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，