Butthefatalsecurity，likethepredestinationoftheTurks，musthaveaidedtheprogressofthecontagion；andthosesalutaryprecautionstowhichEuropeisindebtedforhersafety，wereunknowntothegovernmentofJustinian。NorestraintswereimposedonthefreeandfrequentintercourseoftheRomanprovinces:fromPersiatoFrance，thenationsweremingledandinfectedbywarsandemigrations；andthepestilentialodorwhichlurksforyearsinabaleofcottonwasimported，bytheabuseoftrade，intothemostdistantregions。ThemodeofitspropagationisexplainedbytheremarkofProcopiushimself，thatitalwaysspreadfromthesea—coasttotheinlandcountry:themostsequesteredislandsandmountainsweresuccessivelyvisited；
theplaceswhichhadescapedthefuryofitsfirstpassagewerealoneexposedtothecontagionoftheensuingyear。Thewindsmightdiffusethatsubtilevenom；butunlesstheatmospherebepreviouslydisposedforitsreception，theplaguewouldsoonexpireinthecoldortemperateclimatesoftheearth。Suchwastheuniversalcorruptionoftheair，thatthepestilencewhichburstforthinthefifteenthyearofJustinianwasnotcheckedoralleviatedbyanydifferenceoftheseasons。Intime，itsfirstmalignitywasabatedanddispersed；thediseasealternatelylanguishedandrevived；butitwasnottilltheendofacalamitousperiodoffifty—twoyears，thatmankindrecoveredtheirhealth，ortheairresumeditspureandsalubriousquality。
Nofactshavebeenpreservedtosustainanaccount，orevenaconjecture，ofthenumbersthatperishedinthisextraordinarymortality。Ionlyfind，thatduringthreemonths，five，andatlengthten，thousandpersonsdiedeachdayatConstantinople；
thatmanycitiesoftheEastwereleftvacant，andthatinseveraldistrictsofItalytheharvestandthevintagewitheredontheground。Thetriplescourgeofwar，pestilence，andfamine，afflictedthesubjectsofJustinian；andhisreignisdisgracedbythevisibledecreaseofthehumanspecies，whichhasneverbeenrepairedinsomeofthefairestcountriesoftheglobe。^95
[Footnote93:MeadprovesthattheplagueiscontagiousfromThucydides，Lacretius，Aristotle，Galen，andcommonexperience，p。10—20；andherefutesPreface，p。2—13thecontraryopinionoftheFrenchphysicianswhovisitedMarseillesintheyear1720。Yettheseweretherecentandenlightenedspectatorsofaplaguewhich，inafewmonths，sweptaway50，000inhabitantssurlePestedeMarseille，Paris，1786ofacitythat，inthepresenthourofprosperityandtradecontainsnomorethen90，000
souls，Necker，surlesFinances，tom。i。p。231。]
[Footnote94:ThestrongassertionsofProcopiusareoverthrownbythesubsequentexperienceofEvagrius。]
[Footnote95:Aftersomefiguresofrhetoric，thesandsofthesea，&c。，ProcopiusAnecdot。c。18attemptsamoredefiniteaccount；thatithadbeenexterminatedunderthereignoftheImperialdemon。TheexpressionisobscureingrammarandarithmeticandaliteralinterpretationwouldproduceseveralmillionsofmillionsAlemannusp。80andCousintom。iii。p。
178translatethispassage，\"twohundredmillions:\"butIamignorantoftheirmotives。Theremainingmyriadofmyriads，wouldfurnishonehundredmillions，anumbernotwhollyinadmissible。]
ChapterXLIV:IdeaOfTheRomanJurisprudence。
PartI。
IdeaOfTheRomanJurisprudence。—TheLawsOfTheKings—
TheTwelveOfTheDecemvirs。—TheLawsOfThePeople。—TheDecreesOfTheSenate。—TheEdictsOfTheMagistratesAndEmperors—AuthorityOfTheCivilians。—Code，Pandects，Novels，AndInstitutesOfJustinian:—I。RightsOfPersons。—II。
RightsOfThings。—III。PrivateInjuriesAndActions。—IV。
CrimesAndPunishments。
Note:Inthenotestothisimportantchapter，whichisreceivedasthetext—bookonCivilLawinsomeoftheforeignuniversities，Ihaveconsulted，I。thenewly—discoveredInstitutesofGaius，GaiiInstitutiones，ed。Goeschen，Berlin，1824，withsomeotherfragmentsoftheRomanlaw，CodicisTheodosianiFragmentainedita，abAmadeoPeyron。Turin，1824。
II。TheHistoryoftheRomanLaw，byProfessorHugo，intheFrenchtranslationofM。Jourdan。Paris，1825。
III。Savigny，GeschichtedesRomischenRechtsimMittelalter，6bande，Heidelberg，1815。
IV。Walther，RomischeRechts—Geschichte，Bonn。1834。ButI
amparticularlyindebtedtoaneditionoftheFrenchtranslationofthischapter，withadditionalnotes，byoneofthemostlearnedciviliansofEurope，ProfessorWarnkonig，publishedatLiege，1821。Ihaveinsertedalmostthewholeofthesenotes，whicharedistinguishedbytheletterW。—M。
ThevaintitlesofthevictoriesofJustinianarecrumbledintodust；butthenameofthelegislatorisinscribedonafairandeverlastingmonument。Underhisreign，andbyhiscare，theciviljurisprudencewasdigestedintheimmortalworksoftheCode，thePandects，andtheInstitutes:^1thepublicreasonoftheRomanshasbeensilentlyorstudiouslytransfusedintothedomesticinstitutionsofEurope，^2，andthelawsofJustinianstillcommandtherespectorobedienceofindependentnations。
Wiseorfortunateistheprincewhoconnectshisownreputationwiththehonororinterestofaperpetualorderofmen。Thedefenceoftheirfounderisthefirstcause，whichineveryagehasexercisedthezealandindustryofthecivilians。Theypiouslycommemoratehisvirtues；dissembleordenyhisfailings；
andfiercelychastisetheguiltorfollyoftherebels，whopresumetosullythemajestyofthepurple。Theidolatryoflovehasprovoked，asitusuallyhappens，therancorofopposition；
thecharacterofJustinianhasbeenexposedtotheblindvehemenceofflatteryandinvective；andtheinjusticeofasecttheAnti—Tribonians，hasrefusedallpraiseandmerittotheprince，hisministers，andhislaws。^3Attachedtonoparty，interestedonlyforthetruthandcandorofhistory，anddirectedbythemosttemperateandskilfulguides，^4Ienterwithjustdiffidenceonthesubjectofcivillaw，whichhasexhaustedsomanylearnedlives，andclothedthewallsofsuchspaciouslibraries。Inasingle，ifpossibleinashort，chapter，IshalltracetheRomanjurisprudencefromRomulustoJustinian，^5
appreciatethelaborsofthatemperor，andpausetocontemplatetheprinciplesofasciencesoimportanttothepeaceandhappinessofsociety。Thelawsofanationformthemostinstructiveportionofitshistory；andalthoughIhavedevotedmyselftowritetheannalsofadecliningmonarchy，Ishallembracetheoccasiontobreathethepureandinvigoratingairoftherepublic。
[Footnote1:Theciviliansofthedarkerageshaveestablishedanabsurdandincomprehensiblemodeofquotation，whichissupportedbyauthorityandcustom。IntheirreferencestotheCode，thePandects，andtheInstitutes，theymentionthenumber，notofthebook，butonlyofthelaw；andcontentthemselveswithrecitingthefirstwordsofthetitletowhichitbelongs；andofthesetitlestherearemorethanathousand。LudewigVit。Justiniani，p。268wishestoshakeoffthispendanticyoke；andIhavedaredtoadoptthesimpleandrationalmethodofnumberingthebook，thetitle，andthelaw。
Note:TheexampleofGibborhasbeenfollowedbyMHugoandothercivilians。—M]
[Footnote2:Germany，Bohemia，Hungary，Poland，andScotland，havereceivedthemascommonlaworreason；inFrance，Italy，&c。，theypossessadirectorindirectinfluence；andtheywererespectedinEngland，fromStephentoEdwardI。ournationalJustinian，Duck。deUsuetAuctoritateJurisCivilis，l。ii。c。
1，8—15。Heineccius，Hist。JurisGermanici，c。3，4，No。55—
124，andthelegalhistoriansofeachcountry。
Note:AlthoughtherestorationoftheRomanlaw，introducedbytherevivalofthisstudyinItaly，isoneofthemostimportantbranchesofhistory，ithadbeentreatedbutimperfectlywhenGibbonwrotehiswork。ThatofArthurDuckisbutaninsignificantperformance。Buttheresearchesofthelearnedhavethrownmuchlightuponthematter。TheSarti，theTiraboschi，theFantuzzi，theSavioli，hadmadesomeveryinterestinginquiries；butitwasreservedforM。deSavigny，inaworkentitled\"TheHistoryoftheRomanLawduringtheMiddleAges，\"tocastthestrongestrightonthispartofhistory。HedemonstratesincontestablythepreservationoftheRomanlawfromJustiniantothetimeoftheGlossators，whobytheirindefatigablezeal，propagatedthestudyoftheRomanjurisprudenceinallthecountriesofEurope。Itismuchtobedesiredthattheauthorshouldcontinuethisinterestingwork，andthatthelearnedshouldengageintheinquiryinwhatmannertheRomanlawintroduceditselfintotheirrespectivecountries，andtheauthoritywhichitprogressivelyacquired。ForBelgium，thereexists，onthissubject，proposedbytheAcademyofBrusselsin1781，aCollectionofMemoirs，printedatBrusselsin4to。，1783，amongwhichshouldbedistinguishedthoseofM。deBerg。M。BerriatSaintPrixhasgivenushopesofthespeedyappearanceofaworkinwhichhewilldiscussthisquestion，especiallyinrelationtoFrance。M。Spangenberg，inhisIntroductiontotheStudyoftheCorpusJurisCivilisHanover，1817，1vol。8vo。p。86，116，givesusageneralsketchofthehistoryoftheRomanlawindifferentpartsofEurope。WecannotavoidmentioninganelementaryworkbyM。Hugo，inwhichhetreatsoftheHistoryoftheRomanLawfromJustiniantothepresentTime，2dedit。Berlin1818W。]
[Footnote3:FrancisHottoman，alearnedandacutelawyerofthexvithcentury，wishedtomortifyCujacius，andtopleasetheChancellordel\'Hopital。HisAnti—TribonianuswhichIhaveneverbeenabletoprocurewaspublishedinFrenchin1609；andhissectwaspropagatedinGermany，Heineccius，Op。tom。iii。
syllogeiii。p。171—183。
Note:ThoughtherehavealwaysbeenmanydetractorsoftheRomanlaw，nosectofAnti—Tribonianshaseverexistedunderthatname，asGibbonseemstosuppose。—W。]
[Footnote4:AttheheadoftheseguidesIshallrespectfullyplacethelearnedandperspicuousHeineccius，aGermanprofessor，whodiedatHalleintheyear1741，seehisElogeintheNouvelleBibliothequeGermanique，tom。ii。p。51—64。Hisampleworkshavebeencollectedineightvolumesin4to。Geneva，1743—
1748。ThetreatiseswhichIhaveseparatelyusedare，1。HistoriaJurisRomanietGermanici，Lugd。Batav。1740，in8vo。
2。SyntagmaAntiquitatumRomanamJurisprudentiamillustrantium，2vols。in8vo。Traject。adRhenum。
3。ElementaJurisCivilissecundumOrdinemInstitutionum，Lugd。Bat。1751，in8vo。
4。ElementaJ。C。secundumOrdinemPandectarumTraject。
1772，in8vo。2vols。
Note:Ourauthor，whowasnotalawyer，wasnecessarilyobligedtocontenthimselfwithfollowingtheopinionsofthosewriterswhowerethenofthegreatestauthority；butasHeineccius，notwithstandinghishighreputationforthestudyoftheRomanlaw，knewnothingofthesubjectonwhichhetreated，butwhathehadlearnedfromthecompilationsofvariousauthors，ithappenedthat，infollowingthesometimesrashopinionsoftheseguides，Gibbonhasfallenintomanyerrors，whichweshallendeavorinsuccessiontocorrect。
TheworkofBachontheHistoryoftheRomanJurisprudence，withwhichGibbonwasnotacquainted，isfarsuperiortothatofHeinecciusandsincethattimewehavenewobligationstothemodernhistoriccivilians，whoseindefatigableresearcheshavegreatlyenlargedthesphereofourknowledgeinthisimportantbranchofhistory。WewantapenlikethatofGibbontogivetothemoreaccuratenotionswhichwehaveacquiredsincehistime，thebrilliancy，thevigor，andtheanimationwhichGibbonhasbestowedontheopinionsofHeinecciusandhiscontemporaries。—
W]
[Footnote5:OuroriginaltextisafragmentdeOrigineJurisPandect。l。i。tit。ii。ofPomponius，aRomanlawyer，wholivedundertheAntonines，Heinecc。tom。iii。syl。iii。p。66—126。
Ithasbeenabridged，andprobablycorrupted，byTribonian，andsincerestoredbyBynkershoekOpp。tom。i。p。279—304。]
TheprimitivegovernmentofRome^6wascomposed，withsomepoliticalskill，ofanelectiveking，acouncilofnobles，andageneralassemblyofthepeople。Warandreligionwereadministeredbythesuprememagistrate；andhealoneproposedthelaws，whichweredebatedinthesenate，andfinallyratifiedorrejectedbyamajorityofvotesinthethirtycuriaeorparishesofthecity。Romulus，Numa，andServiusTullius，arecelebratedasthemostancientlegislators；andeachofthemclaimshispeculiarpartinthethreefolddivisionofjurisprudence。^7Thelawsofmarriage，theeducationofchildren，andtheauthorityofparents，whichmayseemtodrawtheiroriginfromnatureitself，areascribedtotheuntutoredwisdomofRomulus。Thelawofnationsandofreligiousworship，whichNumaintroduced，wasderivedfromhisnocturnalconversewiththenymphEgeria。ThecivillawisattributedtotheexperienceofServius:hebalancedtherightsandfortunesofthesevenclassesofcitizens；andguarded，byfiftynewregulations，theobservanceofcontractsandthepunishmentofcrimes。Thestate，whichhehadinclinedtowardsademocracy，waschangedbythelastTarquinintoalawlessdespotism；andwhenthekinglyofficewasabolished，thepatriciansengrossedthebenefitsoffreedom。Theroyallawsbecameodiousorobsolete；themysteriousdepositwassilentlypreservedbythepriestsandnobles；andattheendofsixtyyears，thecitizensofRomestillcomplainedthattheywereruledbythearbitrarysentenceofthemagistrates。Yetthepositiveinstitutionsofthekingshadblendedthemselveswiththepublicandprivatemannersofthecity，somefragmentsofthatvenerablejurisprudence^8werecompiledbythediligenceofantiquarians，^9andabovetwentytextsstillspeaktherudenessofthePelasgicidiomoftheLatins。^10
[Footnote6:TheconstitutionalhistoryofthekingsofRomemaybestudiedinthefirstbookofLivy，andmorecopiouslyinDionysiusHalicarnassensis，l。li。p。80—96，119—130，l。iv。
p。198—220，whosometimesbetraysthecharacterofarhetoricianandaGreek。
Note:M。WarnkonigreferstotheworkofBeaufort，ontheUncertaintyoftheFiveFirstAgesoftheRomanHistory，withwhichGibbonwasprobablyacquainted，toNiebuhr，andtothelessknownvolumeofWachsmuth，\"AeltereGeschichtedesRom。Staats。\"
TotheseIwouldaddA。W。Schlegel\'sReviewofNiebuhr，andmyfriendDr。Arnold\'srecentlypublishedvolume，ofwhichthechapterontheLawoftheXII。Tablesappearstomeoneofthemostvaluable，ifnotthemostvaluable，chapter。—M。]
[Footnote7:ThisthreefolddivisionofthelawwasappliedtothethreeRomankingsbyJustusLipsius，Opp。tom。iv。p。279；
isadoptedbyGravina，OriginesJurisCivilis，p。28，edit。
Lips。1737:andisreluctantlyadmittedbyMascou，hisGermaneditor。
Note:WhoeverisacquaintedwiththerealnotionsoftheRomansonthejusnaturale，gentiumetcivile，cannotbutdisapproveofthisexplanationwhichhasnorelationtothem，andmightbetakenforapleasantry。Itiscertainlyunnecessarytoincreasetheconfusionwhichalreadyprevailsamongmodernwritersonthetruesenseoftheseideas。Hugo。—W]
[Footnote8:ThemostancientCodeorDigestwasstyledJusPapirianum，fromthefirstcompiler，Papirius，whoflourishedsomewhatbeforeoraftertheRegifugium，Pandect。l。i。tit。
ii。Thebestjudicialcritics，evenBynkershoektom。i。p。284，285andHeineccius，Hist。J。C。R。l。i。c。16，17，andOpp。
tom。iii。syllogeiv。p。1—8，givecredittothistaleofPomponius，withoutsufficientlyadvertingtothevalueandrarityofsuchamonumentofthethirdcentury，oftheilliteratecity。
ImuchsuspectthattheCaiusPapirius，thePontifexMaximus，whorevivedthelawsofNumaDionys。Hal。l。iii。p。171leftonlyanoraltradition；andthattheJusPapirianumofGraniusFlaccusPandect。l。L。tit。xvi。leg。144wasnotacommentary，butanoriginalwork，compiledinthetimeofCaesar，Censorin。deDieNatali，l。iii。p。13，DukerdeLatinitateJ。C。p。154。
Note:NiebuhrconsiderstheJusPapirianum，adducedbyVerriusFiaccus，tobeofundoubtedauthenticity。Rom。
Geschichte，l。257。—M。ComparethiswiththeworkofM。Hugo。—
W。]
[Footnote9:Apompous，thoughfeebleattempttorestoretheoriginal，ismadeintheHistoiredelaJurisprudenceRomaineofTerasson，p。22—72，Paris，1750，infolio；aworkofmorepromisethanperformance。]
[Footnote10:Intheyear1444，sevenoreighttablesofbrassweredugupbetweenCortonaandGubio。ApartofthesefortherestisEtruscanrepresentstheprimitivestateofthePelasgiclettersandlanguage，whichareascribedbyHerodotustothatdistrictofItaly，l。i。c。56，57，58；thoughthisdifficultpassagemaybeexplainedofaCrestonainThrace，NotesdeLarcher，tom。i。p。256—261。ThesavagedialectoftheEugubinetables^!hasexercised，andmaystillelude，thedivinationofcriticism；buttherootisundoubtedlyLatin，ofthesameageandcharacterastheSaliareCarmen，which，inthetimeofHorace，nonecouldunderstand。TheRomanidiom，byaninfusionofDoricandAeolicGreek，wasgraduallyripenedintothestyleofthexii。tables，oftheDuilliancolumn，ofEnnius，ofTerence，andofCicero，Gruter。Inscript。tom。i。p。cxlii。
ScipionMaffei，IstoriaDiplomatica，p。241—258。BibliothequeItalique，tom。iii。p。30—41，174—205。tom。xiv。p。1—52。
Note:TheEugubineTableshaveexercisedtheingenuityoftheItalianandGermancritics；itseemsadmittedO。Muller，dieEtrusker，ii。313thattheyareTuscan。SeetheworksofLanzi，Passeri，Dempster，andO。Muller。—M]
Ishallnotrepeatthewell—knownstoryoftheDecemvirs，^11whosulliedbytheiractionsthehonorofinscribingonbrass，orwood，orivory，theTwelveTablesoftheRomanlaws。