoconfutethemistheprofessedintentionofPolybius，Hist。l。i。p。90，edit。Gronov。Amstel。
1670。]
[Footnote2:SeetheinestimableremainsofthesixthbookofPolybius，andmanyotherpartsofhisgeneralhistory，particularlyadigressionintheseventeenthbook，inwhichhecomparesthephalanxandthelegion。]
[Footnote3:Sallust，deBell。Jugurthin。c。4。SuchwerethegenerousprofessionsofP。ScipioandQ。Maximus。TheLatinhistorianhadreadandmostprobablytranscribes，Polybius，theircontemporaryandfriend。]
[Footnote4:WhileCarthagewasinflames，ScipiorepeatedtwolinesoftheIliad，whichexpressthedestructionofTroy，acknowledgingtoPolybius，hisfriendandpreceptor，Polyb。inExcerpt。deVirtut。etVit。tom。ii。p。1455—1465，thatwhileherecollectedthevicissitudesofhumanaffairs，heinwardlyappliedthemtothefuturecalamitiesofRome，Appian。inLibycis，p。136，edit。Toll。]
[Footnote5:SeeDaniel，ii。31—40。\"Andthefourthkingdomshallbestrongasiron；forasmuchasironbreakethinpiecesandsubduethallthings。\"Theremainderoftheprophecythemixtureofironandclaywasaccomplished，accordingtoSt。Jerom，inhisowntime。SicuteniminprincipionihilRomanoImperiofortiusetdurius，itainfinererumnihilimbecillius；quumetinbelliscivilibusetadversusdiversasnationes，aliarumgentiumbarbararumauxilioindigemus，Opera，tom。v。p。572。]
Theriseofacity，whichswelledintoanempire，maydeserve，asasingularprodigy，thereflectionofaphilosophicmind。ButthedeclineofRomewasthenaturalandinevitableeffectofimmoderategreatness。Prosperityripenedtheprincipleofdecay；thecausesofdestructionmultipliedwiththeextentofconquest；andassoonastimeoraccidenthadremovedtheartificialsupports，thestupendousfabricyieldedtothepressureofitsownweight。Thestoryofitsruinissimpleandobvious；andinsteadofinquiringwhytheRomanempirewasdestroyed，weshouldratherbesurprisedthatithadsubsistedsolong。Thevictoriouslegions，who，indistantwars，acquiredthevicesofstrangersandmercenaries，firstoppressedthefreedomoftherepublic，andafterwardsviolatedthemajestyofthepurple。Theemperors，anxiousfortheirpersonalsafetyandthepublicpeace，werereducedtothebaseexpedientofcorruptingthedisciplinewhichrenderedthemalikeformidabletotheirsovereignandtotheenemy；thevigorofthemilitarygovernmentwasrelaxed，andfinallydissolved，bythepartialinstitutionsofConstantine；andtheRomanworldwasoverwhelmedbyadelugeofBarbarians。
ThedecayofRomehasbeenfrequentlyascribedtothetranslationoftheseatofempire；butthisHistoryhasalreadyshown，thatthepowersofgovernmentweredivided，ratherthanremoved。ThethroneofConstantinoplewaserectedintheEast；
whiletheWestwasstillpossessedbyaseriesofemperorswhoheldtheirresidenceinItaly，andclaimedtheirequalinheritanceofthelegionsandprovinces。Thisdangerousnoveltyimpairedthestrength，andfomentedthevices，ofadoublereign:
theinstrumentsofanoppressiveandarbitrarysystemweremultiplied；andavainemulationofluxury，notofmerit，wasintroducedandsupportedbetweenthedegeneratesuccessorsofTheodosius。Extremedistress，whichunitesthevirtueofafreepeople，imbittersthefactionsofadecliningmonarchy。ThehostilefavoritesofArcadiusandHonoriusbetrayedtherepublictoitscommonenemies；andtheByzantinecourtbeheldwithindifference，perhapswithpleasure，thedisgraceofRome，themisfortunesofItaly，andthelossoftheWest。Underthesucceedingreigns，theallianceofthetwoempireswasrestored；
buttheaidoftheOrientalRomanswastardy，doubtful，andineffectual；andthenationalschismoftheGreeksandLatinswasenlargedbytheperpetualdifferenceoflanguageandmanners，ofinterests，andevenofreligion。YetthesalutaryeventapprovedinsomemeasurethejudgmentofConstantine。Duringalongperiodofdecay，hisimpregnablecityrepelledthevictoriousarmiesofBarbarians，protectedthewealthofAsia，andcommanded，bothinpeaceandwar，theimportantstraitswhichconnecttheEuxineandMediterraneanSeas。ThefoundationofConstantinoplemoreessentiallycontributedtothepreservationoftheEast，thantotheruinoftheWest。
Asthehappinessofafuturelifeisthegreatobjectofreligion，wemayhearwithoutsurpriseorscandal，thattheintroductionoratleasttheabuse，ofChristianityhadsomeinfluenceonthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire。Theclergysuccessfullypreachedthedoctrinesofpatienceandpusillanimity:theactivevirtuesofsocietywerediscouraged；
andthelastremainsofmilitaryspiritwereburiedinthecloister:alargeportionofpublicandprivatewealthwasconsecratedtothespeciousdemandsofcharityanddevotion；andthesoldiers\'paywaslavishedontheuselessmultitudesofbothsexes，whocouldonlypleadthemeritsofabstinenceandchastity。Faith，zeal，curiosity，andthemoreearthlypassionsofmaliceandambition，kindledtheflameoftheologicaldiscord；thechurch，andeventhestate，weredistractedbyreligiousfactions，whoseconflictsweresometimesbloody，andalwaysimplacable；theattentionoftheemperorswasdivertedfromcampstosynods；theRomanworldwasoppressedbyanewspeciesoftyranny；andthepersecutedsectsbecamethesecretenemiesoftheircountry。Yetpartyspirit，howeverperniciousorabsurd，isaprincipleofunionaswellasofdissension。Thebishops，fromeighteenhundredpulpits，inculcatedthedutyofpassiveobediencetoalawfulandorthodoxsovereign；theirfrequentassemblies，andperpetualcorrespondence，maintainedthecommunionofdistantchurches；andthebenevolenttemperofthegospelwasstrengthened，thoughconfined，bythespiritualallianceoftheCatholics。Thesacredindolenceofthemonkswasdevoutlyembracedbyaservileandeffeminateage；butifsuperstitionhadnotaffordedadecentretreat，thesameviceswouldhavetemptedtheunworthyRomanstodesert，frombasermotives，thestandardoftherepublic。Religiouspreceptsareeasilyobeyed，whichindulgeandsanctifythenaturalinclinationsoftheirvotaries；butthepureandgenuineinfluenceofChristianitymaybetracedinitsbeneficial，thoughimperfect，effectsontheBarbarianproselytesoftheNorth。IfthedeclineoftheRomanempirewashastenedbytheconversionofConstantine，hisvictoriousreligionbroketheviolenceofthefall，andmollifiedtheferocioustemperoftheconquerors。
[Footnote*:Itmightbeacuriousspeculation，howfarthepurermoralsofthegenuineandmoreactiveChristiansmayhavecompensated，inthepopulationoftheRomanempire，forthesecessionofsuchnumbersintoinactiveandunproductivecelibacy。—M。]
Thisawfulrevolutionmaybeusefullyappliedtotheinstructionofthepresentage。Itisthedutyofapatriottopreferandpromotetheexclusiveinterestandgloryofhisnativecountry:butaphilosophermaybepermittedtoenlargehisviews，andtoconsiderEuropeasonegreatrepublicwhosevariousinhabitantshaveobtainedalmostthesamelevelofpolitenessandcultivation。Thebalanceofpowerwillcontinuetofluctuate，andtheprosperityofourown，ortheneighboringkingdoms，maybealternatelyexaltedordepressed；butthesepartialeventscannotessentiallyinjureourgeneralstateofhappiness，thesystemofarts，andlaws，andmanners，whichsoadvantageouslydistinguish，abovetherestofmankind，theEuropeansandtheircolonies。Thesavagenationsoftheglobearethecommonenemiesofcivilizedsociety；andwemayinquire，withanxiouscuriosity，whetherEuropeisstillthreatenedwitharepetitionofthosecalamities，whichformerlyoppressedthearmsandinstitutionsofRome。Perhapsthesamereflectionswillillustratethefallofthatmightyempire，andexplaintheprobablecausesofouractualsecurity。
I。TheRomanswereignorantoftheextentoftheirdanger，andthenumberoftheirenemies。BeyondtheRhineandDanube，theNortherncountriesofEuropeandAsiawerefilledwithinnumerabletribesofhuntersandshepherds，poor，voracious，andturbulent；boldinarms，andimpatienttoravishthefruitsofindustry。TheBarbarianworldwasagitatedbytherapidimpulseofwar；andthepeaceofGaulorItalywasshakenbythedistantrevolutionsofChina。TheHuns，whofledbeforeavictoriousenemy，directedtheirmarchtowardstheWest；andthetorrentwasswelledbythegradualaccessionofcaptivesandallies。TheflyingtribeswhoyieldedtotheHunsassumedintheirturnthespiritofconquest；theendlesscolumnofBarbarianspressedontheRomanempirewithaccumulatedweight；and，iftheforemostweredestroyed，thevacantspacewasinstantlyreplenishedbynewassailants。SuchformidableemigrationscannolongerissuefromtheNorth；andthelongrepose，whichhasbeenimputedtothedecreaseofpopulation，isthehappyconsequenceoftheprogressofartsandagriculture。Insteadofsomerudevillages，thinlyscatteredamongitswoodsandmorasses，Germanynowproducesalistoftwothousandthreehundredwalledtowns:theChristiankingdomsofDenmark，Sweden，andPoland，havebeensuccessivelyestablished；andtheHansemerchants，withtheTeutonicknights，haveextendedtheircoloniesalongthecoastoftheBaltic，asfarastheGulfofFinland。FromtheGulfofFinlandtotheEasternOcean，Russianowassumestheformofapowerfulandcivilizedempire。Theplough，theloom，andtheforge，areintroducedonthebanksoftheVolga，theOby，andtheLena；andthefiercestoftheTartarhordeshavebeentaughttotrembleandobey。ThereignofindependentBarbarismisnowcontractedtoanarrowspan；andtheremnantofCalmucksorUzbecks，whoseforcesmaybealmostnumbered，cannotseriouslyexcitetheapprehensionsofthegreatrepublicofEurope。^6Yetthisapparentsecurityshouldnottemptustoforget，thatnewenemies，andunknowndangers，maypossiblyarisefromsomeobscurepeople，scarcelyvisibleinthemapoftheworld，TheArabsorSaracens，whospreadtheirconquestsfromIndiatoSpain，hadlanguishedinpovertyandcontempt，tillMahometbreathedintothosesavagebodiesthesoulofenthusiasm。
[Footnote6:TheFrenchandEnglisheditorsoftheGenealogicalHistoryoftheTartarshavesubjoinedacurious，thoughimperfect，description，oftheirpresentstate。WemightquestiontheindependenceoftheCalmucks，orEluths，sincetheyhavebeenrecentlyvanquishedbytheChinese，who，intheyear1759，subduedtheLesserBucharia，andadvancedintothecountryofBadakshan，nearthesourceoftheOxus，MemoiressurlesChinois，tom。i。p。325—400。Buttheseconquestsareprecarious，norwillIventuretoinsurethesafetyoftheChineseempire。]
II。TheempireofRomewasfirmlyestablishedbythesingularandperfectcoalitionofitsmembers。Thesubjectnations，resigningthehope，andeventhewish，ofindependence，embracedthecharacterofRomancitizens；andtheprovincesoftheWestwerereluctantlytornbytheBarbariansfromthebosomoftheirmothercountry。^7Butthisunionwaspurchasedbythelossofnationalfreedomandmilitaryspirit；andtheservileprovinces，destituteoflifeandmotion，expectedtheirsafetyfromthemercenarytroopsandgovernors，whoweredirectedbytheordersofadistantcourt。Thehappinessofahundredmillionsdependedonthepersonalmeritofoneortwomen，perhapschildren，whosemindswerecorruptedbyeducation，luxury，anddespoticpower。ThedeepestwoundswereinflictedontheempireduringtheminoritiesofthesonsandgrandsonsofTheodosius；
and，afterthoseincapableprincesseemedtoattaintheageofmanhood，theyabandonedthechurchtothebishops，thestatetotheeunuchs，andtheprovincestotheBarbarians。Europeisnowdividedintotwelvepowerful，thoughunequalkingdoms，threerespectablecommonwealths，andavarietyofsmaller，thoughindependent，states:thechancesofroyalandministerialtalentsaremultiplied，atleast，withthenumberofitsrulers；andaJulian，orSemiramis，mayreignintheNorth，whileArcadiusandHonoriusagainslumberonthethronesoftheSouth。Theabusesoftyrannyarerestrainedbythemutualinfluenceoffearandshame；
republicshaveacquiredorderandstability；monarchieshaveimbibedtheprinciplesoffreedom，or，atleast，ofmoderation；
andsomesenseofhonorandjusticeisintroducedintothemostdefectiveconstitutionsbythegeneralmannersofthetimes。Inpeace，theprogressofknowledgeandindustryisacceleratedbytheemulationofsomanyactiverivals:inwar，theEuropeanforcesareexercisedbytemperateandundecisivecontests。IfasavageconquerorshouldissuefromthedesertsofTartary，hemustrepeatedlyvanquishtherobustpeasantsofRussia，thenumerousarmiesofGermany，thegallantnoblesofFrance，andtheintrepidfreemenofBritain；who，perhaps，mightconfederatefortheircommondefence。ShouldthevictoriousBarbarianscarryslaveryanddesolationasfarastheAtlanticOcean，tenthousandvesselswouldtransportbeyondtheirpursuittheremainsofcivilizedsociety；andEuropewouldreviveandflourishintheAmericanworld，whichisalreadyfilledwithhercoloniesandinstitutions。^8
[Footnote7:TheprudentreaderwilldeterminehowfarthisgeneralpropositionisweakenedbytherevoltoftheIsaurians，theindependenceofBritainandArmorica，theMoorishtribes，ortheBagaudaeofGaulandSpain，vol。i。p。328，vol。iii。p。
315，vol。iii。p。372，480。]
[Footnote8:AmericanowcontainsaboutsixmillionsofEuropeanbloodanddescent；andtheirnumbers，atleastintheNorth，arecontinuallyincreasing。Whatevermaybethechangesoftheirpoliticalsituation，theymustpreservethemannersofEurope；
andwemayreflectwithsomepleasure，thattheEnglishlanguagewillprobablybediffusedeveranimmenseandpopulouscontinent。]
III。Cold，poverty，andalifeofdangerandfatigue，fortifythestrengthandcourageofBarbarians。IneveryagetheyhaveoppressedthepoliteandpeacefulnationsofChina，India，andPersia，whoneglected，andstillneglect，tocounterbalancethesenaturalpowersbytheresourcesofmilitaryart。Thewarlikestatesofantiquity，Greece，Macedonia，andRome，educatedaraceofsoldiers；exercisedtheirbodies，disciplinedtheircourage，multipliedtheirforcesbyregularevolutions，andconvertedtheiron，whichtheypossessed，intostrongandserviceableweapons。Butthissuperiorityinsensiblydeclinedwiththeirlawsandmanners；andthefeeblepolicyofConstantineandhissuccessorsarmedandinstructed，fortheruinoftheempire，therudevaloroftheBarbarianmercenaries。Themilitaryarthasbeenchangedbytheinventionofgunpowder；
whichenablesmantocommandthetwomostpowerfulagentsofnature，airandfire。Mathematics，chemistry，mechanics，architecture，havebeenappliedtotheserviceofwar；andtheadversepartiesopposetoeachotherthemostelaboratemodesofattackandofdefence。Historiansmayindignantlyobserve，thatthepreparationsofasiegewouldfoundandmaintainaflourishingcolony；^9yetwecannotbedispleased，thatthesubversionofacityshouldbeaworkofcostanddifficulty；orthatanindustriouspeopleshouldbeprotectedbythosearts，whichsurviveandsupplythedecayofmilitaryvirtue。CannonandfortificationsnowformanimpregnablebarrieragainsttheTartarhorse；andEuropeissecurefromanyfutureirruptionsofBarbarians；since，beforetheycanconquer，theymustceasetobebarbarous。Theirgradualadvancesinthescienceofwarwouldalwaysbeaccompanied，aswemaylearnfromtheexampleofRussia，withaproportionableimprovementintheartsofpeaceandcivilpolicy；andtheythemselvesmustdeserveaplaceamongthepolishednationswhomtheysubdue。
[Footnote9:OnavoitfaitvenirforthesiegeofTurin140
piecesdecanon；etilestaremarquerquechaquegroscanonmonterevientaenvironecus:ilyavoit100，000boulets；106，000
cartouchesd\'unefacon，et300，000d\'uneautre；21，000bombes；
27，700grenades，15，000sacsaterre，30，000instrumentspourlapionnage；1，200，000livresdepoudre。Ajoutezacesmunitions，leplomb，lefer，etlefer—blanc，lescordages，toutcequisertauxmineurs，lesouphre，lesalpetre，lesoutilsdetouteespece。
Ilestcertainquelesfraisdetouscespreparatifsdedestructionsuffiroientpourfonderetpourfairefleurirlaplusaombreusecolonie。Voltaire，SiecledeLouisXIV。c。xx。inhisWorks。tom。xi。p。391。]